The setting sun’s afterglow struggled across the Xiao mansion’s surprisingly vast courtyard, climbing up the carved golden nanmu wood lattice windows of Xiao Liheng’s study.

Xiao Liheng sat behind his desk, listening to the faint weeping gradually fade away.

That was Xiao Bi’an’s widowed mother, who had always lived in the Xiao mansion. Today, upon hearing news of her son’s death, this usually timid woman had rushed to his study to cause a scene.

Sitting across from him was an elderly man with dark skin and a slightly hooked nose. From his features, he looked somewhat different from Central Plains people.

His expression showed some surprise.

He had been in Da Qian for quite some time, trying various ways to meet the Xiao family, all unsuccessful. He had assumed the Xiao family didn’t even know of his existence and wasn’t interested in his overtures. Who would have thought that today, suddenly, a carriage would half-invite, half-escort him into this vast Xiao mansion.

Only now did he realize that Vice Minister Xiao had always known of his existence. He was simply being left to wait.

Today, suddenly bringing him here meant his whereabouts and intentions had always been under their control.

Why they hadn’t been willing to meet before but suddenly were today – the old man thought of the street gossip he’d heard these past two days and vaguely understood, sneering coldly in his heart.

Previously holding great power, not even putting the imperial family in their eyes, probably still thinking of unifying all directions – naturally they’d disdain to acknowledge an envoy like him from a feudal prince, especially since the master he represented wasn’t even a legitimate feudal prince.

Now seeing their declining fortunes with the imperial family rising and pressing aggressively, they remembered Yannan?

Though the old man sneered inwardly, his expression remained calm. Having stayed in Da Qian for so long, he had somewhat learned the so-called shrewdness of Central Plains people.

But Xiao Liheng showed no shame, as if facing an old friend of many years, sighing to him: “Look, today’s imperial family is vastly different from before. Our Xiao family’s outstanding descendants – they kill them just like that.”

The old man placed his hand on his chest in salute: “Yes. So the Grand Secretary needs more allies. Our Yannan is willing to provide the Grand Secretary with any assistance you need.”

“Any assistance.” Xiao Liheng smiled. “There’s a Central Plains saying: ‘accept no reward without merit’ – so what does your master need our Xiao family to do for him?”

The old man said respectfully: “Previously we wanted the Vice Minister’s help in giving our master a legitimate title. Once Yannan rightfully belongs to the young master, my lord and the young master will naturally give the Vice Minister any return you desire.”

“But Yannan has a female heir, and even without the female heir, there’s still a legitimate direct descendant behind her.”

“The direct descendant is mentally ill, as for the female heir…” The old man smiled disdainfully. “Yannan has never had a female successor in a hundred years – she’s just temporarily filling in. Women are mediocre – how can they be heirs!”

Xiao Liheng waved his finger: “You can’t say such things in the capital. Above us,” he pointed upward, “we have a female Imperial Heir!”

“It’s precisely because of the female Imperial Heir’s existence that those Yannan old diehards keep insisting the female heir is legitimate, from the royal direct line, and can desperately squeeze out our lord and young master.” The old man couldn’t hide his resentful expression.

“Our female Imperial Heir is virtuous and wise. If you met her, you wouldn’t say such things.” Xiao Liheng slapped his forehead. “Oh right, I nearly forgot – the Imperial Daughter will soon go to Yannan. You’ll be able to pay your respects to her personally then.”

The old man’s expression changed slightly, then he stood up: “This is the first thing our lord and young master ask the Vice Minister to do – please prevent the Imperial Daughter from going to Yannan!”

Xiao Liheng didn’t answer, looking at him with a half-smile.

The old man gritted his teeth: “Whatever the Vice Minister commands, just say it.”

“Nothing much, just that I have some people and properties I want to arrange to go to your Yannan first. Your Yannan can open some convenient doors for them, no problem?”

“Naturally no problem. My lord has always hoped to become closer with the Vice Minister.”

“I hear you also brought some people, and Yannan has many interesting good things. Your witch doctors are very famous – I wonder if I could have the honor of seeing them?”

The old man hesitated slightly: “Whatever the Vice Minister wants, just speak plainly.”

Xiao Liheng gently pushed over a list.

