Chapter Eight: What’s Wrong with a Man and Woman in Love?

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“What else could it be?”

Liu Fuying leaned lazily back into her chair, her expression relaxed, but a cold edge glinted in her dark eyes.

“We’ve got a mole, obviously,” she added.

At this, Jinli’s face changed.

In the past, it wouldn’t have mattered so much. But now—now was the most critical time for her lady. Madam was preparing to have a child with that man in the mountains, and suddenly, rumors were spreading that she and the General were estranged and hadn’t shared a bed. If she really did get pregnant now, others might start to question the child’s parentage.

The General might not care, but outsiders—especially the Second Branch—were another story entirely.

Realizing this, Jinli immediately turned to leave.

“Wait,” Liu Fuying called her back, her gaze unreadable. “Go out and leak a bit of information for me.”

Jinli stepped closer, and Liu Fuying whispered a few words into her ear.

After listening, Jinli nodded and left, her face resolute. She swore she’d find the mole.

Liu Fuying had already instructed that no one under her roof was to have any contact with anyone from the Second Branch. Every corner was under watch, so investigation wouldn’t be too difficult.

Sure enough, within an hour, they caught the spy—Cui Xi, a second-class maid from Old Madam Shen’s courtyard.

It made sense. Everyone in Liu Fuying’s quarters knew her ways—strict, firm, never tolerating betrayal. None of her own people would have dared leak a thing.

“Madam, we also found something in Cui Xi’s room,” Jinli said, handing over a jade pendant—clearly of high quality, far above what a second-class maid could afford.

“I interrogated her. She said it belonged to the Second Branch’s Young Master.”

The Young Master—her cousin, Second Uncle’s son.

“No wonder she had such guts. With your Young Master backing you, you really weren’t afraid of anything, were you?” Liu Fuying sat high in her chair, leaning forward slightly as she looked down at the kneeling Cui Xi. “Did he promise to marry you? What sweet words did he feed you to make you betray your mistress like this?”

“M-Madam…”

“Forget it. Whether he promised you anything or not, you clearly believed you could climb your way up and feared nothing anymore. The Old Madam always treated you servants kindly, and this is how you repay her?”

Cui Xi trembled on the ground, her face soaked in cold sweat.

Betraying one’s mistress—no matter the reason—was never excusable. And she was terrified of how Liu Fuying might punish her. After all, she was still just a maid. No matter what the Young Master said to her behind closed doors, he wouldn’t be able to protect her now.

“Madam, I was wrong. I won’t dare again. Please…”

“What’s wrong with a man and a woman being in love?” Liu Fuying interrupted with a warm smile—but that smile only made the atmosphere even tenser.

“Love is unpredictable. Sometimes people do foolish things for those they care about. And all you did was leak a little gossip—it’s not like you committed treason. Why would I want to kill you?”

Despite her words, Cui Xi trembled even harder, as if death would’ve been less frightening than this.

“And besides, you’ve worked hard in Old Madam’s service—some merits to offset your mistakes. I’m not the kind of person who tears apart a pair of lovers. Since you and the Young Master share affection, I’ll speak up for you. How about letting you go serve in his household?”

Cui Xi blinked in stunned disbelief.

“M-Madam… you’re not going to punish me?”

“Just tell me—do you want this or not?”

“I… I do… I’m willing…”

“Good.”

Liu Fuying didn’t waste another word. She stood and waved for Jinli to escort Cui Xi out for now.

Later that evening, Liu Fuying personally took Cui Xi to the Second Branch.

Only Yang-shi, her aunt by marriage, came out to meet her in the main hall.

By this time of day, Second Uncle or the Young Master should’ve been home. Clearly, they didn’t think much of the matter and only sent Yang-shi out as a token gesture.

Cui Xi knelt on the ground while Liu Fuying sat down gracefully, a pleasant smile on her face. She calmly described Cui Xi’s relationship with the Young Master and even handed over the jade pendant that proved it—leaving Yang-shi no room to refute it.

Yang-shi’s face flushed red, then white.

“They fell for each other across the courtyard walls—that kind of feeling can’t be faked,” Liu Fuying said, still smiling. “Cui Xi’s status may be humble, but our Shen family has never been obsessed with pedigree. After all, I was only a concubine’s daughter, yet I married into the Shen family.”

Yang-shi’s face darkened. She didn’t even bother replying or looking at Liu Fuying.

“With feelings this deep, making Cui Xi just a concubine’s maid seems like an insult. I won’t suggest a proper wife, but she at least deserves to be a favored concubine.”

Liu Fuying’s eyes lingered mockingly on Yang-shi’s face.

“If Aunt has no objections, let’s consider the matter settled.”

Yang-shi’s expression was thunderous. The jade token was already presented. If they turned Cui Xi away now, the public would say her son was heartless—a man who toyed with a woman’s affection and discarded her.

As Liu Fuying turned and walked away, her figure calm and composed, Yang-shi grew angrier just watching her.

She grabbed a tea cup and hurled it hard at Cui Xi.

“Be a concubine? You’re not even worthy to scrub his shoes! Liu Fuying’s a wretched bitch, and all her servants are filthy whores too!”

Cui Xi was already sobbing, tears pouring like rain.

“But I truly love the Young Master…”

“Shut your mouth!”

Yang-shi’s face turned white with rage. She knew her son better than anyone—a shameless flirt who chased pretty girls without restraint. He only toyed with Cui Xi because she had some looks. Yang-shi had only allowed it to continue so they could spy on the main branch’s affairs.

“Love? What are you? You think you can speak of love with my son? Did he come out to defend you today? Stop dreaming.”

The more she spoke, the angrier she became, smashing another tea cup.

No one around dared make a sound for fear of becoming the next target.

“I don’t even know who’s spreading nonsense—saying our Second Branch is trying to steal the inheritance and forcing the main wife into such despair she nearly threw herself into a well. I heard it all the way home today. Probably all over the capital by now!”

“How am I supposed to show my face in public after this?!”

…

“Madam, are they really going to accept Cui Xi?” Jinli asked nervously on their way back.

After all, if the Second Branch did take her in—just to protect their reputation—Cui Xi might actually get off easy.

“Not a chance,” Liu Fuying replied. “Didn’t you see her face? She clearly heard the rumors outside and knew I was the one who spread them. She’s furious. And now I’ve forced Cui Xi into her hands to humiliate her—she’s probably ready to explode.”

The rumors Yang-shi mentioned were the very ones Liu Fuying had told Jinli to spread earlier that afternoon.

“So that’s why Madam asked me to spread gossip about the Second Branch—so it’d be easier to get rid of Cui Xi.”

“Not just that.”

This wasn’t just about Cui Xi.

In truth, it was… for Pei Zhouwu.