CHAPTER 353: CHAPTER 355: CONSPIRACY (PART 4)

"Are you Sister Chunyan?" The little maid said with a smile, "I am Zijuan from the First Madam’s courtyard. The First Madam is too busy and asked me to come and borrow two people from you."

Chunyan was taken aback and asked in confusion, "The First Madam wants to borrow people?" How could the First Madam come to the Fourth Madam to borrow people—is it because it’s nearby?

Zijuan nodded repeatedly, "Yes! If Sister Chunyan doesn’t believe it, you can come and see for yourself." Chunyan turned to look at Xiqiu’s main room and thought of the First Madam’s attitude toward Xiqiu. Perhaps this was a good opportunity to ease the relationship between the sisters-in-law, so she nodded and said, "Wait for me."

After speaking, Chunyan casually pointed at two nannies in the courtyard and turned to Zijuan, saying, "Take them with you." Zijuan giggled and said, "Sister Chunyan, why don’t you come along with me? You can also earn some credit with the First Madam."

Gaining credit didn’t matter to her, but... she looked back at the half-tidied study and saw Treasure Bead returning from outside with a little maid. She instructed Treasure Bead, "I’m going to the First Madam’s side. If the Lady wakes up and asks, just tell her the truth."

Thinking it was a good task to handle herself, Treasure Bead snorted coldly in her heart but smiled and nodded, "Go on, Sister Chunyan, I’ve remembered. I’ll tell the Lady later."

Without thinking further, Chunyan took the two nannies and followed Zijuan out. Treasure Bead sneered at her back and returned to her room to sleep.

Xiqiu woke up from her noon nap and was organizing clothes with Chunliu in the room. At that moment, Bihuai brought in the dinner container. Seeing the food reminded Xiqiu of Biwu, and she casually asked, "How has Biwu been moving around the residence these past two days?"

Bihuai replied with a smile, "Madam doesn’t need to worry about her. She doesn’t mind where she is as long as there’s food."

Xiqiu laughed, shook her head, and saw Ziyang come in with a pile of clothes. They spent half the day organizing in the room. Chunliu, however, was puzzled not to see Chunyan all afternoon and asked Ziyang, "Where did Chunyan go? Why haven’t I seen her?"

Xiqiu also stopped what she was doing and looked at Ziyang, who was also puzzled, "I didn’t see her. Sister Chunyan said she’d return to tidy the inner study, and I stayed in the outer yard."

Chunliu raised her eyebrows, looking at Xiqiu with a hint of unease. Xiqiu also furrowed her brows tightly. She pondered for a moment and said, "Go and ask around, see if anyone knows. Chunyan always tells someone when she goes out for errands!"

"I’ll go take a look." Saying this, she went into the yard, called out the nannies and maids, and Treasure Bead came out of her room half-asleep, mumbling, "What’s going on, making such a fuss?"

Chunliu looked at her coldly and asked, "Has anyone seen Chunyan?"

One of the nannies replied, "In the afternoon, someone from the First Madam’s courtyard came, saying they were short of staff and borrowed people from the Fourth Madam. Sister Chunyan took Nanny Zhang and Granny Liu to the First Madam."

Chunliu was stunned, confirming, "Are you sure it was someone from the First Madam’s courtyard?"

The nanny nodded emphatically and pointed at Treasure Bead, "Sister Chunliu can ask Treasure Bead. Sister Chunyan told her before she left."

Chunliu’s gaze turned to Treasure Bead, who was stunned, and her drowsiness vanished. Chunyan had indeed told her, but she had turned her head and forgotten!

Thinking for a moment, she said nonchalantly, "The person was Zijuan from the First Madam’s courtyard. Nothing should happen; why make a fuss? Sister Chunliu, just send someone to look for her!"

Chunliu clenched her fist, pointed at Treasure Bead, nodded, and turned back to the main room.

Treasure Bead, seeing Chunliu’s face with implied anger, returned to her room with a look of disdain.

Back in the room, Chunliu told Xiqiu what the nanny had said, "They said she left at noon, but it’s been three hours now, and she hasn’t returned. I should go take a look."

The First Madam would come to her room to borrow people?

Xiqiu didn’t think it was possible either. Though work was going on over there, the people coming and going were all sent by the Second Madam. The First Madam didn’t need to get involved, so why would she be short of people?!

She furrowed her brows tighter, feeling more and more that something was amiss.

"You and Bihuai go, don’t make a fuss. If she’s with the First Madam, see what she’s doing carefully, and don’t say anything extra. If she’s not..." she frowned, "Then go to the outer yard to find Tianyi and ask him to check the worksite!"

"Madam, could it be that Sister Chunyan is..." The craftsmen who came to the residence have already left; could it be some villain sneaked in?

Chunliu’s expression changed as she nodded solemnly, and she and Bihuai were about to leave when Biwu hurried in, looking pale: "Fourth Madam, the First Madam asks for you."

Xiqiu stood up quickly, her eyes cold, and looked at Biwu asking, "Did she say why?"

Biwu glanced around the full room, unable to care much, and replied, "I went to the laundry room and, passing by the First Madam’s room, saw it brightly lit. I got curious and peeked in at the door, only for a mama to rush out and tell me to ask you over... I didn’t think... it looked like something good!"

Xiqiu’s heart pounded, and she vaguely guessed what might have happened!

Chunyan had been with her for five years, as dear as sisters. She hoped she could marry smoothly and happily, whether staying by her side or leaving.

If Chunyan suffered wrongs because of her, she wouldn’t agree, no matter who it was!

With a cold, determined face, she waved her sleeve and walked out, with Chunliu, Biwu, Bihuai, and Ziyang carefully following her to the First Madam’s courtyard.

As Biwu had said, the First Madam’s courtyard door was closed, but inside was brightly lit like daytime. However, in stark contrast, the large yard was terrifyingly quiet, with not a sound to be heard. The nannies outside looked at Xiqiu with eyes filled with resentment, but Xiqiu didn’t spare them a glance as she strode in.

The First Madam sat in the main hall, her face equally cold. When Xiqiu entered, she neither rose nor offered a seat, turning her head slightly as if she didn’t want to look at her at all.

Seeing this, Xiqiu didn’t stand on ceremony and directly asked, "Sister-in-law, why have you called me here so late?"

The First Madam finally turned her head slowly, showing unreserved disgust in her eyes. She stood up and walked out, saying, "Follow me!" She immediately went out through the main door.

Xiqiu followed her across the covered corridor and entered the row of side rooms. Three rooms were aligned side by side, and the First Madam stopped at the innermost door, saying coldly, "See for yourself!" With a wave of her sleeve, she left without turning back.