Song Yixiao pondered and said, “I'm noted. Tell the kitchen staff to add several more dishes tomorrow.”

After Jinxun left, Yuan Xue'e noticed that no strange maids were found in the room, asking in confusion, “Why are you so close to the Su sisters? My brother tells me that the Su Family and we are not on the same side.”

“It is hard to explain in a few words!” Song Yixiao smiled bitterly and shook her head.

Yuan Xue'e recognized that she didn't want to talk in detail, so she puckered her lips and said in a mild tone, “The Su sisters are not ill-natured indeed. Especially the Seventh Lady, Su Shaoling, is educated, reasonable and considerate. However, the matter of stance has nothing to do with character.”

“Of course I know that.” Yuan Xue'e was her childhood friend and Song Yixiao knew that she must think for her sincerely, so she decided not to avoid explaining. Song Yixiao had to hint the maids to leave, saying in a low voice, “But I've just owed the Su sisters one. If I refuse to meet them now, I'll be regarded as an ungrateful person!”

Yuan Xue'e felt at ease, “Oh I see. You are always smarter than me. I know you'll never make such a silly mistake!”

She didn't pry into how Song Yixiao owed the Su sisters one. Instead, she only said, “If you need my help when you return them the favor, just let me know!”

“Rest a.s.sured. I can't owe anyone but you, right?” Song Yixiao said with a smile.

She wanted to invite Yuan Xue'e to supper but Yuan Xue'e was afraid that she would be resented by Jian Xubai, “Everyone knows that you two are in love. Jian Xiuhuang goes to court in the early morning and then goes on duty in the Ministry of War. He works hard throughout the whole day and wants to go back home to hold you in arms. However, if he learns that you cannot be with him because of me, G.o.d knows how he will seek revenge on me? I don't want to p.i.s.s him off for a meal.”

Xiuhuang was the style name of Jian Xubai. Song Yixiao had no idea whether to cry or to laugh, saying, “He and your brother are good friends, so he will not do anything against you in light of your brother! Why are you so afraid of him?”

“You didn't see how he scolded me before!” Yuan Xue'e said resentfully, “He is not frightening in front of you but it doesn't mean that he is not a terrifying person! Do you think that he gains a firm foothold by virtue of kindness? My brother tells me that some fierce officials in the Ministry of War even take a detour upon meeting him!”

At the beginning of the year, Jian Xubai flew into a rage, leaving Yuan Xue'e a deep and scary impression. Therefore, no matter how Song Yixiao claimed that Jian Xubai was actually hospitable and only had no idea how to express himself properly, Yuan Xue'e still left with determination.

Song Yixiao failed to keep Yuan Xue'e at the mansion for supper, thus having to see her off. “When Jian Xubai comes back, I must ask him how he scolded Xue'e. How come she still feels frightened by him after almost one year?” Song Yixiao couldn't help thinking on the way back to Keshao Hall.

However, it was time that Jian Xubai should come back but he was not back yet.

“Does anything happen to the Ministry of War today?” Song Yixiao didn't care about it at first but Jian Xubai was still not back by dusk. She became anxious and summoned Jinxun, “Go to the front yard and ask why Xubai is still not back. If no one knows why, send someone to the Ministry of War to inquire about it!”

Jinxun took the order and left hurriedly. After quite a while, she finally returned to Keshao Hall and reported, “I have asked two guards to ride over to Ministry of War for inquiry. According to the guards, the officials of the Ministry of War are off work early today but His Highness has gone somewhere else than the duke's mansion.”

“Somewhere else?” Song Yixiao said with a frown, “Where has he gone?”

“I am not very sure…” Jinxun faltered and hedged. Stared by Song Yixiao, she didn't dare to tell a lie and said fearfully while rubbing her clothes, “His Highness… His Highness has gone to the Hongxiu Alley!”

Hongxiu Alley was actually not called as Hongxiu Alley at first. The name originated from a saying—Man Lou Hong Xiu Zhao, which meant pretty girls standing on the opposite and waving at the men. Hence, to take the words too literally, what this place was for went without saying. It was a place where brothels gathered in the imperial capital.

