Among several big maidservants around Song Pan'er, Nian Lu is the most gentle and quiet in personality.

  She never goes to argue about anything.

  It's not that I'm not motivated by nature, but rather I feel like I'm no match for others, and competing with them is pointless, it would only upset my wife.

  She is diligent and meticulous, which is also her strength.

  Mu Qing was favored, Peony would feel uncomfortable in her heart, but Nian Lu didn't care.

  Mu Qing is a steady and capable person, comparable to Hai Tang. She is also skilled at making pastries, which the mistress and young masters all like. This is something that Nian Lu doesn't have.

  There's no comparison, so there's no need to be jealous.

  Peony despises Mu Qing.

  Although they didn't dare to show it in front of their wives, behind their backs they couldn't help but whisper among themselves. They were saying that Mu Qing was originally a senior maid by the side of the first wife, and the third wife had only said something casually, so she abandoned the first wife and followed the third wife instead.

  Either a heartless and ungrateful climber or a treacherous plotter.

  This is Peony's view of Mu Qing.

  Nian Lu felt that their mistress was more genuine and had a better temper than the big madam. Their mistress would sometimes get angry, but after losing her temper, she would let it go and never arbitrarily transfer her anger.

  Having grasped the pulse of his wife, he knows what to say and when, so as not to offend her.

  But as for the great lady, she was somewhat inscrutable.

  All are underlings, what's the difference?

  Wholeheartedly serving one's master, what is thin or thick affection?

  That time, the old master on the other side of San Yuan Slope Hutong fell ill, and Madame left Mu Qing to attend to Seventh Miss. After returning, Mu Qing's expression was off.

  Then she quietly let the little servant at the corner gate take out a package of things.

  She saw it with her own eyes and was puzzled in her heart.

  Won't let Balang guess correctly, is Muqing really unfavorable to Madam?

  It's okay for others, but harming the lady is something Nian Lu won't tolerate.

  Just like tonight, after serving the lady and resting on that side, Nianlu and a few others who lived in the ear rooms behind the main house also went to rest.

  Tonight is Peony Appreciation Night.

  Nianlu sat for a while with needle and thread, her eyes feeling a bit dry, so she got up and ran to the tea cup, sitting in front of the window drinking.

  Then she heard the sound of the courtyard gate opening.

  She thought it was just some little girl who ran out at night to have fun.

  It's almost time for the night watch, and all the corner gates will be locked. The young maids are disobedient, and when they turn back, Madame will scold them again for not being well-disciplined by their elders.

  Nian Lu quietly followed him out.

  Then, that figure walked away quickly.

  Niè lù yuè fā qí le. Qīng bù jǐn gēn le jǐ bù, què fā xiàn shì mù qīng.

  Translation:

  The dew got stranger and stranger. I followed quietly for a few steps, only to find it was Mu Qing.

  She was a bit embarrassed.

  Mu Qing just strolled around the yard.

  She was not originally raised with Nianlu and Yujin, and she suspected that these senior maids did not like her.

  Suddenly, Nian Lu followed her again. She was afraid she would think too much.

  Nian Lu hastily stopped in her tracks, wanting to go back, but saw Mu Qing come out of the corner gate and head straight for the second gate.

  Out of the second gate is the outer courtyard.

  It's so late at night...

  Nian Lu felt uneasy in her heart and quietly followed him up.

  Mu Qing didn't go out of the second gate.

  She was standing by the corner gate and talking to a young servant.

  From afar, Nian Lu couldn't even make out what she was saying.

  Then she handed a small pouch from her bosom to the young servant and instructed him a few more times.

  Looking around and seeing no one, he hastily returned to the inner courtyard.

  Nian Lu's heart began to struggle.

  The mistress forbids private transactions. No matter what Mu Qing gives out, this kind of sneaky behavior is definitely not allowed by the lady.

  Ke Nianlu didn't catch any evidence either.

  She went out of her way to speak ill of Mu Qing. Madame thought she was just jealous and ended up losing herself.

