No one could quite say who it was.
The Liang family only knew that the person looked like a steward from a wealthy household, but they couldn't specify which one.
Therefore, it wasn't necessarily someone from Princess Ti Le's retinue, and Song Chaoyu and the others couldn't speculate further.
Seeing that Song Chaoyu and the others seemed to have no intention of harming them, the Liang family members emboldened themselves and stepped forward, asking Song Chaoyu, "Is our Ah Xiu just going to die for nothing?"
Song Chaoyu raised an eyebrow, finding their greed excessive. "What, are you expecting us to pay you money?"
"We wouldn't dare, we wouldn't dare!"
Madame Liang, sensing that Song Chaoyu was no ordinary person, quickly waved her hands to explain, "We were just thinking... you could at least cover our travel expenses, right? It's not easy for our family to make this trip. And we haven't eaten today..."
"Are you never going to stop?"
With Tiao Hong absent, Qiu Qing, who was now serving Song Chaoyu, had become even more assertive. "Scram, scram, scram! What do you think Chang Wang Fu is? How dare you come here to cause trouble and demand money? Leaving your lives is already a mercy. If you don't leave, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Saying this, she made a move as if to drive them away.
The Liang family, startled, scrambled to their feet and left.
Seeing her demeanor, Song Chaoyu couldn't help but laugh, "You're becoming more and more like Tiao Hong!"
"Ai!"
Speaking of Tiao Hong, Qiu Qing sighed, "With Tiao Hong gone, it feels like something is missing around us."
Song Chaoyu felt the same.
Without Tiao Hong, it seemed their surroundings had become quiet all day long.
Hearing Song Chaoyu say this, Mu Changxi, who had been silent, also spoke, "The day after tomorrow, I will take you to Wen Wang Fu to get her back."
Song Chaoyu was taken aback. "The day after tomorrow? They just got married, wouldn't it be inappropriate to disturb them so soon?"
"It's fine."
Mu Changxi's eyes were calm, as if he had already thought it through. "Since the marriage has already turned out this way, let's bring Tiao Hong back as soon as possible. With Ti Le at Wen Wang Fu, I'm always uneasy."
Song Chaoyu felt the same.
If it hadn't been for the circumstances that day, and if Tiao Hong hadn't said it herself, she would never have allowed Tiao Hong to stay at Wen Wang Fu.
—
Two days passed quickly.
Wen Wang's marriage had become a joke in the capital, so no one specifically came to visit. The past two days at Wen Wang Fu had been quite peaceful.
Mu Changxi's people had informed Wen Wang early that they would be visiting, so Wen Wang was waiting at the mansion early.
However, when Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu arrived at Wen Wang Fu, they discovered that Ti Le was not there.
Wen Wang said that Ti Le had gone to the palace early, claiming to accompany the Empress.
Speaking of this, Wen Wang even gave a wry smile. "Actually, I know she just doesn't want to be alone with me in Wen Wang Fu. It's good that she's gone. With me alone in Wen Wang Fu, it's finally peaceful. You've come, and you don't have to worry about her mood."
Mu Changxi nodded and got straight to the point, "We've come about Tiao Hong. Did Ti Le tell you?"
Wen Wang was stunned. "About Tiao Hong? Is that the maid who serves Wang Sao?"
Wen Wang didn't know? Song Chaoyu's heart sank.
Even Mu Changxi frowned. "Didn't Xiang Gonggong tell you? Tiao Hong has been imprisoned in your Wen Wang Fu."
Wen Wang's eyes were full of bewilderment and confusion. "Why is she at Wen Wang Fu?"
Saying this, Wen Wang also stood up and shouted outside, "Xiang Gonggong, come in! Tell this king why the maidservant of Wang Sao is imprisoned in our Wen Wang Fu?"
Xiang Gonggong had not expected Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu to come to Wen Wang Fu so early, and to be asking for someone.
His expression was somewhat unnatural. "That maid violated palace rules and did things she shouldn't have. She was supposed to be sent to the Inner Court Bureau for punishment. However, Wang Fei felt sorry for her, so this servant thought of a compromise and brought her to our mansion. Of course, it's so that our Wang Fei can personally deal with her in the future."
"Nonsense!"
Before Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi could speak, Wen Wang's expression turned extremely displeased. "No matter what it is, or who had her imprisoned in Wen Wang Fu, do you no longer listen to my orders? I said to release her quickly! Can't you hear me?!"
For some reason, seeing Xiang Gonggong's attitude, Song Chaoyu had a bad feeling.
She stood up, disregarding everything else, and said to Wen Wang, "Since she is my maid, I will go and fetch her myself. Xiang Gonggong said last time that she was locked in the woodshed of Wen Wang Fu. Is she still there?"
Hearing it was the woodshed, Wen Wang's face grew even more unpleasant.
Xiang Gonggong knew that Wen Wang was angry and dared not provoke him further. He could only nod. "She is still here. However, Wang Fei doesn't know about this yet. Should we inform her before dealing with the maid Tiao Hong?"
"Slap—"
This time, Wen Wang was truly angry.
He stepped forward and slapped Xiang Gonggong across the face. "What is it that must be done only after Wang Fei knows, and my orders are not obeyed?"
Wen Wang was also a smart person. He pointed at the hand-covering Xiang Gonggong, his anger growing. "I'm telling you, if anything happens to Wang Sao's maid in our Wen Wang Fu, I will hold you accountable!"
With that, he strode out of the door, turning back to Song Chaoyu and Mi Cu Xingxi. "Wang Xiong, Wang Sao, the two of you follow me. Today, I will definitely let you see Tiao Hong. If Tiao Hong is harmed, I will not let anyone involved in this matter off lightly!"
In fact, Song Chaoyu felt gratitude and emotion in her heart.
In this vast capital, at their position, to have someone treat them so sincerely was truly rare.
However, this was not the time to say these things. Song Chaoyu followed behind Wen Wang, and Wen Wang's steps were hurried.
As they walked towards the backyard, he didn't forget to curse Xiang Gonggong. "You are all scoundrels! You are hiding such a matter even from me?! Now that Wang Fei is in the mansion, have you all become her servants? Don't you put my dignity in your eyes at all?"
Looking at Wen Wang like this, even Song Chaoyu felt a pang of sadness.
He should have been the most flamboyant and radiant man in the capital, but now he had been pushed to this state by Princess Ti Le.
How would the days ahead be?
—
By the time they reached the woodshed door, Wen Wang angrily said to Xiang Gonggong, "Why are you dawdling? Open the door quickly!"
But seeing Xiang Gonggong's displeased expression, Song Chaoyu suddenly had a bad feeling.