Upon hearing the news, the couple was both startled. While getting up, Song Yixiao hurriedly asked, “Where is she? Is she rescued?”

“Madam, some of the watchmen have gone to rescue her but the result remains unknown.” The maid outside the door was Liyu, who hesitated and then said implicitly, “It is said that Miss Wei didn't wear much when she jumped into the lake.”

That was to say, even if Wei Chan was saved from this accident, her reputation would be probably ruined.

Shocked and Angry, Song Yixiao hurriedly got dressed and also noticed that Jian Xubai was tying the belt of his inner garment, saying, “You are going to court tomorrow. Don't worry about this. You just go to bed first!”

“Remember to put on a cloak to keep out the cold before you go out!” Jian Xubai sensed that she didn't want him to go with her. After thinking for a while, he finally loosened the tied belt and said, “Come back first after you make sure that she is fine. As long as she is alive, you can talk to her tomorrow. Moreover, she will probably talk clearly after cooling down for a night.”

Song Yixiao heaved a sigh, “I know.”

She tied up the thick satin cloak, leading Liyu and other maids hurriedly to Jiangxing Villa. Before they entered the villa, they had seen the building ablaze with lights. When Song Yixiao took a closer look, she got so angry to find that the villa was ridiculously crowded with many people.

Those not in the know might think that these people were acting in the opera!

“Madam, greetings.” After seeing her arrive, the crowd was in a tumult and instantly made way for her. The delicately-dressed Chief House Steward walked forward grinningly and bent down to Song Yixiao, saying smilingly, “Madam, please rest a.s.sured! Miss Wei has been saved alive. I have sent for a doctor and Her Ladys.h.i.+p will be fine!”

Song Yixiao took a few breaths and still couldn't help slapping him in the face, “Are you going to revolt with so many people here at such a late night?”

Now she even felt like killing the Chief House Steward. Wei Chan lived in Jiangxing Villa without being known by many people. Now that it was late at night, if not many people knew about her jumping into the lake, it was still possible to block the news. However, since there were so many people gathering here, how could the news be blocked?

Even if she had all the witnesses at present killed, the Chief House Steward must have a Plan B. Maybe the incident had been leaked out of the mansion by now.

Thinking of this, Song Yixiao felt a cold s.h.i.+ver of fury. She had known that these people were trouble but she never expected them to be so bold!

“Madam, you've got me wrong!” The Chief House Steward staggered and then stood firmly as if he was not the one scolded, saying calmly, “It is the lake before Jiangxing Villa that Miss Wei jumped into. That is the biggest and deepest water area in our mansion and the accident happened at night. Without enough manpower, we were afraid that we couldn't save Her Ladys.h.i.+p in time. The reason why these people are still here is that Miss Wei's outer clothes have been washed away when being rescued. Considering Miss Wei's reputation, I ask them to stay here in case that Madam wants to question them.”

How could Song Yixiao believe his story?

However, before she responded, the Chief House Steward said, “Regarding what happened tonight, if it leaks out, I shall be punished!”

“You had better keep your promise!” Song Yixiao glanced at him suspiciously and sneered, “If anything untoward happens to my cousin, you will pay for it!”

Then she flipped her sleeves and entered the Jiangxing Villa with a cold face.

“How did you do your job?” Song Yixiao went into the inner chamber to look at Wei Chan who was placed in bed. Now Wei Chan had her clothes changed with a pale face but she breathed smoothly, making Song Yixiao slightly relieved. She felt like blaming the maids who served Wei Chan. In order not to wake Wei Chan up, she ordered the maids to go outside and then spoke, “You know that Chan has been unhappy these days. Why didn't you keep an eye on her closely?”

Especially Sudie, “You are brought by Chan from the Wei Family. Why did you let her run outside instead of persuading her into sleeping in her room? Do you have brains or not?”

Sudie was s.h.i.+vering with a pale face and after a while, she said tremblingly, “I am so sorry!”

Song Yixiao was even more annoyed to look at her terrified look, “Now you feel frightened. If you had known it would come to this, you would have acted differently!”

Then she scolded the several maids sent by Jian Xubai heavily and thought that someone should stay with Wei Chan, so she let them go back to the inner chamber. “Qiaoqin, Liyu, you two go inside to keep Wei Chan company too. You must make sure they can't loaf on the job!”

In this way, she sent all the maids away but Sudie. Song Yixiao turned confused from angry, “What happened? Why did Chan suddenly jump into the lake?”

The minute she heard of the news at Keshao Hall, she felt puzzled. Wei Chan turned to her only because she wanted to live. She might commit suicide for being driven into a corner before Wei Mengying agreed to let go of her. Now that Wei Mengying promised to let go of her, the hardest time had pa.s.sed. How could she commit suicide?

“I… I…” With her head lowered, Sudie kept trembling and couldn't speak a full sentence!

Song Yixiao was p.i.s.sed off and then patted the desk impatiently, “Hurry!”

“I… I am so sorry, Your Ladys.h.i.+p!” Sudie faltered and finally mumbled out. Right after she said that, she just fell on the ground!

“You should be sorry for Chan but not me!” Song Yixiao replied angrily. Upon glimpsing her depressed look, she suddenly felt nervous and perturbed. Then she couldn't help leaning forward, saying in a deep voice, “What do you mean?”

Sudie, lying on the ground, was still sobbing. Before she said anything, the door was suddenly pushed open. The Chief House Steward walked inside first and said softly, “Madam, have you visited Miss Wei? If you are done here, I have something to discuss with you!”

Song Yixiao thought that he came inside with a doctor and flew into a rage!

Yet, when she was about to scold, she had a sudden enlightenment with a chill running down her spine!

