Chapter 202 Infiltrating the Cao Mansion

Zhao Ergou was more eloquent than his three brothers from a young age.

Later, when he started doing business with Cheng Wanwan, his silver tongue became even more and more impressive.

The coachman who drove the Cao family's carriage saw that he was dressed in coarse cloth and looked like an honest farmer. He was completely unguarded and answered all the questions. Besides, Zhao Ergou wasn't asking about the Cao family's affairs, but about one of the Cao family's maids, so there was nothing wrong with that.

In less than fifteen minutes, Zhao Ergou received the news he wanted to hear.

He turned back, looking at Cao Yingying with a complicated expression: "The day after you escaped from the Cao family, this maid named Hongyu became a first-class maid in Madam Cao's courtyard. I heard from the coachman that Madam Cao is currently looking for a steward for Hongyu to marry into, so that she can become a steward in the Cao household..."

Cao Yingying pursed her lips.

From the time she could remember, Hongyu had always been by her side. After her mother passed away, it was Hongyu who accompanied her through the most difficult period of her life. Hongyu was her maid, but also her friend, and she regarded her as family... She never thought that Hongyu would betray her.

"Fine..." she smiled bitterly. "If this is her choice, I respect it, and I hope she won't regret it."

Zhao Ergou actually hoped she would just burst into tears.

But she didn't cry; instead, her smile widened.

It felt like there was a thorn in his heart, making him feel uncomfortable.

He sighed, "So what should we do next?"

Cao Yingying quickly calmed down.

She pursed her lips, lowered her head and thought for a while before saying, "Go to the Cao family and find evidence."

If we can't rely on Hongyu, then we can only rely on ourselves.

She grew up in the Cao family and was very familiar with them. There was a dog hole in the wall next to the back door in the southwest corner.

When she was very young, every time she was verbally abused by her stepmother, she would crawl out through the dog hole, find a secluded place, and process her emotions alone.

Fifteen minutes later, Zhao Ergou and Cao Yingying arrived at the wall by the back gate in the southwest corner of the Cao residence.

This is a very narrow alley, almost no one passes by. The corner of the wall is full of weeds and pebbles, and the knee-high weeds block the dog hole below.

Cao Yingying parted the weeds: "You wait for me here."

Zhao Ergou grabbed her wrist: "You're a young lady, you shouldn't crawl through the dog hole. I'll do it, you wait for me outside."

"Do you know which way to go after you go through the dog hole? Do you know which courtyard my stepmother lives in? Do you know the layout of her room?"

Cao Yingying's questions left Zhao Ergou completely bewildered.

She crouched down and crawled through the dog hole. Once she emerged, she found herself surrounded by weeds. She hid in the weeds and observed her surroundings.

This was an abandoned courtyard, rarely visited, and no one came today either. She clapped her hands and stood up.

Just as she was about to leave, she heard a rustling sound behind her. Turning around, she saw Zhao Ergou crawling through the dog hole.

She exclaimed in surprise, "What are you doing in here?"

"I'll help you."

Zhao Ergou said those two words and then made a shushing gesture.

A group of people walked by not far away. Fortunately, they didn't enter the abandoned courtyard, otherwise the two of them would have had to crawl out through the dog hole again.

Cao Yingying had no choice but to compromise: "Stay close to me and pay attention to your surroundings."

It was probably late afternoon, right after the midday rest. The stepmother should be in the flower hall reviewing accounts or drinking tea.

There should only be maids and servants sweeping in the main courtyard. As long as she avoids them, she can successfully sneak into the stepmother's bedroom.

It's easier said than done.

The two hid in various places until they finally reached the main courtyard, where they took cover under a flower bed near the entrance.

As the mistress of the Cao family, Madam Cao had at least twenty maids and servants in her courtyard, and seven or eight of them were sweeping at the moment.

"I'll distract them, you find a chance to go in," Zhao Ergou whispered. "Whether we find evidence or not, meet at the dog hole in fifteen minutes."

He quietly stood up, but as soon as he did, he froze.

