She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 183 - 182: Women Also Strive for the Future

Chapter 183: Chapter 182: Women Also Strive for the Future

As the sun was on the verge of setting, Zhou Shuyu, staying as a guest at the Liang family, was already growing anxious. The attendant he had sent out early in the morning to gather information had not yet returned; could something have happened?

A servant from the Liang family assigned to attend to the visiting young master came over again and enquired, "Young Master, it’s getting late; would you like to have dinner now?"

Zhou Shuyu glanced at the sky and said with some effort, "Alright, serve the meal."

No sooner had the servant left to arrange the meal than Zhou Shuyu’s manservant came in, followed by the very same attendant, Shun Yi, whom Zhou Shuyu had sent to Clear Water Village to gather news.

Shun Yi’s clothes were in ordered state but his entire presence seemed dull and listless, his expression tinged with a hint of fear.

Zhou Shuyu immediately stood up and asked, "What happened? Did you encounter any trouble?" He hoped that His Highness Prince Yu was not involved.

It was after he had sent Shun Yi out that he learned His Highness Prince Yu had accompanied Jiang Yifan to Clear Water Village. He had intended to recall the man, but by that time, it was visibly too late.

Although Shun Yi appeared distraught, he still knew to bow courteously before speaking, "This servant doesn’t know who he encountered. I posed as a businessman looking to engage in trade with the Qi family, inquiring about the Qi family and Lady Qi, who is in charge of the Qi family’s small food shop. Initially, I found some village people to chat with casually and gathered some information."

Shun Yi paused before continuing, "Later, I learned that Lord Jiang and Sixth Master Rong were inspecting the village. Recalling the young master’s warning not to get close to anyone from Sixth Master Rong’s entourage, I decided to hurry back." As an attendant, Shun Yi was not privy to Sixth Master Rong’s true status but took the young master’s orders very seriously.

At this juncture, a look of terror crossed Shun Yi’s face, "But, just as I was leaving the village, I felt a sharp pain in my neck and then I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I was at the entrance of the alley by my uncle’s official residence. It was just now that I realized a whole day had passed."

Zhou Shuyu felt a chill listening to this. It meant that somebody had been monitoring Shun Yi while he was inquiring about the Qi family in Clear Water Village. It was unclear whether this person had been waiting in the village or was one of the guards who accompanied the Sixth Prince that day to protect him covertly.

"What did you manage to find out?" asked Zhou Shuyu.

Shun Yi replied, "Lady Qi’s grandfather, Qi Younian, left home in his youth and only returned to Clear Water Village earlier this year. Lady Qi, whose given name is Qi Ye, was recognized as Qi Younian’s granddaughter. Two days ago, an old man and a young man arrived at the Qi household, supposedly the sworn brothers of Qi Younian and his son."

"Most villagers have a good opinion of the second branch of the Qi family and praise Lady Qi for being kind-hearted and generous. However, two women claimed that Lady Qi was indecent and did not behave as a proper wife should. But these women were furtive and anxious, fearful of being overheard, which made their words seem less like truth and more like baseless rumors."

"Also, they said that the second branch of the Qi family was quite destitute upon their return, yet they quickly established various businesses and rose to prosperity in a short period. Later, I heard that Sixth Master Rong was in Clear Water Village, so I hurried to leave. That’s when I was knocked unconscious."

Zhou Shuyu interjected with a question, "What exactly did those two women say about Lady Qi not behaving properly?"

Shun Yi hesitated before answering, "Those two women were quite coarse, saying that the cattle farm managed by Lady Qi employed only males, and she showed no restraint, mingling among the men, which could only result in improper conduct.

"They also said that Lady Qi has recently invited a young man to the house and suddenly acquired quite a few additional maids and old woman servants, with the young man being the son of Qi Younian’s sworn brother. The women insinuated that with only two thatched cottages for the entire second branch of the Qi family, housing so many men and women together, nothing decent could be happening."

