Chapter Twenty-Five: Tailoring a Trap

Jin Baobao started, suppressing the urge to turn around.

"Deliver what letter? To whom?"

"To a gentleman named Lanting. I don't know what's written inside."

"Hand over the letter. Let me see it."

Jin Baobao instinctively clutched the hidden pocket where the letter was tucked. "This... wouldn't be appropriate, would it?"

Hao Mengye looked up at her. "Qi Mubai, courtesy name Lanting, is a popular candidate for this year's imperial examination. He doesn't live here; he has been invited to stay at the Juxian Pavilion."

Jin Baobao’s eyes widened. He knew even that!

Ignoring her shock, Hao Mengye pondered silently. Qi Mubai, born of a concubine, had been banished to a rural estate. The countryside where he had been sent was the very same place where the Commander had been rescued after being wounded. Even more coincidentally, the girl who had saved the Commander had also vanished from that same location.

"Where is the letter?"

Jin Baobao held it tighter. "No. It is my mistress's letter; I cannot open and peek at it in secret."

Hao Mengye’s expression darkened. "Jin Baobao, have you forgotten your status? Do you still want to clear your brother’s name and prove his innocence?"

Jin Baobao bit her lip, her fingers loosening. Thinking of Yu Shengsheng’s warning to "prioritize your own safety above all else," she tightened her grip again.

"What does my brother have to do with opening my mistress's letter?"

Hao Mengye: "..."

This was simply to confirm whether Yu Shengsheng was indeed the Commander’s savior. The letter might reveal some clues. But he couldn't tell Jin Baobao that; only the Commander had told him.

Before he could decide how to phrase it, Jin Baobao added, "I saw it. My mistress has that scar on her body. But Commander, she is a good person. She has suffered so much injustice, and she has so many scars on her body—any other pampered young lady would have died from the pain long ago."

Hao Mengye suppressed his excitement. "She has a scar? Are you sure? Did you see it clearly?"

"I am sure."

Hao Mengye’s mind raced. "Give me the letter. I will deliver it." He added, "I won't open it."

The Commander had promised to grant her a few favors as a way to repay her kindness. Given that she was making Jin Baobao take such risks to deliver this letter, it was clearly of great importance. This could be counted as one of the favors he owed her.

Jin Baobao looked thoughtful and hesitant.

"Hurry. If you don't go now, the person following you will grow suspicious. If he becomes suspicious, I will have to kill him, and if more people die, you will no longer be able to stay in the Su residence."

Jin Baobao made up her mind and handed over the letter.

***

Jin Baobao returned to the courtyard smoothly. Yu Shengsheng was standing under the veranda; seeing her return, her eyes brightened, but she dared not ask.

"Mistress, that gentleman has moved to the Juxian Pavilion. He is a popular candidate for this year's imperial examination; the pavilion invited him personally, and his meals and lodging are all provided for free."

"The letter has been delivered. You can rest easy."

Yu Shengsheng’s hand, which had been tightly clutching her handkerchief, loosened. Her tense heart surged with warmth, spreading throughout her body.

"That is wonderful, Baobao." Yu Shengsheng pulled her close, her eyes slightly red. "Thank you."

Jin Baobao’s face flushed, feeling a bit guilty.

Before she could say anything, Yu Shengsheng pulled her into the room. "I saved these snacks for you. I noticed you liked them, so eat them now."

Yu Shengsheng went into the inner chamber, her racing heart difficult to calm.

Qi Mubai was finally going to make a name for himself. Once he read of the predicament she wrote about in the letter, he would surely understand her plight. If they worked together, by the time the examination results were posted, everything related to the Su family could be brought to an end.

As for tomorrow’s Lotus Viewing Banquet, Yu Shengsheng steadied her mind. Su Yanshu planned to announce her marriage to the heir; that was perfect. She could use the situation to ensure her own reputation for being "ill-omened" spread far and wide. Using the mouths of these noble ladies and young masters would be far more effective than relying on servants.

Yu Shengsheng felt that everything was filled with hope once more.

Just then, the voice of Nanny Zhao echoed in the courtyard.

"Is the young mistress in?"

