As expected, Meng Chunhe had grown suspicious after all.
Zhu Xingxu’s toes curled unconsciously, fortunately hidden beneath her skirt where they could not be seen.
“I know her.” Meng Chunhe’s sharp gaze swept toward her.
“You know her?”
She spoke very slowly, as though she could hardly believe it.
Zhu Xingxu nodded. “I saw her once when I went out onto the streets before. She was sitting in a very luxurious carriage, clearly a noble young lady from an aristocratic family.”
She had thought it through. To say she did not know her at all would sound too false. Zhu Ruoyi was not like her, someone who stayed cooped up in her room all day.
As long as she went out frequently, she would inevitably be seen and remembered.
Meng Chunhe let out a slight breath of relief.
Just now, she had been a little afraid that Zhu Xingxu might truly be someone else.
Although they had not spent much time together, she genuinely treated her like one of her own children, just like Su Lan.
Meng Chunhe’s brows relaxed.
“All right, I was only asking casually. You may leave now.”
Zhu Xingxu lowered her head in acknowledgment and withdrew from the room.
Sitting by the door, she smoothed her chest to calm her breathing.
That had been terrifying. After that, Meng Chunhe did not probe into Zhu Xingxu’s private matters again.
It seemed she had completely believed her.
As for that contract of sale, who knew where Pei Xie had obtained it from.
Another week passed.
Zhu Xingxu began to worry.
She feared that if she did not return soon, Zhu Mingli would grow suspicious.
She would even drift off while attending to Meng Chunhe.
Meng Chunhe assumed she was simply too tired and told her to go rest.
Su Lan added from the side, “Did you not sleep well last night? We can switch shifts.”
Zhu Xingxu shook her head and forced herself to stay alert.
Late one night, dressed in black, Zhu Xingxu slipped out of Chanxiang Courtyard.
Ever since the Flower Festival, Pei Xie had not come to see her or discussed any plans with her.
But she had tried many times and still could not bring herself to ask Meng Chunhe to make her a concubine.
It felt like betraying her.
She also wanted to delay things a little, to see if Pei Xie had any other solution.
Moving furtively along the way, Zhu Xingxu arrived at Qinyue Courtyard where Li Ke was staying.
She approached one of the side rooms.
The servants of the residence generally lived here, including herself.
There were several holes in the window paper of the side room, so she peered inside through one of them.
However, it was pitch black within and she could see nothing.
Just as she was straining to make out the interior, Pei Xie appeared silently behind her.
“What are you doing?”
Zhu Xingxu jumped in fright and turned around to see that it was him.
“How do you walk without making a sound?”
A lingering fear crept into her voice.
Pei Xie glanced around and, seeing no one nearby, lowered his voice. “Why are you here?”
Remembering the important matter, Zhu Xingxu asked, “When do we begin?”
Pei Xie fell silent for a moment.
The longer they stayed in the Li residence, the greater the danger became.
He knew that asking Zhu Xingxu, a young woman who had grown up in comfort, to serve here as a maid was indeed difficult for her.
What surprised him was how well she had done.
A new plan quickly took shape in Pei Xie’s mind.
He first calculated the feasibility and risks of the plan, and after confirming it, slowly explained it to Zhu Xingxu.
After listening, Zhu Xingxu was somewhat astonished.
“That will work too?”
Pei Xie nodded. “This way, you can quickly show your face in front of Li Dong.”
With the exact information now in hand, Zhu Xingxu returned to sleep in satisfaction.
On this day, Li Dong returned to the residence as usual after court.
Recently, the Crown Prince’s misconduct had frequently drawn impeachment from those aligned with the Fifth Prince.
Although their numbers were few, the Emperor was already deeply displeased.
Li Dong rubbed his temples with a headache as he considered his next course of action.
He returned to his study with practiced ease.
At the door, the household guard in charge of watching the study greeted him. “Master.”
Li Dong entered without even glancing sideways.
While flipping through some books, he suddenly thought of something.
It seemed he had not seen it for quite some time.
Frowning, Li Dong searched the place where it was originally kept.
It was not there. He searched elsewhere.
He turned the entire study upside down.
Still nothing. He sat down in his chair, panting slightly.
His heart was filled with both panic and anger.
Aside from himself and the two concubines, no one ever came here.
Aunt Qiao had been sent to the countryside estate after red spots on her body left scars.
Aunt Xiang had remained in her own courtyard and had not come out.
Then it must have been stolen.
Li Dong rose to his feet and began by questioning the guards stationed near the study.
After a round of interrogation and harsh punishment, none of the guards appeared suspicious.
They worked in shifts of two or three, each with witnesses and evidence.
Li Dong sat in the study, his gaze sharp and sinister.
He ordered someone to summon Meng Chunhe.
At that moment, Meng Chunhe was inside offering prayers to the Buddha.
Zhu Xingxu was sitting under the corridor, basking in the sun.
She saw Li Dong’s personal servant hurry over and glance at her.
“Miss Cuihua, please inform Madam that Master requests her presence.”
Zhu Xingxu stood up, walked to the door, and knocked lightly.
“Madam.” Meng Chunhe’s voice came from inside. “Understood!”
After changing her clothes, Meng Chunhe emerged with a calm expression.
The mistress and servant went to the courtyard outside Li Dong’s study.
He had also summoned Aunt Xiang and Li Ke.