Zhou Shuyu asked with surprise, "Suddenly acquiring many maids and old woman servants? Don’t the villagers know where these servants came from? Perhaps they were purchased by the second branch of the Qi family?"

Shun Yi shook his head, "That’s what I asked, but those women said that since the second branch of the Qi family returned, they have been too busy with their daily tasks and not prone to idle talk with neighbors. Yet, the lizheng claimed that those people were not purchased servants of the Qi family."

"They also said the Lizheng sides with the wealthy people. The Lizheng stated that although those people are not the Qi family’s family servants, their status is legitimate, and their servitude contracts have been filed with the government office. Those two women didn’t believe what the Lizheng said."

Seeing that his young master was still looking at him, as if he hadn’t heard what he wanted to hear, Shun Yi couldn’t help but say with a bitter face, "Young Master, that’s all there is. If you want to know more, I can go again next time."

Speaking of going again next time, Shun Yi unconsciously shivered, wondering whether that invisible follower would still be in Clear Water Village or not. If they were still there and caught him a second time, would the consequences be more than just getting knocked out?

Zhou Shuyu hastily gathered his thoughts and said, "You’ve worked hard. Go have a meal and rest well. We can talk about anything else tomorrow. If you feel unwell, see a physician without delay. As for Clear Water Village, there’s no need to go there again."

Upon hearing that there was no need to visit Clear Water Village, Shun Yi visibly relaxed.

Zhou Shuyu watched Shun Yi leave, feeling somewhat troubled in his heart. He had been careless; he shouldn’t have sent someone to inquire about Lady Qi in Clear Water Village without understanding the situation first.

If what the Lizheng said was true, and those maids and old woman servants were sent to Lady Qi by someone else, and if they were sent by His Highness Prince Yu...

Zhou Shuyu thought to himself, could it be that Sixth Master Rong truly has tastes unlike ordinary people, having special thoughts for Lady Qi, and abandoned wife?

Zhou Shuyu hadn’t finished his dinner when Nanny Zhong, who served Zhou Biyao, came again.

Zhou Shuyu didn’t make Nanny Zhong wait long and called her in to talk.

Nanny Zhong greeted Zhou Shuyu, who was still at his meal, saying, "The servant apologizes for disturbing the young master during his meal. The Second Miss sent me to ask if the person you dispatched to gather information has returned? And whether she might pay a visit to Lady Qi?"

Zhou Shuyu said with a wry smile, "Her temperament is too impatient. Tell her that the second branch of the Qi family has many people and various sorts, yet only has two thatched huts. If she goes, there wouldn’t even be a place for her to stay. Let me think this over, and then we can make plans. Tell my sister that it’s not necessary to associate with Lady Qi; she could meet Sixth Master under different circumstances as well."

His sister had always been willful and clever, fond of reading since she was young. She had been spoiled by their parents and did things according to her own whims.

Nanny Zhong kneeled again and asked, "The Second Miss inquires whether Sixth Master Rong and Lady Qi truly have frequent dealings?"

Zhou Shuyu instantly thought of the servants of the second branch of the Qi family and said, "There probably are dealings, but today Lord Jiang patrolled Clear Water Village with Sixth Master Rong, and ordinary people couldn’t get near, so I couldn’t gather any useful information. It’s late now; I will discuss it in detail with my sister tomorrow."

Nanny Zhong bowed, "If the young master has no further instructions, your servant will take her leave."

Zhou Biyao, after hearing Nanny Zhong’s reply, did not take Zhou Shuyu’s advice to heart, her mind spinning with her own thoughts. If that woman named Qi Ye could indeed manage several businesses well, then she was not an ordinary woman.

She imagined that if a woman could truly work like a man, earning assets for the family, wouldn’t she be able to live unlike her mother and sisters, who had to please their husbands and in-laws to survive? Could a woman, relying on her own abilities, live a life of glory?

As Zhou Biyao contemplated this, her original plan of striving to climb up to the Sixth Prince to secure her future seemed much less compelling.