Nowadays, it was Bi Yu who kept an eye on everything in the Tangli Courtyard.
Bi Yu glanced at the mistress - servant pair who had left in a hurry, then turned to Fu Zhen and asked for instructions, "Miss, shall this servant go and find out what's going on?"
Fu Zhen shook her head, led the two of them inside, and chuckled, "She's still as stupid as ever. A little bluff and she's scared out of her wits. Who wouldn't suspect there's something fishy?"
"If a person has a guilty conscience, no matter how hard they try to hide it, they won't be able to," Cui Huan smiled gracefully. "Especially a stupid one."
Bi Yu looked from one to the other and also smiled softly.
After dinner.
Bi Yu carried a food box and walked towards the kitchen. After the old women finished cooking the dinner, only one old woman was left to wash the dishes and boil water, and the rest had gone back to their rooms.
When she arrived, Old Woman Zhou was lighting a lamp and washing the dishes inside.
"Why are you on duty today? Isn't it supposed to be Old Woman Wu?" Bi Yu put the food box on the stove and asked curiously.
When Old Woman Zhou saw her coming, she quickly took the food box, then went aside to wash her hands with clean water. Only then did she step closer and say, "I heard a lot of news in Baiyin Alley today. I thought you'd come tonight, so I swapped shifts with Old Woman Wu."
Bi Yu nodded. "As long as no one bullies you."
Old Woman Zhou smiled. "Now, who in this kitchen doesn't know that I've climbed up the high - branch of the Second Miss's courtyard? They're all too busy flattering me. Who would dare to show me a bad face?"
This might sound snobbish, but it was indeed the truth.
With so many maids and servants, everyone wanted to get ahead. But there were only so many opportunities. How could there not be competition?
After Old Woman Zhou finished speaking, she told in detail what she had overheard in the alley today. "As soon as Miss Chen Huanyun went out today, my old man came to inform me. I slipped out through the back door and took a shortcut. Sure enough, I saw the carriage parked at the door. She went in wearing a veiled hat and closed the door. She didn't come out until an hour and a half later. When she came out, I noticed that her steps were unsteady. Although she looked normal, there was definitely something wrong."
"I've given birth to three children. I've known about the affairs between men and women for a long time. How could I not tell that she..." Old Woman Zhou seemed embarrassed to continue and looked a bit awkward.
Bi Yu stared at her in shock. "Really?"
"Absolutely!" Old Woman Zhou's voice was lowered, but her words were full of certainty. She vowed, "A single man and a single woman staying in the same room. How could nothing happen? Especially with the Second Young Master Fang, who is well - known as a frequent visitor to brothels?"
The more Bi Yu listened, the more shocked she became. She staggered a step, quickly grabbed Old Woman Zhou's hand, and stared at her intently. "You must never tell anyone about this, not even the madam!"
Not only did Chen Huanyun's scandalous deeds disgrace the Marquis's Mansion, but if this matter were to be exposed, how could Fu Zhen still get married?
Bi Yu didn't care whether that bitch Chen Huanyun lived or died, but this matter was a real threat to Fu Zhen, to her own miss. She would never just sit back and do nothing!
Thoughts raced through Bi Yu's mind. Almost in the next second, she thought that maybe this was a good opportunity to completely bring down Chen Huanyun.
Suddenly, she looked up, grabbed Old Woman Zhou's hand, and stuffed all her bracelets into it. "Old Woman Zhou, this matter concerns the Marquis's Mansion. You must keep your mouth shut tightly! Even if you don't think about the Marquis's Mansion, think about yourself and your ungrown children. If this matter is exposed and the masters above start to investigate... even our miss won't be able to protect you!"
The intimidating and enticing words bombarded Old Woman Zhou. Her urgent tone made it seem as if Old Woman Zhou could hardly breathe. Frightened, she just kept nodding. "I, I understand. I understand it all. Miss, please rest assured! From now on, I'll keep my mouth shut even when I'm sleeping. I won't reveal a single bit of it!"
Only then did Bi Yu's expression relax. She stroked her bare wrist, then patted Old Woman Zhou's shoulder and showed a gentle smile. "As long as you keep the secret, from now on, you'll be one of our own in the Zhuqing Courtyard. Our miss is kind and generous. She will never treat you badly."
These words made Old Woman Zhou both nervous and covetous.
Now, who in the entire Marquis's Mansion didn't know that the madam doted on the Second Miss the most? She would give all the good things to the Zhuqing Courtyard. All the maids and servants below were eager to squeeze into it. She was just an ordinary person. How could she not be tempted?
But she was not good at speaking. All she could say was "I will definitely keep the secret," and she couldn't say anything else.
But all Bi Yu needed was this guarantee. She chuckled, tidied up her sleeves, and said, "Alright, I've been out for a while. I won't delay you from your work."
"Eh, eh! Miss, walk slowly!"
On her way back, Bi Yu quickly composed herself and returned to her usual self. When passing by the garden, she suddenly saw two dark figures in the pavilion and was startled. "Who's there!"
The two figures moved and slowly walked over. Bi Yu held up the lantern and took a step forward. Then she quickly knelt on the ground. "Greetings to the Second Prince!"
Xie Yan looked at her and raised his eyebrows. "This maid of yours looks a bit familiar. Are you the one who serves the Second Miss?"
"Yes, this servant is Bi Yu, the personal maid of the Second Miss." Bi Yu lowered her head and answered honestly.
Xie Yan waved his hand. "Alright, get up. I just came out of your family's heir's courtyard. I had a lantern with me, but the wind blew out the candle when I passed by the garden. I was just about to send Fu Yun back to borrow a lantern when I saw you. It's quite a coincidence."
Only then did Bi Yu notice the extinguished lantern in Fu Yun's hand behind Xie Yan. She let out a sigh of relief. Before she could say anything, she heard him say, "I accidentally picked up your miss's hairpin during the temple fair last time. But the beaded flower on it fell off. I'm getting it repaired. As an apology, this hairpin is for compensation. Please hand it over to your miss for me."
As he said this, he took out a silver hairpin from his sleeve. It was in the shape of a peach blossom, vividly lifelike. The petals trembled slightly as he moved, as if they were real. There were also two thin tassels hanging from the bottom, with two white jade stones inlaid at the ends. It looked very valuable.
Bi Yu carefully took it from behind and bowed. "Yes, this servant will surely deliver the hairpin properly."
Xie Yan smiled. His expression softened. Under the moonlight, he looked less dissolute and more upright and handsome. He hooked his foot, picked up the lantern that Bi Yu had just put on the ground, and said, "I'll borrow this lantern for now. I'll return it next time."
Then he just left.
Bi Yu didn't dare to look up at first. When he had walked a long way and his figure was almost disappearing, she stared up at him blankly. Then she looked at the exquisitely crafted peach - blossom hairpin in her hand and was speechless for a moment.