(Thank you, Sky 832354016, for the red packet!

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Heir Zheng nudged Xiao Bojian with his elbow and smiled. "Senior Xiao, I didn't expect the third madam of Count Jing 'an's estate to be so capable."

Xiao Bojian finally relaxed his grip on the railing, and the coldness in his eyes slowly dissipated.

He glanced at the other side and pursed his lips without saying anything.

The manservant saw that Heir Zheng was happy and hurriedly continued, "Heir, I heard that the third madam of Count Jing 'an's estate is going to deliver the longevity peaches to the banquet in the front courtyard. If you want to try them, why don't you go now? The banquet will start soon!"

"Alright, thank you for asking." Heir Zheng casually tossed a golden peanut to the manservant. The manservant hurriedly took it and left gratefully.

Heir Zheng waved his fan and said excitedly, "Senior Xiao, let's go. Otherwise, we won't get a share if we're late."

Xiao Bojian was dragged away by Heir Zheng without a word.

At this moment, Prince Jin also stood up from his seat by the window on the third floor of Qingfeng Pavilion. He smiled. "Let's go to the front courtyard."

Although the people of the Great Wu Dynasty were open-minded, there was still a strict separation between men and women. Banquets for female and male guests were not held in the same place.

Chu Lian followed behind her sister-in-law, Madam Zou. She was obedient and cute. No one would be able to guess that the obedient young lady behind her was the third madam of Count Jing 'an's estate who had tricked a bunch of noble ladies at Plum Pavilion.

Madam Zou frowned slightly. When she heard that Chu Lian had gotten into trouble and hurried back, she realized that she had been tricked today.

Marquis Dingyuan's estate was a large family and seemed very prestigious. However, the first and second branches had always been at odds with each other.

She was the daughter of the second branch and the granddaughter of the first wife. Eldest auntie had always disliked her, so why would she care about Count Jing 'an's reputation?

As soon as she arrived at Plum Pavilion, she was told that her youngest daughter had accidentally fallen off the rock garden and injured herself. She anxiously rushed over and found that her youngest daughter had only injured her knee.

At that time, she had felt that something was wrong.

However, she didn't expect that Eldest Auntie's real target was Third Sister-in-law.

Madam Zou sighed and turned to Chu Lian. "Third Sister-in-law, it's not your fault. I didn't think too much of it today and made you suffer. From now on, you'll stay by my side."

Chu Lian shook her head and smiled. "It's not Eldest Sister-in-law's fault. Even if they didn't get what they wanted this time, they would still have other ways. Unless I don't go out, they can do it. unless I don't go, I made a lot of jewelry today."

Chu Lian's eyes lit up when she heard jewelry., she, Jin's, and Lian 'She., Lian, for Lian, I's.

Zou shi wanted to say something but hesitated. But just as the words were about to come out of her mouth, she swallowed them back down. She thought that Chu Lian had just been frightened, so the rest of the words could be said when they got back.

It wasn't that easy to take the jewellery of those madams and imperial ladies.

In the end, Zou shi patted Chu Lian's hand lightly and led her to the courtyard where the banquet was held. She made up her mind to return early after the banquet today to prevent Eldest Aunt from setting another trap.

"…" Everything went smoothly. After dinner, they went for a walk at Ding Bo Pavilion, but Chu Lian gave an excuse and rested in the guest room for two hours with her two nieces.

Madam Zou wanted to leave early, and Chu Lian didn't want to stay at Marquis Dingyuan's estate any longer. That evening, she sent someone to inform Count Jing 'an's carriage.

Wenqing was led to the west pavilion by a servant girl from Marquis Dingyuan's estate. As soon as they turned the corner and reached a secluded area, the servant girl suddenly turned around and took out a letter from her sleeve. She shoved it into Wenqing's arms.

Wenqing was startled. The servant girl whispered, "Young Master Xiao is for Sixth Miss Chu. Sister, please don't tell anyone." With that, the servant girl ran off …

Wenqing froze. Sixth Miss Chu?

Wasn't that their third madam?

Who … who was Young Master Xiao?

When she came back to her senses, Wenqing hurriedly put the letter into her sleeve. She looked left and right to make sure no one was around before letting out a sigh of relief.

The west pavilion was just around the corner. Wenqing walked over in a few steps and closed the door. Only then did she dare to take out the letter from her sleeve. Sure enough, the simple and elegant letter only had the character "Xiao" written on it.

Wenqing thought of what Nanny Zhong had said to her yesterday, and her heart was beating fast.

She then recalled how Chu Lian earnestly made pastries and how she interacted with the servant girls. A trace of determination appeared in Wenqing's eyes.

She lowered her head and looked at the letter in her hand.

Someone was definitely trying to frame Third Young Mistress. Third Young Mistress was such a good person. How could she have an affair with someone else?

Senior Servant Zhong was a bit stubborn. She had to hide this matter. Third Young Master had gone to the north and left Third Young Mistress alone. She had to protect Third Young Mistress and not let anyone harm her!

After making this decision, Wenqing folded the letter and put it back into her sleeve.

By the time she returned to Chu Lian's side, Madam Zou was already preparing to leave Marquis Dingyuan's estate.

Wenqing followed behind Chu Lian with her head down and her expression tense. Chu Lian looked back at her strangely and asked worriedly, "Wenqing, are you feeling unwell?"

Wenqing raised her head slightly and met Third Young Madam's concerned gaze. Her heart immediately softened. She was even more certain that the letter she had just received was someone trying to harm Third Young Madam.

Wenqing hurriedly shook her head. "Third Madam, this servant is fine. It's just that it's been too hot these past two days. Perhaps I'm a bit greedy for the cold, that's why my complexion isn't so good."

