Late at night, a deep silence pervaded.
Everyone in the courtyard was asleep, except for the old woman on watch duty at the door, dozing off beside the brazier in silence.
Since Bai Su returned to the palace, the maids on night duty outside had been dismissed by Wang Yongzhu, leaving a few maids resting in the side room.
Wang Yongzhu was suddenly awakened from her sleep by a gentle tapping on the window.
She sat up abruptly and asked in a low voice, "Who is it?"
A voice, pressed very low: "Madam, it’s your subordinate, Shadow Seven."
Wang Yongzhu quickly got dressed, wrapped herself tightly in a cloak, and opened the window. Shadow Seven slipped in and knelt on the ground: "Subordinate Shadow Seven pays respects to Madam."
Wang Yongzhu nodded, poured two cups of warm tea, and handed one to Shadow Seven: "Get up and speak, do you have any leads?"
Shadow Seven respectfully took the tea and drank it in one go before standing up: "Yes, in the past few days, I have been watching the Duchess and her close maids. Today, so clues were revealed from their mouths."
He then recounted the conversation between Lady Gao and her trusted maid word for word.
Afterwards, he added: "Madam instructed to keep an eye on the brothers of Song Xiaoyin. Since returning to the Capital City, they have only reconnected with old friends and have had no interactions with the Duchess.
This Lady Gao and her confidante are extrely cautious; even in private, they do not leak any information.
Today, due to the condition of County Monarch Rongyi, Lady Gao lost her composure and revealed only a few words."
Wang Yongzhu pondered for a mont: "I understand. Keep watching Lady Gao. Also keep an eye on the situation with County Monarch Rongyi to see if there are any other clues."
Shadow Seven accepted the order.
"Your previous leader, Song Shisan—" Before Wang Yongzhu could finish, Shadow Seven understood.
"As for the Thirteen Leaders, they are now turning a blind eye to . They know I am investigating matters but have not interfered."
Wang Yongzhu grasped the situation: "Alright, you may go back now!"
Shadow Seven did not say much more, offered a salute, and quietly slipped out the window, quickly disappearing into the night.
Wang Yongzhu returned to bed, turning over and over, contemplating the few words spoken by Lady Gao and her trusted maid.
What kind of secret could make Lady Gao so worried and afraid that she would take action against her own mother if I rely suspected her?
Hatred for a father’s death? Impossible, Wang Laozhu’s death was Wang Yongan’s doing, unrelated to Lady Gao.
Then what else?
It must be related to Song Chongjin.
If it concerns Song Chongjin, Lady Gao would worry about standing by and doing nothing or even taking treacherous actions. Could it be that Qi Huan’s death is connected to her?
No, it doesn’t make sense. If Song Hong couldn’t find Qi Huan at the ti, how could Lady Gao have found her?
If she had found Qi Huan, who was pregnant at the ti, why would she not kill Qi Huan and the child, yet leave Song Chongjin behind?
This doesn’t add up.
There must be sothing they don’t know about.
Given Lady Gao’s vigilance, it’s possible that County Monarch Rongyi is also involved in this.
Now that Lady Gao senses I suspect her, she will likely be even more careful and avoid revealing any flaws.
It seems that this matter can only be considered in the long run, taking it step by step.
Nevertheless, Wang Yongzhu felt a cold sweat running down her back.
From the first ti she t Lady Gao, she initially thought her gentle and amiable, generous, and especially compliant to Song Hong, treating all the children of concubines equally.
Later, she openly sided with them, making Wang Yongzhu initially think Lady Gao was a decent person, just unlucky to have been married to a scoundrel like Song Hong.
Now, in retrospect, it sends a chill down her spine.
What secrets lie behind the gentle and amiable facade of Lady Gao? How deep is her scheming?
The hint leaked last ti indicated a plan to drag the entire Duke Weiuguo Mansion into the abyss.
Where is this a marriage? Such ans, they must be mortal enemies!
Song Hong is probably still unaware of Lady Gao’s true intentions.
However, Wang Yongzhu has no intention of warning Song Hong. Given Song Hong’s arrogance, he likely wouldn’t listen.
Besides, it would alert Lady Gao to the snake in the grass.
Moreover, why warn Song Hong? Since Lady Gao harbors malice towards him, let them bite each other like dogs!
Seeing that Lady Gao currently has no intention of plotting anything else and can’t involve , let them perish together.
With that decided, Wang Yongzhu turned over and drifted into a deep sleep.
The next day, Lady Gao gathered everyone, assigning the two young ladies, Song Chongjuan and Song Chongxiu, to manage the household, with her usual stewardess remaining to assist them.
For any significant unresolved matters, they would wait for her return.
The other concubines looked at each other, sowhat displeased.
But such are the rules; it’s normal for unmarried young ladies to manage the household, whereas concubischat.openai/nphanes doing so would be a scandal.
Thus, they could only mutter to themselves, though soone did, perhaps to please Wang Yongzhu or to stir trouble, say: "Since Madam has no ti, and the Wife of the Heir-Apparent is at ho, shouldn’t the Wife of the Heir-Apparent manage the household to be justified?"
Wang Yongzhu simply waved her hand: "I’m not well and need to recuperate. After the fifteenth, I need to go to the countryside to recuperate for so ti. As for this household, the third young lady has already followed the Madam and managed for so ti, so the fourth young lady might as well learn as well. I can then take it easy."
Lady Gao, from the side, conveniently reminded: "If you encounter sothing you don’t understand, even if I’m not at ho, you can ask your sister-in-law just the sa."
Song Chongjuan and Song Chongxiu quickly agreed.
Both faces bead with joy, full of enthusiasm.
Wang Yongzhu enjoyed her leisure, spending a few days recuperating in the courtyard.
She declined all invitations to banquets, though Song Hong seed to tacitly approve of her actions and said nothing.
During the family gatherings for the New Year’s banquet, she appeared briefly before finding an excuse to withdraw early.
anwhile, rumors spread that Wang Yongzhu had exhausted herself saving the Imperial Noble Consort and her son and now needed a good period of recuperation.
After the fifteenth, Wang Yongzhu packed her luggage and, along with Old Lady Gu and Lady of the Gu Family, headed to the villa.
Logically, the Second Lady Gu should have gone too, but due to the events of New Year’s Day, Gu Changqing found out after Wang Yongzhu left.
Gu Changqing didn’t say much, sending Gu Changji a letter directly, its contents unknown.
All that is known is that Gu Changji quickly sent a special letter and a box of gifts back to the Capital City.
The contents of the letter are unknown, but upon receiving it, Lady Quan stayed honestly in the courtyard with Gu Zii.
It’s said that Gu Changji had a wet nurse Sister, initially retired, who has now been invited back by Gu Changji to help Lady Quan manage household affairs.
In practice, she’s been brought back to keep the second household in check, restraining Lady Quan and Gu Zii.
Gu Family’s Eldest Lady was also entrusted to bring a renowned strict Sister from the palace to teach Gu Zii proper conduct, ensuring her temperant is refined.
The box of gifts was sent to Wang Yongzhu, as a gesture of compensation.
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