The Jiao residence was quiet after the day's commotion. Except for the guards on patrol, everyone from the masters to the servants slept soundly.
A figure silently scaled the wall and entered the Jiao mansion's garden. The moonlight shone down, revealing the intruder was dressed in the simple gray attire of a servant within the mansion. With his unremarkable features, even a guard would have mistaken him for a young servant heading out for a late-night visit.
From the shadows, He Sheng signaled and followed, heading in the direction of Zhujun Xuan, where Jiao Lianyu resided.
Meanwhile, at Caiwei Xuan, the candlelight remained bright. Zhan Feiyu put down her brush, stretching her stiff arm that had been bent over her desk for too long.
"Miss," He Nuan entered from outside and quickly approached, expertly beginning to massage Zhan Feiyu's arm. "Someone just infiltrated the premises. Big Brother has already followed. They're heading to Zhujun Xuan."
"Bamboo elegance, a gentleman's virtue; verdant and green even in the cold. I wonder if Jiao Lianyu truly lives up to the title of gentleman." Zhan Feiyu glanced at the still-wet ink on the paper, her eyes darting around. She turned to He Nuan behind her, "Why don't we go and join the fun?"
He Nuan hesitated. Not only was it the dead of night, but the intruder was likely there to threaten Jiao Lianyu. If their presence was discovered, their plan to cast a wide net would be ruined.
Zhan Feiyu stood up. "Let's go, we'll just take a peek from the shadows."
Fearing He Nuan's refusal, Zhan Feiyu spoke with feigned seriousness, "The daytime heat is unbearable, but the night breeze is gentle. Ah Nuan, perhaps this outing will inspire my poetry. You know how my teacher's requirements are becoming stricter. Before, he only asked for my poems to be coherent and rhyme correctly. Now, he demands artistic conception."
To lend credence to her words, Zhan Feiyu walked into the courtyard, hands clasped behind her back. She tilted her head to look at the moon, obscured by clouds, and recited with a straight face:
"The night's heat mirrors the noon's embrace,
Stepping out to stand in the moonlit space.
Deep bamboo and trees, where insects hum,
A gentle coolness, not from wind to come."
Zhan Feiyu turned back to He Nuan, grinning. "The ancients wrote famous lines from night excursions. Ah Nuan, if I go on a night excursion, perhaps I too can pen a poem that will shake the heavens and move the earth!"
Knowing her young lady's talent for poetry, He Nuan offered an awkward smile, understanding that a good personal maid knows when to stay silent.
Zhan Feiyu did indeed want to witness the excitement, but she had her limits. She had no intention of going to Jiao Lianyu's Zhujun Xuan. Instead, she planned to stroll through Baicaoyuan, the garden connecting the front and back courtyards.
Madam Jiao was fond of flowers and plants, and half the flora in Baicaoyuan had been personally planted by her. Even at night, five or six types of flowers were in full bloom.
"Is this mugwort?" Upon entering Baicaoyuan, Zhan Feiyu caught a faint scent of mugwort. She glanced sideways and noticed several bronze censers placed in a corner, with mugwort sticks as thick as a baby's arm inserted into them.
He Nuan glanced at them and replied, "To repel mosquitoes... Miss, someone is coming!"
Zhan Feiyu and He Nuan darted aside, hiding behind a rockery. Behind them were tall trees, casting a deep shadow. Unless the approaching individuals specifically circled around to investigate, they would surely not discover Zhan Feiyu and He Nuan hidden in the darkness.
Peeking through the gaps in the Taihu stone, Zhan Feiyu watched the two figures approach. She nudged He Nuan, indicating that although she couldn't recognize faces, the maid in the green dress was likely the one who served Madam Chen.
He Nuan nodded. Madam Chen had called the maid by name before; it was likely Chun Chan. She didn't seem like a well-behaved person. He Nuan had previously noticed Chun Chan intentionally or unintentionally approaching Jiao Lianping, her eyes filled with suggestive glances. When assisting Jiao Lianping, she would deliberately puff out her chest. However, He Nuan found it inconvenient to relay these observations to Zhan Feiyu.
"Don't worry, the patrolling guards are stationed around each courtyard. No one will come to Baicaoyuan," Chun Chan said impatiently.
Earlier that afternoon, the old woman Niu Mama had issued an order: no one was allowed outside after nightfall. Any guards caught violating this rule would be punished with twenty strokes and expelled from the Jiao mansion.
The young man in fitted clothing cast a vigilant glance around. After confirming there was nothing amiss, he asked, "What are the young lady's orders?"
