Chunxiu was so infuriated by her that her willow-like eyebrows stood on end, and she scolded, “How dare you, Jiang Caiping, speak to me in such a manner?!”

“You’re no different from us in status, so what’s there to fear? Do you really think that just because you became the lead dancer, your position is somehow superior to others?”

“You!” Chunxiu was so angry she wanted to rush forward and tear Jiang Caiping’s mouth apart. Jirong pulled her back, secretly shaking her head to signal her not to act impulsively, then smiled slightly and said, “Chunxiu has always been straightforward in nature, not knowing how to beat around the bush. Please don’t take offense. Actually, we’ve been very worried these past two days. Now that Meixue has safely come out, we can finally put our minds at ease. They say those who survive great disasters are bound to have good fortune afterward, so things will surely get better.”

“Thank you for your kind words, Sister Jirong.”

After Meixue responded, Jirong said, “Well then, let’s go in first to get our lunch. We can chat more later.”

After the two departed, Chunxiu stamped her foot and said, “Sister Jirong, why were you so polite to that wild girl? Are you actually afraid of them?”

After Jirong placed all the lunch dishes into the food box one by one, she said in a gentle voice, “Of course I don’t need to fear them, but what about Second Young Master? Don’t you care about him at all?”

Chunxiu was stunned by her words, then said reluctantly, “Second Young Master… he couldn’t really have taken a fancy to Meixue, could he? He… must be blind to fall for such a wild girl.”

“Shh!” Jirong made a gesture for silence, saying in a low voice, “Keep it down. If someone overhears and reports this to Second Young Master, we’ll be in for trouble.” Then she added, “In any case, until we figure out Second Young Master’s true intentions, you should restrain your temper a bit. Don’t keep getting into conflicts with Meixue over every little thing, lest you invite unnecessary trouble.”

Chunxiu had long been accustomed to stepping on Meixue and was unwilling to comply, saying angrily, “Sister Jirong, how can even you be speaking up for that wild girl? You… you’re driving me to death!”

Jirong tapped her forehead and said, “How could I be helping her? I’m afraid you’ll suffer losses. You’re good in every way, except you can’t keep your composure, which makes you prone to disadvantages.”

“But I get angry just looking at that wild girl. How can I keep my composure?” Then she added, “Second Young Master is really something too. Wu Meixue is clearly in league with the assassins, yet he just released her like that. What if she harms the Governor again in the future?”

“Even if that were true, it would be the Governor’s business. Why are you worrying yourself over nothing here?” Having said this, Jirong continued, “But speaking of which, we’ve all grown up together with Meixue, and she’s never had contact with anyone outside the village. She… shouldn’t be an accomplice of the assassins.”

Chunxiu disagreed, saying, “Perhaps not before entering the mansion, but it’s hard to say what happened afterward. Before the incident, didn’t you see how close she was with that Shen Yunyi? They even called each other sisters. If you tell me there’s nothing suspicious between them, I won’t believe it! Just wait and see—I’ll expose her fox tail sooner or later, and then we’ll see how she dies.”

Jirong pulled her along, saying, “Alright, if we keep talking, the food will get cold. Let’s head back quickly. As for Meixue’s matter, we can discuss it slowly later.”

Chunxiu reluctantly went back with her. After lunch, she originally wanted to nap for a while, but as soon as she lay down, she kept thinking about how Jiang Caiping and the others had mocked her outside the kitchen earlier. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and she couldn’t fall asleep at all. If she didn’t vent this anger, she would surely suffocate from holding it in.

With this thought, she turned over and got out of bed. Just as she was putting on her shoes, Jirong, who should have been asleep, opened her eyes and asked, “Where are you going?”

Chunxiu gritted her teeth and said, “I’m going to teach those two dead girls a proper lesson.”

Jirong sighed softly and sat up, saying, “Why won’t you listen to my advice? Second Young Master…” Before she could finish, Chunxiu interrupted, “I refuse to believe Second Young Master would really protect her that much! Besides, hasn’t everyone been unable to find that female assassin? Maybe she’s hiding in their room. If I find her, let’s see if Meixue doesn’t die.”

The fact that Meixue had been recommended by Li Shimin to perform at Songtao Residence had already made her burn with jealousy. Later, when the assassination incident occurred and Meixue was thrown into the dungeon, she had thought Meixue would die there. But after just a few days, she was released as if nothing had happened, and now she even had Second Young Master as her backer. How could she swallow this anger?

Jirong’s eyes flickered slightly as she said softly, “You suspect… the assassin is hiding in Meixue’s room?”

Chunxiu said casually, “Otherwise, where else does sister think she could be hiding? The eldest young masters searched everywhere, inside and out, even Songtao Residence and the Yuxiu Pavilion where Second Madam lives.”

“Chunxiu, do you remember what Kitchen Matron Li said when we went to the kitchen earlier?”

Chunxiu couldn’t be bothered to remember such things and said, “Kitchen Matron Li? I don’t remember. What did she say?”

“She told Jiang Caiping not to eat so many steamed buns anymore. But I clearly remember that Jiang Caiping doesn’t have a big appetite. When I occasionally saw her eating, she would only have one bowl of rice. As for steamed buns, she could barely finish one, let alone many. Even adding Meixue, it would only be two at most. How could it warrant the word ‘many’?”

“Sister, are you saying… there are other people in their room? And this person is the assassin?” Chunxiu had only mentioned the assassin matter offhandedly, but now, hearing Jirong’s words, it seemed like it might actually be true.

Jirong bowed her head and thought for a while, then said, “I can’t be certain, but there is indeed this possibility.”

Before her words had finished, Chunxiu was about to head outside, but Jirong quickly grabbed her and asked, “Where are you going?”

Chunxiu said urgently, “Of course I’m going to catch them red-handed while they haven’t moved the assassin yet. If we wait for them to transfer the assassin, it’ll be too late.”

“Don’t be hasty. If the assassin is really there, with the mansion searching so tightly, how easy would it be to move her? But there’s one thing you mustn’t forget—the assassin has exceptional martial arts skills. Even if she’s injured, she’s not to be underestimated. If you rush in recklessly like this, you might end up losing your own life instead.”

Chunxiu thought this made sense and said anxiously, “Then what should we do now? We can’t just watch this opportunity slip away.” If they really could catch the assassin in Meixue’s room, not only could they eliminate those two eyesores, but they could also take the opportunity to achieve great merit.

“Of course not. Let me think carefully.” Jirong paced back and forth in the room. After Chunxiu waited for a while without hearing her speak, she tentatively suggested, “How about… we report this matter to the eldest young master?”

“No.” Jirong shook her head, saying, “Right now, all of this is just our speculation. We don’t know if it’s true or false. What if the eldest young master doesn’t find the assassin and blames us for it?” At this point, her eyes lit up, and she said, “I have an idea. Later, I’ll find a way to lure Jiang Caiping and Meixue away, and you can take the opportunity to enter their room and see if the assassin is hiding inside.”

Chunxiu was about to agree when she suddenly remembered something and said with difficulty, “Sister Jirong, didn’t you just say the assassin is not to be underestimated? What if she attacks and injures someone? Wouldn’t I be in mortal danger?”