The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 132 - A Deceptive Move

It had been about ten days since Song Chuyi left the palace, yet she still couldn't find the right moment to have Qingying go out and contact Ma Yongfu and his associates—the surveillance from Han Zhi's men was simply too intense. They weren't just watching outside the Bo Residence; even around the Cui family's estate near the Imperial City, there were several spies keeping watch.

She had always thought that someone like Han Zhi was a cold-blooded, emotionless being. She hadn't expected him to be so relentless; the death of Wei Yanjun had genuinely infuriated him.

Seeing her frustration, Qingying couldn't help but share her concern. "It's worrisome that Fourth Young Master will soon be traveling back from Shuzhong, with only a few attendants by his side. Yet these spies are like bloodhounds—any movement here is immediately noticed. The other day, even when I went with Nanny Xu to deliver peach blossom dumplings to the Cui Residence, they didn't let us out of their sight."

Song Chuyi placed the ink monkey back into its bamboo holder and hung it on the brush rack. After a long pause, she asked, "Has Ma Yongfu sent no message to the Cui Residence?"

These were all clever people, each one sharp and resourceful. If there was even the slightest chance, they should have seized it. But with ten days gone by and no sign at all, could something have happened?

They had planned to scatter in different directions to escape. If something had gone wrong, at least one person would have come forward with a report. Unless Han Zhi had managed to capture all of them in one sweep.

The feeling of being constantly monitored and forced to act cautiously was unbearable. Song Chuyi traced a finger along the faint green outline on the celadon plate on her desk and then suddenly stood up.

She couldn't just sit around doing nothing. She needed Ma Yongfu and his men for Song Yan's sake, and she also couldn't risk Han Zhi capturing them, which would lead to even greater troubles.

"Prepare the carriage. I'm going to my uncle's residence."

Luyi looked surprised, glancing at Qingying and then back at Song Chuyi, hesitating. "Miss, perhaps it's best to wait a few more days... Lady He from Duke Ying's household has been coming to our residence frequently lately. With everything going on, if you run into her, it might be difficult to explain."

Recently, Lady He had been visiting frequently due to arranging Song Chumi's marriage and had grown closer to the Changning Marquis Estate. Although Old Lady Song didn't care much for her, she couldn't deny her completely and had to allow her repeated visits.

Just as she finished speaking, Bilian cheerfully popped her head in and called out, "Miss, the Heir's wife from Duke Ying's household is here! The Old Lady has asked you to join her."

Luyi spread her hands with a slight air of impatience, then scoffed at Bilian, "What's it to you if she feeds or clothes you? Why do you shout so much every time she arrives? You don't act this eager any other time."

Bilian, her bright eyes darting around mischievously, giggled before ducking back out.

Song Chuyi's interest was piqued. Bilian was a maid bought from outside, with no real roots here. She had taken a washerwoman as her godmother to help support herself, which left her constantly in need of money—her godmother took most of her monthly earnings. Because of this, Bilian had a habit of scheming and currying favor. Even though she knew Song Yi wasn't well-received in Song Chuyi's quarters, she had dared to display the flowers he sent. And last time in the garden, she had even turned a blind eye, allowing Shen Qingrang to approach the Zhuiyue Pavilion.

A maid as motivated by money as Bilian might actually prove useful.

Song Chuyi waved Bilian in, giving her a quick once-over before smiling and asking, "Have you been out much?"

Maidservants bought from rural backgrounds usually enjoyed roaming the streets early on, familiarizing themselves with the best places to buy rouge or handkerchiefs.

Sure enough, Bilian's eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly. "When I worked with my godmother washing clothes in the outer courtyard, I often went out to buy things, so I know the nearby area well."

Recently promoted to a second-rank maid for her skill in needlework, Bilian had reached her position after four or five years, finally making it to Song Chuyi's Guanju Courtyard.

The maids typically accompanying Song Chuyi—Qingying, Qingtao, Luyi, and Ziyun—were all too recognizable to move about as discreetly as Bilian.

Thinking it through, Song Chuyi played along with Bilian's eager expression and brought up her godmother. "I've heard that some of the maids have godmothers, but I also hear they can be rather harsh. How about you run an errand for me? Head out and hire a carriage to go to my uncle's residence, and I'll help you out a bit."

A smart maid could assess a situation quickly, and Bilian nodded without hesitation. "Not to boast, Miss, but back in the day, when my family was doing well, my father worked as a bodyguard. I grew up knowing every corner of the capital."

Bilian knew how highly regarded Song Chuyi was in the Song family. Previously, she had dismissed any thoughts of rising through the ranks, assuming the four main maids left no room for her. So, she had turned to collecting small perks wherever she could. But those small gains paled in comparison to being close to someone like Song Chuyi. Now that Song Chuyi had given her a chance, she would hold onto it for dear life.

Song Chuyi gave a small, approving smile, but her tone grew firm. "But let me be clear—this matter must stay between us. If anyone else finds out..."

Understanding the weight of this warning, Bilian clenched her fists, cold sweat forming on her brow. After a long moment, she nodded resolutely. "If anyone else hears of this, I wouldn't deserve to live."

She was indeed a smart girl who knew how to weigh her options and seemed to have the discretion necessary for this task. Song Chuyi picked a gold bracelet from her desk, along with a bamboo tube, and handed them to Bilian. "The bracelet is for you; the bamboo tube is for my aunt."

Once Bilian had accepted the items and left, Song Chuyi instructed Ziyun and Luyi, "You two should also prepare to leave. Go to my uncle's residence and deliver a few boxes of pastries. Take a few extra attendants with you."

Han Zhi's people weren't all-seeing. After ten days of no activity, their vigilance would have likely waned. By sending Luyi and Ziyun to distract them, she could divert attention away from Bilian, who was inconspicuous enough not to attract notice. After all, with twenty to thirty servants going in and out of the Changning Marquis Estate every day, Han Zhi's people wouldn't have the resources to tail each one.