The servant who delivered the message watched the fourth servant's hesitant expression and put on a stern face.
Mu Anxiao, sensing the messenger servant's extensive knowledge in this subtle way, had a sudden inspiration and shifted her gaze to him.
After staring at the fourth servant for a few seconds, the messenger servant said, "Why aren't you talking anymore? Weren't you quite talkative earlier?"
"I was wrong," the fourth servant said softly. "If I had known this would happen, I would have sided with her."
"Do you know her name?" Mu Anxiao seized the opportunity to interject.
The messenger servant, never expecting Mu Anxiao to speak, turned his gaze from the fourth servant's face to hers. "I don't know."
"You don't know?" Mu Anxiao feigned a look of regret.
The messenger servant scoffed, "If you have something to say, just say it. There's no need to put on that expression."
"Oh, I'm saying," Mu Anxiao smiled, "you said they all treated that maid poorly, but I'd like to ask, what about you?"
"Me?" The messenger servant frowned.
Mu Anxiao: "Yes, I've noticed you know quite a bit about that maid. So," she smiled, "if it's possible, could you tell us about her?"
Upon hearing this, the fourth servant immediately fixed his gaze on the messenger servant.
The other servants also turned to look at the messenger servant.
And so, with Mu Anxiao's words, their attention all shifted to the messenger servant.
The messenger servant glanced at each of them, then lowered his head.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao asked, "What's wrong?"
The messenger servant raised his hand to cover his head. "I have a headache," he said, deliberately taking a few breaths.
Mu Anxiao, seeing the messenger servant feigning weakness, deliberately asked, "Was it that strange gust of wind just now?"
"Yes, it must have been that strange wind," the messenger servant said, standing up.
Then, they all looked up at the messenger servant together. The first servant said, "We were closer to that wind than you were, so this is a bit of an exaggeration, don't you think?"
"I fainted," the messenger servant emphasized.
The second servant frowned. "We just asked you to talk about that maid. Do you really need to pretend like this?"
"Exactly. Just saying something won't cost you anything. Acting like this is really no fun," the third servant added.
Following that, they began to chide the messenger servant, one after another.
However, Mu Anxiao wanted to see this happen, as it was the only way to force the truth out of the messenger servant. Therefore, she remained silent, staring at the messenger servant's face.
Finally, after their incessant back-and-forth, the messenger servant couldn't take it anymore. "That's enough! Do you want to push me to death too?" he said, slamming the table forcefully.
At that moment, the teapot and cups on the table rattled.
Mu Anxiao lowered her head, glancing at the cup making noise in front of her, then looked up at the messenger servant again, remaining silent.
The other servants fell silent.
However, only the fourth servant asked, "Do you know something?"
"She was forced to death by you all," the messenger servant suddenly said, tears sliding down the corners of his eyes.
A man doesn't shed tears lightly.
The messenger servant's sudden tears caused them all to panic.
"We were just asking. Speaking to us like this is too distant," the second servant couldn't help but say.
Immediately, the messenger servant, with snot and tears, said, "You always made her do things she couldn't do for you. When she couldn't, you would badmouth her. You've really gone too far," he cried hysterically.
At this moment, Mu Anxiao suddenly couldn't tell if he was sincere or faking.
They fell silent.
In the end, Mu Anxiao didn't find out anything. Instead, she listened to the messenger servant cry for a while, then paid him ten taels of silver as hush money.
After this unpleasant exchange, they all dispersed to their beds. Only the messenger servant was left sitting at the table, sobbing quietly.
Leaving the courtyard, Mu Anxiao stopped and looked at Feng Qishi, saying, "Let's go." She then walked ahead.
Feng Qishi, seeing this, glanced left and right and followed Mu Anxiao.
In a blink of an eye, the two of them stopped under a rockery in the less frequented back garden. After Mu Anxiao confirmed no one was around, she turned to Feng Qishi. Before she could speak, Feng Qishi spoke first, "How did it go?"
"You didn't hear it," Mu Anxiao said.
Feng Qishi frowned. "What do you mean, what did I hear?"
"What I mean is, that guy was crying so loudly just now, didn't you hear it?" Mu Anxiao looked surprised.
Feng Qishi heard this and pondered Mu Anxiao's words in his mind, then realized, "Someone was really crying just now?" He had thought he had misheard.
Mu Anxiao sighed lightly. "It's my fault. I thought that fellow was the murderer who killed Shu'er, so I casually instigated them to say a few things about him. I didn't expect..." she shrugged, "to push that man to break down like that."
"You mean, you made a man cry?"
"He wanted to cry himself, but," Mu Anxiao said, looking up to meet Feng Qishi's eyes, "do you know who that fellow is?"
"No," Feng Qishi looked confused.
Mu Anxiao: "It's the guy who was knocked unconscious by the wind."
"The messenger servant?"
"Yes. I feel," Mu Anxiao became serious, "that his relationship with Shu'er was unusual. But I can't directly accuse him; it's not realistic."
"Who do you think it is?"
"At first, I forgot Shu'er's words and thought it was the most handsome servant, who..."
"What did you say?" Feng Qishi instantly became jealous.
Mu Anxiao heard this and reacted accordingly, looking up at Feng Qishi and blinking her eyes, "Not as handsome as you."
Feng Qishi's lips curled. "Alright, you can continue."
Mu Anxiao was momentarily speechless, then continued, "Who knew it wasn't. Now..." she thought of the messenger servant's crying figure and clicked her tongue, "I've lost him."
"Then we can only go back," Feng Qishi said calmly.
"We haven't reached that point yet," Mu Anxiao still felt there was a chance to learn about Shu'er's memories.
Feng Qishi frowned. "What are you planning to do?"
"I'm planning to..."
Unexpectedly, before Mu Anxiao could finish speaking, Gu Yan ran over. "You're here?" she said, stopping between them.
Then, Mu Anxiao cut short her words and, along with Feng Qishi, shifted their gaze to Gu Yan's face. Mu Anxiao said, "He trusts you."
"Yes," Gu Yan nodded, looking left and right, and said, "Gu Yan wants a maid from your mansion." She looked at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi remained silent, staring at her.
Mu Anxiao asked, "When did you find out this information?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Yan looked at Mu Anxiao and blinked her eyes, saying, "Not long ago, but don't worry, Gu Yan didn't succeed."
"..." Mu Anxiao was silent, revealing a smile.
Feng Qishi also said nothing.
Seeing them like this, Gu Yan looked confused. "Strange, why aren't you reacting?"