Everyone was startled.

Seventh Miss hurriedly passed through the main hall and entered the western inner room.

“What happened!”

She immediately saw Ninth Brother standing perfectly fine before the writing desk, also looking completely astonished. She instantly felt relieved: the one in trouble was not Ninth Brother.

Then she saw Lichun emerge from the privy with a deathly pale face.

“Seventh, Seventh Miss,” she had already lost her composure, her lips trembling slightly.

Seventh Miss furrowed her brow.

Lixia and Bailu also entered the western inner room.

Without needing Seventh Miss’s instructions, the two stepped forward to support Lichun, and together with Ninth Brother, they entered the eastern inner room. They settled Lichun onto the rosewood armchair by the window, and Lixia poured a bowl of cold tea for Lichun to hold in her hands.

Borrowing the slight chill from the cold tea, Lichun gradually calmed down.

She glanced at Ninth Brother and bit her lip.

“A rat just scurried past!” she said to Ninth Brother with a forced smile, though the alarm in her eyes remained intense.

Anyone could tell Lichun was lying.

The Yang household had always been clean and tidy, especially in the western side courtyard where Shangyuan kept a cat that regularly patrolled the main house. Not only were there no rats, even flies were swatted dead by it.

Ninth Brother naturally looked unconvinced.

“I’ll go take a look.” He was about to walk toward the western inner room.

Seventh Miss quickly grabbed hold of him.

“There’s no point hiding it from Ninth Brother.” She said calmly, her eyes looking at Lichun.

Seventh Miss’s cool voice made everyone quiet down.

Lichun sighed.

“There’s a puddle of blood in the corner of the privy.” Her face was pale.

Everyone fell silent.

Astonishment was clearly written all over Ninth Brother’s face.

In these deep mansion courtyards, any absurd thing could happen.

Whether Lichun had seen a snake, a knife, or a villain in the privy—none of these were impossible.

But this puddle of blood appearing out of nowhere was rather strange. Whether it was vomited up or flowed out… it couldn’t possibly be without an owner.

Seventh Miss pondered for a moment.

“Lichun, go fetch Nanny Wang!” She made a decisive decision. “Just say that Ninth Brother is crying and making a fuss, refusing to bathe… don’t alarm anyone else.”

When it came to matters involving human life, neither she nor Lichun could make the decision.

It was only the first watch now. Even if Nanny Wang had returned to her own home, she could immediately come to the western side courtyard with Lichun. Even if she had no ideas at all, at least she could take turns keeping watch with Lichun through the night, or go into Baifang Garden to summon Second Miss.

Bailu was about to speak.

First, Lichun was the one left behind to watch over Ninth Brother, so Seventh Miss actually didn’t have the authority to order her around. Moreover, someone had to stay constantly with Ninth Brother now. If Lichun and Nanny Wang’s steps were delayed and it passed into the second watch, the main courtyard gate would be locked. If Ninth Brother lacked someone to watch over him tonight and anything happened, Seventh Miss would certainly be implicated.

Third, Lichun had just been frightened. Running errands shouldn’t be her responsibility—she and Lixia going out once would be sufficient.

She had just opened her mouth when Seventh Miss glanced at her.

Bailu immediately closed her mouth and watched as Lichun rose and hurriedly left the room.

“Let’s just stay in the eastern inner room for now!” Seventh Miss said gently to Ninth Brother.

“Mm!” Ninth Brother nodded, then sat down by the writing desk with a heavy heart.

Seventh Miss then gave Bailu a meaningful look.

The two of them left the eastern inner room together.

The western inner room was empty. Through the raised glass bead curtain, they could vaguely see the small door leading to the privy half-open, with dim yellow candlelight reflecting from within.

Bailu’s throat moved up and down. Seventh Miss grasped her hand.

“Don’t be afraid.” She said lightly, “It’s just a puddle of blood.”

As they spoke, the two had already entered the western inner room.

Seventh Miss’s hand was very steady, and she didn’t show the slightest bit of alarm.

Bailu gradually calmed down as well.

She was already fifteen years old, yet she still wasn’t as bold as a seven-year-old child… Bailu felt somewhat ashamed.

“Have you found a good match for marriage?” Seventh Miss asked with a smile, seemingly unaware of Bailu’s discomfort.

“Not yet.” Bailu answered bashfully.

The atmosphere in the western inner room no longer seemed so eerie.

“Lichun is a year older than you… alone in the residence with no parents or relatives.” Seventh Miss seemed to be explaining, yet also seemed to be talking to herself.

Bailu understood.

Nanny Wang’s residence was in Yijin Workshop behind Second Yang Street, where all the respectable stewards of the Yang household lived.

Lichun had no relatives and normally had no opportunities to leave the residence at all.

This incident was sudden, so sending her to find Nanny Wang was beyond reproach. After all, they were both the Grand Madam’s people, and matters concerning Ninth Brother’s quarters should be discussed among them.

If she happened to encounter some suitable young man on the road, it would only be a coincidence… When the Grand Madam arranged a match for Lichun in the future, Lichun wouldn’t be completely in the dark, unable to say anything sensible.

Seventh Miss truly had such clever thinking and quick reactions!

