The silence of the small courtyard was suddenly broken by voices.
The sounds emanated from the room in the center of the yard.
Because no one else was speaking, they were particularly clear.
"Miss, no, no, it hurts." It sounded like a maid's voice.
Wei Qing was surprised; there was more than just Wei Yu in the room.
With a maid accompanying her, what could have gone wrong?
Not only Wei Qing, but everyone else thought the same.
Then came Wei Yu's voice: "Good girl, don't be afraid. Let your lady pamper you well. Soon, I'll guarantee you'll be so ecstatic you'll forget yourself."
It was as if a cannonball exploded in Wei Qing's mind.
Was she thinking what she thought it meant?
How could this be...
The ladies and young ladies present, upon hearing such explicit words, had their faces flush crimson.
They exchanged glances; was this something they were meant to hear?
Wang Qingzhen involuntarily looked at Wang Qingyao. Wang Qingyao, however, remained composed.
Blushing, she moved closer to Wang Qingyao, not daring to speak, only subtly tugging at Wang Qingyao's sleeve.
Wang Qingyao gave her a meaningful look, raising an eyebrow with a hint of wicked amusement.
The others were much the same, exchanging glances, their surprise tinged with excitement, and their excitement with shame.
The second daughter of the Wei family was like this...
Following that were various ambiguous sounds...
Just by listening, one could guess what kind of scene was unfolding within.
The unmarried young ladies' faces were already hot enough to boil water.
Wei Qing stood frozen in place, like a puppet; she had no experience dealing with such matters.
At this moment, it was certainly not the time to go in.
Just then, Wang Qingyao coughed heavily, and Wei Qing snapped back to reality.
Wang Qingyao said nonchalantly, "Your Highness Consort Rong, it's rather cold and damp here. We shouldn't linger. Let's all go to the front to warm ourselves by the fire."
As soon as she spoke, the others chimed in, "Yes, yes, it's too cold here. Let's go to the garden."
Wei Qing cast a grateful glance at Wang Qingyao and led the group, their faces flushed red, back into the garden.
At this point, no one had the heart to gather around a fire to brew tea; even Wei Qing herself was distracted.
After sitting for a while with their own thoughts, everyone made excuses and left.
Wang Qingyao left with Wang Qingzhen and Bai Junya.
As soon as they exited the gates of the Rong Prince's mansion, Wang Qingzhen couldn't hold back, her face alight with schadenfreude.
"I never would have imagined," Wang Qingzhen whispered, "that Wei Yu was like this in private."
Bai Junya cleared her throat lightly.
Wang Qingzhen added, "Do you think Wei Yu doing this is like giving Crown Prince a cuckold's hat?"
Wang Qingyao smiled, "I suppose it is?"
If she hadn't been unable to find a suitable man, and Wang Qingyao hadn't wanted to involve innocent people, Wei Yu wouldn't have been just a simple lesbian.
Bai Junya coughed again and said to Wang Qingyao, "You actually answered her."
Wang Qingzhen pouted, "Sister-in-law, I'm asking serious questions, why can't I get an answer?"
Bai Junya sighed, "Alright, alright, let's not discuss this for now. By the way, did you know about Fourth Sister's miscarriage? No one even notified the Wang family!"
Wang Qingzhen glanced at Wang Qingyao.
Wang Qingyao replied, "Third Sister and I knew. Madam Jinxiangbo mentioned it by chance. However, since Fourth Sister didn't send anyone to notify the Wang family, she probably didn't want you to know, so we didn't say anything."
Bai Junya sighed, "Fourth Sister... she's too proud."
Indeed, she always wanted to project an image of herself living a very happy life, but as one drinks water, one knows its warmth or coldness; why bother?
"Should we go to the Jinxiangbo's mansion to see Fourth Sister?" Bai Junya asked hesitantly.
Now that Concubine Lian had publicized Wang Qingzhu's miscarriage, as family, Bai Junya and the others should go and see her.
Not knowing was one thing; knowing was another.
Wang Qingzhen was reluctant to go; she felt Wang Qingzhu deserved it.
"But Second Sister just had that Concubine Lian beaten. If we go over now, won't Pang Yan hate us to death? He might even blame Fourth Sister for this."
After speaking, Wang Qingzhen subconsciously covered her mouth and looked at Wang Qingyao innocently.
"Second Sister, I didn't mean it like that..."
