A beautiful hand, adorned with rouge and nail polish, gently caressed the cheek of the baby in Lu Xiangxiang's arms.
Lu Xiangxiang lowered her eyes and stared at those hands. The hands that were holding the baby tightened instantly, as if afraid that the long nails would hurt the baby's rosy little face.
Fortunately, Aunt Ning did not intend to harm Xiao Lingyue. After reluctantly withdrawing her hand, she led a group of servants out of the West Courtyard.
Lu Xiangxiang and Xiangling, who was serving behind her, watched as everyone disappeared at the end of the west corridor before finally putting their minds at ease.
After everyone left, Xiangling dared to take a few steps forward. Standing anxiously beside Lu Xiangxiang, she said, "Aunt Xiang, what should we do? Are we really going to hand Miss over? Or perhaps..."
"Xiangling".
Knowing what Xiangling was about to say, Lu Xiangxiang hurriedly interrupted, "I'm tired, let's go back to the courtyard to rest."
Upon hearing this, Xiangling understood Lu Xiangxiang's intention, immediately stopped speaking, and replied softly, "Yes!"
The Shadow Guards, who were lying prone on the roof, left without lingering after seeing that everyone in the courtyard had dispersed.
At that time, Lu Qiqi also arrived at the gate of the Wu residence.
She knocked on the gate of the Wu residence, and soon a servant dressed in gray clothes opened the door.
The gatekeeper of the Wu residence peeked out from under the door and saw a beautiful woman who looked completely unfamiliar.
The doorman asked, "Miss, do you have a visiting card?"
When high-ranking families interact, it is necessary to send visiting cards in advance.
But Lu Qiqi is different.
She and Consort Xiang in the mansion were aunt and niece. Wu Guangping, out of consideration for Song Yanqing, had always tacitly approved of Lu Qiqi's entry into the mansion without sending a formal letter.
So Lu Qiqi gave her name and asked a servant in the manor to inform him.
But to everyone's surprise, the gatekeeper paused for a moment, then feigned apology and said with a forced smile, "Your Highness has come at an inopportune time. Aunt Xiang left the mansion with Aunt Ning an hour ago."
Concubines in grand mansions usually spend their days at home and rarely go out in public.
However, Lu Qiqi didn't find it strange if Lu Xiangxiang and Aunt Ning went out together.
After all, Madam Wu had lost her power to manage the household, and now it was Concubine Ning who was in charge. Her public appearances and her efforts to win over the noble ladies of various households had already spread throughout the wealthy and powerful families of the border town.
Previously, Consort Ning had led the noble ladies to make money and amass wealth, which not only humiliated Madam Wu but also made her the center of attention.
Lu Qiqi had heard about these things to some extent.
Lu Qiqi smiled faintly, "I wonder when they will return? I have something I want to give to Aunt Xiang."
The gatekeeper thought Lu Qiqi believed him, and his tense expression relaxed. He said, "The concubines only went out to buy rouge and face powder, so they probably won't be back for a while."
If the village head is in a hurry, he might as well hand the things over to me.
I will definitely deliver this to Aunt Xiang's courtyard after she returns to the manor.
Unable to enter the Wu residence, Lu Qiqi took out a makeup box and replaced the handkerchief inside with pills. These pills would nourish the blood and replenish the qi, greatly benefiting Lu Xiangxiang's health.
After handing over the makeup box, Lu Qiqi thanked him for his trouble and rode back to the camp.
On the way back to camp, Lu Qiqi decided to sneak into the Wu residence that night.
She didn't believe a single word the doorman said.
Leaving aside the relationship between Lu Xiangxiang and Aunt Ning, they were not close enough to agree to go out of the mansion together to buy rouge.
Moreover, Xiao Lingyue was born during a difficult labor, making her weak and frail, and she also suffers from asthma.
A mother who risked her life to give birth to her child.
Lu Xiangxiang would never buy rouge or face powder to do anything that would harm the child.
Lu Qiqi had just handed the makeup box to the gatekeeper when she realized why Lu Xiangxiang had put perfume powder inside.
This was a reminder that she and her child were in danger.
Lu Qiqi rode back to the camp at full speed and went to the commander's tent immediately to tell Song Yanqing about the plans for tonight.
When the curtain of the commander's tent was lifted, Lu Qiqi saw the Shadow Guards who had been sent to protect Lu Xiangxiang standing in front of Song Yanqing to report back.
What happened to my aunt?
Lu Qiqi panicked. She should have rushed into the Wu residence earlier; after all, Song Yanqing would have taken responsibility if anything happened.
Seeing her anxious expression, Song Yanqing got up and walked towards her, gently comforting her, "Nothing has happened. Calm down and listen to what the Shadow Guard has to say before making a decision."
Song Yanqing's calm voice did indeed have a soothing effect.
After taking a deep breath, Lu Qiqi sat down and listened to what the Shadow Guards had seen in the west courtyard of the Wu residence that day.
Madam Wu was actually ordered by Concubine Ning to be beaten with sticks.
This is astonishing. No matter how powerful a concubine is, she would never dare to order the wife to be beaten with sticks; it is too contrary to common sense.
In an era where the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children was so vast, if such an incident were to occur in Wu Guangping's private quarters and the censor were to find out, he would be severely impeached, which would be enough to put him in a very difficult position.
Aunt Ning was just a minor concubine. Would someone as selfish and self-serving as Wu Guangping let her give him leverage against him?
Absolutely not.
Lu Qiqi thought of something and asked for confirmation, "Who gave you that makeup box?"
The Shadow Guard recalled that there were more than a dozen servants serving in Lu Xiangxiang's courtyard, preventing him from getting close. He reported truthfully, "It was a maidservant from Aunt Xiang's side who hid the makeup box in the courtyard where the message was relayed."
That's right. Both Lu Xiangxiang and her servant Xiangling are illiterate, so they have no other way to pass messages except by word of mouth.
It was truly remarkable that they could come up with such a method to send a message to Lu Qiqi through the Shadow Guards, informing her that they were in grave danger.
After the Shadow Guard finished speaking, Lu Qiqi pondered for a moment and said, "Take your men back now to protect their safety. If necessary, show yourself and seize them by force."
As long as their safety is guaranteed, whatever happens, your young master will take responsibility.
Lu Qiqi was able to say those words because Song Yanqing gave her the confidence to do so.
Therefore, the Shadow Guard looked at Song Yanqing uncertainly and received a definite answer: "Do as Lord Kangle says."
"yes!"
Even after the Shadow Guards left, Lu Qiqi was still worried.
She said, "My aunt once said that Aunt Ning is very good at handling things, and even Madam Wu has never been able to find any fault with her."
But now she's completely changed, she's not like a normal person at all.
To be able to conceal one's true nature for so many years—such forbearance and magnanimity are not qualities possessed by ordinary women. I suspect that Aunt Ning's identity is not ordinary.
When Lu Qiqi said these words, Song Yanqing stared at her intently.
After hearing what the Shadow Guard said, he had a guess in his mind.
Ye Lin, one of Wu Guangping's subordinates, had visited Wu's residence after Wu left the city. Since Wu Guangping had no opportunity to send messages to the Tatars, it can be inferred that there must be Tatars planted in Wu's residence.
Now it seems that there's more to this Aunt Ning's identity than meets the eye.
After Lu Qiqi finished speaking, she turned her head and happened to meet Song Yanqing's eyes.
After looking at each other for a moment, the two spoke at the same time.
"Tonight, I will sneak into the Wu residence."
"Take me to the Wu residence tonight."
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