Chapter 16: Partners in Crime

Meng Wenxuan cradled his daughter with one arm while holding a small silver spoon specially made for Jiaoyue in the other, patiently feeding her rice oil.

“Yueya, open your mouth, it’s time to eat.”

Jiaoyue looked up at her father’s gentle coaxing, her heart swelling with happiness, and obediently ate spoonful after spoonful.

Only by feeding her personally did Meng Wenxuan realize that his wife’s words were true—the baby truly knew when she was full.

Once satisfied, not even an extra bite could tempt little Yueya.

Meng Wenxuan felt immense pride. How could his daughter be so smart? She definitely took after him.

If Mrs. Meng heard that, she would surely retort, “You weren’t this clever when you were born. You cried louder than anyone—out of all your seven brothers, you were the loudest.”

“Seventh Master, your lady has arrived,” the door curtain was pushed aside, and Mrs. Meng entered, followed by an elder maid and two maids.

“How’s our precious treasure? Scared, perhaps?” Mrs. Meng quickened her steps upon seeing her granddaughter in her son’s arms, her tone filled with concern.

Earlier, Jiaoyue hadn’t seen the fortune numbers of her grandparents, but unexpectedly, she met her grandmother again that evening and immediately focused her spiritual energy to observe.

Above her grandmother’s head, a black number thirty-five and a white number sixty-five glowed—signs of good fortune.

Curiously, Jiaoyue’s gaze fell on the elder maid behind her grandmother. The black number above her head was sixty, and the white was forty.

This person wasn’t impressive at all.

At that moment, a fleeting cold glint flashed in the maid’s eyes. Something was wrong.

But Jiaoyue couldn’t speak yet. All she could do was babble incoherently—how could she warn her father and grandmother that the maid was dangerous?

Anyone trusted enough to stay close to the matriarch must be reliable, so Jiaoyue felt helpless. Had the Meng family become a sieve, letting even those around the lady be untrustworthy?

By then, Mrs. Meng had taken her granddaughter from her son’s arms.

Meng Wenxuan sighed, “Mother, I was just holding her for a moment.”

Mrs. Meng shot him a look. “Hold her again later.”

Meeting Jiaoyue’s eyes, her gaze softened instantly. “Grandma’s precious, just eating rice oil won’t do. Grandma had some milk goats brought from the estate. How about some fresh goat’s milk?”

Jiaoyue blinked. She didn’t mind drinking goat’s milk—it was certainly better than nursing directly from a human.

Still, her thoughts lingered on the suspicious maid. Unable to speak, she waved her tiny hands in distress.

Mrs. Meng mistook this for joy and smiled even more warmly. “Good baby, once the household doctor confirms the goats are fine, we’ll prepare some milk for you.”

Jiaoyue grew anxious, watching the maid standing obediently nearby. She thought, I must find a way to warn Grandma, but what could a baby do?

Frantically, she babbled and stretched her little hand from beneath the blanket, pointing at the maid and trying to say, “Grandma, the maid by your side is bad.”

Mrs. Meng thought her granddaughter was chatting happily and gently cooed, responding in baby talk.

Despite her urgency, Jiaoyue had no other means.

Only Meng Wenxuan noticed his daughter’s unease. His gaze fell on her tiny hand and then discreetly glanced at the maid beside his mother—Liu Ma.

Liu Ma had come from Mrs. Meng’s family and was her most trusted attendant. Could she have a problem?

Though this was their first formal meeting, Meng Wenxuan knew his daughter wouldn’t point at someone without reason.

Moreover, Jiaoyue was no ordinary newborn—she was special, which made him suspicious.

Recalling how his daughter had screamed uncontrollably upon seeing the wet nurse Wang, avoiding the fate of drinking poisoned milk, could Jiaoyue foresee danger?

Could Liu Ma, who stayed close to his mother, be a threat to his daughter?

Meng Wenxuan quietly observed Liu Ma.

Mrs. Meng, noticing her granddaughter’s persistent pointing, laughed. “Ungrateful little one, what’s the matter? Does Grandma holding you feel uncomfortable? Do you want Liu Ma to hold you instead?”

Liu Ma smiled and reached out, patting Jiaoyue gently. “Miss, shall Liu Ma hold you?”

Though favored by Mrs. Meng and called “Grandma Liu” by the child, Liu Ma was cautious not to take the title seriously.

Jiaoyue used her spiritual sense to listen to Liu Ma’s thoughts.

She heard Liu Ma’s gritted teeth: “This little girl is clearly not an ordinary baby. No wonder the mistress insists on killing her. Fang Sheng is foolish, letting the plan slip and exposing everything. If the task falls to me, I must devise a foolproof plan. It’s hard to earn Mrs. Meng’s trust; I must continue watching for the mistress without being discovered.”

Jiaoyue immediately withdrew her hand, clutching her grandmother’s collar tightly, babbling in alarm: Grandma, this Liu Ma wants to harm me. She’s in cahoots with that runaway steward.

Jiaoyue was certain that the Fang Sheng Liu Ma mentioned was the escaped steward.

Yet no one could understand her baby talk. Mrs. Meng thought her granddaughter was just affectionate, smiling, “Yueya likes being held by Grandma. Very good, very good. Grandma will hold you. Our precious is so adorable.”

But Meng Wenxuan saw through his daughter’s meaning—Liu Ma was definitely suspicious.

He shifted his gaze, leaning close to his mother and teasing Jiaoyue together, “Yueya, this is Grandma, your daddy’s mother. That’s Liu Ma by Grandma’s side. The other two are Grandma’s senior maids: the one in green is Green Bamboo, the one in blue is Indigo. When you grow up, you’ll meet more people.”

He wanted to see if his daughter would also reject the two senior maids.

Jiaoyue listened and glanced at the fortune numbers above Green Bamboo and Indigo. Though their fortunes were average, their white numbers exceeded their black, indicating kind-heartedness. Such people rarely do harm.

Listening to their thoughts, all praised her—some jealousy and envy, but no malice.

Seeing Jiaoyue’s calm reaction toward them, Meng Wenxuan confirmed his suspicions but kept his emotions hidden.

“If only we could get that little girl to the lady’s side, it would be easier to act,” Liu Ma’s thoughts surfaced again.

Jiaoyue was furious, wanting to curse, “I’m just a newborn, why do you want to wipe me out completely? If once isn’t enough, you come after me a second time.”

She reached out to her father, “Daddy, save me! Liu Ma wants to kill me!”

Seeing tears welling in his daughter’s big eyes, Meng Wenxuan quickly said to his mother, “Mother, Yueya must be sleepy.”

Jiaoyue yawned obediently in response.

Mrs. Meng reluctantly placed her granddaughter back in her son’s arms. “Newborns eat and sleep—that’s normal. It’s fine, just take good care of Yuntang and Yueya. I’ll come see them again tomorrow.”

“Come see them?” Meng Wenxuan’s mouth twitched as he thought, Mother, if you want to see your granddaughter, just say so. Did you even glance at Yuntang?