Chapter 148: Protect The Witness
"Young Madam..."
Qing’er rushed from behind as she followed her, having nearly run all the way after Wang Gege left the dining chamber in such a hurry.
"Young Madam, this is the way to the Punishment Courtyard."
Wang Gege abruptly stopped. She slowly lifted her head and looked at the familiar courtyard entrance ahead of her before blinking several times.
"Ah... right..." Only then did she realize where her feet had carried her, "Why did I come here?"
Qing’er looked at her with concern but before she could answer, a faint movement suddenly came from behind one of the nearby pillars.
Wang Gege’s gaze immediately shifted toward it.
A young maid cautiously stepped out from behind the pillar, her face pale and her hands trembling as she looked around to make sure no one else was nearby.
Wang Gege recognized her almost immediately. She was one of the maids from Madam Liu’s courtyard, the one who always accompanied her anywhere.
"Young Madam..." The maid hurried forward and lowered herself before Wang Gege. "Please... please help this servant."
Wang Gege frowned, "What happened?"
The maid’s lips trembled as she glanced nervously toward the Punishment Courtyard. "This servant’s name is Yun’er... this servant has been waiting here for Young Master Xie. There is something this servant must tell him, but the Young Master has not returned yet..."
Yun’er swallowed hard before looking up at Wang Gege with pleading eyes. "Please, Young Madam. If you see the Young Master before this servant does... please take this servant to him."
Wang Gege had barely opened her mouth when a familiar voice suddenly sounded inside her head.
[NEW MISSION ASSIGNED.]
[MISSION: PROTECT THE WITNESS]
[Objective: Ensure Madam Liu’s maid survives long enough to reveal what she witnessed.]
Mission Reward: 1000 Fortune Points.
Additional Reward: Random Reward ×1.
Wang Gege’s expression immediately changed. ’Mini...? Are you telling me... she is the witness?’
’AFFIRMATIVE! Host guessed correctly!’ Mini’s usual cheerful voice finally came through, replacing the mechanical tone from earlier.
Wang Gege blinked, ’Then why is she hiding here instead of going to find Xie Rong directly?’
’Because she is scared! She saw something she shouldn’t have seen, so she has been hiding here and waiting for someone she can trust.’
Wang Gege’s gaze immediately returned to the trembling maid. ’Then this is why you gave me the mission? Did she witness the death of Madam Liu?’
A few seconds of silence followed after Wang Gege’s question.
’Mini... cannot simply give the Host the answer?’ Mini’s voice suddenly softened, sounding much weaker than before.
’Suddenly?’ Wang Gege’s eyebrows furrowed as she continued watching the trembling servant, who was still unconsciously glancing left and right.
’Mini is sorry...’ There was a brief pause before Mini reluctantly continued, ’Gemi scolded Mini and said Mini has been breaking too many rules lately. If Mini continues like this, Mini might get suspended...’
Wang Gege’s lips twitched slightly. ’You got scolded by Gemi?’
’Mm...’ Mini sounded pitiful, ’Gemi said Mini cannot keep giving Host answers before Host discovers them herself.’
Wang Gege stared at the maid for another moment before quietly sighing. ’All right. I understand.’
’Really?!’ Mini’s voice instantly brightened again. ’Host isn’t angry with Mini?’
Wang Gege almost laughed.
’Why would I be angry with you? I merely need to figure it out myself. The maid is right here, after all. I can simply ask her directly.’
’Oh!’ Mini sounded relieved. ’Host is really smart!’
Wang Gege shook her head slightly before finally turning her attention toward the trembling maid.
"You said you were waiting for Young Master Xie because there was something you needed to tell him?"
Yun’er quickly nodded. "Yes, Young Madam."
Wang Gege’s expression became gentler, "Then tell this one what happened. If it is something you witnessed yourself, this one will make sure the Young Master hears it."
But Yun’er blinked and merely gulped instead of answering immediately, her eyes darting around as she remained wary of her surroundings.
Wang Gege noticed her uneasiness and glanced around as well.
There were a few guards stationed near the entrance of the Punishment Courtyard, but none were close enough to hear their conversation. Even so, Yun’er seemed far too frightened to speak.
"Are you afraid someone will hear you?" Wang Gege asked.
Yun’er hesitated before quietly nodding.
"This servant... does not know who can be trusted anymore." Her fingers trembled as she clasped them together. "After Madam Liu’s death, this servant found the urge to find the Young Master immediately, but..." She swallowed hard, "Someone has been looking for this servant."
"Who?" Wang Gege tried hard not to be obvious, but deep inside, she couldn’t hold the urge to know who the person was.
Yun’er gulped again and bit her lower lip. "Can this servant whisper to Young Madam?"
"Of course," Wang Gege nodded and leaned slightly closer.
Yun’er cautiously stepped forward before lowering her voice, "This servant tried to return to Madam Liu’s courtyard after her death..." She paused, her fingers trembling as they remained tightly clasped together. "There is something Madam Liu hid there. Something she had been keeping away from Young Miss Xie."
Wang Gege’s expression changed slightly as she pulled back. "What is it?"
The maid blinked, still seeming hesitant to reveal everything to Wang Gege. "This servant only knows that the thing Madam Liu hid is proof that Young Miss Xie..." She swallowed hard before leaning closer once again, "had been scheming within the Xie Residence."
"Scheming?" Wang Gege frowned.
Yun’er nodded.
"Madam Liu said that all the bad things that had happened after Young Madam arrived here..." Her voice trembled as she continued, "were schemes carried out by Young Miss Xie."
Wang Gege’s jaw almost dropped. She had expected much, but she had never expected all of them. "The blossom tree too—"
Yun’er instantly nodded. "But this servant did not manage to find it. By the time this servant arrived there, this servant heard someone looking for me..." She gulped before looking at Wang Gege.
"Xie An’an?" Wang Gege tried to guess.
The maid immediately shook her head, "Her personal maid... Lian’er."