No wonder Jinxun didn't dare to talk of it at first.

Song Yixiao stayed silent for a while and said, “Why don't you tell me that he has gone to the Hongxiu Alley? Hasn't he gone there? You mustn't hide this kind of similar things to me in future! Otherwise, I will be still ignorant if he brings some woman back home!”

Jinxun muttered carefully, “Yes, Madam.”

“Since he may not come back tonight, I don't need to wait for him then. Just set the table!” Song Yixiao said casually, “It's late now. Jiangxing Villa is distant from here. If not, I can ask Chan to have supper with me so that we can have a chat.”

Then although Song Yixiao looked calm, who seemed not to be affected by the news that her husband went to brothel after work, the servants were still extremely careful in lest that she vented her anger on them.

After having supper and taking a bath, Song Yixiao returned to the inner chamber, leaning against the bed to let the maid help dry up her hair. Then she waved her hand to imply that she felt like sleeping and asked all the servants to leave. In the end, she finally pulled a long face!

“Last night, although Jian Xubai was disgruntled about me not telling him about Chan's matter, he shouldn't do this to me today!” She was married to him not for long, but she had known about her husband's temper. Since Jian Xubai could hold back the anger about what happened on the wedding night, he and Song Yixiao was not in a conflict last night?

As a result, she started to suspect, “He must be instigated!”

However, although she was sure that someone must have incited Jian Xubai, she had no clues about who it was.

After all, she had never met her husband's colleagues before. Even for friends, she only knew Yuan Xuepei.

“I am too poorly-informed because I was not high-born and lived under the roof of others for years!” Song Yixiao sighed, “I must subst.i.tute those people in the mansion with my own people as soon as possible!”

Otherwise, she was in too pa.s.sive a position!

Over the night, Song Yixiao didn't fall asleep unhappily until she tossed around on bed for a long time.

While she was half sober in her sleep, she felt that someone lay in bed next to her. Meanwhile, a refresh smell of saponin mixed with faint wetness crossed her cheeks. Jian Xubai came back!

Having recalled what he had done tonight, Song Yixiao couldn't help feeling angry. Hence, she deliberately turned her back to him and stayed distant from him.

However, after lying down, Jian Xubai just reached out his arm and dragged her into his arms. He even rubbed her body for a bit and then closed his eyes with satisfaction.

Song Yixiao was speechless.

If it were not for that he had helped her ask Wei Mengying to meet her, she would have kicked him away!

The next morning, Jian Xubai played the old trick and woke her up before dawn, “Get up! Get up! Help me get dressed or I will be late for court!”

Song Yixiao was almost at the end of her forbearance.

With a long face, she helped him get dressed. Then she was about to summon the servants when she heard him complain, “Did you forget to have this inner garment washed? Why is there a stain on it?”

“You don't need to take off clothes in front of people. Who knows your inner garment is not clean?” Disgruntled, Song Yixiao heard his complaint and took a glimpse at the garment only to find a little dust on the cuff. Then she sneered, “Even if you have to take off clothes, you will pay them anyway. Why do they care whether your clothes are clean or not?”

Jian Xubai was trying to wipe off the dust with a napkin but now he just slightly frowned, “What do you mean by taking off my clothes? It is reluctantly acceptable that the stain is on somewhere else but it is right at the cuff. If the sleeve is rolled up, the stain will be seen then!”

“Aren't you afraid that you will be late for court?” Song Yixiao asked coldly, “Now how can I have the time to get another one?”

Jian Xubai glanced at her and frowned even more, reminding her unhappily, “You must have my clothes carefully checked in future when you pa.s.s them to me!”

“Someone come in!” Song Yixiao pretended that she didn't hear him and instead, ordered, “Where is hot water? Bring it in.”

It became tense between them in the room. When they were having breakfast in the drawing room, Jian Xubai complained again about the taste of the porridge. “It smells scorched before I even eat it. It must be over-cooked and the chef just fetched the upper layer of it to make do with!”

