bookcurios Chapter 211: Going with the flow
Chapter 211: Going with the flow
The main purpose of Jiang's grand and long banquet was to find an opportunity to accuse Mu Lianzhi of having an affair with a man outside her family and being restless before she left the mansion. Which wealthy family would tolerate a daughter-in-law with a bad reputation? Not to mention someone of Beitang Yi's status and position?
Even if he could tolerate it for one day, she didn't believe he could endure it for a lifetime.
As long as Mu Lianzhi is out of favor, what does it matter whether she is in the Marquis' Mansion or knows about the past?
At this moment, Jiang was still dreaming that Ling Yuchi would be reinstated on schedule and the Marquis' Mansion would have a chance to prosper in the future. Therefore, she was thinking about how Mu Lianzhi could leave the Marquis' Mansion and live a good life, but she could never live better than the Marquis' Mansion.
So, in the past few days, she would let outsiders stay overnight in her mansion almost every day, but she didn't dare to do it too obviously. On the one hand, she had people keep an eye on Yuxiu Courtyard, and on the other hand, she secretly bribed many people to gossip around the servants and guards of Beitang Mansion. The gossips were nothing more than that the old lady of the Marquis' Mansion had a stroke, that the Marquis' Mansion had a lot of things to do, that Mu Lianzhi was sick or unwell, etc., just hoping to lure Beitang Yi here again.
At home, she also asked her confidants to arrange everything.
It's better to come early than to come by chance.
The Duke of Fuguo's Mansion is now her last resort. Ling Feier was not feeling well a few days ago, and the Prince's Mansion only sent some gifts. She invited them several times, and today the Duke of Fuguo's Mansion's eldest lady and her family came over near dusk. Coincidentally, Sang Shu and Ling Yuyao also came back to see the old lady, so she found an excuse to keep them all.
For this purpose, a banquet and a play were specially arranged in the evening.
Originally, he was worried that they would not give him face, but unexpectedly, the Duke of Fuguo's Mansion was very polite to Ling Yuchi. In addition, with Sang Shu and a few friends present, they had a very pleasant conversation.
Every time, she had the illusion that she had returned to the most glorious time of the Marquis' Mansion.
Just when she was in a dream-like trance, she received good news from her subordinates, saying that they saw a white shadow entering Yuxiu Courtyard. She just felt that this good luck was unstoppable.
According to the plan, her people disguised themselves as thieves and made a noise to attract everyone over. In a blink of an eye, the palace guards holding torches had surrounded Yuxiu Courtyard.
Chunmiao and Lengyun came out to send everyone away:
"Madam, there are so many people awake in and outside our courtyard. Even if there is a thief, it is impossible for him to get in. You should search somewhere else."
"Who will be held responsible if something goes wrong? We have so many eyes that saw it."
"The young lady doesn't like to be disturbed, you can't go in."
"Step aside."
As they were arguing, a faint male voice suddenly came from inside the house, mixed with a woman's panting:
"Miss?"
"Hmm~"
There seemed to be silence outside the house for a moment. Just when everyone was a little dazed, Jiang gave a look, pushed Chunmiao aside and rushed inside. On the other side, the old women and maids also trapped Leng Yun and the maid from Yuxiuyuan.
"Sister-in-law, are you okay?"
"Hey, who is it?"
With a cry of surprise, a group of people rushed in. However, when they looked up, everyone was staring with their eyes wide open, standing there in a daze.
Because at this moment, under the dim yellow light, Mu Lianzhi was lying on a soft couch with her eyes half closed, two little maids stood in front of her, one was dressed as a girl in a pink skirt, and the other was dressed as a scholar in white. Each of them held a sketchbook in their hands, and it was obvious that they had just rehearsed a scene. Although they had removed their makeup, their clothes and hairstyles were still the same.
Everyone stared at each other in confusion.
Mu Lianzhi suddenly stood up, as if she was frightened. The thin blanket covering her body was almost thrown to the ground. She quickly grabbed it and pushed it aside before she stood up.
With a small movement, seemingly unintentional, Jiang clearly saw that she hid something in the quilt. She pushed it several times as if she was afraid of being discovered, but still a shape that looked like the corner of a box was revealed.
After getting down from the couch, Mu Lianzhi pretended to be confused:
"Sister-in-law, what are you doing so late at night?"
"Sister-in-law, I should be the one asking you this! There's a banquet going on at home these past two days, and there are a lot of people and things to do. Just now, someone saw a man in white flying in. We were afraid that there might be thieves trying to take advantage of the situation, so we chased him all the way to your yard. We also broke in because we were worried that something might happen to you."
As she spoke, her eyes looked around, and she couldn't help but wonder where Beitang Yi was.
Her people had been watching outside the door the whole time, and she had received a clear signal before she brought them over and prepared to come in. This time it was absolutely certain, so how come there was no one there?
"Oh, a man in white? Sister-in-law, wearing white clothes and stealing in the middle of the night when there are so many people around, this thief's brain must have been born from a pig's stomach? Do you believe this?"
"Not to mention that my yard is guarded inside and outside, it is impossible for anyone to come in. You said it was a man without even seeing the thief's shadow, and you even believed he entered my room. What is his intention in bringing so many people to break in?"
"I was just bored and asked the maid to read me a picture book. After all these years, sister-in-law still doesn't know what kind of person I am? Can't you stand me like that?"
"You were the one who created the white-robed thief, weren't you?"
Mu Lianzhi's few words made Jiang's face change several times, and many eyes around her instantly shifted to Jiang.
Doesn't she know best what kind of person she is?
It's obvious that she has been having an affair with Beitang Yi for three years!
Jiang was so angry that her teeth were itching, but she couldn't say anything because she knew no one would believe her even if she said it. She didn't have any evidence at the moment, and any explanation or clarification would confirm Mu Lianzhi's words.
She gritted her teeth and could only hold back a smile:
"What are you talking about, sister-in-law? You know I'm impatient!"
"I'm glad you're okay, but more than one person saw it. As you said, the thief might have taken advantage of our psychology and pretended to be one of the guests. There are many distinguished guests and their wives in the mansion, as well as many gifts. Whether it's for your safety or everyone else's, let the palace soldiers search it."
"Search, everyone is at ease."
"We won't care about your place. We will search everywhere."
"Don't waste time. It would be bad if the thief escapes."
Without giving Mu Lianzhi time to react, Jiang blocked her mouth and sent the servant girl to the inner room.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Be careful, don't touch my things, they are very expensive."
Shouting, Mu Lianzhi took two steps forward in anger and anxiety and then retreated to the side of the couch. Then he drove the maid in and stared at her, not missing any of her little movements. Jiang's eyes unconsciously focused on the pile of things on the bed.
Afterwards, she winked at her personal maid and Ling Fei'er, and while they were trying to persuade her, she joined the search team. In the chaos, she unnoticedly found the box and secretly put it into her sleeve.