Upon hearing the address "young lady," Chun Chan scoffed. She patted the young man's chest dismissively. "Zhao Yuan, you're so pathetic. If you have the guts, why don't you elope with the young madam? What's the use of liking the young madam secretly? Every time the eldest young master returns to his chambers, you stand outside like an idiot, content to listen to those sounds?"
"Shut up!" Zhao Yuan hissed in a low voice, his hand suddenly gripping Chun Chan's neck. However, the summer clothes were thin, and the collar was low. If any bruises were left, the young lady would surely notice.
With this thought, Zhao Yuan had to retract his hand, his expression growing increasingly grim. He warned Chun Chan with a look, "What exactly are the young lady's orders?"
"Coward!" Chun Chan scoffed disdainfully again, glancing at the unattractive Zhao Yuan. His appearance was nothing compared to the eldest young master, or even any of the guards in the mansion. With his looks, he dared to covet the young madam, who would surely have Zhao Yuan expelled if she knew.
After inwardly despising Zhao Yuan, Chun Chan saw no point in wasting more time. She stated directly, "Although the mansion's guards are arranged by the master, most of them follow the madam's commands."
Madam Jiao was the mistress of the inner court. Governor Jiao was unaware that over the years, these guards had come to obey Madam Jiao. Thus, tonight, the most skilled guards were assigned to Jiao Lianping's courtyard.
The remaining guards were responsible for protecting the main courtyard where Governor Jiao and Madam Jiao resided. Some were assigned to patrol various parts of the mansion. Indeed, there were five guards at Jiao Lianyu's Zhujun Xuan, but they were all incompetent, good-for-nothings who wouldn't exert themselves.
Madam Chen, after much deliberation, felt she couldn't miss this opportunity. Only when Jiao Lianyu was dead could the Jiao mansion be handed over to Jiao Lianping. Even if Concubine Huang gave birth to a gifted son, it would take at least twenty years for him to pass the imperial examinations and enter officialdom. By then, Jiao Lianping would have long been the head of the Jiao family.
"The young lady wants to kill the second young master?" Zhao Yuan's expression shifted slightly, his breathing becoming heavier. This was the second young master of the Jiao mansion. Although a son born out of wedlock, he was the heir carefully groomed by Governor Jiao. If this matter were discovered, not only Zhao Yuan would face death, but Madam Chen, the young madam, would likely meet a fate of sudden illness or a mysterious demise.
Behind the rockery, Zhan Feiyu recalled Madam Chen's delicate and demure appearance. Who would have thought this woman, prone to tears, was not only ruthless but also audacious? She was truly both venomous and foolish.
"You're afraid?" Chun Chan eyed Zhao Yuan's hesitation with disdain, sneering, "These are the young madam's personal orders. The second young master hasn't established a firm footing in the mansion yet. If he gains power in the future, do you think the eldest young master will still have a place?"
One prospers together, one perishes together!
If Jiao Lianping were suppressed, Madam Chen's situation would also not improve. Especially after Jiao Lianyu married, there would inevitably be a struggle between the sisters-in-law. Madam Chen, who was not favored by Jiao Lianping, would only be suppressed and humiliated.
Chun Chan yawned and spoke again, "Don't worry, the guards at Zhujun Xuan are not reliable. With your skills, you can definitely sneak in. The second young master has been unconscious since this afternoon. Once you get in, you just need to make a small move. Even if the master investigates, the back courtyard is managed by the madam, and you won't be implicated."
Perhaps truly in love with Madam Chen, Zhao Yuan finally agreed. His figure quickly disappeared into the night, while Chun Chan turned and slowly walked back towards the rear courtyard.
Seeing them leave, Zhan Feiyu couldn't help but gasp, "I extorted fifty thousand taels of silver from the Jiao mansion earlier. I hope Madam Chen isn't planning revenge, is she?"
"She doesn't have the guts." It wasn't that He Nuan looked down on Madam Chen. The fact that she would plan to assassinate Jiao Lianyu showed Madam Chen's lack of brains. Miss's status was extremely noble. Even if Madam Chen had the courage of a leopard, she wouldn't dare to harm Miss. At most, she would harbor resentment in her heart.
...
Zhujun Xuan.
He Sheng hadn't expected Jiao Lianyu to have a secret room in his bedroom without anyone knowing. A landscape painting hung on the wall, rendered with heavy ink. Inside the secret room, He Sheng was looking out through the painting.
Even though the intruder had cautiously glanced around the bedroom, the thick ink on the scroll served as perfect concealment. Unless one approached closely to examine it, they would never discover the pair of eyes behind it.