Immediately after, Fan Qi also discovered this problem.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he asked Zhou Shaojin, “Second Young Miss, what, what should we do?”

Without any grievance or resentment, they had actually come to someone else’s house to set a fire, and moreover, it was a relative by marriage—if they were caught, what would become of them!

Zhou Shaojin also didn’t know what to do.

According to her original plan, they would quietly set the fire and quietly return, without anyone knowing, and just wait for the Fifth Branch’s elders to discover the problems with the Fifth Branch and reorganize it…

But now, they were trapped here!

She asked Fan Qi, “Can we go back through another route?”

The Fifth Branch—she had only visited twice in total and was completely unfamiliar with the layout.

Fan Qi was nearly in tears.

He had only been at Nine-As-One Lane for a few days; how would he dare run around randomly? If it weren’t for Zhou Shaojin’s instructions, and the fact that the Fifth Branch was the weakest among all the Cheng family branches with servants who didn’t really manage things well, even if you gave him the courage of a bear’s heart and leopard’s gall, he still wouldn’t dare wander around the Fifth Branch at will!

As for the First and Second Branches, he only dared to make a quick circuit outside. Before getting familiar with the servants of the First and Second Branches, he absolutely wouldn’t dare move about freely.

But since Zhou Shaojin had spoken, he couldn’t say he didn’t know!

“Second Young Miss,” his voice trembling slightly, he said, “We can only go south. There’s a road that leads to the West Servants’ Quarters…”

Throughout Nine-As-One Lane, there were two servants’ quarters—one in the northwest near the Fifth Branch, and one in the east near the Third Branch, where the servants resided. The West Servants’ Quarters and East Servants’ Quarters were somewhat different. Since ancient times, the east has been considered the position of honor. Additionally, the Cheng family school was carved out from a section of the original East Servants’ Quarters, right next to it. Those who could live in the East Servants’ Quarters were either prominent, capable head stewards, or accountants and attendants. The West Servants’ Quarters, however, were much more complicated—influential nannies from each branch, hereditary servants who could never advance despite generations of service, minor stewards, the young masters’ personal attendants, coachmen, carriages… a mixed bag of people. Like a large miscellaneous courtyard.

“No!” Before Fan Qi could finish speaking, Fan Liushi immediately said, “How can we lead the young miss to the outer courtyard? The night patrol in the outer courtyard consists entirely of guards. Unlike our inner courtyard, they’re formidable! Moreover, to reach the West Servants’ Quarters, we’d have to pass through the entire Fifth Branch. What if someone discovers us along the way? Even if we successfully reach the West Servants’ Quarters, there are all kinds of people there. As soon as we show our faces, everyone in Nine-As-One Lane will know by tomorrow. In the dead of night, if we rashly run there, and the Fifth Branch has had a fire… how would we explain this to the Cheng family’s ancestors?”

Many families had lost their ancestral estates to fires and were ruined.

Therefore, wealthy households all kept large water vats under the eaves—precisely for fire prevention.

“Then, what should we do?” Fan Qi asked.

Everyone’s gaze fell on Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin’s palms were sweating profusely.

Since this matter had been started by her, at this critical moment she couldn’t shirk responsibility…

She hesitated, “How about we find a way to get to Jing’an Studio?”

The small garden of the Fifth Branch’s inner residence and the Cheng family’s inner residence garden faced each other across the water, connected by a stone slab nine-curve railed bridge in between.

As long as they reached Jing’an Studio, no matter which route they took, she could avoid the night patrol and lead everyone back to Wanxiang Residence.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward that pitch-black lake surface.

The nine-curve railed bridge was faintly visible.

Shi Xiang couldn’t help but say, “If only tonight’s moon weren’t so bright!”

If there were no moon, the other side wouldn’t be able to see clearly at all.

When coming, they complained the moonlight was too dim; when escaping, they complained it was too bright.

All in all, they had thought things through too simplistically.

Zhou Shaojin sighed.

A clattering of footsteps approached, stopping on the pathway not far from them.

“You from the Fourth Branch who’s leading, what’s your name? Take your Fourth Branch people to fight the fire.” Steward Qin’s authoritative voice rang out again as he commanded with composure. “You all go see what’s happening at the water pavilion.”

Everyone responded in a confused chorus, rushing toward the water pavilion in a flurry.

That Steward Qin stood in the passage with two others.

Shouldn’t he personally go check on those people in the water pavilion?

Zhou Shaojin grumbled inwardly, unable to resist turning her head slightly to look.

Under the firelight, Steward Qin had a rough-hewn face, wore a Hangzhou silk straight robe, a cloth belt around his waist, was tall and robust, and looked not only shrewd and capable but also powerful and formidable at first glance.

In Zhou Shaojin’s mind, stewards should all be like Ma Fushan, carrying a smile on their face even when not speaking.

She couldn’t help pondering inwardly.

Where had this person emerged from?

She hadn’t expected the Cheng family to have such a steward!

Everyone called him “Steward Qin.” Could he have some relationship with Head Steward Qin Shouyue?

Zhou Shaojin hunched her shoulders, feeling somewhat afraid in her heart.

They needed to find a way to leave here quickly.

If Steward Qin discovered them, things might become even worse than she imagined.

But Steward Qin was standing not far from her location, and she really didn’t dare move.

Fortunately, those who went to inspect the water pavilion quickly returned: “Steward Qin, it’s Fourth Branch’s Second Master Yi, Fifth Branch’s Master Nuo and Master Ju with several schoolmates gambling there. As for how the fire started, they don’t know either.”

