Nian Lu didn't dare to take the initiative to speak out and tell Song Tuan Er about Qing's situation, fearing that she would think Nian Lu was being overly jealous and framing him.

  So she begged Gu Jin.

  But Gu Jin had no reason to say those words, Song Pan'er was afraid that she would suspect Nian Lu of instigating Gu Jin behind her back again.

  Song Pan'er is most concerned about two things: being deceived by her family members and her daughter being spoiled.

  If it were said by Gu Jinzhi, Nian Lu would have committed two major taboos in one breath, and Song Pan'er's heart towards her might have turned cold afterwards.

  Nian Lu also had good intentions, and specially told Gu Jin about what happened last night, why must there be such misunderstandings?

  Gu Jin took Song Dang'er to the garden early this morning, also wanting these two little maids to show unusual behavior and be discovered by their mother.

  In this way, no one has to bear the crime of informing against and provoking Miss.

  Gu Jinzhi sat on one side drinking tea.

  Poor Nianlu didn't know what Gu Jing meant and was scared to death.

  Song Pan'er couldn't bear to ask her knowledgeable daughter, so she pressed the two maids for information.

  Nian Lu was afraid, and her mouth was no longer restrained, so she told everything about Mu Qing in one breath.

  Mu Qing's face had turned ashen.

  She almost fainted and fell to the ground.

  Song Pan'er listened and looked at Mu Qing's face, then knew that Nian Lu hadn't lied.

  "Mu Qing, you are also an old man from that side of the house. I am short-handed and brought you here to help with things. You knowingly broke the rules, and I have no choice but to send you back to Madame's side." Song Pan'er said coldly.

  Mu Qing looked up at Song Dian'er with a pleading expression, crawling to her feet: "Madam, please listen to my explanation. Let me make it clear, even if I'm beaten to death, I won't blame you."

  Song Pan'er nodded slightly.

  In his heart, he had some regret for letting talent go to waste.

  "I am not a biological child of the Gu family. My parents were poor and had many siblings, and our whole family was on the verge of starving to death. But I was sensible from a young age, and at seven years old, I was sold into the mansion in exchange for fifteen taels of silver to support my family. I have an older brother who is lazy and loves to drink and gamble."

  It was mentioned in the previous conversation.

  By the side of the second master, there is a second servant in charge of all things. This year he is twenty years old, only three years older than me. He was originally brought into the mansion with me. At that time I was seven years old and he was ten years old. We were both in the miscellaneous service department and took care of each other. I have no one to rely on, so I also regard him as a close relative.

  And then... and then. He gradually changed his temperament, becoming frivolous and slick. The second master betrothed Liu'er, who was by the side of the second mistress, to him, but he came to me and said that he was also helpless, not daring to disobey his master. In the future, when he becomes successful, he will hire me again. Although it's a secondary household, they still care about me in the same way.

  I was both angry and indignant at the time. Madam, heaven and earth are witnesses, the affection of childhood, I originally took it as true. It's just that he has been getting more and more frivolous. I couldn't bear to look at him anymore. What does his marriage have to do with me? At that time, I was only thirteen years old and had just entered the mistress's room to serve tea. Scared to death.

  Liu Er was originally weak and frail, and not to his liking, beating and scolding were common. In the first year after entering the house, he kicked out a six-month-old son, and in the second year, she jumped into a well and died. Madam, even if I, Mu Qing, am not good enough, I dare not associate with such a person again.

  He lost his wife and instead became the first favorite of the second old master. Every time the lady sent me out to deliver things to the young master and the old master, I ran into him, he always wanted to express his feelings with childhood affection. He also said that I am almost eighteen years old and have reached the age when I should be married, so he begged matchmakers everywhere to come to my home to propose a marriage.

  My parents are pitiful and don't know what's going on outside, they just think he's a capable person. Although his wife has passed away, they believe that in the future, we will follow him to enjoy good fortune. My brother is even more so, having benefited from him many times. Every time I return home, he always says something about it. I just don't open my mouth and tell my parents, "Absolutely do not agree, otherwise, I'll knock myself dead."

  The women in the courtyard also heard the rumors, those who were usually on good terms with me teased me, while those who were not pleased with me added fuel to the fire and slandered me.

  It was just the beginning of April, and my wife rewarded me with a trip back home. My parents said that my brother had been detained at the gambling house and would have one hand chopped off. He sent 50 taels of silver to redeem my brother, but nothing else was needed, not even the money to be returned. They just waited for me to be released and then asked me to get married...

  Song Pan'er remained silent for half a day.

  "Is it because of this that you want to come with us?" asked Gu Jinzhi from the side.

  Mo Qing paused for a moment before saying, "Yes... If that scoundrel mentions me to Second Master and begs him, Second Master will ask Madame, and Madame would never refuse Second Master for my sake."

  I have been serving the mistress for more than five years. My sisters all left, and I thought she would rely on me heavily. But later, Chunqiao and Chunxi were both more capable and clever than me, and they surpassed me. The mistress didn't care about me much either. When the second master asked for me, she naturally gave in, and I had no choice but to take the only road left - death.

  "I'm also grateful to the lady for appreciating me, I deeply feel the lady's kindness towards me, and I'm willing to follow her to serve her sincerely, without any pretence; avoiding the troubles in that household is also true."

  Song Paner still didn't speak.

  Gu Jin did not speak again.

  Nian Lu felt a pang of sadness and sorrow, thinking that Mu Qing was also someone who had his own share of grievances that he couldn't express to others, and his heart was filled with anxiety.

  "Get up, all of you." Song Xiang finally said.

  Nianlu crawled up.

  Mu Qing dared not.

  "Think about it and go." Song Pan'er said.

  That's all about Nianlu.