Once everyone had arrived, Li Dong had a chair brought over and sat at the head.
He first swept a stern gaze across those present.
Starting with Meng Chunhe.
Although she did not understand what was happening, she believed she had done nothing wrong to Li Dong and remained composed.
Aunt Xiang looked somewhat nervous, twisting her sleeves, unsure of what had occurred.
She was merely a concubine, not considered a proper mistress, and always felt lacking in confidence before Li Dong and Meng Chunhe.
Li Ke was completely confused, but since his father had called him, he obediently stood below, waiting for him to speak.
Li Dong then glanced over each of their servants.
Their expressions varied, though all appeared uneasy.
Zhu Xingxu lowered her head so much it nearly disappeared into her collar, unwilling to be noticed first by Li Dong.
Having exerted sufficient pressure, Li Dong finally spoke.
“Something has gone missing from my study.”
Meng Chunhe frowned and was the first to speak. “Master, what is it?”
Li Dong did not answer. “Whoever has taken it, return it now and I will let the matter rest.”
No one moved.
Meng Chunhe stepped forward and said softly, “Master, with so many people present, that person may not dare.”
Li Dong nodded. “Then by tonight, place the item at the entrance of the study.”
He added, “I already know who took it. In consideration of your diligent service to this residence, I will allow you to keep your dignity.”
After saying this, he dismissed everyone.
On the way back to Chanxiang Courtyard, Meng Chunhe was somewhat angry, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
Seeing this, Zhu Xingxu did not dare speak to her.
Someone like Madam Li might appear unconcerned and uncompetitive in ordinary times, but when her principles were touched, her anger could be terrifying.
After switching shifts with Su Lan that night, Zhu Xingxu returned to her room to sleep.
The next day, Li Dong discovered that no one had come forward.
He grew even angrier and once again gathered everyone in the residence, including the kitchen helpers, into the courtyard outside the study.
Solemnly, he said, “Yesterday, no one returned the item.”
The crowd raised their heads to glance at one another before lowering them again.
With a wave of his hand, the guards sealed off the courtyard.
Several others rushed out to search each person’s room.
Zhu Xingxu secretly glanced at Pei Xie.
Pei Xie also kept his head lowered, perfectly playing the role of a timid servant who had been frightened.
As though sensing her gaze, he tilted his head slightly to look at her.
His deep black pupils stared directly at her, yet she could not read anything within them.
She averted her eyes and observed the others.
Most appeared nervous, though not truly afraid.
They had likely not taken it, though there might be other secrets hidden in their rooms.
Only one male servant trembled violently, beads of sweat the size of beans dripping from his forehead onto the ground.
In the summer heat, his sweat formed darker marks on the floor, as though it had rained.
Such an obvious reaction quickly caught Li Dong’s attention.
Yet he did not immediately single the servant out.
As an official of the Court of Judicial Review, Li Dong valued evidence above all.
A person’s nervousness could be caused by many factors and did not necessarily mean he was the culprit.
It could simply be that the servant was inexperienced and prone to sweating in serious situations.
After searching the rooms, the guards found nothing.
Li Dong’s brows knitted tightly, as though he did not understand either.
For a time, the situation reached a stalemate.
Seeing that the moment was right, Zhu Xingxu raised her hand.
Li Dong’s gaze quickly swept over.
“What is it?”
Zhu Xingxu lowered her head and hurried forward, speaking in a voice that only the two of them could hear. “Master, I have a method.”
Li Dong sized up the dark skinned maid.
He knew she belonged to Meng Chunhe.
At first, he had suspected Meng Chunhe.
After investigating, he found that both Su Lan and Zhu Xingxu had been attending to Madam Li during those days, with hardly a moment alone.
Neither of them was the thief. “What method do you have?”
As an official, Li Dong had many ways to make people speak the truth.
But this was his residence, and he did not wish for his harsh reputation to spread.
Zhu Xingxu leaned in and said something.
Li Dong smiled. This was indeed a suitable method.
“Very well, we shall proceed as you suggest.”
Everyone dispersed once more.
When Zhu Xingxu returned to Meng Chunhe’s side, Meng Chunhe was looking at her deeply.
She pressed her lips together but said nothing.
That evening, news spread from the study that Li Dong had found something new outside.
Compared to the old one, the new item was even better.
Late that night, the thief could no longer sit still.
If the new one was truly that good, then the one in his possession would be worthless.
But he also feared it might be a trap.
From time to time, he took out the item and examined it, his mind constantly imagining what the new one might look like.
He decided not to act rashly for now.
However, after a few days, those who had seen the new item vividly described its merits to others.
“It is truly beautiful.”
“I have never seen anything so fine.”
Some servants congratulated Li Dong on obtaining another treasure.
Li Dong smiled in satisfaction. The thief grew increasingly restless.
Finally, one night, he lay tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep.
He got up and, following his previous experience of sneaking into the study, prepared to take another look.
Just a look, it will be fine, he reassured himself.
The man crept to the side door of the study.
As before, there were guards stationed there.
After some effort, he entered the study.
The moment he stepped inside, he saw the exquisite box placed atop the bookshelf.
His heart pounded like a drum. Curiosity swelled instantly.
With trembling hands, he picked it up and opened it.
Inside was only a slip of paper three fingers wide, upon which were written the words: You have been fooled.