CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: DON’T SLANDER ME!

"This maid deserves to die!" The maid said in a panic, kneeling down.

"Forget it, it’s nothing." Fu Mingzhu got up, not wanting to make a fuss during Xiao Yingyue’s birthday, and called Qiu Li, "You come with me to change clothes."

The maid hurriedly said, "I’ll take Miss to the guest room."

Fu Shinian, watching this series of actions, felt something was wrong and got up, saying, "Sister, I’ll go with you."

The little maid did not stop them.

Fu Shinian then took Chunmian along to follow.

"Qiu Li, stay close to sister." Fu Shinian instructed.

Outside the guest room, Fu Shinian said to Fu Mingzhu, "Sister, Chunmian and I will wait outside. If anything happens, just call us."

"Alright." Fu Mingzhu saw how serious Fu Shinian was and sensed something might be wrong.

Actually, she was also puzzled; the little maid was so jittery as if she had been waiting for her to take the snacks and then conveniently overturned the teapot.

But since Fu Shinian and Xiao Yingyue were on good terms and favored by Old Madam Xiao, she couldn’t think of anyone in the Marquis’s residence who needed to plot against her.

Nevertheless, Fu Mingzhu remained cautious, saying to Fu Shinian, "I will be careful."

Entering the guest room with Qiu Li, Fu Mingzhu first took a glance; there was no incense burning inside.

"Qiu Li, check around here. Is there anything unusual?" Fu Mingzhu said, "Something hidden, or perhaps someone."

"Yes." Qiu Li meticulously searched, not missing the inside of the cabinet.

"Miss, it’s clean and nothing’s wrong." Fu Mingzhu was somewhat relieved.

Qiu Li handed the clothes she brought to Fu Mingzhu to change.

Attending parties often resulted in a bit of mess.

Thus, noble women always brought one or two sets of clothes to change into for such events.

Fu Shinian was waiting anxiously. The guest room door opened, and seeing Fu Mingzhu come out, Fu Shinian held Fu Mingzhu’s hand, "Sister, everything normal?"

Fu Mingzhu nodded, "I was puzzled too. After going in, I had Qiu Li check every nook and cranny, and there was nothing unusual."

"They made such a fuss to get me to change clothes, yet did nothing." Fu Mingzhu wondered, "Could it really be that the maid was careless?"

Fu Shinian shook her head, still somewhat incredulous, "The Old Madam runs the household strictly, and the servants in the Marquis’s residence are disciplined rigorously; such carelessness wouldn’t happen."

"Don’t think too much of it; let’s return." Fu Shinian said.

As long as the sisters were together, they wouldn’t fall into a trap.

Just as they were about to return to the banquet via the garden, they saw many people walking in the opposite direction, causing a commotion.

Fu Shinian happened to see Zheng Sulan and stopped her to ask, "What’s going on?"

"It’s just Lin Qingqing claiming a hairpin is missing." Zheng Sulan said, "This is the Marquis’s residence. If the servants are not clean-handed, it would disgrace the Marquis. So we’ve been ordered to search everywhere."

"In the middle of searching, suddenly a maid screamed." Zheng Sulan added, "We’re rushing over to see what’s going on."

"Who knows what happened; hurry up or it’ll be over." Zheng Sulan, afraid to miss the excitement, hurriedly dragged her maid away, ignoring Fu Shinian and Fu Mingzhu.

"Sister, let’s go see too." Fu Shinian said.

Fu Mingzhu nodded and quickly followed Fu Shinian.

Following the crowd, they soon arrived at a guest room.

Inside, the sounds of a man’s heavy breathing and a woman’s crying out could be heard.

"Don’t listen." Xiao Chengyu’s voice came from behind.

Immediately, Fu Shinian’s ears were covered by Xiao Chengyu.

The sound was already faint coming from inside the room.

With Xiao Chengyu covering her ears, she couldn’t hear a thing.

"Come over, don’t join the crowd." Xiao Chengyu covered Fu Shinian’s ears, leading her to a tree in the back.

Fu Mingzhu opened her mouth, wasn’t Xiao Chengyu aware of her presence beside him?

Just taking her sister away like that?

Fortunately, it was crowded now, everyone was watching the show, nobody noticed Xiao Chengyu and Fu Shinian.

As the elder sister, Fu Mingzhu couldn’t let her sister be alone with a man like that, so she brought Qiu Li over too.

"What’s going on inside?" Fu Shinian curiously asked Xiao Chengyu, "Who’s inside?"

Xiao Chengyu paused, saying, "It’s Master Xiao Fengxing."

"As for the other person..." Xiao Chengyu shook his head, "Not known yet."

In the hall, Old Madam Xiao heard Nanny Wang’s report, saying, "What? Lin Qingqing is outside? Who’s in the room?"

Old Madam Xiao knew Xiao Chengyu intended to set Xiao Fengxing and Fu Mingzhu up to cancel their engagement, and she started plotting.

This is why she invited Lin Qingqing to Xiao Yingyue’s birthday banquet.

Since Xiao Fengxing had been involved with Lin Qingqing, she might as well help them, pushing things along.

Old Madam Xiao ran the household, such little tricks could never escape her watchful eyes.

She knew of Auntie Liu’s schemes.

She supposed it was because lately, Fu Mingzhu and Fu Shinian had gained the favor of the Empress, and Fu Mingzhu no longer paid attention to Xiao Fengxing like before.

Auntie Liu and Xiao Fengxing were anxious and used a stupid trick.

Planning to force Fu Mingzhu and Xiao Fengxing into marriage.

How could they allow such vile acts in the Marquis’s residence?

Since Xiao Fengxing and Lin Qingqing were involved, Old Madam Xiao decided to fulfill Xiao Fengxing and Lin Qingqing.

Arranged to take Fu Mingzhu away, and give the tea to Lin Qingqing.

Who would have thought Lin Qingqing didn’t drink it?

Who drank it then?

Old Madam Xiao was puzzled too, hoping it didn’t involve another family’s girl.

Thus, Old Madam Xiao hurriedly brought Nanny Wang to the guest room.

Fu Shinian and Fu Mingzhu were under the tree with Xiao Chengyu waiting, when they saw Madam Fu hurrying over, her face not looking good, Fu Shinian hurriedly called, "Mother!"

Madam Fu looked over at the sound, seeing both of them safe, she immediately let out a sigh of relief, quickly coming over, "I was worried sick when I couldn’t find you two."

Seeing Xiao Chengyu there, Madam Fu greeted, "Thank you, Marquis, for taking care of them."

"No need for thanks, Madam."

The sound from the guest room faded, Auntie Liu hadn’t seen Fu Mingzhu and Fu Shinian under the tree, and hurriedly ran over, loudly muttering, "How could it be? It can’t be Miss Fu from the Fu family in the room!"

Her maid cooperated, "The maid saw Miss Fu enter the guest room to change clothes, it couldn’t be such a coincidence..."

"This... Tell me, why are they in such a hurry? They’re set to marry next year, but they insist on now..." Auntie Liu shook her head, talking.

Fu Mingzhu heard this, angered, rushed over, "What about me? I’m right here, don’t throw dirt on me!"