Chapter 13: Adulterous Affair
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Murong Yu had just briefed the four of them about keeping watch at night. The four were aware that their lady trusted them, so they couldn't possibly refuse. Only those most trusted by Murong Yu had the privilege to keep watch at night.
It wasn't just about status; it also affected their treatment. So, the atmosphere in the courtyard was jubilant. Also, because the servants in the courtyard sensed that Ari had fallen out of favor—after all, she had been assigned to take care of the plants—those who didn't get along with her were naturally not willing to miss this opportunity.
Soon enough, Murong Yu heard the news of an adulterous affair.
"My lady, it turns out Ari has been having a close secret relationship with Qiao'er, who serves Lady Rui!" Aman was furious.
What concerned Murong Yu was the latter part of the news. She asked, "Did I hear that right? Ari is involved with Qiao'er's brother?"
Murong Yu recalled that in her previous life, Ari had married Qiao'er's elder brother, but that had all happened when they were in the household of Marquis Huo.
Aman's face flushed red as she continued, "Shuan said he saw it with his own eyes. Ari went to Qiao'er's brother's room in the dead of night and stayed for a good one hour. He's seen it happen twice!"
'And what about the times he hadn't seen?' Murong Yu thought. She shook her head and said, "I could never have imagined..."
In Murong Yu's past life, Ari had been in a position of trust and no one dared to offend her. In this life, Murong Yu took advantage of Ari's absence due to illness to send out the news, and Murong Yu incriminated Ari with that heinous crime in her courtyard.
Moreover, Murong Yu had always wondered why Ari chose to side with Murong Rui, 'Was it for wealth? The treatment she received here was the best. I had never expected it was for the sake of a man...'
Aman clenched her teeth and said, "That Ari is incredibly audacious. If word of this gets out, it will tarnish your reputation, my lady!"
"Is her stomachache real or fake?" Murong Yu asked again.
"I think it's fake. How could someone who eats well, drinks well, and sleeps well have so many health issues?" Aman disdainfully said.
"It's likely she's using her 'illness' as an excuse to sleep during the day and rendezvous with Qiao'er's brother at night." Murong Yu speculated.
Aman paused for a moment and then gasped, her breaths becoming rapid. She said, "Aside from her periods, she takes leaves three to four times a month... I remember she also takes some medicine!"
'Since she had been taking medicine, people would assume she was genuinely ill and never questioned it. But now, could that be some kind of contraceptive potion?' Murong Yu wondered.
Murong Yu narrowed her eyes and said, "Go and fetch Nanny Xu from my mother's courtyard."
Aman hastily complied.
In a short while, Nanny Xu arrived.
"Forgive me for bothering you at this hour," said Murong Yu.
Nanny Xu was Murong Yu's mother's most trusted maid, who had been unable to follow her mother to Lord Li's manor to take care of her grandmother because she was unwell.
"Please don't say that, my lady. What would you like me to do?" Nanny Xu smiled and asked.
"There's a matter that requires your attention, as it would be inappropriate for me to handle it myself," Murong Yu said.
"Please go ahead, my lady," Nanny Xu said.
Murong Yu continued, "You know Ari from my courtyard. Someone has seen her secretly involved with a servant boy in the manor."
Nanny Xu certainly knew Ari; she was the daughter of a maid, Nanny Fang, who served Murong Yu's mother, Madam Murong. Their relationship was amiable on the surface but hardly deep.
Nanny Xu suspected that her own recent bout of diarrhea, which prevented her from accompanying Madam Murong to Lord Li's manor, was the work of that very maid.
Upon hearing that, Nanny Xu's face immediately darkened and said, "She dares to engage in such deeds?"
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