In a mere moment, the maids of Shuiyue Xiaozhu had all gathered. When Xiao Man had initially cleaned out this courtyard, she had only kept a few individuals. Later, after further refinement, only Qiu Tong and Yin Zhu remained from the maids who had served Xiao Man. The others were her hidden guards and escorts sent by Nangong Yu.
"Miss."
"What were you all doing today?" Xiao Man rhythmically scraped the tea leaves on the water's surface with her teacup lid, asking slowly, "Yin Zhu, you start."
"Replying to Miss, after Miss left, this servant first cleaned the study and sorted the unclassified books. I only finished tidying them when Miss returned and had not left the study during that time."
"This servant was in the pharmacy preparing medicine," Xiang Xue added. "The weather has turned cold, and Miss is sensitive to the cold. This servant was in the pharmacy preparing Niuhuang Renshen Nuangong Pills and did not leave the pharmacy until Yin Zhu called me."
"This servant remained in the courtyard. During that time, I went to the study, the pharmacy, and the kitchen. I can confirm that Yin Zhu and Xiang Xue did not leave their respective rooms. The cleaning woman was hiding in the servants' quarters playing cards and also did not leave." Xi Yue spoke neither hurriedly nor slowly, her role being to act as eyes and ears, ensuring the truth of their words.
"Did anyone come to Shuiyue Xiaozhu?" The teacup lid collided with the teacup, making a crisp sound. Xiao Man's face showed no discernible emotion, as if this were merely a routine inquiry.
"Replying to Miss, no." Xi Yue understood that Xiao Man intended to expose the spy today, but she had carefully observed everyone in the courtyard and found no suspicious individuals. The spy was truly adept at hiding.
"Qiu Tong, and you?" Xiao Man looked at Qiu Tong. Ying Xue and Chu Xue had accompanied her out and had never left her sight, so they could not have been passing information. The problematic person must be among the remaining few. No one could act without leaving a trace; if they did something, there would inevitably be clues.
"Replying to Miss, the bird's nest in the small storeroom was depleted, so this servant went to the storeroom to collect a box of white bird's nest and a box of blood bird's nest. After returning, I was continuously simmering the bird's nest in the kitchen and did not leave." Qiu Tong stated immediately, a vague sense of unease rising within her. Among the remaining maids, she was the only one who had left Shuiyue Xiaozhu.
"That is to say, besides myself, only three others left Shuiyue Xiaozhu: myself, Ying Xue, and Qiu Tong." Xiao Man said slowly. "Excluding myself, there are only the three of you left. Among you three, who is the spy?"
Ying Xue and Chu Xue's gazes fell upon Qiu Tong simultaneously. She and Chu Xue had not left Miss's side from beginning to end, so the only possibility was Qiu Tong.
However, Qiu Tong had grown up with Miss since childhood, their bond was extraordinary. How could she be a spy? Had she been bought off, or was she a spy planted in the General's mansion from the very beginning?
Seeing everyone look at her, Qiu Tong became flustered. "Miss, it's not me. Although I left Shuiyue Xiaozhu, I only went to the storeroom. I never went to Second Miss's place. I am not a spy."
The teacup lid in Xiao Man's hand collided with the teacup, producing a sharp sound. "When did I say you went to Second Miss's place?"
Qiu Tong's eyelids twitched. "Didn't Miss say earlier that Second Miss... was gone?"
"Yes, I said my second sister was gone, but I didn't say that someone went to inform Second Miss." Xiao Man's expression turned stern. "And you still say you are not a spy!"
Qiu Tong's face turned pale, and she quickly knelt down. "Miss, this servant is wronged..."
"Wronged?" Xiao Man sneered. "Are you truly wronged?"
"This servant is truly wronged. Someone must be framing me." Qiu Tong's face showed urgency. "Miss, you must believe me, I am not a spy."
"Come out," Xiao Man called out into the air. Dongfang Wei's figure immediately appeared beside Xiao Man. "Tell me, what did she do today?"
"After you left, she exited Shuiyue Xiaozhu, first went to the garden to 'coincidentally' meet Second Miss, and then went to the storeroom to collect two boxes of bird's nest. After Second Miss met her, she returned to her room, changed her clothes, and secretly followed you to the inn."
Qiu Tong never expected that someone would be secretly following her. "Miss, this servant only 'coincidentally' met Second Miss in the garden and paid my respects. I didn't say anything else."
"The garden is not on the way to the storeroom. Why did you go to the garden?"
"This servant saw that the plum blossoms in the courtyard had withered, so I wanted to see if the plum blossoms in the garden had bloomed. If they had, I would pick a few branches to bring back to the courtyard," Qiu Tong explained quickly. "This servant truly did not betray Miss."
"You did not betray me, because you were never loyal to me, so there can be no talk of betrayal." Xiao Man's tone was icy. "Do you know how I deal with traitors?"
Qiu Tong gritted her teeth. She absolutely could not admit it. If she admitted it, there would be no hope of survival. "Miss, I am truly not a spy."
"Lan Qin has already confessed everything about you. You have long been a discarded pawn, so why continue to quibble?" Xiao Man said slowly.
Qiu Tong's face lost its last trace of color. The Third Princess had sold her out!
"I was waiting for you to confess, but in the end, you are still making excuses." Xiao Man's tone was filled with disappointment. "Qiu Tong, do you know that I suspected everyone in this courtyard except you? I never suspected you. Is this how you treat my trust?"
Qiu Tong knelt on her legs. "Since Miss already knows, I will not deny it any longer. I am sorry, Miss. I am indeed a spy for Lan Yue." Su Dan Novel Network.
Hearing Qiu Tong admit it herself, Xiao Man did not feel particularly sad. She had given everything for Murong Sheng Rui back then, and had Murong Sheng Rui not betrayed her as well?
Therefore, Qiu Tong's betrayal did not make her sad. She only felt disappointed. A spy from an enemy country had been by her side for many years, and she had failed to recognize it. Even more terrifying was that even a Miss of this mansion had been replaced without her knowledge. How many spies were there in this mansion?
"Qiu Tong, why did you betray Miss?" Ying Xue reprimanded.
"Didn't Miss just say it? I was never loyal, so how can there be betrayal?" After being exposed, Qiu Tong calmed down. "How does Miss intend to deal with me?"
"In the mansion, how many people are yours?"
"Does Miss think I would betray my companions?"
"Were you not betrayed by your companion, which led to you falling into my hands?" Xiao Man said calmly. "I want the list of Lan Yue's spies in Yusheng. In exchange, I will spare your life."
Qiu Tong stared at Xiao Man for a long time, contemplating the possibility of survival. After a while, she slowly uttered two words: "Deal."