  Tell Peony, Peony will definitely make a big deal out of it and start arguing first.

  The lady is pregnant and quarreling makes her uncomfortable.

  The dew was slowly rising. Along the way, she thought a lot. She remembered that a few days ago, Seventh Young Lady's maid, Wei Ruo, asked her for some fresh flower patterns to embroider on Seventh Young Lady's small clothes.

  Miss Qi is not good at needlework, so she likes some exquisite flower patterns.

  Ke Nianlu spent the whole day dealing with those new little maids, afraid that they would make mistakes, not daring to let them slack off for a moment, and had forgotten.

  Thinking of this, she took the opportunity to go to Gu Jinzhi's courtyard under the pretext of this matter.

  Gu Jinzhi was listening to Wei Rou say this: "......Two sisters are both Mrs. side of the capable, broke through the bad look, I do not know what they specifically did, and then folded back."

  Mom praised beside: "Good child, you did it right."

  Young Lotus also said: "One more thing is not as good as one less thing. The sisters on the lady's side, it's none of our business to interfere. We just need to serve the young lady well."

  Gu Jin remained silent and didn't say anything.

  For Mu Qing, she had never been so suspicious before.

  Mu Qing was steady and introverted, compared to the other maids in the house, she was indeed more capable, with a few similarities to Haitang, no wonder Mother liked her.

  She is also very proper, her words and deeds are all dignified, never seen her being flirtatious.

  This made both Song Pan'er and Gu Jinzhi feel at ease.

  She suddenly did something so out of line, and Gu Jin's heart skipped a beat.

  Just then, a little maid came in and said, "Nianlu sister, who is beside the lady, has arrived."

  Lotus and water lily were startled by a sudden jump.

  Especially Wei Ru, helplessly gazing at Gu Jin.

  Was she just discovered by Nianlu?

  "Hurry up and let her in." Gu Jinzhi smiled, then said to Wei Rou, "She found out, but still dares to come and question? You're thinking too much..."

  Wei Rou smiled and went out to greet them.

  Nian Lu immediately forgot about herself and turned to Wei Rou's matter, explaining: "......I'll draw one for my sister first."

  It's already late, Song Tian'er must have fallen asleep by now.

  Nian Lu should not be in such a hurry and shouldn't have come to Gu Jinzhi's side at this time.

  She had just followed Mu Qing and didn't return to Zhengyuan, but instead came directly to Gu Zhen's place.

  The host thanked him and went out to pour tea.

  Gu Jin let Zhu's mother and You He go out first as well.

  When only Nianlu and Gu Jizhen were left in the house, Nianlu told Gu Jizhen about Mu Qing's affair: "...... I'm telling you, madam, because I'm afraid you'll think I'm jealous and causing trouble, which would mess up the whole thing. I didn't say a single lie. This is the second time Mu Qing has passed something to someone outside."

  "I believe it." Gu Jinzhi smiled and said, "Sister, rest assured, I'll take note of this matter. Tomorrow will have its own plan. It's almost time for curfew, sister should go back first, lest mother asks and there's no way to explain. The flower pattern will be given to Wei Ru to paint in a few days when she has some free time."

  The path is right before you, yet you don't take it.

  She took up the palace lantern again and quickly walked away.

  When Nianlu walked away, everyone asked Gu Jinzhi, what did Nianlu come for?

  Gu Jinzhi repeated what he had just said.

  Also warned them: "You don't say it out for now. First find out what Mu Qing's hidden situation is. If you quarrel without reason, the lady will get angry, and it will all be your fault."

  A few people were too busy to dare say anything.

  A night without words.

  The next day, Gu Jin got up early and washed up. He went to his mother's place for breakfast.

  Zhu Zhongjun also arrived early.

  Mu Qing and Nian Lu attended beside him.

  Nian Lu's expression was a bit nervous, and she glanced at Gu Jin several times; Mu Qing was calm and expressionless.