In just that instant, she had thought of so many layers of meaning.

Bailu glanced at Seventh Miss.

What a pity… she didn’t know that the Grand Madam intended to let Lichun have her hair pinned up to become a concubine!

She then thought of Lichun’s special warmth toward Seventh Miss.

“When Madam returns, I’ll give you a day off too.” Seventh Miss paid no attention to Bailu’s thoughts and said while entering the privy.

In the center of the flat brick floor sat a large bathtub, with a red lacquered chamber pot placed in the corner… On the side near the door stood a tall washbasin stand. The hand towel on the stand was still dripping wet, with warm residual water in the basin.

It seemed Lichun had come in to wash her hands.

Right beside the washbasin stand, against the wall corner, was a small inconspicuous stain.

Seventh Miss bent down to look carefully.

The dark red congealed blood faintly showed a tinge of purple, lying quietly on the brick surface, emanating an eerie aura.

It wasn’t too much, just a small pool that had already formed a hard clot.

This place was very hidden. People entering and leaving the privy wouldn’t necessarily look under the washbasin stand. If Lichun hadn’t just been about to pour water to wash her hands, she probably wouldn’t have seen it either.

Seventh Miss then stood up and returned to the eastern inner room with Bailu.

Ninth Brother looked at Seventh Miss, a hint of fear showing in his eyes, yet he also seemed rather excited.

“It’s just a puddle of blood, don’t make such a fuss and get all surprised about it.” Seventh Miss couldn’t help but smile.

She didn’t know why, but although Ninth Brother wasn’t particularly close to her, when facing him, she found it very difficult to put on airs as an older sister, and rarely weighed her words before speaking.

Ninth Brother wasn’t angry either. “I’ll go take a look!”

Lixia and Bailu quickly held him back. “Don’t make things difficult for us, Ninth Brother!”

“What if you get frightened?”

Ninth Brother had no choice but to sit back down in his chair, looking pitifully at Seventh Miss. “Seventh Sister, what kind of mischief is this!”

Indeed, out of nowhere, an extra puddle of blood appeared in the privy…

Seventh Miss was at a loss for words as well.

Unexpectedly, she thought of the bowl of ice cheese that Xiaoxue had brought in the afternoon.

That probably wasn’t it. Even if there was something wrong with that bowl of ice cheese, at most it would cause Ninth Brother persistent diarrhea. Eating it in the afternoon and vomiting blood by evening—that would be potent poison. If such a thing happened, how could they not thoroughly investigate the source of that bowl of ice cheese? Xiaoxue definitely wouldn’t be able to escape either.

Besides, she had eaten it with such relish—surely that couldn’t have been an act…

But if it wasn’t Xiaoxue, then who else had entered the privy, and who would vomit blood out of nowhere in the corner of the privy?

Nanny Wang and Lichun quickly entered the western side courtyard.

“How could such a thing happen!” Nanny Wang’s face was grave. She pulled Ninth Brother over and felt him all over. “Ninth Brother wasn’t frightened, was he!”

“I’m fine!” Ninth Brother laughed cheerfully. “It’s just a puddle of blood. Nanny, don’t make such a fuss and get all surprised about it.”

At such a tense moment, he was still teasing Seventh Miss.

Seventh Miss bit her lower lip, suppressing her amusement.

Ninth Brother’s courage was truly remarkable.

Lichun then led Nanny Wang to look at the privy. The two emerged and returned to the eastern inner room to discuss with Seventh Miss.

“The western side courtyard always has someone present—either Seventh Miss, or Lichun and I keeping watch in the western side courtyard.”

Although when the Grand Madam left home, Seventh Miss had no such status in the main courtyard, after these several months of trials and tribulations, Nanny Wang naturally included her as well.

“If outsiders entered the western side courtyard, we would definitely know.”

In other words, the owner of this puddle of blood must be one of the maids in the western side courtyard.

“It’s already past the first watch.” Nanny Wang’s eyes were profound. “Tonight, Seventh Miss should stay and sleep with Ninth Brother! Tomorrow morning, we’ll tidy up the western inner room and see if there’s anything else we’ve overlooked!”

She was referring to both the room and the people.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but ask, “Are Xiaoxue and Chushu’s backgrounds clean?”

Nanny Wang’s expression shifted. “Their mothers are both Madam’s dowry maids.”

In other words, Xiaoxue and Chushu’s maternal families were currently still serving in the Qin household. And their mothers were both respectable managing matrons with status beside the Grand Madam.

This could only be called relatively reliable, but not absolutely so… Given Xiaoxue and Chushu’s ages, their maternal grandfathers probably had some years on them now. If they had some status in the Qin household and redeemed themselves, the Grand Madam’s greatest leverage over them would be gone.

And their parents, since they worked for the Yang household, had the possibility of being bribed.

“These are the only maids in the courtyard,” Seventh Miss said tactfully. “Xiaoxue and Chushu always have one of them staying in the western inner room. If someone else went in to use the privy…”

Could just any common maid or matron freely enter Ninth Brother’s privy? Not just the privy—even the threshold of the main hall couldn’t be easily crossed by maids without some status. Shuangjiang, who served Fourth Concubine, always stopped at the bottom of the steps.

