The Grand Secretary has no heir? His concubine gives birth to triplets.

The laundry room in the backyard of the Prime Minister's residence.

This place is in the most remote northwest corner of the mansion, surrounded by walls on three sides and an open courtyard on the other.

The courtyard was spacious, with bamboo poles strung haphazardly across it, filled with clothes and bedding that had been taken off from each room.

But it's not working inside.

The low house at the base of the wall is always damp, with large and small buckets of dirty water piled up in the corner.

Inferior soapberry has a bitter and musty smell, and a strong sour and rotten odor.

Tan Yu covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief and walked in through the water stains on the bluestone slabs.

Just as I walked past a row of bamboo poles for drying clothes, I saw a person squatting in the corner of the low house.

She was a woman with messy hair like a bird's nest, her bare arms and neck covered in bruises from pinching, wearing coarse cloth clothes, and sunken cheekbones.

She was sitting by the wooden basin, numbly scrubbing a basin of dirty clothes.

Tan Yu paused in her steps.

The Prime Minister's residence has strict rules; even a lowly servant wouldn't behave like this.

What's wrong with this person?

The woman seemed to notice the gaze and looked up.

Her disheveled hair obscured her face, and beneath it, a pair of eyes gleamed with a chilling malice.

It's a lotus flower!

Ever since she accidentally poisoned the Prime Minister instead of the sweet potato she was giving Jiang Guo'er, Pei Yan ordered Steward Zhao to get rid of her.

However, Zhao Xiaoshuan, the son of Manager Zhao, coveted her good looks and persuaded his father to detain her and hide her in the low room of the laundry room.

The father and son took turns abusing each other, living a life worse than that of pigs and dogs.

"Which courtyard are you from?"

Lotus's voice was terribly hoarse.

Tan Yu put away her disgusted expression, put on her signature charming smile, and squatted down to take two steps closer.

"Sister, I am Tan Yu, a newcomer to the household."

She pulled a paper package from her sleeve, opened it—inside lay a plump, white steamed bun, still steaming hot.

Lotus made a gurgling sound in her throat.

She pounced on it like a starving wild dog, snatched the steamed bun, and swallowed it without even chewing it a few times.

Tan Yu watched her eat like this and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

That's great. The more miserable someone is, the easier it is for them to speak up.

"Sister, I want to ask about someone. If you tell the truth—"

Tan Yu took out a small bag of loose silver and waved it in front of Lianhua.

Lotus stared at the bag of silver, her breathing becoming heavy.

"Tell me, who are you asking about?"

"Do you recognize Aunt Jiang, the wife of the main wife?"

"Jiang Guo'er? She's been elevated to the position of concubine!"

Lotus's face contorted instantly, and the wooden mallet in her hand creaked as she gripped it tightly.

"Why are you asking about her?!"

If it weren't for that bitch, how could she have ended up in this state!

Tan Yu tossed the silver pouch in her hand.

"She offended me. If you know anything about her, just tell me, and this money is yours."

Lotus stared intently at the silver on the ground, then spat it down viciously: "What do you want to know? I'll tell you everything!"

"She's literate, speaks eloquently, and her needlework skills are far beyond what a country girl could possess. She can even recite poetry, and once asked me to deliver a message to Xue Lingyi to save her!"

"Oh, and also Hongzhu, the former head maid of Songhe Garden. Go and inquire about Hongzhu and Granny Li! They were both harmed by her!"

Red beads.

Tan Yu's heart skipped a beat.

The Empress once mentioned that the newly favored Consort Yu by His Majesty's side was named Hongzhu.

She used to be a head maid in Songhe Garden, but Prime Minister Pei ordered her legs to be broken and her to be kicked out.

The Empress sent people to find her, and after careful training, she was sent to the palace.

This is... a pleasant surprise.

Tan Yu pressed for more details, and Lianhua, who hated Jiang Guo'er so much, told her everything she knew.

Tan Yu handed her the loose silver coins, dusted off her skirt, and prepared to leave.

Lotus grabbed her sleeve. "I want to leave the manor! Can you help me?"

Tan Yu withdrew her sleeve and smiled gently: "I will naturally help you after it's done."

After hearing Lianhua's words, Tanyu's mind started to work.

She inquired and found out that Granny Li was now working as a maid at Songhe Garden.

If we can use Granny Li to get close to Consort Yu in the palace, and work together from the inside and outside, how can we not solve the problem of Jiang Guo'er?

She spent some money to meet the hunched old woman in the back room.

Then—I was dumbfounded.

Granny Li opened her mouth, and only half a piece of healed, rotten flesh remained on her gums.

Pei Yan ordered her tongue to be cut out.

"Eee-ya..."

The old woman gestured and drew something randomly on the ground with her fingers for a long time.

