Bi Tao thought that Su Nansheng was just now starting to care about Xi Rui's rudeness, so she naturally took on the attitude of facing an enemy.
She shifted her eyes back and forth between Su Nansheng and Cui Xueying, afraid of missing anything.
However, there were dancing girls performing at the banquet. With their gentle singing, graceful dancing and flying colorful silk ribbons, it was hard to see everyone's faces clearly.
Fortunately, Su Nansheng and Cui Xueying were not sitting too far apart. Otherwise, Bi Tao really wouldn't have been able to keep an eye on both of them.
After a round of wine, the dancing girls withdrew, and then some actors came on stage to perform. The banquet hall was filled with another round of excitement.
Just as Su Nansheng was watching the acrobatic show intently, Bi Tao whispered:
"Madam, it seems that Miss Cui is about to leave the table."
Su Nansheng took a glance from afar and indeed saw that Cui Xueying had already stood up with an unhappy look on her face.
"Go and follow her."
After Bi Tao followed the two of them out, Su Nansheng finally withdrew her gaze with relief, but her heart was gradually stirred up and could no longer be calm.
Cui Xueying seemed to have disappeared during this very banquet. The Duke of An had searched for her for several years to no avail, and since then had broken off relations with the Prince of Heqing and never had any more dealings with him.
One couldn't blame the Duke of An for venting his anger. It was really hard to justify that a living person had disappeared in the heavily - guarded prince's mansion.
However, the Prince of Heqing didn't think so. Because besides the disappearance, another rumor was widely spread, which was elopement.
Some said that the two years when Cui Xueying was praying for her mother were actually a form of soft imprisonment, aiming to separate her from her sweetheart.
But Cui Xueying was infatuated and unwavering, so she took the opportunity of attending the banquet to elope with her sweetheart.
Everyone had their own justifications, and in the end, there was no conclusion to this matter. Instead, it became a hot topic on the streets and alleys.
Su Nansheng lowered her eyes, hiding the coldness in them.
After about two cups of tea time, Bi Tao quietly came back:
"Madam, this servant heard that Miss Cui's clothes got dirty. They went into a guest room and haven't come out since."
"Is there anyone else in that guest room?" Su Nansheng asked.
Bi Tao shook her head:
"Although that courtyard was specially set aside for these ladies to change clothes and sober up, it's not appropriate for this servant to get too close alone."
Su Nansheng glanced at the seat where Cui Xueying had just been sitting. Her leaving didn't attract anyone's attention, and the Duchess of An wasn't around either.
Su Nansheng tapped her index finger lightly on the table. Should she interfere?
If it was really an elopement, rushing over rashly might ruin things.
But if it wasn't...
Su Nansheng suddenly withdrew her finger. If something really went wrong, she could just help them out later.
Thinking of this, Su Nansheng didn't hesitate anymore and whispered:
"Take me there to have a look."
The courtyard for the guests to rest was very close to the side hall. They arrived there in a moment.
Now most people were dining in the side hall, so the courtyard was very quiet. Only a few serving maids were guarding outside the corridor.
When they saw Su Nansheng coming, a responsible maid immediately stepped forward:
"Madam, do you want to take a nap? Please follow this servant. There are extra clothes and sobering - up soup in the guest room. Madam, please feel free to ask if you need anything."
Su Nansheng looked at Bi Tao:
"I'm here to find a friend. I just saw that she seemed a bit unwell."
Bi Tao immediately said:
"Madam, this servant knows where Miss Cui is. There's no need to trouble this sister."
Seeing Su Nansheng nodding at her with a smile, the maid understood that the other party didn't want to be disturbed, so she bowed and said:
"Then this servant will continue to guard outside. Madam, please call this servant if you need anything."
After the maid left, Bi Tao immediately led Su Nansheng to the door of the guest room that Cui Xueying had entered.
"Miss Cui, I saw that you seemed unwell, so I came here specially to check on you."
Su Nansheng said softly.
She waited for a moment but didn't get a response. Su Nansheng gently pushed the door, and unexpectedly, the door opened directly.
Su Nansheng peeked inside and found it empty. There was no one there.
Only a silk dress was thrown on the couch, with a water stain on the hem.
"Madam, isn't this the dress Miss Cui was wearing just now? Could it be that she went back to the banquet after changing her clothes? But we didn't see her when we came here."
Bi Tao's tone was full of doubt. Maybe she went somewhere else to take a walk?
But the banquet was only halfway through. Doing so would be a bit impolite.
Su Nansheng just took a glance at the dress and then walked straight out of the room. She came to the maid just now and asked:
"Did two people leave just now? Which direction did they go?"
The maid thought for a while and said:
"Someone did leave just now, but this servant didn't notice which direction they went. However, one of the little maids seemed to be drunk. Since she didn't sober up here, she should have gone back to her mansion."
Hearing this, Su Nansheng immediately headed towards the mansion gate, and Bi Tao quickly followed.
"Madam, what's wrong?"
Bi Tao felt that her mistress had been acting a bit strange since just now.
"Did you see Miss Cui drinking just now?" Su Nansheng asked as she walked.
Bi Tao recalled for a moment and said:
"This servant didn't pay attention. It was a bit far away, so I'm not sure."
Su Nansheng didn't say anything but just walked towards the mansion gate with her head down.
The light fruit wine served at today's banquet was not easy to make people drunk.
Moreover, judging from Cui Xueying's performance just now, she couldn't be the kind of person who indulged in drinking. Her upbringing wouldn't allow it.
So if she was really drunk, there was a high possibility that there was something added to the wine.
Of course, Cui Xueying might also be pretending to be drunk to leave on purpose.
But since she had already gotten involved to this extent, she naturally had to figure it out.
Thinking of this, Su Nansheng quickened her steps. From afar, she saw two women walking towards the gate.
One of them staggered, obviously being supported by the other.
Both of them were wearing cone - shaped hats, so Su Nansheng couldn't see their faces clearly.
As Su Nansheng got closer, she heard one of the women say to the gatekeeper who was staring at them:
"She got drunk just after taking a few sips of wine for my lady. In this state, she can't serve anyone. I have to send her back to the mansion first, so as not to cause any trouble here."
It was Xi Rui!
The gatekeeper opened one side of the gate, and Xi Rui quickly supported the woman out of the mansion gate.
Immediately, a man with bulging eyes took the woman over and helped her towards an old carriage on the street corner.
Su Nansheng's eyebrows twitched:
"Bi Tao, you go and secretly follow Miss Cui. If there's a chance, leave marks along the way. Make sure Miss Cui's safety at all costs."
Bi Tao was shocked:
"Aren't you talking about a maid? How could it be Miss Cui?"
Su Nansheng looked at Xi Rui, whose steps had obviously become lighter on her way back, with a cold face:
"Have you ever seen a maid with pearls on her shoes?"
Hearing this, Bi Tao quickly chased out of the mansion gate.
If that was really Miss Cui, she wouldn't let a man support her, and she definitely wouldn't get on such a carriage.
Coupled with her dazed look, there was definitely something fishy here!
"Hey, miss!"
The gatekeeper shouted after Bi Tao's back. Su Nansheng quickly stepped forward and said:
"She's going out to do something for me. Did the eldest son of the Duke of An's mansion come to the banquet today?"