Shadow nodded. “Master, we’ve found him, and we’ve already arranged for him to contact Xiao Chengli. Xiao Chengli is very interested and seems to be getting deeply involved. I’m afraid it won’t be long before he causes a major disaster.”
A fierce glint flashed in Xiao Chengyan’s eyes. “Even if he causes a major disaster, cover for him for now. Give the evidence to Xie Wanning. After that, just see what she does. No one is allowed to interfere.”
“Yes!” Shadow quickly agreed.
…
The next morning, Xie Wanning was still asleep when there was a commotion outside the courtyard. She got up, rubbing her sore waist, her long hair draped behind her, and grabbed an outer robe before going out.
“What’s going on?”
Many people came to the door. Although the head maid wasn’t Granny Qi, Xie Wanning recognized her; she was someone from Madam Xiao’s side.
Chunhuan turned her head and saw her young mistress getting up, so she quickly went to her side.
“Miss, I don’t know what happened at the manor. Madam ordered them to search the courtyards.”
As soon as Chunhuan finished speaking, the head nanny, Li, explained, “Young Madam, it’s Madam’s order. Every courtyard is being searched, not just you. Please understand.”
“I understand.”
Xie Wanning looked at Chunhuan. “Go get the keys for the nannies to check. You all follow along and make sure there are no mistakes.”
“Yes.” Chunhuan nodded and immediately did as instructed.
Nanny Li followed Chunhuan to search the courtyards. Hongye brought Xie Wanning a stool, and she sat on the veranda to wait for the results.
Half an hour later, Nanny Li finished searching and respectfully returned to Xie Wanning.
Xie Wanning asked in a calm tone, “Nanny, did you find anything amiss?”
“Everything is fine in Young Madam’s courtyard. This servant will take her leave.”
With that, Nanny Li left. She still had other places to search; she had been busy all day.
Chunhuan watched as Granny Li left completely, then looked at Hongye. “It’s not because you made a move that Granny Li came to search our courtyard, is it?”
“Granny Qi didn’t see my face, and I didn’t make a sound.”
She made the move in the early morning, when the night watchmen were dozing off. Granny Qi hurried to Madam’s room. Although it wasn’t her turn to be on duty last night, Madam got up early in the morning, so she had to wait.
Hongye chose her timing perfectly, without arousing suspicion or being seen.
“It’s not for that.”
Xie Wanning explained, and looking at her calm face, Chunhuan was even more puzzled. “Then why the sudden search?”
“You’ll find out soon enough. Fetch me some water to wash up.”
Xie Wanning got up and went into the house. Seeing this, Chunhuan didn’t ask any more questions and immediately went to prepare hot water.
Hongye stood in the courtyard, wary of the two messenger nannies, preventing them from sneaking in.
These two were Madam Xiao’s people. Xie Wanning kept them around so they could pass on messages to Madam Xiao through them, but they shouldn’t know anything they shouldn’t.
After Xie Wanning washed up, Chunhuan helped her with her makeup. There were things to do in the manor today, so Xie Wanning dressed simply to avoid attracting attention.
She wore a jade hairpin instead of a gold one, and her earrings were also jade of the same color. Her outfit was neither flashy nor shabby.
Chunhuan was worried about something happening in the manor, so while helping her wash up, she had the kitchen bring breakfast.
Xie Wanning didn’t eat much; she hadn’t even finished half a steamed bun and a small bowl of vegetable porridge when Li Mama came again.
“Young Madam, Madam requests your presence in the front hall.”
After saying this, she didn’t leave. Seeing this, Xie Wanning got up and followed her.
Chunhuan followed beside her, while Hongye stayed behind to watch the courtyard.
Li Mama left in a hurry, and Xie Wanning slowly fell behind.
When Xie Wan Ning turned into the gallery, Granny Li was already gone. As she walked over, she bumped into Xiao Cheng Yan.
He was so tall that it was hard not to notice him at first glance.
Especially since she had just been there last night, she dared not look him in the eye.