  Nianlu let out a huge sigh of relief.

  She turned and left.

  "People have their own minds, it's not a big mistake." Song Deng'er said to Mu Qing, "I'll forgive you for the small calculation of coming with us. But can what you say be entirely true? I'm going to send someone to investigate, if there's one lie, you won't live."

  "Milady, please investigate. If I, Mu Qing, have told a single lie, may I not die a good death, may my tongue grow a sore, and may I fall into the eighteen layers of hell to be reincarnated as an animal for eternity."

  This oath is too poisonous.

  Either she was telling the truth or she was a heartless person.

  Song Pan'er also wanted to take this opportunity to understand this little girl.

  "She said: 'Don't talk nonsense first. What's the name of that person in charge?'"

  "Call Cai Ping," said Mu Qing, "These past few days, at night I've been doing needlework and have asked the young servant by the corner door to take it out and sell it. I also had him take the monthly allowance from the mansion and give it to my brother to repay the 50 taels owed to Cai Ping first." That's why she was sneaking around, and afterwards didn't dare do it again.

  Song Pan'er nodded.

  "Go out first." Song Pan'er said.

  Qing also got up and went out, Song Pan'er leaned against the big pillow, letting Gu Jin continue to massage her legs.

  Gu Yin's words were followed by her pinching him.

  "Didn't I tell you about Nianlu already?" Song Tuan'er asked her daughter with a smile.

  Gu Jinzhi also smiled and said: "She didn't dare tell you, afraid that you would think she was tattling, and also afraid that you would be taken advantage of, so she asked me to pass it on."

  Song Pan'er revealed a brilliant smile: "Among these maids, Nian Lu is the least capable. She's straightforward and doesn't know how to be flexible at all. But in my heart, I care for her just like Hai Tang, Shao Yao, and Ao Fu. It's because this child always thinks of me first, trying every means to avoid making things difficult for me."

  Gu Jin smiled slightly.

  Song Pan'er was very gentle with his trusted followers around him.

  She uses people without suspicion and suspects those she doesn't use, this point Gu Yun likes very much.

  Don't suspect people, it's easy to say but hard to do.

  Then, Song Pan'er asked Gu Jinzhi: "How much of what Mu Qing said is true?"

  "There's no nine points, but there are seven or eight points anyway." Gu Jin said, "She said the madam doesn't like her, I think it's reasonable - her personality has a few points of similarity with Eldest Aunt's steadiness. If I were in charge, I wouldn't like having a maid with a similar personality to mine either. I always feel like she can see through my heart, it's not reassuring."

  Song Pan'er burst out laughing and then tapped her forehead: "You're young but you've got a big devil in you. You still care about these things."

  However, thinking carefully, Mu Qing's personality is indeed similar to that of the Eldest Madam.

  Gu Jinzhi smiled and burrowed into his mother's arms.

  Song Pan'er rested for a moment. After chatting and laughing with her daughter, she let the little maid go to the outer courtyard to call for Si Lian.

  Mu Qing returned to her room.

  Peony and Nianlu serve outside.

  Peony asked Nianlu: "What's wrong with Muqing? Did Madam scold her?"

  It can't be helped. The lady likes her so much, what's wrong with what she did?

  Nian Lu's heart was secretly fond of Qing, but she shook her head and said to Yu Rong: "Sister, you stay here for a while, I'll go back to my room to change my clothes. I got up early to accompany the mistress on a stroll in the garden, and my back is a bit sweaty..."

  Peony let her go quickly: "Don't be startled by sweat."

  Nian Lu thanked him and turned around to leave.

  Song Pan'er spoke with Si Lian in the inner room for a while and then called Yu Ruo.

  "Go and open the money box, take out twenty taels of silver and give it to Sijian." said Song Pan'er.

  Peony Way went back and opened the money box.

  As she opened the money box, she thought: even if Madam Mu was fond of Qing, she had never crossed her. In these days in Beijing, wasn't it all under her control?

  At Yanling Fu, Qian was managed by Song's mother and Haitang.

  It's obvious that the madam trusts who she lets manage her money.

  What's the point of comparing herself with Mu Qing?

  Peony felt a lot more at ease in her heart and didn't think Mu Qing was so hateful anymore.

  She took some and first showed them to Madame, then gave them to Sijian.

  The manager took the money and left.

  In the afternoon, the sun was slightly westward. Song Pan'er was taking a nap. Gu Jinzhi and Huan Ge'er, Zhu Zhongjun were writing on the east kang in the second room. Si Lian had just returned.

  Gu Jin entered the inner room and took a look, Song Pan'er was still sleeping.

  She didn't wake up her mother, but let Si Lian come forward and ask him what he had found out.

  Cai Ping was indeed favored by the second master; Mu Qing's brother was a gambler and had almost been beaten to death two months ago for losing money, which was also true. Cai Ping liked Mu Qing and said they were childhood sweethearts, which was also true. When his wife was still alive, he would often say that he wanted to take Mu Qing as his second wife. His wife was a weakling, but her mother was fierce and had even beaten Mu Qing once before. Everyone in the household knew about this incident.

  She was a serious and honest person, always serving the mistress wholeheartedly, never thinking of going out to meet people or joking with the young masters, so no one dared to mention her. When the servants talked about Mu Qing, they used dirty language that didn't sound good. Two years ago, Cai Ping's wife jumped into a well, and it was true. Her mother-in-law was afraid of being bullied and didn't dare to find Cai Ping, but suspected that Mu Qing had become a fox spirit and had beaten her once. The mistress asked Mu Qing about this, but she denied it. It is said that because of these things, the mistress also suspected that Mu Qing was doing something strange, so she didn't treat Mu Qing very well anymore.