Chapter 45: How Can There Be Such a Coincidence?

"It hurts! It hurts! Yun'er is going to die of pain, going to die of pain, I might as well just be dead!" Luo Yun'er rolled around continuously on the bed, large beads of sweat falling from her forehead.

When Su Yun hurried over, this was the exact scene that met his eyes. Filled with heartache, he quickly pulled Luo Yun'er into his embrace and showered her with tender concern. The two of them seemed as sweet and inseparable as honey and oil.

---

After Su Yun departed, Song Xirui sat upright in a chair and popped a preserved plum into her mouth.

Yet her mind was deep in thought.

Luo Yun'er's illness had arrived far too conveniently.

Su Yun had been busy lately and might not even return to the manor tonight. Just the time it took to brew a cup of tea after their conversation, Luo Yun'er had managed to feign illness.

How could it be such a coincidence?

Barely had Su Yun finished speaking when word of Luo Yun'er's sudden affliction spread.

Everything pointed to a single conclusion: there was a traitor within this courtyard.

After pondering for a moment, she instructed Hongdou to summon someone inside.

"Mammy Chen, you are a veteran servant by my side," Song Xirui said to the rather stern-looking elderly woman.

This was someone she had brought with her from the Marquis's estate, a loyal servant who had grown up by her mother's side since childhood, and thus entirely trustworthy.

However, Mammy Chen was advanced in age and would soon retire to recuperate in a couple of years.

Therefore, Song Xirui had not assigned her too many strenuous tasks in daily life.

Now that Hongdou was injured, she naturally needed a capable person by her side.

Mammy Chen stepped forward and bowed. "Does the Young Madam have any instructions? This old servant has been by your side for so long, and I am simply waiting for your commands."

Hearing her speak in such a manner, Song Xirui held her in even higher regard.

"Mammy, I must trouble you to quietly investigate and see if there is any hidden rat in this courtyard secretly carrying messages over to the cousin miss," Song Xirui said gently.

Hearing this, Mammy Chen's expression hardened, and she said sternly, "Which rat dares to be so bold? Young Madam, do not fear, with Mammy Chen here, we will root this rat out in just a few days!"

Song Xirui smiled faintly. "Then I leave this in your capable hands, Mammy."

True enough, three days later, Mammy Chen found an excuse and, under the guise of retrieving some items for Song Xirui, entered her mistress's bedchamber.

Hongdou closed the door, and Mammy Chen hurried to Song Xirui's side, lowering her voice. "Young Madam, everything has been thoroughly investigated. It turns out to be that little hussy, Dongxia! The moment you give the word, Madam, I will drag her out publicly and make sure she can never show her face again!"

Unexpectedly, Song Xirui shook her head with a smile. "There is no need. Let her stay peacefully in this courtyard for now, and do not alert anyone."

"This... are we simply going to let her off like this?" Mammy Chen frowned. "Young Madam, forgive me, but you are far too soft-hearted. That cousin miss has completely wrapped the young master around her finger, why would you still not want to tear down the facade?"

"You must realize that in this world, it is always the kind-hearted who suffer!"

Song Xirui gently took hold of her hand and spoke softly, "Mammy, I understand all the logic you speak of, but now is not the time to act. Both the young master and the old madam harbor malicious intents beneath their gentle faces, and I must make them realize just how much I have suffered in the past."

Mammy Chen was startled. "Young Madam... you—you knew everything all along!"

To be honest, when Madam Song had initially assigned her to the young miss's side, she had been quite pleased, thinking that the top scholar's manor would be a harmonious household and that her young miss, marrying downward, would surely receive boundless affection and pampering.

Yet barely a month after Song Xirui married in, she had endured endless grievances from her husband's family for no reason, and Mammy Chen had witnessed it all with anxiety in her heart.

If the Young Madam had been blindly infatuated, speaking out too much would only have resulted in being cast aside.

Now, however, their Young Madam possessed true backbone!

Mammy Chen thought for a moment and hastily replied, "Rest assured, Young Madam, not a single word shall slip past this old servant's lips!"

The next day.

Song Xirui began her performance right within the courtyard.

Accompanied by Hongdou beneath the maple tree in the courtyard, she let out a deep sigh. "I don't know what's wrong, but I have no appetite at all lately. Hongdou, have someone clear away today's lunch; there's no need to bring it out, looking at it only brings annoyance!"

Hongdou hurriedly chimed in, "Young Madam, you haven't been eating well at all these past few days, we really must have a physician come and take a look!"

As she spoke, she gently patted Song Xirui's back.

Yet, before Song Xirui could speak another word, she abruptly began to retch dryly!

In an instant, all the servants in the courtyard swarmed over.

Naturally, this included Dongxia.

After finishing her dry retching, Song Xirui waved her hand and said, "Disperse, all of you. I am fatigued and wish to rest in my room for a while."

With that, she let Hongdou support her as she went inside.

The moment the door closed, the sound of dry retching echoed from within the room once again.

Dongxia's eyes rolled, and turning to Taoxi beside her, she whispered, "Taoxi, I'm going out to buy something, keep an eye on things for me."

With that, she hurried out of the courtyard.

Inside the room.

Peering through a crack in the window, Hongdou watched Dongxia leave and muttered, "She runs fast enough, she's definitely off to report to the miss."

Dongxia truly lacked sense; the Young Madam treated them so well, even paying monthly wages thirty percent higher than other courtyards!

Song Xirui popped another preserved plum into her mouth and said leisurely, "Just wait, before long, that cousin miss will be running over here looking to humiliate herself again."

Sure enough.

Before long.

Luo Yun'er, unconcerned about making herself a nuisance, hurried directly into the courtyard.

Upon entering, she found Song Xirui sitting pale-faced, clutching a jar of preserved plums.

Jealousy and anger churned within her heart, yet upon her face she had to feign concern. "Cousin-in-law, I heard you were feeling unwell, is it true?"

Song Xirui slowly shook her head. "No. It's just that lately I've had a craving for sour things, goodness knows why. Blech!"

No sooner had she claimed nothing was wrong than she began to retch dryly right in front of Luo Yun'er, prompting Hongdou to hurriedly pat her back.

Seeing this, Luo Yun'er needed no further explanation and hastily hurried away.

Meanwhile, Song Xirui remained as leisurely as ever, hugging her jar of preserved plums while awaiting the arrival of the second wave of "battle."

---

At that moment, Su Yun and Madam Li had been summoned by Luo Yun'er.

"Yun'er, is this really a good idea? Do you have any proof that Song Xirui has been unfaithful?" Su Yun asked with a gloomy expression. "The physician hasn't arrived yet, perhaps she isn't pregnant at all."

If Song Xirui were pregnant, wouldn't that mean he had been cuckolded? How could he possibly tolerate such a thing? He would certainly make Song Xirui pay the price!

"Husband, Yun'er saw it with her own eyes, Song Xirui is carrying a villain's child! Your Su family cannot possibly raise a bastard!"

Madam Li was pacing back and forth in fury nearby, thoroughly provoked by those words. "I always said that woman surnamed Song was constantly running about outside with ulterior motives, but I never imagined she was actually going out to rendezvous with an illicit lover!"

Su Yun was not so easily fooled, and he remained hesitant. "Perhaps we should find an opportunity to verify this first."

A single sentence from Luo Yun'er completely turned his attitude around: "Husband, does whether this is true or false really matter? What we need is leverage to control Song Xirui and the entire Song family! Even if she isn't, you must find a way to pin it on her."

Su Yun raised his eyes to look at her, his gaze stunned.