Seeing that the maid was unfamiliar, Song Xibai gave her a polite smile and asked her a question.
"You're not a maid in the Princess's courtyard, are you?"
The maid's expression changed slightly, and then she snorted.
"Why are you, an outsider, asking about this? Just come with me."
"Do you know who my master is? How dare you speak to my master like that? Is this how the Prince of Wu's mansion disciplines its servants?"
Even the usually quiet Wei Hong was angered and couldn't help but scold him.
The maidservant was so angry that her face turned red, not expecting that the two of them would dare to resist.
"You're just a lowly concubine's daughter, yet you dare to act so arrogantly in our Prince's mansion? If it weren't for our master's consideration for our sisterhood and her desire to help you, would you even be able to enter our Prince Wu's mansion with your status?"
Song Xibai patted Wei Hong's hand.
She realized that the maid seemed to have mistaken her for someone else.
Wei Hong realized this and was immediately furious.
"Open your dog eyes and look carefully! What concubine's daughter? What sisters? My master has absolutely no relation to the concubines of your royal manor!"
The next moment, the maid's expression changed drastically, and she stared at Song Xibai with wide eyes.
"How could this be..."
Song Xibai's smile remained unchanged. Without even glancing at her, he turned and instructed Wei Hong.
"Take it and give it to Princess Wu."
Wei Hong's eyes lit up instantly. She strode forward, kicked the maid in the back of the knee, and simultaneously grabbed her hands, twisting them to subdue her.
The maid realized she had made a grave mistake, and her face turned deathly pale in an instant.
"Honorable guest, I was blind and mistook you for someone else. Please forgive me!"
Song Xibai clicked her tongue twice.
"Those two faces, they change so quickly!"
The maid didn't know Song Xibai's true identity. She only knew that she had mistaken someone for someone else and failed to complete her mission, so she would definitely be punished.
She trembled like a leaf, pleading desperately, but Song Xibai wouldn't listen and went straight to the reception room in the main courtyard.
In the short time it took for them to come and go, the number of people in the living room decreased considerably.
When Princess Wu's personal maid, Lüyu, saw Song Xibai, she quickly bowed and explained.
"The opera has started on the stage in the backyard. The Princess Consort has specially invited Xiao Bailian, a famous actress from the capital. Would you like to go and take a look, Consort Liang?"
Song Xibai glanced around the hall and, seeing that there were only three relatives of the Princess Wu, she had no more reservations and had Wei Hong push the maid in.
"Just now I went out to change my clothes, but I unexpectedly encountered this maid. She said a lot of strange things and insisted on taking me to other places."
After Song Xibai finished speaking, a solemn expression appeared on Lvyu's face.
"I'm sorry, it's all because the household didn't discipline her properly and she offended Consort Liang. Don't worry, I'll have someone take her away and keep a close watch on her right away."
Song Xibai nodded and added casually.
"She seems to have mistaken me for a concubine's half-sister. Miss Green Jade, you must interrogate her carefully."
Green Jade's expression changed, and she looked at the maid with eyes that seemed to spit fire.
"Thank you for the reminder, Consort Xi."
Green Jade beckoned to two old women, who then locked the terrified, begging maid in the woodshed before hurriedly leaving.
Song Xibai walked around the living room, exchanged a few pleasantries with the three ladies, and then asked an old woman to lead the way. The two of them, mistress and servant, headed towards the stage.
On the way, Wei Hong couldn't help but ask a question.
"Master, shouldn't we stay and see what happens next? That maid's disrespect towards you is truly excessive!"
Song Xibai raised an eyebrow.
"We have to save face for Princess Wu! It's so embarrassing that I, an outsider, stumbled upon this problem in the manor! If I stay any longer, she'll probably feel uncomfortable. It's better to go watch a play for a while and come back after the interrogation."
Wei Hong thought about it and agreed: "Your Majesty is very thoughtful. It's just a pity that I don't know what this maid and her master are planning to do."
Song Xi scoffed.
"What can they do? Nothing more than framing someone and climbing into someone's bed."
The maid addressed her as "Madam," indicating that the concubine's half-sister was married.
That's incredibly bold!
I just don't know who they originally wanted to design?
Song Xibai was curious too!
She wondered if it would be alright to have the Crown Prince inquire about it when she got back.
Just then, we arrived at the stage.
The stage is located in the southeast corner of the Prince's Mansion's back garden, not far from the main courtyard. It is surrounded by open space with not much tall vegetation.
Although it's called a stage, it's actually quite a large courtyard.
As Song Xibai entered the courtyard, she heard the melodious strains of opera singing. To be honest, it was quite pleasant to listen to; the tune was long and the voice was as sweet and melodious as a nightingale's song.
Song Xibai was surprised to find that she could actually understand a few sentences.
She found a seat towards the back, listened to the play, chatted with some people for a while, and then got up when she figured it was about time.
Just as I was about to leave, a familiar-looking maid quietly approached me.
"Your Highness, my princess consort requests your presence."
Song Xibai glanced at her; she was a familiar maid, probably from the main courtyard.
However, she didn't agree immediately. Instead, she called over the old woman who had led the way earlier and had Wei Hong give her a small purse, which the old woman accepted with a broad smile.
The old woman and the maid greeted each other.
Song Xibai was finally relieved and followed the maid toward the main courtyard.
Upon arriving at the main courtyard, Song Xibai was not taken to the reception room, but was instead led directly to Princess Wu's main room.
Inside the spacious room, several maids stood to one side, not daring to utter a sound.
Princess Wu sat in the seat of honor with a sullen face, her round face showing a hint of anger.
As soon as Song Xibai entered the room, the murderous aura on Princess Wu's face vanished, replaced by a smile, and she rose to greet him.
"Today's events are all thanks to Consort Liangdi."
Song Xibai remained composed and respectful, and took the initiative to bow, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Princess Wu took her arm and affectionately led the five people to the main seats.
"I'm a few years older than you, so I've shamelessly called you 'little sister.' If I weren't your little sister today, I would have really lost face."
Song Xibai humbly replied, "It was just a coincidence; the maid mistook me for someone else."
Princess Wu nodded, pulled her to sit down, and ordered the maids to serve tea and snacks. She also ordered someone to bring hot water for Song Xibai to wipe her hands, and all the maids in the room immediately sprang into action.
Many of the servants withdrew, leaving only two personal maids. Afterward, Princess Wu recounted the events of earlier in detail.
"That maidservant served Consort Lin in the back courtyard. Consort Lin came from the Yongchang Earl's mansion, and she had a half-sister who married into the family of the Minister of Rites. Consort Lin was not favored by our Prince, but she was lucky enough to have two sons. Her half-sister was unlucky; her husband died of illness not long after she married into the family, and she was subsequently sent back to her parents' home..."
Song Xibai listened very attentively.
She hadn't expected the Princess of Wu to bring this up herself. Aren't such family scandals usually covered up as much as possible?
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