"This old servant greets Consort Su!" Su Peisheng still bowed deeply.
“Eunuch Su, there’s no need to be so polite. Cui Niang, why don’t you speak with Eunuch Su?” Lan Qin said.
Cui Niang then told Su Peisheng everything about her and Lan Qin's suspicions about Zhao Quan and Li Shubao's discoveries.
"May I ask, Consort, this old servant is a little confused?" Su Peisheng was somewhat bewildered. Cui Niang only mentioned Zhao Quan's unusual behavior, without revealing her own suspicions, as this matter would also implicate Su Peisheng himself. Therefore, both Lanqin and Cui Niang were careful with their words.
"Eunuch Su, Lanqin has a question, and hopes you will answer truthfully. After leaving this South Courtyard, did you mention anything about the South Courtyard to anyone on your way back? Did you unintentionally or indirectly have someone do anything on your behalf?" Lanqin tried to use the word "unintentionally" because she believed that Su Peisheng was absolutely loyal to the Fourth Master.
Su Peisheng was extremely shrewd. Upon hearing this, he immediately became alert and stared at Lanqin, speechless.
“Father-in-law, there’s no need to worry. Lanqin isn’t here to interrogate you. Rather, Lanqin suspects that someone has leaked some information about the South Courtyard. She has already searched the South Courtyard and found no one to suspect. So she wondered if Father-in-law might have inadvertently overheard Fourth Master’s words or Lanqin’s words. If so, this is a perfect opportunity to eliminate that spy in one fell swoop,” Lanqin said to Su Peisheng.
Su Peisheng felt as if he had nails stuck to the soles of his feet, and his throat felt like it was being choked; he simply stood there, speechless. His mind raced, trying to recall if there really was someone like that around him.
What was that? Once, no, several times, I think I said it to Zhao Quan, when he was tidying up my room or serving me meals, I couldn't help but say a few words.
Su Peisheng suddenly knelt down, his knees buckling, and said in a trembling voice, "This old servant was careless and accidentally said some things that Zhao Quan, that little brat, heard."
Seeing Su Peisheng kneel down, Lanqin immediately gestured to Cui Niang to help him up, and hurriedly said, "Father-in-law, please get up. Lanqin said that she is not here to interrogate you."
With Cui Niang's help, Su Peisheng stood up and said gratefully, "Thank you, Consort. If it weren't for your reminder, this old servant would have completely forgotten about these things."
“Eunuch Su, the concubine now suspects that Zhao Quan may have secretly spread what he heard from you and taken money from others, otherwise where would he get so much money to gamble?” Cui Niang said.
"This little rascal has always been well-behaved and quite clever, so this old servant sometimes entrusts him with some tasks. Unexpectedly, this servant has become greedy and dared to exchange his master's words for money. Consort, should we report this to the master?" Although Su Peisheng was extremely reluctant to tell the Fourth Master that it was his loose tongue that allowed someone to overhear, if Zhao Quan had indeed listened to his words and thus started a conversation with a mistress in the inner quarters, then he could not shirk his responsibility.
“There’s no need to tell Fourth Master. Besides, Eunuch Su will also be implicated. Let’s resolve this privately ourselves,” Lanqin said gently.
Upon hearing Lanqin's words, Su Peisheng was filled with gratitude. He wished he could kneel down before this concubine again. Moved, he said, "This old servant is deeply grateful to the concubine. If I have the opportunity in the future, I will do my utmost to repay her."
Su Peisheng's most prestigious asset was the Fourth Master's complete trust in him. If this incident involving Zhao Quan ruined his reputation, he would be truly ashamed and would have to swallow the bitter pill. Now, Lan Qin was willing to cover it up for him and even told him the truth, which was a huge favor she had done him.
Seeing Su Peisheng's attitude, Lanqin said, "We don't need you to do this later. Right now, we need to find out whether Zhao Quan is a spy. We'll have to rely on Eunuch Su for all of this."
Su Peisheng had no choice but to respond, and quickly said, "Please give your instructions, Consort."
Lanqin smiled and gestured for Cui Niang to speak.
“Eunuch Su, if you just give Zhao Quan the information again and then carefully send someone to keep an eye on him, you can find out whether he is a spy or not,” Cui Niang said.
Su Peisheng pondered for a moment and said, "That's not difficult, but I don't know what kind of message to give him?"
Lanqin then said, "Just say that Fourth Prince had a falling out with me, and in a fit of anger, he left me and went back to the front courtyard."
Su Peisheng thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "If the master doesn't go back tonight, the gatekeepers will know. Zhao Quan has always been close to them, so he'll definitely find out."
Lanqin's expression hardened, and she said, "This concubine will naturally arrange for Fourth Master to return to the front courtyard tonight. You don't need to worry about that."
Meanwhile, Lanqin was plotting with Su Peisheng and Cui Niang how to put on a good show for Zhao Quan, while over there, Fourth Master had already tidied up Wuxiha and was holding her in his arms, teasing her.
“Your Highness, it’s time for the Third Princess to go to sleep. Please entrust her to me,” the wet nurse said, mustering her courage.
Fourth Master looked at the clock on the stone tablet, which had already pointed to ten, but Lanqin still hadn't returned.
Fourth Master handed Wuxiha to the wet nurse, waved his hand, and then called Nianxue to go to the study to call Lanqin.
After a while, Nianxue returned, and Su Peisheng followed her back, but Lanqin was nowhere to be seen.
"Your Majesty, the concubine says she wishes to read today. Please return to the front courtyard," Nianxue said, having mustered her courage.
What? You want to kick me out? Fourth Master looked at Nianxue in surprise, seemingly unable to believe that the girl's words came from Lanqin.
"Does she really want me to go somewhere else?" Fourth Master suddenly asked angrily.
"Your Majesty, the concubine may be a little tired. Perhaps this servant should escort you back." Su Peisheng was afraid that the Fourth Prince might get agitated and remain unmoved, instead going to find Lanqin to ask for clarification.
"Alright, I'm going back now. Let your mistress rest well; the Banjin Festival must have been exhausting for her." Fourth Master sighed; he couldn't figure out what Lanqin was up to either.
Su Peisheng breathed a sigh of relief and quickly followed behind Fourth Master. Nianxue watched them leave and sighed as well, thinking to herself: Everyone else is looking forward to Master's departure, but Master just lets him go back like that. What if Master is really angry?
After they actually left, two doors carved with the Three Friends of Winter (bamboo, bamboo, and frost) suddenly pushed open from the inside of the tightly closed study.
"Master, is the master really angry?" Cui Niang muttered worriedly from the side.
"If she's angry, just coax her a little." Lanqin looked up at the fuzzy moon in the sky.
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