"Ninth Young Master, this way please." The servant in blue was a little guilty, but he tried his best to remain calm. If Marquis Pingyuan noticed anything amiss and reported it to his master, he would be in deep trouble. "We'll be there soon."
The noise in the front yard seemed to gradually fade away. Lu Mingxiu nodded slightly and followed him without making a sound.
Just as they arrived in front of a small garden, another servant in blue suddenly appeared.
Upon seeing the young servant in blue, he hurriedly said, "Why are you slacking off here? The Marquis needs to see you. You'd better go back right away!"
After he finished speaking in rapid succession, he seemed to suddenly notice Lu Mingxiu and hurriedly stepped forward to pay his respects. "Greetings, Ninth Son-in-Law."
Lu Mingxiu watched the two of them talking back and forth in silence, but he was used to having a cold face, so the two servants couldn't tell his emotions for a while.
If he doesn't cooperate, how can this charade continue?
Lu Mingxiu smiled almost imperceptibly and said calmly, "Since my father-in-law has something to attend to, I will go myself. You may go."
The servant in blue hurriedly thanked him and pointed out the direction to Lu Mingxiu.
"Young master, just walk through this small garden and pass through the hanging flower gate, and you'll arrive."
Lu Mingxiu nodded and entered the small garden by himself. Sure enough, there was only a path. But there was a small waterside pavilion nearby, with shadowy figures seemingly visible inside.
After he crossed the threshold, before he even stepped inside, he sensed that the two servants, though they had moved away a couple of steps in front of him, moved closer to the covered walkways on either side of the courtyard gate after he entered, secretly observing him.
Some things don't need to be seen with the eyes. Lu Mingxiu could sense the unusualness even with his hearing.
In order to figure out what these people wanted to convey, he deliberately fell into their trap.
The path wasn't long to begin with, and he slowed his pace, pretending to admire the scenery as he walked. Actually, what scenery was there to see in winter? The tree trunks were bare, the water frozen solid, but the windows of the waterside pavilion were open, and voices could be heard coming from inside.
Unless Lu Mingxiu stood in front of the window, he could not see the person inside.
"Did you see that? The Lady of Dingbei Marquis is still very close to Ninth Aunt!" A clear female voice rang out from inside. She said eloquently, "If it weren't for that incident back then, Ninth Aunt would have married into the Dingbei Marquis's mansion and become the Second Mistress of the Dingbei Marquis's mansion."
Another, more composed man spoke with her. "I've heard that the Lady of Dingbei Marquis treats her illegitimate son well. Since Second Young Master Fang likes our Ninth Aunt, she must treat her differently. Otherwise, how do you think Second Young Master Fang's token of love was delivered?"
There must have been more than one gaze upon him.
Lu Mingxiu immediately stopped, frowned slightly, and pretended to be very interested, wanting to listen a little longer.
He knew about Fang Ting and An Ran's affair, but very few people knew that he was aware of it. Now, bringing it up again, is it an attempt to sow discord between him and Jiu Niang?
He wanted to hear what other new tricks they could come up with.
"Yes, I heard that Young Master Fang cherishes her like a precious jewel, and he refuses to arrange any more marriages for our Ninth Aunt. He's truly devoted!" The clear female voice that had spoken earlier chimed in, "I wonder if Ninth Aunt will still think of him now—"
"Ninth Aunt married the Marquis of Pingyuan, isn't that much better than Second Young Master Fang?" The more composed female voice said, "Even if Second Young Master Fang is very successful, he probably can't compare to the Marquis of Pingyuan. Outsiders all think that our Ninth Aunt is enjoying a life of luxury in the Marquis of Pingyuan's mansion."
Lu Mingxiu, who was listening from the side, almost wanted to run away. The way the person making the accusations was being said was too deliberate, which made it seem fake.
Even if there really was some kind of token of love, how could they know that Fang Ting cherished it so much since they had never met him? It's just too much of an exaggeration.
Did they think that this would make him suspect Jiu Niang and Fang Ting?
That's putting him way too low.
"Last time, the Sixth Miss and the Second Young Master Fang were at the Princess Yunyang's residence, and there were some ambiguous things going on. I heard that the Second Young Master Fang mistook the Sixth Miss for the Ninth Aunt." The clear voice said, "The Second Young Master Fang is simply too infatuated. He's risking his own future just for the Ninth Aunt."
"How could Ninth Aunt not be tempted by such a handsome and devoted young master? I've also heard that Ninth Aunt is secretly corresponding with Second Young Master Fang!"
The usually composed voice suddenly became panicked, "Really? Wouldn't that mean Ninth Aunt is two-timing? What would happen if Marquis Pingyuan found out! You can't just spout nonsense!"
Lu Mingxiu almost laughed. You guys wanted me to know, didn't you? You specially staged this whole thing.
"I'm telling the truth! There's more to it than you know! Everyone thought that since the Sixth Miss and the Second Young Master Fang had spent time alone together, and were even seen by the maids of Princess Yunyang's mansion, they would definitely be engaged, right?"
"But it has to be the Fourth Young Master Fang and the Seventh Miss! It's obvious that these two were dragged out to save face for both families!"
"Everyone says that Ninth Miss is the one who's obstructing things, preventing her sisters from marrying Second Young Master Fang. Could this be the kind of 'If I can't have it, no one else can either' mentality?"
Those unaware of the inside story might believe, upon hearing these words, that An Ran and Fang Ting really had something going on.
If Sixth Sister had overheard their conversation, she would have been very pleased, because Seventh Sister had taken her words to heart. To make a lie seem more believable, you must mix in some truth. And if you even include yourself in the fabrication, you can clear yourself of suspicion.
It really did sound like two clumsy maids gossiping about their master.
However, that was all. What followed would make Sixth Sister unhappy.
In the end, it was all just gossip about Jiu Niang and Fang Ting. Lu Mingxiu found it rather boring and decided to leave. He suggested that the two maids be tied up and sent directly to his mother-in-law, Zhao Shi.
Lu Mingxiu was certain that the two maids were not from the main wife's household; they must have been the work of Jiu Niang's half-sisters.
He had given Songyan a message early in the morning, instructing her to secretly call in two of the guards outside, including Feng Yi, and to quietly eliminate them, including the two servants.
Jiu Niang's reputation is not something these people can easily slander.
Just as he was getting impatient and was about to leave, the two maids continued their conversation.
"Ninth Aunt is beautiful, but none of the married ladies or unmarried girls in the Marquis's mansion can compare to her." The more composed female voice said mysteriously, "I've heard that our new Sixth Son-in-law seems to have some kind of affair with Ninth Aunt."
Lu Mingxiu's eyes darkened immediately.
What is the relationship between Chen Qian and Jiu Niang? These two were just gossiping about Jiu Niang and Fang Ting because they were previously engaged. Why single out Chen Qian? Is this a relentless attempt to smear Jiu Niang?
"That day, the Sixth Miss and the Ninth Aunt got into an argument in front of the Grand Madam and the Madam. The Sixth Miss even clamored to go to the Ninth Aunt's room to search for evidence of her affair with the Sixth Master. But not only did they find nothing, it turned out to be the Sixth Master who wrote to the Sixth Miss. Isn't that strange?"
"To be frank, the Sixth Miss in the Marquis's mansion has three sisters. Why is it that after this incident, the Sixth Miss is specifically targeting the Ninth Aunt? There's no smoke without fire! Perhaps there's something going on between the two of them, which is why the Sixth Miss said those things!"
This was something that Seventh Sister hadn't discussed with Sixth Sister beforehand, and she wanted to say to Lu Mingxiu.