“I don't have time now!” Song Yixiao regretted stopping Jian Xubai from coming with her, but now it was no use regretting now. She held back her fear and said in a cold voice, “Did you just say that you've sent for a doctor? Where is he? How come he hasn't arrived? Before I came here, Xubai urged me to go back early after I made sure Chan was fine. I can't make any delay here!”

“Madam, you are so smart. I've just said a few words and you instantly realize what is going on?” When the Chief House Steward was talking, a dozen of servants neatly dressed walked from his back. Song Yixiao glanced at them and recognized that they happened to be the people besieging outside Jiangxing Villa just now.

These people didn't pay respects after coming inside, four of whom quickly scattered and lay a siege to Song Yixiao. Apparently, they wanted to detain her.

The other people rushed into the inner chamber quickly. Only Qiaoqin cried out once and then everything was put into silence.

Song Yixiao was completely hopeless!

As a man walked from the inner chamber with a nod, the Chief House Steward was finally relieved and said casually, “It is better this way so that I don't need to explain the current situation to you. Yet, you will be disappointed if you are expecting His Highness to find something is wrong and come to rescue you! Since I want to have a private talk with you, how can I let His Highness interfere?”

Generally, if Song Yixiao didn't go back at midnight, Jian Xubai would be suspicious!

However, Wei Chan encountered such a mishap and Song Yixiao valued her so much. If words were sent to Keshao Hall that Song Yixiao decided to spend the night in Jiangxing Villa because Wei Chan was in a serious condition, Jian Xubai would probably believe the story!

Especially when Song Yixiao arrived just now, she directly orally hoped Jian Xubai not to come!

“Tomorrow is not a holiday. Jian Xubai has to go to court before dawn and then go to the Ministry of War on duty…” Song Yixiao was in despair to think of this, “As he has to work tomorrow, without any accident, he won't come back from work until 4 pm or so!”

In other words, from now to 4 pm tomorrow, Jian Xubai would hardly find out the sudden unrest in the mansion!

Of course, when Jian Xubai didn't see his wife after returning from work, he would feel suspicious.

However, since the Chief House Steward dared to do this, how could he not have a Plan B? The simplest method was to get the goods on Song Yixiao so that she wouldn't dare to complain to Jian Xubai even when she met him!

“How muddle-headed I am!” Song Yixiao was startled and angry, “I have known they harbor ill intention against us and I still leave them in the mansion!”

There might not be anything wrong with detaining these people but it was a stupid thing to let them continue working in the mansion!

Especially before she came into the villa, she had seen a lot of people surrounding outside Jiangxing Villa, which was actually very abnormal. However, she only thought that these people might spread the news that Wei Chan jumped into the lake so she only scolded the Chief House Steward and entered the villa without precautions!

“Madam, don't panic!” The Chief House Steward saw through Song Yixiao's mind and gave a meaningful smile, saying, “I didn't mean to scare you but you seem to have so many misunderstandings on me that I cannot find a chance to meet with you. I have no other alternative but to take such an unwise decision. Please forgive me!”

“Now I am a sitting duck anyway.” Song Yixiao felt very upset at the moment but after all, she had experienced the life-and-death juncture before. Astonished as she was, she only snorted and said unhurriedly, “Why are you still so hypocritical?”

The Chief House Steward said laughingly, “Madam, you've got me wrong. You are the mistress and I am only a servant. How dare I be impolite to you?”

He added, “Miss Wei was rescued in time. It is fine to send for a doctor tomorrow. Moreover, sending for a doctor at midnight may arouse unnecessary gossip and do harm to Miss Wei's reputation! Madam, please don't mistake me!”

“You claimed yourself that the doctor was on the way and now you say it is better to send for a doctor tomorrow. How dare you pledge seriously in front of me?” Song Yixiao rolled her bracelet and said casually, “Just tell me what you are up to! If I find it acceptable, I will agree; if not, you can kill me directly, which saves both of us from trouble!”

“Madam, I won't dare to do so!” Despite her urging, the Chief House Steward still said politely, “How dare I do anything to you? Master Yiyou is getting married and yet you still have no time to review the list. Hence, I hope that you can finalize it tonight.”

Song Yixiao was remorseful that she didn't send them away earlier but now when she heard his request, she just rejected without hesitation, “No, I can't!”

The Chief House Steward was slightly shocked and said, “Madam, you are not merciful enough!”

His words were still humble, but obviously he was threatening Song Yixiao!

“Do you think that I am an idiot?” Song Yixiao snorted, “Due to what you've done today, how can you release me easily? I will not end well anyway. Why will I do as you wish?”

She said so not to court death. Instead, she fell into the Chief House Steward's trap carelessly tonight so she was at the mercy of him now. No matter what simple condition the Chief House Steward raised, if she agreed, the consequence was self-evident.

The Chief House Steward wouldn't believe Song Yixiao's oral promise and of course would ask for some solid proof so as to keep himself safe after releasing her.

By then, in order to survive, what could she do but to sign various kinds of unfair agreements?

Song Yixiao was not reconciled to be killed by him, but she couldn't stand being manipulated by a servant!

Thus, she not only rejected his request directly but also adjusted her collar and hairpins, saying with disdain, “If you want to kill me, just do it! Don't ever dream about tricking me into working for you!”

As expected, seeing her determined countenance, the Chief House Steward frowned for a while and stopped fronting. He dusted his collars and sat down, saying with a faint smile, “Madam, you say so only in order to let me make a promise. It is also negotiable.”

Yet, Song Yixiao still remained silent with a sneer. Then he rolled his jade ring on the thumb and said meaningfully, “Madam, you are married not for a long time while His Highness is always busy working. Supposedly, you still don't know most of the stories in the Jian Family, such as the grudge between the Prince Consort, Master Yiyou and His Highness?”

“It is a good timing tonight. After all, it is early now.”

“How about me telling you about it?”