The old man took it, his eyes scanning it, showing slight difficulty, but finally tucked the list into his chest, saying quietly: “I will certainly do my utmost. The witch doctor will also be sent to the mansion shortly.”

Only then did Xiao Liheng smile: “Since you brought people and the Imperial Daughter will soon go to Yannan, then time is of the essence. Tomorrow the Imperial Daughter will travel to the imperial garden for hunting – this is currently the only…”

Suddenly there was slight movement overhead. He immediately stopped speaking, looking at a bit of black clothing corner above, frowning.

The old man looked at him uncomprehendingly.

Xiao Liheng’s gaze swept over the empty window area outside, then withdrew. After thinking, he dipped his finger in tea water and gestured for the old man to come over.

The old man leaned forward, watching carefully, nodding from time to time.

Xiao Liheng took out his handkerchief and wiped away the water traces: “Since you understand, go then.”

The old man said hesitantly: “I don’t know who will provide assistance after entering…”

Xiao Liheng said kindly: “I hear Yannan warriors are good at mountain paths, most agile and nimble in the mountains, much stronger than our people. Thinking of it this way, you don’t need our assistance either – too many people would cause problems instead. Don’t you think?”

The old man cursed the old fox in his heart – demanding things with a lion’s appetite, but not contributing any effort when it was his turn. But he didn’t dare say more, only nodding and withdrawing to prepare.

After he left, Xiao Liheng glanced toward the inner room, first rising and leaving the study. As he stood in the corridor, a black shadow silently dropped down behind him.

Unlike his gentle tone earlier, Xiao Liheng’s voice had no warmth: “Someone was eavesdropping just now?”

The black-clothed man said concisely: “Xiao Fu went in pursuit.”

“No matter who it is, kill them.”

“Yes.”

“Even this mansion isn’t secure anymore. Have Xiao Lu count heads later – anyone with suspicious origins should be sold off.”

“Yes.”

After giving a few instructions, Xiao Liheng ordered a sedan chair to leave the mansion, going to a secluded teahouse.

He drank a cup of crude tea in that unremarkable teahouse until he saw an equally unremarkable carriage approaching from the other end of the street.

After a while, footsteps sounded on the stairs – unhurried steps that made one feel their owner wouldn’t change expression even if the sky fell.

Having served in court together for many years, he knew the other person was indeed such a character, but today, as long as he climbed these stairs, it meant his inner calm was already insufficient.

The door opened. Xiao Liheng stood up with a smile: “Minister Rong.”

The person at the door nodded expressionlessly.

“Minister Xiao’s midnight invitation – what urgent matter is there?”

Xiao Liheng smiled.

The inner door of the teahouse’s private room creaked, and someone walked out from inside.

The person at the door seemed not to expect seeing an outsider at such a secret meeting, his sparse eyebrows frowning slightly.

Xiao Liheng said: “Minister Rong, today is a rare opportunity. Let me introduce someone to you.”

…

The Xiao mansion’s shadow guard Xiao Fu pursued the figure ahead, soon catching sight of their blue clothing hem.

A faint fragrance drifted, giving him clear clues.

A woman – what bold audacity.

He was a highly skilled shadow guard. An ordinary woman’s pace couldn’t shake him off. Following through corridors and past trees, seeing that clothing hem getting closer and closer, just behind the bushes ahead, he sneered coldly and reached out to grab.

He caught a skirt.

Xiao Fu held the skirt that obviously belonged to a woman and still carried her scent, his gaze somewhat dazed.

Which family’s woman was so bold as to take off her skirt in broad daylight to confuse him!

Wasn’t she afraid of ruining her reputation for life if seen?

Looking around, the surroundings were completely empty.

But just now he was certain this skirt was definitely being worn by someone. From their movements, they clearly had no martial arts skills and must still be nearby!

Gripping the skirt, he leaped onto the rooftop, his falcon-like gaze scanning in all directions.

From this height, half the Xiao mansion was visible below. His gaze swept across corridors, groves, gardens, clear pools, pavilions, and artificial hills.

Nothing.

Where had the person gone?

Xiao Fu’s gaze fell on the nearby Yuxi Pool. Going into water was possible, but could they stay underwater this long?