But she was illiterate and couldn't write a single complete character.

That old geezer is finished.

However, she could be used as a backup pawn to provoke Consort Yu into cooperating with her.

Tan Yu spent all day wandering around the main house and the side rooms.

Her round face has a sweet smile, and everyone who sees her thinks she's just a clingy little girl.

Today she hands Lüyi a sewing basket, tomorrow she serves Jiang Guo'er a bowl of plum juice, her attentiveness leaving no trace.

Two days later, at noon.

Jiang Guo'er was going to work in the washroom, and Lüyi followed her.

Tan Yu, who was originally lounging under the eaves fanning herself, quietly put down her fan and went around to the back of the main house when she saw this.

She crouched down close to the outer wall of the washroom, her ears perked up.

The sounds from inside the door were intermittent.

"...Girl...take care of yourself..." This is Lüyi.

Then there's Jiang Guo'er, who's lost her usual soft and gentle demeanor and is now cold and aloof.

"...It cannot be exposed...the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion...a wrongful conviction...revenge..."

Tan Yu gasped and quickly covered her mouth.

Green Ripple called her "Miss"?

Wrongful conviction, revenge?

Her mind raced.

The case of the execution of the entire Dingyuan Marquis's family is known throughout the capital.

He was accused of treason and betraying his country, and the emperor ordered the execution of his entire family.

Everyone says no one was left alive—but what if even one escaped?

Jiang Guo'er was literate, knew poetry and literature, and was an excellent needleworker. Her needlework technique was the double-needle braided embroidery style that only Hu Meiniang of the previous dynasty could use...

Tan Yu's fingers clenched the handkerchief tightly.

Could she be a concubine's daughter from a collateral branch, or a mistress?

Only in this way can we explain why she survived by chance, changed her name, used her skills to infiltrate the Pei household and become a concubine.

Tan Yu dared not linger and quietly retreated to the corridor.

She took a deep breath, started waving her fan again, and a smile slowly appeared on her face.

Once you have solid evidence and publicly expose her as the descendant of a disgraced official—Jiang Guo'er—you're completely finished.

The next morning, the main wife paid her respects.

Tan Yu held a blue-and-white porcelain teacup, her face beaming with a bright smile.

"Madam, I heard from the maids the other day that the azaleas at Qizhen Temple are in full bloom, turning the whole mountain red! They're absolutely gorgeous!"

She tilted her head, revealing two shallow dimples.

"You've been saying you're feeling down lately, haven't you? Why don't we pick a day to go to the temple to enjoy the flowers and offer incense? It'll help you relax and also pray for the Prime Minister's safety."

Xue Lingyi turned the tea lid upside down, unhurriedly.

That day, Jiang Guo'er discovered that a small sachet was missing, so she came to discuss it with her. They both thought that Tan Yu might have stolen it.

She suddenly suggested going to see the flowers, clearly she was up to something.

"The tenth?" Xue Lingyi calculated the date, "That's a good day. I really am feeling bored."

After Tan Yu left happily, Xue Lingyi immediately told Lü Yi to close the door.

"What exactly does she want to do?" Xue Lingyi frowned.

Jiang Guo'er lowered her eyes, reached out, and took off the thick brocade robe from the silk doll.

Then put a newly tailored thin shirt on it and a delicate little black veil on it.

Summer is here, it should cool off a bit.

"I don't know, but Qizhen Temple is definitely up to something. Since they've already set up the stage, how can we watch their performance if we don't go?"

Xue Lingyi nodded.

"Then let's bring more people, and we can bring our own food and drinks."

Jiang Guo'er subconsciously pressed the doll to her chest and patted its little head.

At the same time, Pei Yan in the study was stunned and immediately put down his vermilion brush.

[Tan Yu might be planning to use the small sachet she stole to frame me for having an affair with a man outside the Qizhen Temple.]

I've seen this kind of unoriginal tactic far too many times.

Upon hearing this thought, Pei Yan lowered his eyelashes. After a long while, he tapped his fingertips lightly twice on the table. "Xiao Liu."

A dark shadow silently emerged from the darkness.

"Go to Qizhen Temple and keep watch to see who has been coming in and out of the temple recently."

Xiao Liu accepted the order and left.

The following evening, Xiao Liu returned with a report.

"Consort Yu has temporarily arranged to stay at Qizhen Temple, ostensibly to seek elixirs and pray for blessings for His Majesty, and will remain there for three days."

Lingyi and Guo'er will take the women of the Pei family there to admire the flowers tomorrow, where they will have the chance to meet Consort Yu.

Pei Yan's lips twitched slightly.

interesting.

The mantis catches the cicada, and the oriole is behind.

He wanted to see who would be the last one standing in this game.