A maid dressed in a light red dress appeared by the flower bed at some point, her gaze falling on him before turning to Cao Yingying, who was squatting below the flower bed.

"Miss!"

The maid's knees buckled, and she almost knelt on the ground.

Cao Yingying looked at her with a complicated expression: "Hongyu, how have you been these past few days?"

Hongyu gasped for breath. She had been granted permission by the madam to go home to visit her family. After sitting at home for a while, she hurried back to take over her shift.

Who would have thought that they would run into the supposedly missing young lady at the entrance of the madam's courtyard?

The young lady returned secretly without making a sound, and showed no surprise upon seeing her. Clearly, her scheme had been exposed.

She spoke with difficulty, "Madam threatened my family, I had no choice... I dare not ask for your forgiveness, Miss. You may beat me or scold me, I am willing to accept it..."

“Since you’ve chosen to betray me, there’s no point in talking about feelings between us.” Cao Yingying said sarcastically. “You know very well how much dowry my mother left me. As long as you help me get into the bedroom in the main courtyard, you can choose any shop you like.”

Hongyu clutched her dress tightly, unable to utter a single word.

She didn't want to admit that she was after money, but when such a huge profit was presented to her, she shamefully succumbed to temptation.

Cao Yingying took out a key from her collar and threw it over: "You can choose whatever you want from my dowry. If it's not enough, I can add an estate as a wedding gift for you."

Hongyu squatted down and picked up the key that had fallen to the ground.

She put the key in her collar, lowered her head and walked into the main courtyard. She had just been promoted to a first-class maid and was the madam's confidante. As soon as she entered, the maids and servants in the courtyard greeted her.

Hongyu adopted the demeanor of a head maid: "A sudden gust of wind has blown, and the backyard is covered in fallen leaves. Several of you should go and sweep it up quickly, or Madam will be furious again. You few, come with me over here and tidy up the storeroom..."

As soon as she gave the order, everyone in the courtyard went off to do other things.

Zhao Ergou lowered his voice: "I'll go in with you."

The two quickly ran to the bedroom, rushed inside, and slammed the door shut in one breath.

"You look for the cabinet, I'll look for the dressing table," Cao Yingying said in a low voice. "Don't make too much of a mess, lest we alert them."

Zhao Ergou nodded and quickly began searching; they were mainly looking for letters.

Madam Cao couldn't have orchestrated this whole thing by relying solely on the Cao family; she must have had an outside contact. It's impossible for men outside the household and wives inside to meet in private, so they could only have written letters, which is irrefutable evidence.

As Zhao Ergou searched, he asked, "Is it really worth it to give the shop and the estate to a maid who betrayed you?"

Cao Yingying said calmly, "If I can't prove my innocence this time, my stepmother will definitely try to swallow all the dowry left by my mother. If I can find evidence to retaliate against my stepmother, then I will have to return the estate and shops that Hongyu took."

Zhao Ergou looked at her.

He admired her greatly.

When we first met, she was timid and frightened, like a startled fawn.

At this moment, she was calm and wise, her fair face glowing with a soft pink light.

"Found it!"

A glint flashed in Cao Yingying's eyes.

This is her engagement document, confirming that her stepmother forced her into marriage.

There were also letters between her stepmother and Steward Cao, revealing that she had been sold into a brothel by Steward Cao.

Manager Cao's surname is Cao, she is a member of the Cao family, and she is the person her father trusts the most. After her father left Hekou Town, all the affairs of the Cao family outside were handled by Manager Cao.

With Steward Cao involved, this is no longer just a matter for the inner quarters; even her father can't handle it discreetly.

Cao Yingying tucked the letter into her bosom. She restored all the documents in the room, thought for a moment, and then took a gold hairpin before whispering, "Let's go!"

The two had just opened the door and stepped outside when an old woman cried out in alarm, "Oh no! A thief has broken in! Help! Catch the thief!"

Zhao Ergou grabbed Cao Yingying's hand and started running wildly with her.

Cao Yingying ran after him, the wind whistling past her ears. The people chasing behind her became nothing but a blur. At this moment, all she could see was Zhao Ergou…