"Her? She won't be happy. Princess Duan wants to disgust me and brings up Hong Zhe again. Oh, I almost forgot. When you go back tomorrow, ask Mother Kong to find out if there's anything going on between Meng Juan and Hong Zhe, or between Meng Juan and Madam Hong. From what Princess Duan said today, I'm afraid there's something we don't know."
Yuan Dong nodded. "Yes, don't worry. I'll return to the mansion with Madam Liu tomorrow morning. When are you going to tell the prince about the birthday gift?"
Meng Qi stood up and walked to the window. It was getting dark outside. The setting sun had already hidden behind the high wall, leaving only a hint of red reflected there.
"I'll tell you tonight. When I go there tonight, tell Lixia and Xiaoman to keep a close eye on it and see if anyone goes there."
"Princess, what do you mean?"
"I remember Yuanyue talking about the woman who went to the west courtyard."
"Do you suspect she's meeting Eunuch Li?"
Meng Qi turned around and said, "I don't know, it's just a hunch. Yuanyue saw him twice, and the clues we found the next day all had traces of Li Mancang. If the man yesterday was really Li Mancang, he would definitely be concerned about whether today's event was successful. So, spread the word, whoever goes to that road to get information will be more suspicious."
"Go ahead and make preparations quickly. The focus is on Huamuyuan and Jinmoju. Call Wang Chenghai in."
Yuandong understood that the woman Yuanyue mentioned went back to the east, and these two courtyards were the most suspicious.
Wang Chenghai came in hunched over, bowed and greeted her first, then asked with concern, "Princess, are you okay?"
Meng Qi thought about it and realized what Wang Chenghai meant by asking if she was okay. She smiled slightly and said, "I was framed by a villain, and the prince had no choice but to do it for others to see."
"These villains are so despicable. They will regret it one day."
"You're right. We don't need to rush. We can just take turns on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month. How is it? What can we find out?"
Wang Chenghai straightened up, "Xiao Shunzi followed Concubine Lin and Aunt Bai back to the Duke's Mansion, but Concubine Lin asked Liunian to drive a carriage and take a road opposite to the Duke's Mansion."
"Where are we going?"
"Xiao Shunzi didn't know about it at first, but later when the driver of that carriage returned to the Duke's Mansion, Xiao Shunzi learned that Concubine Lin had sent that carriage of things directly to her aunt's family home."
"What? Lin is actually still supporting her aunt's family?" Meng Qi had never known about this.
Wang Chenghai said, "I don't know the specific situation. I will ask Xiao Chunzi to go out and find out something tomorrow."
Meng Qi nodded. "There's no need to worry. Aunt Lin's family isn't worth our concern. Let's continue."
"Yes, after Xiao Shunzi helped unload the car, he was invited to the back room in the outer courtyard. He found an excuse to go out and was watching outside. Not long after, he saw Aunt Bai, who had changed her clothes, leave through the side door."
"Bai? Changed clothes?" Meng Qi asked coldly.
"Yes, I was wearing a veil, very tight."
"Then how did Xiao Shunzi know it was Bai?"
"First, Xiao Shunzi serves in the inner house all year round, especially doing the hard work at Aunt Bai's place. He often goes there. Second, Xiao Shunzi remembers the shoes Aunt Bai wore today very clearly. When Aunt Bai went out again, she only changed her clothes but not her shoes."
Meng Qi nodded. "Your two disciples are really good and very attentive. It's all thanks to your training."
Wang Chenghai chuckled, "Princess, you are praising me. We are in this inner palace day in and day out, dealing with only a few masters. If I can't remember such a small thing, what's the point of doing this job?"
Meng Qi hummed, "And then?"
"When Aunt Bai turned the corner of the Jue Mansion, there was an ordinary sedan waiting there. Xiao Shunzi followed it for a while until he saw it heading towards Qingquan Street. He couldn't follow anymore because he was afraid of going too far and arousing suspicion."
Qingquan Street? Meng Qi frowned in thought. Wang Chenghai stepped forward and said, "I've inquired about it. Qingquan Street and Qingsong Street, where the Yongkang Viscount's residence is located, are the two most expensive streets in the south of the city. Even if you have money, it's not easy to afford a house. Almost all the people living on Qingquan Street are officials of the fourth rank or above, or relatives of the emperor."
Meng Qi looked at Wang Chenghai's expression and felt that she had used this person's reputation too early. "Did you find out?"
"Yes, there are five families on that street, and one of them is named Guan."
"Guan?" Meng Qi frowned as she thought about this surname. It seemed that there was no one with the surname Guan among those she had contact with.
Wang Chenghai chuckled, "Princess, the former princess of Prince Duan's Mansion was surnamed Guan."
What? The Princess Duan who went there was named Guan?
Meng Qi paced back and forth. Could it be that Bai was Prince Duan's woman? What about Xiao Lin?
"It's a pity that Xiao Shunzi didn't see whether Aunt Bai entered the Guan family." Wang Chenghai said regretfully.
"Don't be afraid, as long as you know the direction. This matter is too important. Xiao Shunzi will be credited with a great deed today. In that case, find a reason to pull Xiao Shunzi out. I will arrange for someone to cooperate with him and make sure to investigate whether Bai really went to Guan's house today. I think if Bai really went to Guan's house, no matter how well she hid it, there would always be someone who opened the door and had servants walking around."
Wang Chenghai responded, "Don't worry, Princess. I'll go and arrange for Xiao Shunzi to keep an eye on this matter."
Meng Qi nodded. "As for Bai's place, discuss it with Yuandong and have them send a maid or a servant to keep an eye on her. Don't miss any of her actions in the inner house, especially if she goes to Xiaolin's place. It's summer now, so it shouldn't be difficult to hear any noise in the grass, behind the wall, or at the back of the house."
Wang Chenghai's face lit up, "I understand, what about Concubine Lin?"
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com