Chapter 52: Being Discovered

Suddenly, someone rushed forward and knelt on the ground, crying and begging. Chunhong, who was leading Leng Mingye and Prince Ning to the door, hesitated, seeing them merely frown slightly and glance toward the screen where Wanqing was resting. She also furrowed her brows.

She knew this girl—she was Xiaochun, the personal maid of the Fourth Miss, Mu Wanyu.

Considering the Fourth Miss’s attitude toward her mistress, Chunhong initially wanted to ignore Xiaochun’s pleas. Unexpectedly, Leng Mingye’s lips curled slightly as he looked at her and said,

“Chunhong, this maid is begging for your mistress, isn’t she? Go report it to the little fool.”

Seeing Chunhong’s slight frown, Leng Mingye smiled at Prince Ning beside him, then turned and sat back down to drink tea.

“Your Highness Prince Ning, on such a hot day, since we’re already at the little fool’s place, why not finish this cup of tea and see what’s happening before we leave? What do you think?”

Leng Mingye’s words and his uninvited return to his seat made Wanqing, who had just relaxed upon his departure, tense up again. She could only force a faint smile, nodding at the two of them and inviting them to sit once more.

“Miss, it’s Xiaochun, the maid of the Fourth Miss.”

Upon receiving Chunhong’s reminder, Wanqing frowned in surprise but still nodded and instructed,

“Let her in. Xiaochun, your mistress is fine, and with Aunt Xu taking care of her, why are you coming to me for help?”

Seeing Leng Mingye and Prince Ning return, Wanqing had no choice but to ask Xiaochun, puzzled by the maid’s plea for help.

“Second Miss, I know my mistress and you haven’t gotten along before, but it was all because of the Eldest Miss and the others’ instigation. My mistress isn’t truly wicked at heart, so I beg you to save her, Second Miss…”

Xiaochun was indeed a clever maid. Hearing Wanqing’s question, she knelt respectfully, kowtowing repeatedly in supplication.

“Alright, get up and tell me what’s going on.”

Wanqing frowned slightly at the maid’s tearful kowtowing.

Currently, with Lady Liu imprisoned in the manor, Mu Wanyu was Aunt Xu’s treasure. Aside from their father and the eldest sisters, no one in the household would dare to bully her.

Wanqing had no intention of interfering in Mu Wanyu’s affairs, but since Leng Mingye had spoken, she could only frown and ask,

“Thank you, Second Miss, for your generosity. Here’s what happened: My mistress was resting in her room when suddenly the Eldest Miss and Third Miss barged in, accusing her of meeting a man in secret. Aunt Xu and my mistress denied it, but they searched her room and found men’s clothing. The master was furious and is now reprimanding the Fourth Miss. Second Miss…”

Xiaochun explained the situation clearly.

“Men’s clothing? Are you certain your mistress hasn’t met any men?”

Hearing this, Wanqing noticed Leng Mingye and Prince Ning looking at her in surprise. She recalled the clothes she had buried in the small garden between Eldest Sister Mu Wanxia and Lady Liu’s courtyard. Her heart tightened, and she asked cautiously.

“My mistress has been staying with Aunt Xu these days, and Xiaohong and I have been by her side constantly. How could she have met any men? This is clearly a setup, but the Eldest Miss insists it’s true. Second Miss…”

Xiaochun swore earnestly, then begged again.

“This matter…” Wanqing’s heart grew heavy.

Mu Wanxia and her sister’s firm accusations made her wonder. If there really was something shady going on among these women, could the clothes have been discovered and then framed on the naive and easily bullied Fourth Miss?

“Second Miss, right now, you’re the only one in the manor who can save my mistress. Second Miss…”

Just as Wanqing was pondering whether the clothes she buried had been found, Xiaochun’s pleas continued.

“Xiaochun, I’m sorry. It’s not that I don’t want to help Fourth Sister, but in my current state, even walking is difficult. How could I assist her? Besides, with Father’s favor toward Aunt Xu, if the investigation proves her innocent, why would he punish her? I’m sure Father will uncover the truth. Coming to me won’t help, so I must decline. Chunhong, see her out.”

