Chapter 323: Chapter 294: This is Jiangdu Palace!_2
"..."
"However, if you weren’t so skilled, you wouldn’t have been able to take a full-grown person like me out of that place, would you?"
Wo Xue blinked her big eyes and said, "Actually, there was originally no chance."
"Oh?"
"But luckily, the Second Young Master Yu Wen lost too much blood and fell unconscious, on the brink of danger."
"..."
"The people at the manor were all in a frenzy, and that’s how I got the chance to take the Young Madam away."
Shang Ruyi’s breath paused imperceptibly, but she didn’t ask much, just smiled faintly and said in a casual tone, "Is that so?"
Wo Xue tilted her head and looked at her for a while, finally couldn’t help but softly say, "Has the Young Madam known all along that I—"
Shang Ruyi looked up at her, "Hmm?"
Wo Xue said with a complex expression, "When I was at the Yuwen Mansion, I knew I was new and couldn’t get close to any secrets, but every time something happened at home, I would conveniently be transferred away. Now that I think about it, it was always the Young Madam’s doing."
"..."
"Moreover, when you woke up and saw me just now, you weren’t surprised at all, not even angry."
"..."
"Young Madam, when did you start thinking there was something wrong with me?"
Shang Ruyi said calmly, "Yue Kiln Cup."
"...?!"
Wo Xue was stunned, her round eyes full of astonishment. She lowered her head and thought carefully for a while, then looked up at Shang Ruyi, "Did I do something?"
Shang Ruyi said peacefully, "I told you to search Chang Wan’s room for things, and you scraped the wall crevice."
Wo Xue thought it over carefully, and indeed it had happened, but she found nothing from scraping the wall. She asked puzzledly, "What’s the problem with that?"
Shang Ruyi replied, "Hiding stolen things behind loose bricks and sealing them up is something a house thief in a wealthy household would do; but such matters are rare, and even fewer become known. It requires someone to have been in such a large family for many years to know such secrets."
As she spoke, she looked up at Wo Xue, "You came to the Yuwen Family because Aunt Hui didn’t want to play useless tricks on me, so she specially bought a new maid; moreover, you have a relatively clean background, never having worked in other marquis mansions."
"..."
"But knowing this means that at the very least, you come from a place far deeper than a marquis manor."
"..."
"From that time on, I suspected you came from the palace."
Wo Xue took a deep breath and murmured in regret, "At that time, I only thought about performing well, trying to stand out in front of you to gain your trust, but unexpectedly, I exposed myself."
After saying this, she looked at Shang Ruyi again, "Then, why doesn’t the Young Madam dispose of me?"
Shang Ruyi said, "If you truly are someone from the palace, then you were sent by the Emperor. Who dares to dispose of someone sent by the Emperor?"
"..."
"In reality, what marquis mansion doesn’t have someone sent by the Emperor? Everyone knows it in their hearts, but just doesn’t break this facade."
"..."
"Only this time, I—"
At this point, she gave a wry smile to herself.
All the long-standing vigilance did not lead to any mishaps, yet it was this time, due to Yu Wenye’s situation, that she let her guard down, allowing Wo Xue to find an opening.
Wo Xue seemed to be in awe of her calm and serene wisdom, and stared at her dumbfoundedly for quite some time before letting out a sigh and softly saying, "I apologize, Young Madam."
However, there was little remorse for betrayal and disloyalty in her words.
It seemed more like just a sigh for the Madam before her.
Shang Ruyi looked at her again and softly said, "However, I am also quite puzzled. Obviously, you were sent to the Yuwen Family, but for such a long time, you did nothing and did not overstep any boundaries. Except for that incident, you revealed almost no flaws. Sometimes, I even began to doubt if my suspicions were unnecessary."
"..."
"Wo Xue, what exactly did you come to the Yuwen Family for?"
Wo Xue’s eyes flickered as she looked at her, softly speaking, "Actually, I do nothing."
"...?"
Shang Ruyi’s eyes widened in surprise.
Wo Xue continued, "I simply followed orders to serve the Second Young Master Yu Wen and the Young Madam."
"..."
"If there really is a purpose, it’s to ascertain whether the two of you are truly married; to investigate whether Second Young Master Yu Wen really gave up the Princess for the Young Madam."
Shang Ruyi stared blankly at her and took another deep breath.
So that’s how it was.
Only then did she recall why His Majesty the Emperor would humble himself to appear before her, taking on the disguise of Yang Suyi, accompanying her to enjoy the scenery and relax, and even doing many things an Emperor shouldn’t do.
It was because Yu Wenye agreed to marry her, rejecting Princess Xinyue.
She couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
If the person before her and that Emperor knew why Yu Wenye actually rejected Princess Xinyue, they would definitely be dumbstruck, and their expressions would certainly be amusing.
Seeing Shang Ruyi suddenly laugh, Wo Xue showed a look of surprise and softly said, "Young Madam?"
Shang Ruyi waved her hand, but this movement immediately made her feel her weakness again. Her whole body softened for a moment, almost collapsing, but Wo Xue was quick-eyed and reached out to support her.
Wo Xue said, "But later, the task was no longer the same."
"Oh?"
"Then I was instructed to stay by the Young Madam’s side."
"..."
"And later—during this incident, my task was to take the Young Madam away from the Yuwen Family and bring you here."
Shang Ruyi breathed lightly twice.
Then she looked up at the grand room, at the luxurious and exquisite furnishings around her, her heart pounding heavier than when she felt weak: "Where is this place?"
Wo Xue opened her mouth, not having time to speak, when the grand door of the inner chamber suddenly pushed open.
Shang Ruyi only felt a gentle breeze, carrying an indescribable elegant scent. She instinctively turned her head, but through a screen, she couldn’t see who had come.
Only the familiar voice could be heard, carrying its familiar arrogance and childlike pride, saying—
"This is Jiangdu Palace!"