The gate of Qingshan Courtyard was kicked open with a bang as Old Master Zhuge’s subordinates rushed in like wolves and tigers. Huan’er and the other young maids were crouching in the corridor polishing antique vases. Startled by the noise, they immediately jumped to their feet.

Zhuge Yue had just been called to Hongshan Courtyard by Zhuge Huai, and Zhu Cheng and the other servant guards were not present either. Zhuge Yue preferred tranquility, so there weren’t many people in the courtyard, to begin with, and now only these few maids remained. Huan’er, being somewhat older among the maids, was still frightened pale. Trembling, she stepped forward and said, “Who are you people? How dare you be so bold? Don’t you know this is the Fourth Young Master’s courtyard?”

“Miss, we’re here to capture an escaped slave. If we’ve offended you, please forgive us.”

“How did catching a slave bring you to our courtyard?” Hearing that the other party’s tone was relatively polite, Huan’er’s courage grew, and she righteously said, “Which courtyard’s servants are you? How can you have such a lack of manners?”

“We are subordinates of the Old Master from the separate outer courtyard. If you wish to complain, feel free to find the Fourth Young Master. We will inform the Old Master later as well.”

Upon hearing the Old Master’s name, Huan’er immediately fell silent and said with less conviction, “We haven’t seen any slave. You… you shouldn’t act recklessly.”

A servant stepped forward and said, “It’s that room. I saw her crawl in through the window with my own eyes.”

“Ah!” Huan’er exclaimed in shock, “That’s the room of the Young Master’s maid. You cannot enter!”

Steward Zhu looked at Huan’er suspiciously and said in a deep voice, “Go in and catch her.”

“No!” Just as Huan’er was about to step forward, she was firmly grabbed by a large man. She watched as the crowd rushed in like wolves and tigers. The girl was so frightened that she screamed shrilly, tears rolling down her face.

“Steward Zhu, it’s her!”

“Xing’er!” Huan’er shouted, turning her head to yell loudly, “You’ve caught the wrong person! She’s a maid in our courtyard, not the slave you’re looking for!”

Steward Zhu coldly glanced at Huan’er and said in a deep voice, “I’ve seen plenty of little servants like you covering for each other. I advise you to be honest; otherwise, if this matter escalates, it won’t be good for you.” After saying this, he signaled to the group of servants and left Qingshan Courtyard with Chu Qiao.

“Xing’er!” Huan’er shouted, her eyes catching a glimpse of a Zhuge Manor servant who was following at the back. She rushed forward, grabbed his hand, and said, “Aren’t you one of Steward Zhu Shun’s servants? Is it you who brought them here? Quickly bring Xing’er back!”

The servant was completely confused. He had personally seen the little slave jump into the room but hadn’t expected that the maid of Qingshan Courtyard would know her. He pushed Huan’er away, “Don’t make trouble. They are all female slaves that Steward Zhu has designated for the Old Master. If you meddle further, you’ll be sent along with them.”

In a short while, the people were gone, and the room was empty. Huan’er sat on the ground, dumbfounded. The little maids all stood timidly behind her, not one daring to come forward.

The girl suddenly stood up, wiped the tears from her face, and quickly ran toward Hongshan Courtyard.

Zhuge Yue was discussing matters in Zhuge Huai’s study when suddenly they heard Zhu Cheng outside saying, “Fourth Young Master, Huan’er has just reported that she has urgent matters to see you about.”

Zhuge Yue frowned and said solemnly, “What matter can’t wait until I return? She’s becoming increasingly ill-mannered. Tell her to go back and wait.”

There was immediate silence outside, but after a while, Zhu Cheng knocked again and said, “Fourth Young Master, it’s… it’s about Miss Xing’er. She has been taken away by Steward Zhu Shun’s people.”

With a swish, the door was pulled open. Zhuge Yue, with tightly knit brows and an unsightly expression, said in a deep voice, “What did you say?”

Cold sweat flowed down Zhu Cheng’s forehead. He glanced at the suspicious-looking Zhuge Huai inside, licked his lips, and slowly said, “Steward Zhu’s people said one of their slaves had escaped. They insisted that Miss Xing’er was the escaped slave and forcibly took her from Qingshan Courtyard.”

“Took her? Where to?”

“They said… they said she was being sent to the Old Master’s separate courtyard.”

At that moment, Zhuge Yue’s face could not have looked worse.

“Perhaps they caught the wrong person. Since Zhu Shun was injured, his actions have become increasingly inappropriate.” Zhuge Huai stepped forward, placing his hand on Zhuge Yue’s shoulder, and said with a faint smile, “Fourth Brother, since she’s been sent to the Second Master’s residence, let it be. She’s just a maid. Later, Elder Brother will select a few clever ones to send to your courtyard as compensation. I promise you won’t lose out.”

“How long have they been gone?” As if he hadn’t heard Zhuge Huai’s words, Zhuge Yue stared intently at Zhu Cheng, his voice low and his breath cold, like ancient ice about to freeze the surrounding air.

“They’ve been gone for about half an hour.”

With a “bang,” Zhuge Yue pushed open the half-closed door that was blocking his way and strode out like the wind. Zhu Cheng and the servants of Qingshan Courtyard had anticipated this and followed closely behind, not even having time to pay respects to Zhuge Huai as they hurriedly rushed out.

Zhuge Huai was slightly taken aback. The steward of Hongshan Courtyard, Zhu Yong’an, stood quietly to the side, not even raising his head, like a silent wooden post.

“Zhu Yong, what do you think?”

The man, in his thirties and appearing more mature than Zhu Cheng, Zhu Shun, and others, spoke in a low voice with a calm expression, “Doesn’t the Eldest Young Master always say that the Fourth Young Master is calm and rational, seemingly indifferent but most calculating? Well, in this servant’s view, this is the Fourth Young Master being neither calm nor rational.”

Zhuge Huai smiled faintly, shaking his head lightly as he turned back to the room: “Affairs of red and green splendor, most treasured are the childhood sweethearts. Hehe, youthful companionship, innocent friendship—it’s a good thing!”

Looking up slightly, with unmistakable calculation in his eyes, he pulled up the corners of his mouth: “Go investigate this maid called Xing’er. This person might be very important to me.”

Zhu Yong acknowledged and withdrew. Zhuge Huai continued to ponder softly, wondering what kind of woman could bewitch the still-young Fourth Master to such an extent that he forgot to conceal his feelings even in his presence.

Little did he know that the childhood sweetheart he spoke of was merely a child not yet eight years old.

The sky gradually darkened, and the north wind began to blow. Zhuge Huai smiled faintly: “Xing’er…”

Today’s second update, there won’t be a third update. Huhu, continuing tomorrow.