Act

Young Master Ma raised an eyebrow at the sight of a new servant in front of him. He is an observant person and he knew that his fiancee is not someone who likes having many servants following her. The last time he saw her, she was with another maidservant. If he remembers correctly, Yun Le had a maidservant that was extremely close to her and followed her for quite a long time. Why would Yun Le suddenly have another maidservant following her? Unless something happened to her previous maidservant?

"You are new, aren't you?" Young Master Ma asked Xuan Yi.

"Replying to Young Master Ma, Xuan Yi is indeed a new maidservant." Xuan Yi bowed as she replied.

"What happened to your previous maidservant?" This question was directed at Young Miss Yun Le and she had never expected her fiancé to question her. Her face paled as she panicked, searching her mind for a reasonable answer.

"Allow this servant to reply on behalf of my Young Miss, the previous maidservant has asked Young Miss to let her go back to her hometown to take care of her dying mother. Young Miss Yun Le is kind and has allowed her to go back. This servant begs Young Master Ma not to doubt Young Miss Yun Le," Xuan Yi kneels as she spoke hastily.

Young Master Ma broke out into a cold sweat. This new maidservant of hers has a toxic tongue. He was only asking because that maidservant knows of his secret relationship with Young Master Yun and wanted to know if the secret is out. How come when this new maidservant speaks, his innocent question turned to him being overly worried for a mere maidservant to the point where he would doubt his fiancee? This would make him very suspicious and his future father-in-law is still here.

Young Master Ma frowned at the sudden accusation and wanted to tell his fiancee to control this new maidservant of hers properly. But when he looked over at Yun Le, she was trembling as if she was extremely hurt by his words. Father Yun was giving him a disapproving look while Young Master Yun kept glancing at him questioningly.

When Young Master Ma saw the doubt in Young Master Yun's eyes, he immediately cast his fiancée and his reservations to the back of his mind.

"Rude servant, since when did I doubt Yun Le. I was just asking because of the sudden change, I had no other intention. Yun Le, control your servants better. How can you allow her to run her mouth like this!" Pointing at Xuan Yi, Young Master Ma berated before turning to Young Master Yun.

"Yun Qi, do not believe that rude servant's words. I was truly just curious, please believe in me."

Xuan Yi rolled her eyes internally at Young Master Ma's words. Your fiancée is still standing in front of you on the verge of tears and yet those words are directed at her brother. What would people think when they see this?

Young Master Yun wanted to ask more questions but he suddenly remembered where he was and sneak a glance at his younger sister before he acted.

"What are you saying, Young Master Ma. I am sure the maidservant misinterpreted your words and was just trying to protect her young miss. There is nothing wrong with trying to protect your master. Wouldn't you agree, younger sister?" Young Master Yun went over to his sister and put a comforting arm on her shoulders.

Sniffing a little, she nodded her head before asking Xuan Yi to stand up and apologize to Young Master Ma.

"Xuan Yi apologizes, Xuan Yi has said something wrong." Xuan Yi made her shoulders tremble a little to show that she was afraid before she went to her young miss side, hiding behind her a little.

Young Master's attention was not at the maidservant, it was always at Yun Qi. When Yun Qi went over to his sister, Young Master Ma knew that he was siding with his sister. This is the biggest hurdle of their relationship. Young Master Ma knew that what he was doing is extremely wrong but he could not help it. He really loves Yun Qi and if not for Yun Qi loving his younger sister, he would have broken this engagement and eloped with him.

Furthermore, Young Master Ma could not bring himself to hurt his fiancée either. She is a gentle person and she is kind. Because she is kind, Young Master Ma is sure that she would let him go. He would compensate her with anything as long as it would make it less hurtful. In the end, she is still Yun Qi's younger sister. Their faces are really similar and it would not be an exaggeration if one were to say Yun Le is the female version of Yun Qi. However, there are still differences in personality and Young Master Ma had fallen in love with Yun Qi's personality, not his handsome looks.

"No, it was my fault I have overreacted. Allow me to compensate," Young Master Ma took out a handful of silver and handed it over to Xuan Yi before offering his arm to Yun Le.

"Young Master Ma?" Yun Le asked cautiously as she glanced at his hand.

She had trusted her new maidservant and played along in her act, even crying a little at the end when she saw her fiancé was more anxious about her brother than her. But now, what is this?

"Allow me to accompany you for a stroll in the garden, I have heard that there are new flowers that have bloomed recently and I have been wanting to see it with you." Young Master Ma smiled at Yun Le as he answered.

Yun Le slowly took his hand and let out a small smile of her own. It looks like this new maidservant of hers is not that bad. In the beginning, she had made Young Master Ma angry and Yun Le thought she had laned her in trouble. But looking at the situation now, she just played along for a bit and Xuan Yi managed to make Young Master Ma take the initiative to take her out as compensation. This maidservant of hers can really come up with some smart ideas. Yun Le noted at the back of her mind to reward her later.

"Father, brother, Yun Le shall excuse herself first." Young Miss Yun did not forget her etiquette as she bowed to her elders before she left.

Young Master Ma saluted as well before he left. Xuan Yi bowed before following her young miss and as expected, Yun Le dismissed her maidservant before heading towards the garden with Young Master Ma.

Seeing both of them leave, Xuan Yi silently went back to Yun Le's courtyard. The courtyard has been cleaned before and there were no other servants in the courtyard. Xuan Yi quickly walked into her young miss's room and dug around for some sort of clue of what her young miss is planning. The water ghost had told her that Yun Le is trying to kill Yun Qi but how?

And that Young Master Ma is suspicious. When Xuan Yi saw Young Master Ma in the main hall, she almost forgot herself and wanted to escape immediately. Screw the request, that water ghost can stay in her mansion till her soul expires. Xuan Yi could sense a hint of darkness from the man and she is not sure if Young Master Ma is using dark magic which left a tint in his aura or someone imprinted their mark onto Young Master Ma. Either way, it is not good for Xuan Yi. Xuan Yi has to finish this request as soon as possible. If she were to meet someone who is not from the realm of the living, things would not end well for her. Thinking about it, Xuan Yi quickly got to work.

During ancient times such as the time Xuan Yi is currently in, women mostly use poison similar to her previous case with Qingli and her stepmother. There should be some sort of poison sachet lying around or maybe some herbs but Xuan Yi could not find anything after searching for half an hour. Just as she was about to give up, Xuan Yi's sensitive nose caught the scent of something under Yun Le's pillow.

Grabbing the pillow, she felt something was hidden inside the pillowcase and she took it out.

"This is…" Xuan Yi widened her eyes at her discovery. How did this end up here?