Chapter 104: The problem with having nosy neighbours 3 (1/2)

The Governor's mansion.

Su Liya didn't spend much time at the restaurant, to avoid raising any unwarranted attention. She returned to the Governor's mansion as soon as her plans were settled. Just as he did when she left, Steward Meng welcomed her at the door. An ignorant person would mistake his action for dedication to his duties but not Su Liya.

She knew that the reasons for these elaborate actions on his part were dishonourable. It was all a ploy to get her to relax her guard around him and create a wide opening for him to enter. However, she feigned ignorance and went on as nothing happened.

Living in this time has honed her acting skills, she was now used to saying what she termed beautiful lies.

Once she was out of sight Steward Meng called Dongyi over and inquired about the trip to the restaurant. Apart from saying the restaurant they had visited, there wasn't anything to report. Their young madam was like a typical madam true and true apart from spending money endlessly there was nothing special about her.

He led down his guard on her, there was no need to waste resources on her, it would be a lot more productive to pay more attention to the governor. His Employer was paying him to watch the governor, not his wife.

At Su Liya's end, Rong Rong was waiting in her room when she got to Fangxi Pavillion. The inner maids were all dismissed, Su Liya felt more relaxed with the three Ahs out of hearing distance but to be safe, she spoke in low tones.

Su Liya took off the outer jacket and passed it to Baozhai ”Rong Rong, Were you able to find out anything about the previous occupants of the residence?”

Rong Rong lips touched on remembering the juicy information she had discovered, ”Yes your highness, I found quite a few interesting facts”

”Do tell?” Su Liya said grinning as she put her hand through a fresh blouse.

”When I brought up the precious governor the servant spilled a lot of interesting stories. The gist of it all is that the previous governor was a womaniser and well your typical never do well young master but it was the governor's wife that had a very interesting story”.

”Apart from being the only child of the Wu family what other rumours are there?” Now that she was well dressed Su Liya sat on the stool by the tea table and rested her elbow on the table.

”The previous Governor was quote a player that messed around with the maids in the residence. One of the mad that he had a fling with was that old witch, Matron Bao but get this, She has a son that was born at the same time as the madam's child but he died of a cold when he was just a few weeks old”

”Matron Bao isn't the first maid to give birth for the master of the house and lose the child. Why would that be a rumour?”

”Because when the governor's wife died in childbirth, the midwife recorded a birth of a living child”

Su Liya sat forward, ”What!”

”Yes so makes you wonder why the next day when the governor was arrested, the child was recorded as dead. When deputy Sun brought up the rumours the midwife changed her story and said that she was mistaken.”

”You mean to say that, the child was taken away?”

”Yes, by the Wu family since a few years later there were rumours that old master Wu adopted a child from the side branch of the family but no one has seen the adopted child. Since the Wu family doesn't socialise anymore”.

Su Liya sat back and brought down her hand on the table and tapped her fingers on the table gently. If the rumours were right then Rong Rong just found her an in with the Wu family but first, she had to do something to get the Wu family's attention.

How does one go about that exactly, she thought of bringing this up to Lu Yaozhu but didn't know-how. Lu Yaozhu was sent down here to eradicate the bandits and ensure peace in the north. To do that, he would need the support of the battalion stationed here but getting that would be hard.

If Deputy Sun still had a hold over them, before the Shi family and the Emperor made their move. Lu Yaozhu needed to neutralise the threat Deputy Sun and the Lau family presented. She needed to speak with Lu Yaozhu about this. There wasn't much time left, the Emperor could make his move any time soon.

The sound of fast footsteps drew get away from her thoughts, as Ah Li rushed into the room. ” My Lady, we have a guest!”

Su Liya looked up, ”guests? Who are they”

”It is Madam Ning from the next compound and a few other madams”