These two were the most suspicious.

However, both Xiaoxue and Chushu came from the Grand Madam’s dowry system and might have some connection with Nanny Wang.

“Of course, the eight junior maids and two managing matrons currently in the western side courtyard should all be reviewed again…” Seventh Miss looked at Lixia and Bailu. “As for Sister Bailu and Lixia,” she paused, “they should all clear themselves of suspicion too!”

If she protected these two maids, should nothing be discovered in the investigation, they would instead become objects of suspicion.

Both senior maids showed no particular reaction and simply acknowledged quietly.

Nanny Wang naturally couldn’t be the problem… If even she had been bought off, Ninth Brother’s grave would probably be overgrown with grass by now.

Lichun was even less likely. If the blood was hers, she could naturally have disposed of it quietly. Why would she make such a commotion? Moreover, Ninth Brother’s food had always been handled by her. If she truly had ill intentions, there would be no need for such elaborate schemes.

Though this puddle of blood wouldn’t endanger Ninth Brother’s health, it conveyed a very important message.

The western side courtyard was not united as one!

Nanny Wang had originally wanted to say a few more words on behalf of Xiaoxue and Chushu, but her heart suddenly stirred.

Seventh Miss was not simple.

She remained too composed when facing trouble…

At such a young age, not the least bit flustered, and instead comforting them and arranging countermeasures.

As Ninth Brother gradually grew up, and with her being so capable… in a few years, it probably wouldn’t be Seventh Miss reading her expressions, but rather her reading Seventh Miss’s expressions!

Her face became grave as water as she nodded. “Seventh Miss speaks reasonably. I think we should start investigating from Xiaoxue and Chushu!”

Seventh Miss nodded. “We needn’t panic. Regardless of anything… this precisely shows that Ninth Brother is well protected!”

If there had been a breach, the current situation wouldn’t exist. Most likely an attempt failed and harmed the perpetrator instead, resulting in this mouthful of foul blood.

The expressions on both Nanny Wang and Lichun’s faces relaxed somewhat.

Confirming Ninth Brother’s safety was confirming their work.

No matter what ideas the other party had, as long as they continued on the previous path, the enemy might not be able to strike.

“Mother will be home very soon. Nanny Wang has so many matters to attend to these days… Lichun will inevitably have to work harder. Once Mother arrives home, things will be much better!” Seventh Miss looked at Lichun.

Lichun nodded with a solemn expression. “This is Lichun’s duty.”

Everyone dispersed from their corner gathering. Lichun smiled and took Ninth Brother’s hand. “I’ll help Ninth Brother bathe! Tonight, sleep in the eastern inner room, sharing a bed with Seventh Miss.”

Ninth Brother looked bashfully at Seventh Miss. “But Seventh Sister is a girl!”

Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly brightened.

“What of it? You’re both still so young!” Nanny Wang laughed heartily. “Tonight I’ll make a floor bed in the room!”

Seventh Miss quickly dissuaded her. “Please be careful not to catch cold.” She then looked at her own bed.

After sleeping both Ninth Brother and herself, if they had to squeeze Nanny Wang in as well, it would be too cramped.

Bailu quickly said with a smile, “Doesn’t Ninth Brother’s room have the beauty couch that Lichun usually sits on? It’s bamboo-woven and very light. Nanny Wang can make do on it for one night?”

Though called a beauty couch, it was actually just a small bed that could suffice for one night.

Nanny Wang looked at Bailu with a smile. “You’ve arranged things well.”

She was rarely so courteous to Bailu normally.

Bailu couldn’t help feeling somewhat flattered. “Nanny Wang is too kind.”

After everyone washed up and settled in, they each went to sleep. Lichun, Lixia, and Bailu all left the main house and went to their own quarters in the inverted south rooms.

After Seventh Miss and Ninth Brother got into bed, neither said anything.

With Nanny Wang present, even in the pitch darkness, it was like being in broad daylight—they had to be careful with words and actions.

Ninth Brother quickly fell asleep, his small head resting on Seventh Miss’s shoulder.

Seventh Miss couldn’t help but touch the crown of his head.

Warm and soft, radiating heat.

On this midsummer night, Ninth Brother’s proximity should have made her feel stuffy and uncomfortable, but somehow, Seventh Miss also slept very soundly that night.

The next morning, Nanny Wang left very early: today was Eighth Concubine’s seventh day memorial, and the coffin would be carried out of the garden. She absolutely had to attend.

Lichun led Xiaoxue, Chushu, and Lixia in cleaning the western inner room.

“Madam will be returning soon. After cleaning the western inner room this once, there’s no need to fuss with it again. When Madam returns, we can move directly back to the main house.” Bailu smiled as she attended to Seventh Miss and Ninth Brother’s washing up, explaining as she went.

This excuse was found quite well. It was already mid-July. Going downstream from the capital, the journey was much faster than traveling upstream. The Grand Madam was probably already near Yangzhou.

Madam Xu was coming to support her and wouldn’t linger long in Yangzhou. She would likely come to Suzhou to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival.

In one more month, the Yang residence would return to normal order.