There were no reed pipes on the water surface for breathing.

He waited a while longer deliberately.

Confirming that a woman couldn’t hold her breath this long, ruling out the underwater possibility, he could only frown and turn back to report.

The figure disappeared.

Willows drooped all around, corridors curved, flowers and bushes rustled in the wind, ripples slowly spread across the water surface.

After a while, Xiao Fu appeared again at the original spot.

He still looked down from his high position, confirming that his earlier feigned departure hadn’t drawn anyone out – the person had truly escaped.

How did they escape?

Completely puzzled, Xiao Fu turned and left for real this time.

As the figure disappeared again, ripples on the water surface suddenly began expanding. Near the shore of Yuxi Pool, a dripping wet head suddenly emerged.

The person wiped water from her face and swam toward shore, moving as nimbly as a fish in the water.

She came ashore wearing only undergarments. Fortunately, dusk was approaching – this was dinner time when masters were eating and servants were attending to their masters’ meals. Few people would be walking around at this hour.

She walked to an artificial hill ahead, feeling around in a hole under it, and pulled out a bundle containing a clean set of clothes identical to her previous ones.

The bundle surprisingly also contained rouge and powder, which she applied with great speed.

Her hair couldn’t dry immediately, but fortunately she had worn it in a tight bun, and the inside hadn’t gotten too wet. Now she quickly let it down to blow in the lakeside wind.

When her hair stopped dripping, she hurriedly re-tied her bun while rushing toward the inner courtyard.

Entering the inner courtyard, she went directly to the small kitchen in the old madam’s quarters, entering with a smile: “My young mistress sent me to check on the three-colored steamed ham.”

The kitchen woman smiled: “Miss Lan Xian is here. We’re watching the young mistress’s steamed ham carefully – it’ll be ready soon.”

Lan Xian approached the stove, looked, and smiled: “Your wood-feeding method is wrong. This wastes firewood and delays time. Let me teach you a good fire-building method that saves both wood and time.”

Knowing she was Xiao Wenliu’s trusted head maid, the kitchen women were all accommodating, smiling as they came to watch.

Lan Xian took iron tongs, propping the wood at an angle, explaining in detail to the kitchen women the benefits of arranging firewood this way.

The kitchen women listened with accompanying smiles, constantly nodding, but their minds were on the deer meat soup cooking nearby.

So they didn’t notice that Lan Xian’s slightly damp hair gradually dried beside the fire.

…

Xiao Liheng had urgent business and had already left. Xiao Fu reported his findings to the Xiao mansion’s chief steward.

He handed over a blue skirt – the style was very ordinary, but the material was quite fine.

This created a contradictory feeling.

Maid’s clothing didn’t have such fine material, but masters’ wives’ and young ladies’ clothing wouldn’t be so plain either.

Xiao mansion maids had uniform clothing – all blue jackets and white skirts, but important maids often received clothing gifts from their masters, so this clothing couldn’t rule out belonging to a maid.

But the person should still be in the mansion. The Xiao mansion had strict gate security and countless hidden guards – no one could come and go freely.

The chief steward said: “Search. All maids, all courtyards – search everything under the pretext of an assassin! Especially question any maids not at their posts just now!”

…

In the Xiao mansion’s old madam’s Fu’an Hall, Xiao Wenliu, rarely home for a visit, was dining with the old madam.

The Xiao mansion’s women gathered together, yet not a single cough was heard.

On one hand, the Xiao mansion emphasized proper etiquette; on the other, the Xiao mansion’s atmosphere hadn’t been good recently.

Since the Imperial Daughter’s return to the capital, everything had gone wrong for the Xiao mansion. A storm had swept away the pride and arrogance the Xiao family had maintained for so long. Adding Xiao Bi’an’s death news, Old Madam Xiao had fallen ill directly.

Xiao Wenliu had returned to visit the old lady under these circumstances. This time, however, the mansion’s women were cool toward her. Sisters who had once envied her made several sarcastic remarks, since Prince Zhao had also lost power and would soon be driven from the capital. Her previous “coercion” and delivery of the Imperial Daughter to the Imperial City at the city gates was seen by everyone as harming both the Xiao mansion and Prince Zhao – truly a burden.

