Grace furrowed her brows.
The guards at the door recognized her.
Just now when she came in, they even greeted her!
Sure enough, one of the guards spoke up, "We know her."
Cindy Zhu's eyes lit up. She immediately turned to Aunt Autumn and said, "Auntie, did you hear that? The guards at the General's Manor actually know our Zhu family's eldest miss! Haha!"
However, the guard turned to Grace and asked, "Miss Xi'er, what's going on? Did you run into some trouble? Do you need our help?"
Hearing him call her that, Grace instantly felt relieved and said, "It's nothing."
Looks like Steward Qin really handled everything flawlessly!
"Hey? Why did you call her Xi'er?" Cindy Zhu asked curiously. "She's not Xi'er at all! She's clearly—"
"Cindy Zhu!" Grace interrupted loudly. "Stop it. If you have something to say, save it for when we get home!"
"Shut up!" Chloe Zhu snapped viciously at her, then turned to ask, "Sir, I just want to know—was she ever a maid in your manor, going by the name Lily Bai?"
Guard: "No, she wasn't."
Chloe Zhu looked surprised. "No? Then how do you know her? And how can she come and go from your General’s Manor so freely?"
Guard: "She's a guest of our General."
"You're lying! She must have bribed you, right?" Chloe Zhu snapped angrily.
Chloe Zhu was the main victim in the case of Qingluan entering the General’s Manor.
Because of those pieces of jewelry, she was falsely accused and couldn't defend herself.
So, in her mind, she was more convinced than anyone else that the accusations from Eric Chen, Serena Jane, and Cecilia Chen were true.
"Tell me, what did she give you? I'll pay you double!" Chloe Zhu bargained with the guard.
"You're crazy!" The guard rolled his eyes and turned to head inside.
Chloe Zhu grew anxious and blocked his way. "Ten times!" she shouted.
"Please step aside!" the guard said politely.
"I can get you out of the commoner registry and make you an official!" Chloe Zhu declared. "I'm the Prime Minister's third daughter—I keep my promises!"
Chloe Zhu had finally gotten hold of solid evidence against Qingluan, so she hurried back and brought the housekeeper and Aunt Lianqiu, making a huge fuss just to nail her for the crime.
Now, with success in sight, this guard was saying she was just a guest?
No way she was letting this go!
As long as she could prove Chloe Zhu was shady, she'd agree to anything.
The guard glanced inside the main gate but didn't say anything.
But Chloe Zhu took his silence as him considering her offer. "Just say she's Lily Bai, say she's the General's personal maid, and whatever else you want—just name it! I’ll give you anything!"
"She really is just our General’s guest. She’s Miss Xi’er from the Prime Minister’s Manor, not a maid here," the guard said, sounding extra sincere.
After all, his boss and the Prime Minister were right inside!
The others were standing too far from the gate to see what was happening inside, and Chloe Zhu was blocking the guard, so she couldn’t see either.
But from his angle, he could see everything crystal clear.
"Hmph! You're defending her like this? Did she sleep with you too?" Chloe Zhu sneered. "If bribery doesn't work, then that's the only explanation! I'll call out every guard in this manor and ask them. I refuse to believe she’s slept with all of you!"
With that, she spun around, ready to call for the other guards.
But as soon as she turned, she was hit hard across the face.
"Smack!" The slap sent her spinning, and she landed on her butt.