Chapter 155 Miaoyin Informs

Ji Shu lifted the curtain and looked outside. She saw a woman with her face covered kneeling in the middle of the road, blocking the carriage's path.

Chunzhi looked around for a moment before getting off the carriage. A short while later, she returned and whispered, "Madam, it's Miaoyin, the maidservant of the Second Madam."

Ji Shu's eyes flashed, "It's her?"

"Why did she stop our carriage? Could it be that she wants to stand up for her master?"

Chunzhi shook her head. "She said she has something important to report to you."

"Let's take them to the attic where the autumn colors are in full bloom."

As soon as Ji Shu got off the carriage, Lian'er quickly walked up to her and whispered, "The person has arrived."

The interior decorations are almost complete, and we're just waiting for the auspicious day to open for business. These past few days have been a trial operation.

It was nearly noon, and the entire building was almost entirely filled with women, including many noble ladies who were choosing flowers with their servants.

Ji Shu, with her veiled head bowed slightly to Lian'er, then went up the stairs and instructed her, "Don't let anyone know she's here."

"Yes, madam."

As soon as the attic door opened, Miaoyin fell to the ground with a thud at her feet. "Madam, this servant has something to say!"

Ji Shu watched as her face mask came undone, revealing a dusty, grayish face, dark circles under her eyes, and filthy clothes. It seemed that the night she had escaped had been agonizing for her, and she was terrified of being caught and brought back.

Ji Shu walked past her and sat in the chair where she usually looked at the account books, looking at her with an ambiguous expression: "What brings you here?"

Miaoyin said urgently, "Madam, I am also desperate. The Second Madam has been sent to the farm, and the Lord is sending people everywhere to arrest me."

Ji Shu: "Why don't you go find the magistrate?"

Disappointment flashed in Miaoyin's eyes, and she choked out, "I've thought about it, but I no longer dare to believe what you say, my lord. You promised to make me your concubine, but then..."

"Later, I was tormented by the Second Madam. I went to see her several times, but she avoided me."

“Now that the Second Madam has poisoned you and the Prince, although I did not do it, I am still an accomplice, and she will never let me off the hook.”

Ji Shu looked at the woman in front of her and found it somewhat ridiculous. Did she think she was a great philanthropist?

Her beautiful eyes narrowed: "And what makes you think I would help you?"

Miaoyin looked up: "This servant knows a huge secret of the Second Madam. I wonder if I could exchange it for a place to settle down and make a living?"

After saying that, he kowtowed repeatedly, and when Ji Shu remained unmoved, blood began to seep from his forehead.

Chunzhi felt a pang of pity at the sight, but seeing that the lady made no comment, she dared not utter a sound.

The only sounds in the room were Miaoyin's heavy kowtowing and Ji Shu's soft rustling of pages turning the pages of the account books, creating a suffocating atmosphere.

After a long while, Ji Shu put the heavy ledger aside, and her authoritative voice came from above: "Alright, tell me about it."

A look of joy flashed across Miaoyin's face, and she hurriedly said, "It seems that the Second Madam has feelings for Lord Junhou!"

Chunzhi immediately scolded, "You foul language, keep it up!"

Miaoyin said urgently, "I didn't lie, I saw it clearly!"

“Last month, the Second Madam instructed me to go to Chongzhou to investigate your identity, and I felt something was amiss until that time…”

“I was strolling in the garden with the Second Madam when we met Lord Junhou. At that time, Lord Junhou had no attendants with him. The Second Madam went up to talk to him, and her expression and tone were clearly no different from those of a young girl just beginning to experience love.”

Chunzhi's expression changed instantly, and she immediately looked at the madam.

Ji Shu listened with an unusually calm expression, without saying a word.

Seeing this, Miaoyin continued, "You know what happened next. She was jealous of you, so she drugged the prince."

"I intended to lead you, my lord, to stumble upon this, but who knew that it wasn't you who went that night, but rather Lady Wei!"

"Later, when the truth came out, I knew that the Lord and the Old Madam would not let me off easily, so I ran away."

After hearing these alarming words, Ji Shu couldn't help but frown. She had wondered why Song Shi was so hostile towards her.

She originally thought it was just that he was afraid that she would threaten his position as the only mistress of the house, and that his presence would cause her to lose favor with the old lady.

I never imagined the reason would be so sordid. The Pei family prides itself on being a century-old family, and the Song family claims to be the legitimate daughter of a high-ranking family, yet the reasons behind it are so despicable.

If this gets out, it will be incredibly shocking. Does that person even know about it?

She voiced her question.

Miaoyin shrank back slightly upon hearing this. She had entered the mansion the same time as Song Shi had married into it.

Although the Lord is often away fighting battles, he is rarely at home. Even when he is at home, he is always in the Wenxin Pavilion, and servants like them rarely get to see him.

Therefore, when Ji Shu asked those questions, she was so frightened that she almost lost her soul.

She murmured, "This...this servant is not quite sure, but the Lord and the Second Madam rarely have any contact on a daily basis."

"If there really is something... it's probably impossible."

Why would he not favor such a stunning beauty as Song Shi, a woman whose looks have faded with age? Miao Yin didn't dare to say these words out loud.

Ji Shu smiled faintly: "From today onwards, these words should be kept to yourself. You have served in the manor for so many years, you should know that loose lips sink ships."

Miaoyin hurriedly replied, "This servant will remember it."

Knowing about such a scandal did not stir any emotion in her heart. Perhaps it was because she had never considered herself a member of the Pei family, and at first hearing the news, she only felt disgusted.

How utterly despicable it is for a sister-in-law to have designs on her brother-in-law!

It just so happens that this happened at the Pei residence; it's utterly ridiculous.

And yet, I myself have suffered these undeserved calamities.

As for what exactly happened between Song Yunshu and Pei Yanzhi, it was no longer important to her.

She turned to Chunzhi and instructed her, "Later, have Changwu take my token and escort her out of the city."

Chunzhi glanced at Miaoyin on the ground and said yes.

Upon hearing this, Miaoyin hurriedly kowtowed to express her gratitude.

Ji Shu looked at Miao Yin and said, "After this incident, you must never return to Yanzhou again."

Miaoyin's eyes were red, and a smile finally appeared on her pale face, which was pale from not eating for a long time: "This servant thanks Madam."

Chang Wu went upstairs at this moment, and Miao Yin turned around and kowtowed deeply before following him.

After Miaoyin left, Chunzhi saw that the lady kept looking out the window, seemingly lost in thought.

She asked in a low voice, "Madam, did you believe Miaoyin's nonsense?"

Ji Shu sighed, "Zhi'er, do you think I would still care about these things now? You know what kind of person he is. If he really had designs on the Song family, he would have protected her last night."

"It's probably just wishful thinking on Song Yunshu's part."

Chunzhi asked, puzzled, "Then why... do you look a little unhappy?"

Ji Shu stopped talking, turned around and went behind the screen. She lay down on the soft couch, closed her eyes and whispered, "I just feel a little nauseous in my chest for no reason."