"When we return to the mansion, go back to your room and have a good rest. You don't have to serve me by my side."

"Thank you, Third Madam."

Madam Zou successfully left Marquis Dingyuan's estate with Chu Lian. By the time they returned to Count Jing 'an's estate, the sky was still dark.

Matriarch He was staying at Marquis Dingyuan's estate to attend the banquet and would only be back a little later. As soon as Chu Lian returned to Songtao Court, she sent Wen Qing back to her room to rest.

In the guest room that the Ding Yuan Manor provided for the male guests to rest in, Xiao Bojian was currently leaning back on a rose chair. Not long after, there was a knock on the door. He answered from inside and a maid dressed in ordinary clothes came in.

After the maidservant entered, she carefully closed the door before kneeling in front of Xiao Bojian.

"Master."

"How did the matter go?"

"Don't worry, Master. The letter has already been delivered to Sixth Miss Chu's personal maidservant. I'm sure that Sixth Miss Chu has already read Master's letter."

"Alright, you may leave. Don't expose yourself."

"Yes."

The maidservant opened the door and left. As soon as she stepped out of the guest room, the originally cold maidservant became timid and timid.

It was as if they were two different people.

After the maidservant left, another person appeared in the guest room. The man was dressed in plain clothes. He had a medium build and an ordinary face.

He lowered his head slightly and said in a low voice, "Master, you exposed Seventh Guard for the sake of a woman. Isn't that a big loss for a small gain?"

Xiao Bojian's originally relaxed expression immediately turned cold and hard. He narrowed his eyes and turned to look at the man behind him. "Wei Jia, you have no right to tell me what to do."

The man froze and hurriedly lowered his head even more. "This subordinate has overstepped his boundaries."

Xiao Bojian waved his hand and continued in a cold voice, "You don't need to come out until I call for you."

Wenqing returned to her room with a flustered expression. As soon as she entered, she immediately closed the door and took out the letter from her sleeve and placed it on the table.

She didn't dare to look at it and turned around to look for a fire starter to burn the letter.

Just as she stood up, there was a knock on the door. Wenqing threw away the fire starter in her hand in fright and hurriedly pressed the letter under a book.

"Older Sister Wenqing, Third Young Mistress wants you to go to the kitchen and drink some hot soup before sleeping." It was the voice of a maid who was sweeping the courtyard.

Wenqing didn't dare to delay and hurriedly left.

Just as she left, Fuyan came out from the room next door and snorted disdainfully as she stared at Wenqing's back.

She wasn't on duty today and her period had just arrived. Her entire body was sore and weak and Chu Lian had gone to the Marquis Ding Yuan residence to attend the banquet. She reported to Gui momo and returned to her room to rest.

But just as she left, she heard the little maids discussing that Third Young Mistress had returned to the residence. It seemed that she had brought many things back from the Marquis Ding Yuan residence.

She then heard the sound of the door opening next door and knew that Wenqing had returned to her room.

Wenqing had only come to Song Tao Yuan after Third Young Master had left and had only been serving there for a few days!

She was the head maid who had been serving Third Young Mistress since she was a young lady. Originally, she should have been included in the trip to the Marquis Ding Yuan residence.

But the moment Wenqing arrived, she had stolen her position.

Fuyan was unwilling. Third Young Mistress had become much more amiable after her marriage and would even give the head maids rewards and delicious food from time to time.

Since Wenqing had followed Third Young Mistress to the Marquis Ding Yuan residence today and Third Young Mistress had obtained some benefits, it was impossible for Wenqing not to be rewarded.

Thinking of this, Fuyan's heart was filled with jealousy.

This reward should have been hers!

But now it had been taken by Wenqing for nothing!

The head maids of Song Tao Yuan all lived in a small courtyard next to Song Tao Yuan, two to a room.

Chu Lian had just returned and the others had gone to serve her. Now there was only Fuyan in the small courtyard.

Fuyan glanced at the door that was left ajar because Wenqing had left in a hurry and suddenly turned to walk quickly towards Wenqing's room.

Because Wenqing and Wenlan had just moved in, there were not many furnishings in the room. She could see through the simple room with one glance.

Fuyan nervously swallowed her saliva and began to rummage through the table.

There were a few common books on the table, such as Women's Precepts and The Book of Songs. Next to them were the four treasures of the study. Fuyan suddenly saw a ginger corner sticking out from one of the books. She pulled it out and pulled out a letter.

There was only one word on the letter, "Xiao".

Fuyan's eyes turned. Just as she was about to put the letter back, she heard voices outside the courtyard. She was so scared that she quickly put the letter into her bosom and quickly closed the door.

Only when she returned to her room and heard the sound of the door opening and closing did she weakly sit on the ground.

Taking a breath, Fuyan thought of the letter that Wenqing had put into her bosom. She quickly got up and locked the door. Sitting on the side of the bed, she took out the slightly wrinkled letter and slowly opened it.

She was so nervous that her hands were trembling, but she also felt a sense of joy from prying into other people's secrets.

When the letter was opened and she saw the contents, her entire body froze.

This … this letter was for Third Young Mistress!

It was even written by Young Master Xiao to Third Young Mistress. In the letter, they had agreed to meet at Defeng Teahouse on the 26th!

Fuyan was Chu Lian's personal maid, so she naturally knew that the two of them had been in contact in the Ying Estate. However, she never expected that Chu Lian would still dare to have an affair with Young Master Xiao after marrying into Count Jing 'an's estate!

Fuyan panicked and didn't know what to do.

She also didn't dare to enter Wenqing's room again. In her confusion, she could only hide the letter in the bottom of her chest.