Chapter 570: Not Giving the White Lotus a Chance to Act
Song Zhiqing walked out of the study, glanced at the dark night sky above, pressed his lips together, and headed towards the guest courtyard. After a few steps, he stopped and changed direction towards the Plum Garden.
In the study, Song Zhiyuan listened to the report from the Hidden Guard, sipped his tea with a calm expression, and chuckled lightly.
He made his point clear, wondering if the third brother is clever or not depends on his choice. If he recklessly endangers the family’s overall interest, then he doesn’t mind pulling him down from his position.
Madam Lu was about to retire when she heard Song Zhiqing had arrived. Her body stiffened slightly, and she pressed her lips together, unable to describe her feelings.
Song Zhiqing also felt somewhat awkward. In just over a year, the sweetness between husband and wife seemed gone, replaced by a sense of distance, making everything uncomfortable.
Though he felt uneasy, Madam Lu was truly filled with bitter disappointment.
In just over a year, how could someone change so quickly from intimacy to awkwardness and discomfort?
The couple lay in bed, silent for a while.
"I noticed Qiu Chan wasn’t among those who returned this time. What’s going on?" Madam Lu suddenly asked.
Qiu Chan was someone she trusted, which is why she allowed her to be Song Zhiqing’s chambermaid, but she betrayed her by choosing to stay silent when Bai Shuilian entered the house.
Song Zhiqing replied, "She did not want to return with us. She wishes to practice ascetic life at Longyue Temple in Datong, and I agreed."
Madam Lu was shocked, "What? Ascetic practice? Why did she never mention this before?"
Song Zhiqing snorted lightly and said, "You shouldn’t have kept her back then. Qiu Chan has someone in her heart and didn’t want to be a chambermaid."
Realizing that her service was half-hearted, Song Zhiqing deemed it pointless. Later, with Bai Shuilian’s appearance, Qiu Chan became irrelevant. Deciding to practice was her choice, just a chambermaid, he didn’t care.
Madam Lu was stunned.
So Qiu Chan was unwilling? Yet she never said anything. Was it because she made her a chambermaid that she harbored revenge?
"It’s late, let’s rest." Song Zhiqing reached for her hand.
Madam Lu felt nauseous and pulled away.
Song Zhiqing turned shamefully and angrily, facing away as he soon began to snore.
Madam Lu felt a pang of regret, but hearing his snoring as he turned his back, her nose tingled, and she turned away, silently shedding tears.
The next day.
Song Zhiqing hurried to report to the Ministry of Revenue, briefly mentioning Bai Shuilian to Madam Lu before leaving with his entourage.
Madam Lu let out a cold laugh and called for someone to come serve her.
"Wear that bright red coat today. Inform the Young Master and the young lady not to go to the family school this morning, send someone to request a half-day leave."
"Yes, Madam."
The maids began to help her dress.
Before dawn fully broke, Mama Zhou came in from outside to report that Bai Shuilian had already arrived with a pair of children.
Madam Lu’s gaze turned suddenly cold and stern.
"Let her wait," she chuckled coldly, thought briefly, then added, "Have her wait under the corridor, find a sheltered spot, so she doesn’t get cold."
Arriving so early, and now it’s almost October, the mornings and evenings are very chilly.
The Bai woman had quite the tactics, intending to suffer through the cold to demean herself, then use her frail body to accuse the Lady of harshness?
Sorry, she wouldn’t give her that opportunity!
Actually, Bai Shuilian did have that plan, but upon seeing the maid place them, she pressed her red lips together. Madam Lu wasn’t naive either!
She quietly stood waiting until it was fully bright, with servant women and maids bustling in the yard, clearing things up. Only then did she realize much time had passed. Although the spot wasn’t too windy, standing for long made her legs tired and numb.
"Madam, the Lady is awake, please follow me."