Chapter 132: The Witness from Years Ago

Zhou Ruiyuan continued asking, “I heard that the Wu family is quite a renowned and influential family in the capital. Why would they go to such great lengths to redeem a woman from a brothel?”

Madam Xu smiled slightly. “Liu Niangzi’s elder sister was extraordinarily beautiful. Perhaps they bought her to take her in as a concubine. However, being a concubine in that household likely wouldn’t be easy. According to Liu Niangzi, her sister hasn’t contacted her for three years. No one knows how she is doing now.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ruiyuan and the Third Prince’s expressions darkened.

Fearing that Madam Xu might become suspicious, Madam Zhou quickly added, “Liu Niangzi is fortunate to have an older sister; otherwise, she might still be stuck in that brothel.”

Madam Xu nodded. “That’s true. These past few days, she has kept her doors shut, afraid that Lady Li might come looking for trouble. I’ll be visiting her later to check on her.”

Du Wanchun suddenly thought of something. “Lady Li is so ruthless—she’ll likely try to use the same tactics again. Madam Xu, if anything happens, you can come to Changliu Village to find us.”

“Alright, don’t worry. I have a few skilled workers at my teahouse. We should be fine,” Madam Xu reassured her. Then, she glanced at Du Wanchun’s belly and asked, “How is the little one in your belly behaving lately?”

Du Wanchun gently placed a hand over her stomach. “Very well-behaved, hardly causing any trouble.”

Madam Xu chuckled. “That’s good. Once your child is born, I’ll teach them how to brew tea.”

Du Wanchun lowered her head, looking at her belly. “A few days ago, Liu Niangzi said she wanted to teach the child how to make rouge.”

Madam Xu stood up and laughed. “Not just rouge! That old man who sells pastries, Uncle Zhang, has also been talking about teaching the child how to make pastries. In the future, I reckon your little one will be a jack of all trades!”

Hearing this, Du Wanchun’s heart filled with anticipation.

Madam Zhou joined in with a smile. “And we’ll teach them the art of making incense. Let’s see if they can learn it all.”

Zhou Ruiyuan coughed lightly. “Mother, that depends on whether they want to learn or not.”

Madam Zhou, her eyes crinkling with laughter, said, “If they’re as smart as Wanchun, they won’t even need to learn. Just watching me a few times will be enough.”

As she spoke, she glanced at Du Wanchun.

After chatting for a while, everyone returned to their respective shops and resumed their work.

Zhang Qiuhua, despite looking frail, proved to be quite skilled at accounting and running a business. She was incredibly patient with customers, and whenever someone stepped into the shop, she always managed to persuade them to buy at least a little incense before leaving.

With Madam Li no longer causing trouble, business at the shop resumed as usual.

Du Wanchun and Madam Zhou were relieved and followed the Third Prince and Zhou Ruiyuan back home with a carriage full of goods.

After getting off the carriage, the Third Prince stood at the entrance, deep in thought, before turning to Madam Zhou and asking, “Zhou’er, have you ever seen Liu Niangzi before?”

Madam Zhou quickly replied, “Of course, I have.”

The Third Prince frowned slightly and asked, “Does she resemble a former palace maid who once served by your side?”

Back when Madam Zhou was in the palace, she had many palace maids—over thirty of them. Now that she had left the palace for three years, her memory was not as clear. “I don’t think so.”

The Third Prince continued, “Then do you remember if there was anyone in Noble Consort Wu’s palace who looked like her?”

Madam Zhou thought carefully before shaking her head. “No, Liu Niangzi has a delicate and alluring appearance, whereas the maids in Noble Consort Wu’s palace were all rather plain-looking.”

Du Wanchun walked over and asked, “Your Highness, are you suspecting that Liu Niangzi’s sister is working in the palace?”

The Third Prince nodded. “That’s right. Everything is too coincidental. Liu Niangzi’s sister was redeemed by the Wu family, and it just so happens that she lost contact three years ago. There’s a possibility that she is connected to the incident where your mother was falsely accused three years ago.”

At that time, Noble Consort Wu had been pregnant but suffered a miscarriage. She then framed Madam Zhou, claiming that the incense she provided was faulty.

Back then, among those who testified against Madam Zhou, there were indeed several young palace maids.

However, all of those maids later disappeared without a trace.

Meanwhile, inside the imperial palace, Noble Consort Wu turned to a maid beside her and asked, “Has that Liu Xiangxiang been found yet?”

“Reporting to Your Highness, not yet.” The young maid lowered her head cautiously.

Noble Consort Wu took a bite of a fruit and said slowly, “Keep looking. Once you find her, just bring me her head.”

The maid quickly responded, “Yes, Your Highness.”

Spitting out the fruit pit, Noble Consort Wu’s expression turned cold. “Back then, my father sent her into the palace to teach me how to serve His Majesty. I never expected her to try and report me to the Empress! If I catch her, I’ll break her legs and sew her mouth shut!”