Despite her inner concerns about the clothes, Wanqing maintained a calm demeanor and instructed Chunhong to escort Xiaochun away.

“Please, Second Miss! You’re the only one who can save the Fourth Miss now! The master is furious—he’s having her examined and plans to send her to a nunnery. Second Miss…”

Xiaochun had thought Wanqing’s questions meant she would help. To her dismay, after asking so much, Wanqing simply dismissed her.

Thinking of her mistress being condemned to a nunnery for life or married off to some random family, Xiaochun, despite Chunhong’s approach, tearfully begged Wanqing again.

“The mistress asked you to leave, so leave. Don’t disturb her rest.”

Hongyan, having observed the household these past days, knew that aside from Chunhong and the deceased Granny Liu, no one in the Marquis’s household had ever treated Wanqing kindly.

The Eldest, Third, and Fourth Misses constantly sought to trouble her. So, hearing Xiaochun’s pleas, Hongyan inwardly scoffed, thinking they deserved it.

Seeing Wanqing close her eyes in silence, despite Leng Mingye’s presence, Hongyan boldly stepped forward and spoke to Xiaochun.

“I—please, Second Miss! Saving a life is a greater virtue than building a seven-tiered pagoda! If you save my mistress, she and Aunt Xu will support you in the future. Second Miss…”

Faced with Hongyan’s coldness, Xiaochun had no choice but to rise dejectedly, though she still cast a pleading look at Wanqing.

“Wait. Since you put it that way, fine—I’ll go see what’s really happening. Hongyan-jie, Chunhong, fetch a chair. Brother Qingfeng, could you carry me to the front courtyard?”

As Xiaochun turned to leave, Wanqing suddenly called her back. Considering her current standing in the household, though she cared little for those women, securing Aunt Xu and her daughter’s support would strengthen her position against Lady Liu’s schemes.

Moreover, if she could reconcile with them now, she’d have one less enemy.

As the saying goes, it’s better to make friends than foes—being appreciated is far better than being plotted against.

Thus, as Xiaochun reached the door, Wanqing suddenly stopped her, instructing Chunhong and Hongyan to prepare a chair while requesting Qingfeng and his brother to carry her.

“Very well. We’ll accompany you to see what’s happening. Hongyan, take care of the little fool. Marquis, what’s got you in such a rage?”

Hearing Wanqing’s decision, Leng Mingye’s deep eyes narrowed slightly, as if amused by the prospect of drama. He stood up first.

The group proceeded to the front hall—Wanqing carried on a chair by Qingfeng and his brother, while Chunhong pushed Prince Ning’s wheelchair.

In the front hall of the Marquis’s residence, Mu Zhenfeng sat seething with anger. Mu Wanxia and her sister stood coldly to the side, while Mu Wanyu, her cheek bearing a vivid slap mark, slumped on the ground, her mother Aunt Xu weeping as she held her.

The uninvited arrival of the group made Mu Zhenfeng visibly awkward. He shot an angry glance at Xiaochun, who trailed behind Wanqing, then forced a smile at Leng Mingye and Prince Ning, laughing off the situation while chiding Wanqing.

“Young Master Leng, Your Highness Prince Ning, what brings you here? It’s just a minor household matter. Qing’er, must you trouble them over such trifles?”

“Haha, Marquis, you overthink it. The little fool was curious, so we came along for the spectacle. What’s going on? Why are the Fourth Miss and Aunt Xu kneeling? And this clothing—”

Before Wanqing could respond to Mu Zhenfeng’s question, Leng Mingye chuckled and stepped forward. Spotting the discarded garment by the chair, his expression darkened. He picked it up, examining it with confusion.

His words sent a chill down Wanqing’s spine—the clothing in his hand was the very outfit she had buried.

Though dirtied, its color, style, and especially the strange black dragon embroidery on the sleeve made her heart race.

Could it be a coincidence that he recognized it?