Wang Qingyao smiled, "It's fine. That's precisely why we need to go to the Jinxiangbo's mansion. Whether it's to see Fourth Sister or to support her, we have to go."
Bai Junya nodded in agreement.
The three then got into the carriage and instructed the driver to head to the Jinxiangbo's mansion.
Meanwhile, as soon as the guests left the garden, Wei Qing impatiently returned to the small courtyard.
The courtyard had returned to its quiet state. Wei Qing had brought only her trusted maids, who guarded the door. She alone gently pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The room was simply furnished, with only a large bed elaborately decorated, covered with soft, fragrant red silk quilts. The air was filled with a sweet, cloying scent. Within the white gauze curtains, two figures could be vaguely seen.
Wei Qing walked closer step by step, the room was so quiet that she could hear the breathing of the two and her own heartbeat.
Approaching, Wei Qing, with trembling hands, pulled back the gauze curtain.
Her eyes suddenly widened in disbelief.
She saw Wei Yu and her maid Zi'er embracing each other, sleeping soundly.
Their faces were flushed, with smiles of contentment.
Their arms and necks exposed outside the quilt were bare, making it hard to look directly.
A surge of heat rose from Wei Qing's feet, rushing straight to the crown of her head.
"Wei Yu! Wei Yu! Get up!" Wei Qing slapped the quilt forcefully.
After a moment, Wei Yu and Zi'er moaned and woke up one after another.
Wei Yu rubbed her temples, looking at Wei Qing with a bewildered expression, "Sister?"
Looking around, she saw Zi'er and froze. She propped herself up on her arm, and the quilt slid down from her chest. Only then did she realize she was completely naked, bare.
Zi'er was the same.
Both let out a scream at the same time, which was interrupted by Wei Qing's slaps, one for each.
"What are you screaming for? Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?" Wei Qing glared, "Look at the mess you've made! It's utterly disgraceful. Don't you know your status? This is utter nonsense! If this gets out, what will the Crown Prince think of you?"
Wei Qing was so enraged that she pulled Zi'er off the bed with one hand.
Zi'er fell to the ground with a thud.
Wei Qing vented her anger on her, "Shameless maid, your mistress is acting out, and you're joining in? Don't you know how to advise your mistress?"
Zi'er had no idea what was happening. She didn't dare to retort even when her mistress scolded her. She frantically knelt on the ground, begging for mercy.
She wasn't even wearing a piece of cloth, and kneeling like this on the cold ground, she shivered uncontrollably.
Wei Yu threw her clothes to her, "Put on your clothes!"
Zi'er cried and fumbled to put on her clothes.
Wei Yu also quickly put on her clothes, shoes, and socks.
"Sister, what exactly happened? How did Zi'er and I end up here?"
She looked completely bewildered.
Wei Qing was stunned, "You don't know what happened?"
Wei Yu shook her head, "I was going back to my courtyard to change. But when I got to the back of Xunfang Pavilion, someone covered my nose with a handkerchief, and then I fainted. I don't remember anything."
Zi'er cried and nodded, "It was the same for this servant. This servant truly doesn't know what happened."
Wei Qing was stunned again. She recalled the events of a moment ago and became furious, "You dare to lie to me! I heard it with my own ears!"
Wei Yu had a bad premonition, "What did you hear?"
Wei Qing couldn't bring herself to say it, but seeing Wei Yu's unrepentant look, she became angry again.
She had no choice but to describe what had just happened, albeit less suggestively, simply narrating the facts.
Even so, she finished speaking with a blushing face.
Wei Yu listened blankly, completely stunned.
Zi'er even forgot to cry.
After a long while, Wei Yu said, "Sister, we didn't. Someone is setting us up!"
Zi'er tearfully nodded in agreement.
"It's... it's the Consort of Ding'an, it's Wang Qingyao, it must be her!"
Wei Qing was extremely disappointed, "Don't falsely accuse others. The Consort of Ding'an has been sitting in the garden the whole time!"
"Then she arranged for someone. If she wanted to harm me, why would she do it herself?"
"Wei Yu," Wei Qing looked at her, "I heard it with my own ears. It was your voice; I wouldn't mistake it. Not only me, but other ladies and young ladies also heard it. Instead of making excuses here, you should go and beg Grandfather to resolve this matter!"
Wei Yu cried, "Sister, I'm truly not lying. I'm not making excuses, I really didn't!"
Wei Qing no longer wanted to deal with her.