Yu Shengsheng composed herself and turned to step out of the room.

Nanny Zhao’s face was a map of wrinkles, her smile wide and polite, though her voice carried a hidden sharpness. She gestured toward the woman behind her. "This is Mistress Miao from the Jinlu Pavilion. She is an expert with a needle, and the clothes from Jinlu Pavilion are famous. The Old Madam and the Second Young Master specifically invited her to take your measurements and have you pick out a few outfits."

So, it had begun.

Nanny Zhao didn't wait for Yu Shengsheng’s response. "Mistress Miao, please come in." She led the woman straight into the room, leaving no room for refusal.

"Mistress, please," Mistress Miao curtsied.

Even if she didn't want to, Yu Shengsheng couldn't make things difficult for the outsider. She walked slowly into the room to be measured.

Nanny Zhao flipped through a catalog of clothing, her mouth never stopping. "Oh, this is truly beautiful. If I were twenty years younger, I’d save up for three months without food or drink just to buy one set."

After finishing the measurements, Mistress Miao said, "Mistress, please take a look. Once you choose, I will take it back and adjust it to your measurements to ensure a perfect fit."

Yu Shengsheng had no interest in these things, but she knew she couldn't appear too conspicuous tomorrow.

Just as she was about to point to a plain-colored set, Nanny Zhao slapped her hand onto a brightly colored one. "Let’s go with this set. The color is beautiful and magnificent—it’s on par with what you wore the day you returned to the manor."

Yu Shengsheng gripped her handkerchief tightly, lowered her eyes, and asked, "Did the Old Madam ask me to choose for myself, or did she ask you to choose for me?"

Nanny Zhao’s expression stiffened.

Yu Shengsheng pointed to a moon-white set. "I will have this one."

"No," Nanny Zhao vetoed.

She knew exactly what tomorrow’s banquet meant. The Second Young Master had already reported to the Old Madam that, in front of the guests, they had to make it clear that the Su family treated Yu Shengsheng extremely well, and that she was a worthy match for the heir. After all, with her face, if she were dressed up properly, no one could find a fault.

Mistress Miao sensed the tension and suggested with a smile, "How about this one? It’s goose-yellow, which complements the young mistress’s skin tone. It is made of premium shimmering silk; it is elegant without being overly flashy."

Nanny Zhao felt a toothache coming on. Shimmering silk, and premium quality at that—how much would that cost? The Second Young Master had previously obtained a few feet of it to make a shawl for the Princess. If even the Princess didn't have a full outfit of it, why should this wretched girl, Yu Shengsheng, have one?

"Let’s pick something else," Nanny Zhao said, her eyes sharp enough to pick out something that looked expensive but wasn't actually costly.

Yu Shengsheng met Mistress Miao’s gaze and nodded firmly. "I will go with what the Mistress suggested."

Nanny Zhao tried to interject, but Yu Shengsheng lowered her eyes. "If you cannot make the decision, Nanny, please go ask the Old Madam for instructions before returning to me."

Nanny Zhao forced a smile and agreed through gritted teeth.

As soon as they left the courtyard, Nanny Zhao told Mistress Miao, "You should head to the Princess’s courtyard next. Our Princess needs a few sets of summer clothes as well."

At that moment, Su Zhiyi was looking at Rujian, whose face was as swollen as a pig's head, her heart burning with rage.

"Mistress," Rujian knelt down, "this servant is useless."

"You are indeed useless," Su Zhiyi’s voice leaked from her throat, laced with fury. "You couldn't even keep an eye on a single maid, and you ended up getting beaten like this."

"She didn't beat me," Rujian quickly explained. "It was some scoundrel who insisted that I had broken his bronze mirror."

"And so? You lost the target and got beaten anyway."

Rujian quickly pledged, "This servant guarantees she will capture her next time!"

There was a sound at the window frame. Su Zhiyi suppressed her temper. "Get out."

Rujian stood up, lowered her head, and retreated.

With no one left in the room, Su Zhiyi let out a heavy breath. "Come in."

The window was pushed open, and a shadow landed silently.

"Princess, that little maid went to an inn in the east of the city."