“Gambling?” Zhou Shaojin heard Steward Qin laugh coldly and say, “Tell them the arsonist hasn’t been found yet and is likely still wandering around the inner courtyard. To avoid the young masters encountering danger, please ask the young masters to temporarily rest in Fifth Branch Master Nuo’s room and not move about randomly. After daybreak, they can each disperse then.” Then to the two people holding lanterns beside him, he said, “Come, let’s go take a look. The Fourth Branch discovered the fire here, yet the Fifth Branch has no reaction at all. It seems the Fifth Branch’s internal affairs are in quite a mess…”

Several people followed Steward Qin toward the water pavilion.

Zhou Shaojin nearly uttered “Amitabha Buddha.”

If only all the Cheng family elders thought this way.

She felt that although this Steward Qin was formidable, he was still quite intelligent.

However, they couldn’t remain in this place any longer.

That Steward Qin was so formidable; he might turn back to search here any moment…

Zhou Shaojin said in a low voice, “Nanny Fan, let’s cross over the nine-curve railed bridge… As long as we reach Jing’an Studio, they won’t be able to do anything to us… That’s Fourth Branch territory. We can hide anywhere randomly, and they can’t search until dawn, can they?”

After daybreak, Steward Qin would definitely have to report to the Cheng family elders.

Without him present, Zhou Shaojin felt their chances of escape were quite good.

Having all heard Steward Qin’s words, everyone felt staying here was too dangerous. Returning to their familiar environment would be more reassuring and they might think of better solutions… They all nodded in agreement.

Fan Qi went in front, Zhou Shaojin followed closely behind, and the group quietly slipped out from under the willow trees.

Fortunately, gardens in the Jiangnan region emphasized small bridges and flowing water, winding paths leading to secluded spots.

They specifically sought out quiet places to secretly head toward that nine-curve railed bridge.

At this time, the fire had already been extinguished, and the Fifth Branch people were just reacting. The night patrol, unclear about what was happening, rushed over in this direction, concealing Zhou Shaojin’s group’s figures.

Looking at the nine-curve railed bridge ahead, Zhou Shaojin and the others all revealed joyful smiles.

“Let’s run across quickly,” Zhou Shaojin said. “Even if Steward Qin discovers us, we’ll be like fish leaping into the vast ocean—impossible to find.”

Fan Qi and the others nodded repeatedly.

Zhou Shaojin’s group ran onto the nine-curve railed planks.

But just as they had run halfway, they were discovered—a man’s startled cry came from the water pavilion: “Steward Qin, look over there!”

It’s over, it’s over!

Zhou Shaojin’s heart sank, but she also knew that if she kept running there was still a possibility of escape; if she stopped, being captured was the only outcome.

“Run quickly!” she shouted to Fan Liushi and the others behind her, while she herself quickened her pace.

But just as they were about to cross the nine-curve railed bridge, Steward Qin had already led people in pursuit to the bridge’s side.

A sky full of torches exposed their figures.

Steward Qin called out coldly, “It’s several women! Capture them alive.”

Zhou Shaojin’s legs went weak upon hearing this, and she stumbled. If Fan Liushi behind her hadn’t been quick, she would have fallen to the ground.

“Hurry!” Zhou Shaojin shouted, her body feeling as if it had fallen into an ice cellar.

Fan Qi also couldn’t care about anything anymore. He turned back to support Zhou Shaojin and plunged headlong into the bamboo grove of Jing’an Studio.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and ran toward Wanxiang Residence.

Hearing the increasingly chaotic sounds behind her, Zhou Shaojin made a bold decision: “Let’s go toward Hanbi Mountain House.”

Old Madam Guo lived there, and no matter how bold they were, they wouldn’t dare barge in so recklessly.

As long as she wasn’t caught red-handed by Steward Qin, if she took the initiative to confess to Old Madam Guo, even if she was punished by Old Madam Guo, despised by the Cheng family elders, or even expelled from the Cheng family and had her reputation ruined, it would be better than being grabbed and pulled by this group of men…

Fan Liushi and the others, however, thought Zhou Shaojin was confident she could get Old Madam Guo to intervene and save them. Each showing signs of joy, they followed Zhou Shaojin toward Hanbi Mountain House without a second thought.

The chaotic sounds behind them indeed gradually faded.

Zhou Shaojin secretly rejoiced.

But suddenly, a mellow yet somewhat teasing voice came from ahead: “Who’s this? In the dead of night, not sleeping, running wild through the woods—aren’t you afraid of encountering robbers and bandits?”

Zhou Shaojin was so frightened that her entire body went rigid, her mind completely blank, unable to come to her senses for quite a while.

When she finally regained her senses, she discovered that at some unknown point, a dim melon-shaped lantern had been hung from a tree branch in the grove. A young man was sitting on a stone table beneath the lamp drinking tea, with two attendants standing behind him, their features indistinct in the hazy light.

Zhou Shaojin broke out in cold sweat.

She had just seen clearly—this area had been pitch-black without a trace of light. How could a tea-drinking man suddenly appear? And that lantern—who would hang one so high for no reason? What would they use to hang it? Was there such a tall bamboo pole?

Could it be… could it be she had encountered a ghost?

Zhou Shaojin wanted to scream shrilly.

But her throat only made gurgling sounds—she was too frightened to even cry out.

That man, however, leisurely beckoned to her: “Come, come over here and brew me a cup of tea!”

Brew tea?

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened.

At this time? In this place? Brew tea? With what?

She couldn’t help looking around the man’s vicinity.

Beside the stone table was only the stone stool he was sitting on. Besides that, there was nothing else!

How could she brew tea?

Where had the tea in his hand come from?