Although Mrs. Mo was already the mother of four children, the windswept sands of the northern desert and the passage of years had not taken a toll on her beauty in the slightest. Under the warm yellow candlelight, her every movement exuded a gentle and charming grace.
Feeling the burning heat from her waist, Mrs. Mo knew exactly what was going on. She playfully punched Su Qing in the chest and the couple snuggled up as they walked towards the back.
As night deepened, it was time for people to rest.
In Mingzhu Courtyard, Su Yuanyuan took off the hairpin on her head and was about to go to bed.
Seeing the faint smile on her lips, so different from the frowning look in the morning, the maids were extremely curious.
"Miss went to Fuxing Temple with the madam today. Did something good happen?"
Su Yuanyuan swayed her feet and said coquettishly, "The old monk in the temple said that I'm a lucky person."
The maids immediately chattered in agreement, "That's for sure. Our miss clearly has good fortune written all over her."
"Miss is as beautiful as a fairy under the seat of the Goddess of Mercy! Naturally, she's as lucky as a fairy too!"
Su Yuanyuan took out a bag of silver melon seeds and stuffed some into the maids' hands with a smile. "You're so sweet-tongued. Take them."
When it was time to sleep, Su Yuanyuan dismissed the maids and lay down on the bed.
She was the only one in the large room at this moment.
Before closing her eyes, Su Yuanyuan said seriously to Xiaoba, [Xiaoba, if he comes tonight, you must remind me. Don't let it be like last night.]
Xiaoba slapped its chest confidently and said, [Don't worry, little yuanbao. This time Xiaoba won't let you down!]
However, Su Yuanyuan didn't hear Xiaoba's call all night. When she opened her eyes again, it was already dawn!
She sat on the edge of the bed blankly with her long, shiny black hair loose, and double-checked with Xiaoba again and again.
[Did he really not come last night?]
Xiaoba wished it could raise its non-existent hand and swear to the sky. [It's true. Truer than the big, round pearls in the South Sea!]
Only then did Su Yuanyuan believe it. Her shoulders drooped slightly and she said somewhat dejectedly, "Alright."
Not only last night, but for several days in a row, Su Yuanyuan didn't wait for that annoying little thief who always sneaked into her room through the window while she was sleeping. This made Su Yuanyuan feel even more frustrated.
She wanted to ask the maids to find out some news for her, but she was afraid that the maids would tell her parents or elder brothers about it. So she had to hold back for the time being.
Maybe he didn't come because he was held up by something.
She comforted herself like this.
But she waited for one day, two days, three days...
Every time she went to sleep full of hope, but woke up disappointed the next day.
For five consecutive days, she didn't wait for that "little thief" who always sneaked into her room like a burglar.
Su Yuanyuan was extremely sensitive and delicate. She subconsciously felt that something must have happened to him since he didn't come. Thinking of the black aura around him, she couldn't help but feel anxious.
When she woke up empty-handed on the sixth day, she finally couldn't hold it in anymore. While the maids like Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter weren't paying attention, she cornered Caiyun and Zhuoyue.
With her arms folded, Su Yuanyuan looked down at the two maids kneeling in front of her and said, "Speak. Tell me the truth."
Caiyun and Zhuoyue glanced at each other and carefully said to Su Yuanyuan, "What does the miss want the maids to say?"
"Humph, don't think I don't know where you two come from." Su Yuanyuan snorted. "I hate being deceived and kept in the dark the most in my life. If you confess on your own, I'll spare your lives. Otherwise, not only will I beat you with a cane, but I'll also expel you from the mansion."
Caiyun and Zhuoyue were from Liuyun Pavilion. A long time ago, they were arranged by Cang Xuan through a human trafficker to enter the Duke Yong's Mansion. Coincidentally, they ended up in Su Yuanyuan's courtyard.
The two of them were in the Duke Yong's Mansion not only to obtain information for Liuyun Pavilion, but more importantly, to protect Su Yuanyuan.
If they were expelled from the mansion because their identities were exposed, what awaited them would surely be Cang Xuan's anger and punishment.
There was no other way. Caiyun had to kowtow three times to Su Yuanyuan and said, "Miss has discerning eyes. The maid and Zhuoyue both come from Liuyun Pavilion."
When did Su Yuanyuan figure it out?
That night, Yan Huan led the Jingji Army to pretend to be bandits attacking. The maids and family members surrounded her in the middle to protect her. Caiyun and Chunxiao had contributed a lot.
Chunxiao was arranged by Mrs. Mo. It wasn't strange that she knew martial arts, but Caiyun really surprised her. Moreover, she noticed that Caiyun would look at Cang Xuan from time to time, as if acting according to his instructions.
But the situation was too urgent at that time. Although she sensed something, she didn't have the time to think carefully.
It wasn't until Xiaoba told her all the things Cang Xuan had done for her secretly that she had an intuition - these two maids, Caiyun and Zhuoyue, were under Cang Xuan.
Sure enough, a little bluffing and the two maids admitted everything.
Su Yuanyuan couldn't help but snort again and said, "Cang Xuan sneaked in and out of my boudoir several times before. You two must have helped behind the scenes, right? Good! You two became my maids, but your hearts are always with outsiders. I won't keep unfaithful people by my side. You two pack your things and go to the steward to resign."
Zhuoyue got anxious. She said, "Miss, although we were arranged by the pavilion master to enter the mansion, we've been serving the miss wholeheartedly and never dared to slack off in the slightest! Please show mercy, miss, and let us stay by your side!"
Pavilion master... Su Yuanyuan felt dizzy again.
It turned out that he wasn't just a hall master of Liuyun Pavilion. He was the master of the entire Liuyun Pavilion! He was really... such a good liar. It really proved Xiaoba's words [A man's words are full of lies].
She was angry!
Su Yuanyuan grinned and said, "Serving me wholeheartedly? Then let me ask you, are you loyal to Liuyun Pavilion or to me now? You'd better think carefully before you speak."
Caiyun was calmer than Zhuoyue. She immediately said, "Once a servant, always a servant. Naturally, we're loyal to the miss."
Zhuoyue nodded vigorously in agreement.
Su Yuanyuan secretly let out a sigh of relief. She didn't expect that the two maids sent by someone would be quite loyal.
Su Yuanyuan said, "Even so, I still can't easily trust you two. Unless..."
Caiyun and Zhuoyue's hearts immediately tightened. They both held their breath and waited for Su Yuanyuan to continue.
"Unless you two keep an eye on Cang Xuan for me from now on. Otherwise, in my heart, you two are traitors."
Zhuoyue hesitated. "But..." Keeping an eye on the pavilion master was like betraying Liuyun Pavilion, wasn't it?