Xiao Wenliu didn’t much care. She had come to see the old lady and didn’t mind what others thought.

Lan Xian’er stood behind her serving, with exquisite makeup, full figure, and sleek hair bun. This also became one reason for the Xiao mansion women to secretly mock Xiao Wenliu – keeping such a naturally seductive maid by her side, was she stupid? Didn’t she understand about inviting wolves into the house? Be careful that this obviously restless girl would climb into the master’s bed someday – then there’d be tears to cry!

After barely eating a few bites, the old madam set down her chopsticks, and everyone else had to set theirs down too. Suddenly, commotion arose outside.

Soon, a nanny who had gone to investigate returned and whispered a few words to the old madam.

The old madam frowned, looked at the wives and young ladies below, and nodded.

The nanny announced: “An assassin entered the mansion. The steward suspects this assassin has inside help hidden among our people. All maids should go out now for questioning by the chief steward, while masters please watch from the corridor.”

Xiao Wenliu’s hand holding her napkin paused slightly. She instinctively started to turn to look at Lan Xian but forcibly stopped herself.

After the maids bowed to their masters and left the hall, Xiao Wenliu asked: “As an outside guest, must my attendant also be questioned?”

The chief steward stood in the corridor bowing from afar. The old madam beckoned Xiao Wenliu over, smiling: “What kind of outside guest are you? Even married, you’re still our most precious young mistress.”

Xiao Wenliu smiled and nodded to Lan Xian.

Lan Xian bowed and went out.

The maids stood in a row. Xiao Fu held the skirt, asking: “Whose is this? Speak up now and you might avoid death.”

Naturally no one answered.

Xiao Fu sneered, examining each one – their clothes, faces, hair, even having their hair buns undone for inspection.

He had matrons search their bodies.

He compared the skirt to each person.

Those whose builds approximated the skirt’s length and size were immediately dragged aside.

When comparing with Lan Xian, the skirt was a full section too long.

Xiao Fu held the skirt and moved to the next person.

Lan Xian kept her eyes lowered.

When she wore this skirt today, she had deliberately chosen one too large, pulling it up considerably and covering it with outer clothing. At first glance it looked right, but it was actually too long.

After checking the skirt, the chief steward asked: “What were you all doing a quarter-hour ago?”

Everyone said they were serving their masters’ meals.

The chief steward continued: “Who came in last? Did anyone leave midway?”

People thought about it, their gazes blank – everyone was busy, who would remember?

Suddenly a maid said: “This servant remembers – it seemed to be Lan Xian from beside the young mistress.”

The chief steward and Xiao Fu’s gazes fell on Lan Xian.

Lan Xian showed a bewildered expression.

Xiao Fu squinted, examining her up and down, then nodded to the chief steward.

The build looked right.

Lan Xian’s heart jumped.

“What did you do half an hour ago?”

“This servant was in the small kitchen checking the steamed ham for my young mistress. My young mistress likes this dish a bit more tender, so I went to watch over it.”

“How long did you stay?”

“About two quarters of an hour.”

“Just checking a dish – why stay so long?”

“Because the stove’s heat control wasn’t good. This servant comes from a farming family, so I showed off some fire-building techniques to the kitchen women. The kitchen women can testify to this.”

“Before going to the small kitchen, were you always by the young mistress’s side?”

Lan Xian’s heart jumped again.

Naturally she hadn’t been – she had told the young mistress she had stomach problems to attend to. But if she said she’d been there all along, inevitably some maid who noticed her absence would expose her.

Being exposed by a maid was a small matter, but the young mistress clearly knew she hadn’t been there!

How hateful that Xiao mansion shadow guards were everywhere!

Seeing the person opposite with eagle-like eyes, she dared not delay and replied: “Yes.”

A nearby maid looked startled, seeming about to speak. Lan Xian’s heart sank, her fingers hidden in her sleeves gripping a small pill tightly.

Originally given to her by that person, said to be for feigning death in emergencies, but she actually deeply suspected it – given that person’s character, this fake death might become real death.

Anyway, if she was exposed and lost her usefulness, it would be perfect for silencing her.

But if truly discovered, she could only risk using it…

As that maid opened her mouth, the chief steward noticed and turned his gaze toward her.