Xiuzhu followed the Crown Princess’s instructions and went to Huaya Courtyard.
But when she reached near Huaya Courtyard, her face flushed red with shyness, and she hesitated, unable to move her feet.
It was her first time doing such a thing, and she was nervous. Worse, the place she was going was hardly respectable. When she saw several men entering together, her face flushed so red it seemed blood might drip, and she lowered her head deeply.
Not far away, Yu Er saw the maid, and his gaze immediately fixed firmly upon her.
"They’re here…"
Miss Jiang had told him to remember the maid’s appearance—so this was what she meant.
Xiuzhu hesitated for a moment, then made up her mind and stepped into Huaya Courtyard.
The people of Huaya Courtyard stopped her; this was not a place where women could enter.
Xiuzhu took a wooden token from her sleeve and showed it to the gatekeeper. His expression shifted slightly, and he immediately let her pass.
Yu Er furrowed his brows—this wouldn’t do. The task Miss Jiang had entrusted him wasn’t yet accomplished, and the maid had already gone inside… Forget it, he would wait outside; sooner or later, an opportunity would come.
Not long after Xiuzhu went inside, Hua Madam arrived and sought her out.
“How could a noble person like you have come here?”
Xiuzhu saw the heavily made‑up Hua Madam, frowned, and said, “As long as you know it’s a noble lady, my mistress wishes to inquire about something.”
In a place like this, the Crown Princess’s identity naturally could not be revealed, so she was addressed as “Madam.”
Hua Mother did not wish to stir up trouble; if she could help a noble, she would. “May I ask what the noble lady wishes to inquire about?”
Xiuzhu said, “The Lord of the sky room—who is the woman he has recently taken a fancy to? Rest assured, my mistress will not cause trouble, she only wishes to inquire.”
Hua Madam's expression shifted slightly—so the Crown Princess had sent someone, indeed to inquire about the Crown Prince.
Hua Madam felt troubled. “This… we don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” Xiuzhu furrowed her brows, lifted her chin, and said coldly, “With my mistress’s status, is she not entitled to inquire about a woman’s background? Do you realize the consequences of deceiving her?”
Hua Niang quickly shook her head. “You misunderstand, noble lady—we truly don’t know… The lord of the Sky room hasn’t come for a long time.”
“What?” Xiuzhu was startled. But the Crown Prince often left the palace—if not to Huaya Courtyard, then where did he go?”
Xiuzhu looked at Hua Madam with a suspicious gaze.
Hua Madam hurried to explain, “It’s true—the lord hasn’t come for a long time. It seems… ah, that’s right! Ever since he met that woman, he hasn’t returned.”
Hua Madam suddenly remembered: last time, a beautiful young woman who sought to cling to wealth gave her a gold ingot, saying she wished to enter the Sky room. Hua Madam had let her in.
Since then, the Crown Prince never returned to Huaya Courtyard.
It must have been that woman who lured away the Crown Prince!
Hua Madam dared not conceal anything and revealed the whole matter. Yet she did not know the woman’s identity—she only looked gentle and beautiful, like a young lady from a wealthy household.
Seeing that she could not get any answers, Xiuzhu frowned.
The Crown Princess had instructed her to uncover that woman’s identity, but now nothing could be found.
Xiuzhu walked out, dejected and dispirited.
Yu Er had been waiting outside for a long time. When he saw the maid come out, his eyes lit up and he quickly went over.
The opportunity has come!
Seeing the maid’s dejected look, it was clear she hadn’t learned anything. After all, the people inside Huaya Courtyard are all wealthy or noble—how could they casually reveal information to outsiders?
Yu Er leaned closer and whispered, “You want to dig for information?”
Xiuzhu lifted her face, eyeing the man warily as he came closer. “Who are you?”
Yu Er glanced around cautiously and lowered his voice: “Are you trying to dig into Huaya Courtyard’s affairs? I’ve got news…”
Xiuzhu’s face was full of suspicion, unwilling to believe it. “Go away, that’s not true at all!”
“Alas!”
Yu Er blocked Xiuzhu and said, “I really do sell information. I keep watch at Huaya Courtyard’s gate every day—everyone going in and out, I remember them all!”
“Be honest—aren’t you here to catch an affair? Want to see which lover your husband favors?” Yu Er rubbed his palms together and said with a grin.
Xiuzhu furrowed her brows tightly, unbearably annoyed.
But hearing the man’s words, she hesitated again. Could he really know the affairs inside Huaya Courtyard? If so, then he would also know which woman the Crown Prince favored.
She hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said, “Do you really know?”
“Of course!” Yu Er nodded.
Xiuzhu took out a few broken pieces of silver. “If you can answer my question, I’ll give them all to you.”
Yu Er fixed his eyes on the silver in Xiuzhu’s hand and urged, “Hurry up and ask—tell me, which man’s affairs do you want to know about?”
Xiuzhu gritted her teeth and described in detail all the clothes the Crown Prince wore when leaving the palace.
Yu Er of course knew nothing about the Crown Prince, for he had never kept watch here. He was merely following his young lady’s orders, putting on a show.
He pretended to recall for a moment, then remembered something. “Ah, you must mean that person! But he hasn’t come to Huaya Courtyard for a long time…”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Xiuzhu nodded, immediately taking the bait.
Yu Er pondered hard and said, “The last time I saw him, he seemed to be following a woman.”
Xiuzhu’s eyes widened as she pressed urgently, “Do you know who that woman is?”
Yu Er shook his head. “That woman… I don’t really know her, but I do know where she lives.”
Xiuzhu had no doubts—already thoroughly fooled by Yu Er, she hurriedly asked about the woman’s residence. Following his young lady’s orders, Yu Er told her Jiang Mengyue’s location.
Xiuzhu stuffed the silver into Yu Er’s hand. “You mustn’t mention to anyone that I came to you today!”
“I know, I know…” Yu Er grinned as he took the silver. “Don’t worry, I have principles in this trade—my mouth stays shut, I’ll never spill it.”
Xiuzhu turned and ran back to report to the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess, upon hearing this, clenched her handkerchief, her face darkening.
“Come, let’s go take a look.”
“Crown Princess…” Xiuzhu, still uneasy, said, “Perhaps I should go take a look first. What if that man’s words were false?”
“Let’s go see first.” The Crown Princess’s resolve was ironclad—after enduring for so long, she could no longer hold back; she had to witness it with her own eyes.
The Crown Princess departed in a carriage.
Jiang Ning watched the Crown Princess depart; seeing the carriage roll away, her lips curved into a smile.
Just then Yu Er came over and said, “The young lady’s instructions have been carried out. I’ve already given Jiang Mengyue’s address to that maid.”
“You did very well.”
Jiang Ning was in high spirits. Soon Jiang Mengyue would be in serious trouble—without lifting a finger, Jiang Ning could leave her utterly overwhelmed.
Having told the Crown Princess where Jiang Mengyue lived, it was certain that with her abilities she would uncover the connection between the Crown Prince and Jiang Mengyue. Then, there would surely be a fine drama to watch.
🐇♡🐇♡🐇♡🐇
Yu Er: “Her name? No clue. Her address? Crystal clear. I’m basically Google Maps with amnesia.”
Xiuzhu: “Perfect! That’s all I need!”
Crown Princess: [clutching handkerchief like a weapon] “Enough chatter. Recon mission begins now.”
Jiang Ning: [stroking imaginary mustache] “Ah, chaos delivered free of charge. Should I bring wine or popcorn?”
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