The old nanny Gui was in charge of the laundry room at the Fourth Prince's residence. She didn't recognize Cui Niang when she entered, as Cui Niang rarely interacted with them. Most of the clothes in the south courtyard were brought there by Si Hua and Lan Qi, so she didn't bother with them.
The courtyard was filled with elderly women washing various clothes, and clothes racks were set up everywhere.
"Granny, which courtyard are you from? Are you here to collect your clothes?" A short, fat old woman carrying a basket of clothes walked over and happened to see Cui Niang looking around blankly.
"Grandma, I wonder which lady washed the bedding that we just got from the Third Prince's place? My master said he left something important in there. Please do me the favor of taking me to look for it," Cui Niang said anxiously, praying in her heart that it would be washed, otherwise everything on it would be gone.
"This is just a small token of my appreciation. Please take me to look for it, Mother-in-law. If we find it, my master will definitely thank you properly." Cui Niang quickly took out some silver and stuffed it into the old woman's hand.
There's hardly any reward in the laundry room; on the contrary, you get scolded quite often. If anyone makes a mistake and ruins the clothes, they'll be beaten and have their monthly wages deducted. So, those assigned here are mostly older servants who have made mistakes in the past.
The old woman was overjoyed to see the small amount of silver. She immediately put down her basket and said to Cui Niang with a smile, "Come with me. Everything we brought this morning is with Granny Wu. Come on, I'll take you there."
Cui Niang quickly thanked her and followed the old woman inside. They came to a corner and saw an old woman of about the same age shaking out the clothes in a basket one by one.
"Old Wu, where are the bedding that those little rascals from the front yard brought over this morning?" asked the old woman who was with Cui Niang.
"Aren't they all here? Those who aren't are in the water." Granny Wu didn't even look at them, just kept busy with her work.
"Auntie, look, it's all here. Why don't you pick it up and take a look yourself?" the old woman said to Cui Niang.
"Okay. Thank you, Grandma. Let me take a look." Cui Niang quickly thanked her and immediately bent down to pick up the things spread out in the basket.
"Finally found it." Cui Niang was overjoyed to find the Third Prince's quilt and mattress at the bottom of the basket.
“Grandma, I’m taking all of these with me,” Cui Niang said to Granny Wu.
"Take it with you. Anyway, the people in the front yard said they don't want these anymore. They all look brand new to me, it's a waste to throw them away." Old Mrs. Wu originally wanted to wash them and keep them for herself, but she didn't expect Cui Niang to come looking for her.
"Please take this money. Our master will definitely come to thank you after he has used it up." Cui Niang picked up the quilt and pillow, then quickly turned and left.
Unbeknownst to her, shortly after she stepped out, Lingxiu from the main courtyard approached with a young maid.
Cui Niang ran along carrying the quilt, knowing that Lan Qin must have discovered the secret hidden in the quilt, so she dared not stop for a moment.
As Lingxiu entered the laundry room, she glanced disdainfully at the old servants filling the courtyard. Upon seeing Lingxiu, Granny Gui immediately put on a smile, ran to Lingxiu, and bowed her head, saying, "Oh, isn't this Miss Lingxiu? What wind blew you to this godforsaken place?"
Lingxiu was very satisfied with Gui Mama's respect and flattery. She glanced at her sideways and said, "Are the bedding and pillows that I took from the Third Prince this morning here? Find them for me quickly, the Princess Consort needs them."
Upon hearing this, Granny Gui was immediately startled and thought to herself: Didn't an aunt just leave with bedding and other items? Could it be that Lingxiu is also here to find that bedding?
"What's wrong? Didn't you hear what I said?" Lingxiu said impatiently when she saw that Granny Gui did not reply immediately.
"Yes, this servant will immediately send someone to fetch what the young lady wants," Granny Gui replied hastily, then called out a few words to Granny Wu in the distance.
Not knowing what was going on, Granny Wu put down her work, stood up, wiped her wet hands on her apron, and jogged over.
"Granny Wu, where are the quilt and pillow we got from the Third Prince this morning? Find them quickly. Miss Lingxiu wants them," Granny Gui said sternly.
What? Another person wants that?
Upon hearing that it was about the Third Prince's bedding again, Granny Wu pondered for a moment and said, "It's already been taken. Didn't that aunt just take it?"
"What? You said someone took it?" Lingxiu asked anxiously and angrily.
"She didn't say who she was, and this old servant doesn't recognize her. She's already taken those things," Granny Wu said in a slightly fearful whisper.
"Granny Gui, who took things from your place? Don't you all know?" Lingxiu asked Granny Gui, leaving Granny Wu behind.
"Oh dear, Miss Lingxiu, they said they didn't want those things when they were delivered, but who knew you noble ladies would all want them? That auntie just now looked unfamiliar; she's never been here before," said Granny Gui with a bitter face.
"What did that person look like? What were they wearing?" Lingxiu wanted to scold and beat them, but she also knew that she had to find out who took those things as soon as possible.
Granny Gui described Cui Niang's appearance and clothing, but Lingxiu turned around and left in a hurry after hearing only half of it.
Lingxiu ran back to the main courtyard and told the Fujin that Cui Niang from the south courtyard had already taken those things.
"What? You mean it's Cui Niang from the South Courtyard?" The Fujin's expression changed immediately. "No, no way. How could she know the problem was with the quilt and pillow that I, the Fujin, gave to the Third Prince? Impossible. They couldn't possibly have thought of that."
“But if they don’t know, how can they take those things? Your Highness?” Lingxiu asked the Fujin cautiously.
"No, no way. Damn it, we should have taken those things away long ago. How could Lady Niu have thought of this?!" the Fujin said almost hysterically.
“Princess Consort, please don’t be anxious. Although those beddings were given to the Third Prince by you, they have already been taken away by the people from the South Courtyard. Just deny doing anything. As long as His Majesty cannot find the source of the lily of the valley pollen poison, we can deny everything,” Lingxiu said.
The princess consort calmed down a little and kept stirring the handkerchief in her hand, saying, "You're right. If we take the girl from the South Courtyard now, we can give me a reason to say that they deliberately framed me."
“That’s right. As long as the Princess Consort denies it to the death, let the Master investigate.” Lingxiu said with a smile.
"Go to Lady Wu and tell her to do what she promised me as soon as possible," the Princess said coldly.
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