But now that she had bumped into him, she couldn’t just stay silent.
“Second brother, are you going to the front hall too?”
He rarely appeared in the courtyard, and Xie Wan Ning thought that meeting him at this time was mostly because of the search earlier.
“Yes!”
Xiao Cheng Yan hummed in response, but didn’t say anything more to her. Instead, he walked ahead of her.
Xie Wan Ning followed two steps behind, and the two of them walked from the two forks in the road to a single path.
They walked in silence, without exchanging words, which was exactly the scene Xie Wan Ning had been hoping for.
But following behind him, she couldn’t help but look up and observe his figure.
He was different today. He was wearing a dark green long robe with a black belt around his waist. He had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, and his figure was as tall and slender as a crane.
Although he looked good, Xie Wan Ning felt that something was not quite right.
Upon closer reflection, she realized her heart had been slightly biased.
Last night’s events, like a sudden storm, had left her unable to suppress the stirrings in her heart upon seeing him again.
It turned out that once a man and woman had physical intimacy, no matter how much they tried to control themselves, their heartbeats would still be somewhat abnormal.
Realizing this, Xie Wan Ning immediately averted her gaze, the memory of her tragic death flashing through her mind, and those tender emotions dissipated.
Xie Wan Ning followed Xiao Cheng Yan to the front hall at a respectful distance, while Xiao Cheng Li strode towards them from the opposite direction, a look of panic on his face.
Clearly, the search had uncovered something.
The moment Xie Wan Ning saw Xiao Cheng Li, she suddenly understood; the strange feeling she had earlier stemmed from Xiao Cheng Yan’s clothes.
If those clothes were worn by Xiao Cheng Li, everything would make sense.
“Elder brother.” Xiao Chengyan spoke calmly, but his voice was enough to bring Xiao Chengli back to his senses, instantly composing his panicked expression.
“You’ve come too.” Xiao Chengli coughed lightly, adopting the air of an elder brother.
Xiao Chengyan nodded slightly.
At this moment, Xie Wanning walked slowly to Xiao Chengli’s side.
“Husband.”
The word “husband” was extremely grating. Xiao Chengyan said nothing and walked away first.
Xiao Chengli ignored him and looked at Xie Wanning instead. “You’ve come too. Did Mother say anything to you?”
His tone was somewhat anxious, which made Xie Wanning even more certain that Madam Xiao had confiscated his belongings.
Xie Wanning shook her head. “Granny Li sent me. She left in a hurry, only telling me to go to the front hall, and didn’t say anything else.”
Xiao Chengli’s half-closed eyelids were full of irritation, especially since his fists were involuntarily clenched at his sides.
Xie Wanning pretended not to notice his irritability and said in a low voice, “Mother-in-law must be getting impatient, let’s go quickly.”
Xiao Chengli had no choice but to walk towards the front hall.
At this time, not only his mother-in-law was in the front hall, but also Xiao Zheng Guo, the famous Marquis Xiao.
Consort Yue was not there, but her two children, Xiao Chengmo and Xiao Mingzhu, were present.
Standing beside them was a woman with a seven or eight-year-old girl, also a concubine of Xiao Zheng Guo, named Xiao Baozhu.
Xie Wanning followed Xiao Chengli over, and Marquis Xiao’s gaze immediately fell on him. He said sternly, “Xiao Chengli, come forward!”
Xiao Chengli trembled, his face clearly showing fear, but he dared not disobey his father’s order and forced himself to step forward.
Madam Xiao’s gaze seemed to show pity, but before she could speak, Xiao Zheng Guo suddenly stood up, picked up the riding whip on the table, and rushed towards Xiao Chengli.
Then, he raised his hand and lashed out with the whip, striking Xiao Chengli on the back.
Caught off guard, Xiao Chengli cried out in pain. But the more he cried out, the angrier Lord Xiao became. He raised his hand and lashed out with the whip several more times.
“Lord Xiao!”
Madam Xiao stood up in a panic, but Lord Xiao ignored her and kicked Xiao Chengli in the back of the knee.