“I cannot do anything about it then.” Song Yixiao had no appet.i.te this morning so she was only drinking a bowl of rose syrup. Now she hadn't tasted the porridge yet, making her believe that Jian Xubai just loathe her and her people because he had a thing with other women outside.

She just replied indifferently, “In light of my poor birth origin, how can I hire exceptional cooks to serve me? Hence, it is natural that they can't serve you well either. Nevertheless, you will be well served after you get out of here. Now you had better make do with what you are offered here!”

Jian Xubai disliked the porridge but he wouldn't go to court with an empty stomach on such a cold day. Given his youth and health, he could put up with the hunger but he wouldn't feel good anyway.

Therefore, he was still eating by picking and choosing. Hearing what Song Yixiao said, he put down the silver spoon and winked at the maids to leave, saying with raised eyebrows, “I just have a feeling that you have been making trouble for me since we got up.”

“I make trouble for you?” Song Yixiao was irritated by his countercharge, “I will thank G.o.d if you don't find faults with me! How dare I make trouble for you?”

“How do I find fault with you?” Jian Xubai asked teasingly, “You've seen the stain on the inner garment. Our room is laid with brocade carpet. Where can the dust come from? It must be because those who wash clothes didn't work well and you didn't check it carefully! As to the porridge, you can have a taste of it yourself! Moreover, I didn't claim to punish the cooks. I was only saying. How can you say I am making trouble for you?”

Song Yixiao sneered, “Of course you are right about everything. As a saying goes, a heartless man only sees the laughter of new sweetheart without attention to the tears of old love. How can you not find an excuse to find fault with me?”

She was so mad that she realized something was wrong with her words. Instantly, she felt so embarra.s.sed and would rather bite off her tongue!

However, Jian Xubai had heard her and got confused. He didn't know whether to cry or to laugh, saying, “Last night I needed to ask Cousin Mingfei about something. He is working in the Ministry of Works but he just lacks perseverance. Recently he has fallen for a courtesan in the Hongxiu Alley and got indulged in the pleasure. Where else can I find him other than the Hongxiu Alley after work?”

His eyes were full of banters, “Last night I didn't come back early but it was not after mid-night. If I really went to Hongxiu Alley for fun, how could I return so early? Did you stay jealous all the night yesterday? Oh, I see why you are so mean to me this morning. You even talk of new sweetheart and old love!”

“Although you had business to do in Hongxiu Alley, others wouldn't know it!” Song Yixiao held back her indignation and embarra.s.sment, saying with a poker face, “Don't forget that our mansion is far away from being well organized and disciplined. It is not time for us to bicker!”

Seeing that Jian Xubai nodded his head smilingly, her hands even s.h.i.+vered, which were holding the rose syrup. She took a deep breath and continued to say with a cold face, “You mentioned before that Qiu Shuxia was still watching you by now. If he gets something on you in terms of virtue, he can attack you by then! I'm thinking for your official career!”

“Sure!” Jian Xubai said seriously, “You are always virtuous and generous. As I recall, you mentioned finding several girls for me after everything in the mansion is settled! I remember it very clearly. How can I suspect you of being envious or jealous? You must be… Well, you must be too hungry as you haven't eaten the porridge!”

He said so sincerely but his facial expression just meant otherwise. Apparently, in his eyes, Song Yixiao must be jealous now, which he was too kind to disclose. It must be too innocent of Song Yixiao to ever try to cover it up!

“Just so you know!” Song Yixiao held the half bowl of the rose syrup and pretended to be aloof with her remained rational mind, “It's late now. Just go to work after finis.h.i.+ng your breakfast, or you will be late for work!”

After Jian Xubai resisted his desire to laugh and left, she threw the gla.s.s bowl to the ground and shouted angrily, “Jinxun, come here right now!”

What kind of trusted maid she was! She didn't even know how to inquire about information!

Song Yixiao was so seriously disgraced because of her!