  Song Pan'er's eyes were sharp and she quickly noticed Nian Lu's abnormality.

  She remained calm and composed at first.

  After dinner, Gu Jingze accompanied her for a walk.

  Weng and Zhu Zhongjun followed behind.

  Gu Jin's path today is different from usual.

  Song Pan'er asked her: "Are we going out of the second gate? You're pulling me straight outside."

  Mu Qing's expression changed.

  This is the way she went out last night.

  Gu Jin smiled and said: "I've never been here before. Mother, there's a side door over there, where does it lead to? Is it connected to the Luoyang Wangfu?"

  Song Pan'er thought for a moment. She wasn't very clear about it either.

  It so happened that there was a little servant watching at the door.

  When he saw Song Dang'er and others coming, he hurriedly opened the door.

  Mu Qing's face turned even uglier.

  When I opened the door and took a look, outside was a small alley that didn't lead to Luoyang Wang's or Nanchang Wang's mansion, but instead led to the back street, where there was a small street selling some scattered things.

  Song Pan'er had the little servant boy lock the door again: "This is a mixed bag of good and bad. It's not safe at all. If some lazy wife or maid opens the door to buy something, who knows what kind of unclean people they'll let in. What can be done about it?"

  That young fellow repeatedly nodded in agreement.

  Song Pan'er still felt that it was not proper, walked a few steps and said to Mu Qing: "You go tell him, seal that door, bring the key over and we'll take care of it. Have him send his men to other places. This open door was originally for the women from the kitchen to enter and exit. Now thinking about it, it's really not proper. Afraid there will be some shady and dirty business."

  Mu Qing's face turned very unsightly.

  Nian Lu was also nervous.

  Song Paner was puzzled in her heart.

  What's going on with these two girls?

  Gu Jinzhi brought Song Pan'er here, she must be in the know.

  Go back and ask your daughter if she's okay.

  Song Pan'er didn't say anything in front of everyone. Let Mu Qing hurry up and turn around to take them back.

  Luyang Wang and Huan Ge'er walked behind them.

  Wen Ge didn't want to be with him, so he quickly squeezed over to Gu Jin's side.

  The King of Luoyang looked around in all directions.

  This house is adjacent to Nanchang Wangfu and Luyang Wangfu, with three sides connected, all of which have courtyard walls.

  The Xian Huang Yuan was originally intended as a gift for the princess.

  Brothers and sisters or aunts and nephews don't have to be shy about anything, so they simply didn't set up another courtyard wall, with the three families each having walls connected head-to-head.

  It's not quite right for him to stay at home and take care of the family.

  Zhu Zhongjun's eyes swept around, taking in everything in sight.

  After walking around for a while, I'm almost done digesting.

  Song Pan'er's legs were a bit sore.

  Gu Jin helped her massage her legs.

  She sent everyone else away and left only Nianlu.

  Peony was slightly surprised in her heart: What did Nianluo provoke?

  Song Pan'er didn't say a word, she just closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep, letting Gu Jin help her massage away her fatigue.

  Nian Lu's heart was beating rapidly.

  After a while, Mu Qing also returned, holding the key and handing it to Song Wanting: "...the little servant handed over to the outer courtyard's Si Lian, saying that the lord is serving in the carriage."

  Song Pan'er nodded lightly.

  Then she suddenly spoke in a stern voice, saying: "You two, kneel down!"

  Nianlu and Mucying both had something on their minds, but when they heard the stern shout, their legs softened and they immediately knelt down in front of Song Tuaner.

  "How dare you, a little girl like you, play tricks in front of me!" Song Pan'er rebuked in a deep voice. "I've been too lenient with you all along, haven't I? Nian Lu, speak up, what's going on?"

  "Mother..."

  As soon as Gu Jing spoke up, Song Pan'er glared at her and said, "You wait, I'll ask you later. First, I'm asking Nian Lu!"

  ——*——*——

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  The second update is seeking pink tickets, thank you everyone!!