Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Why Lie
Who would have thought things would progress so unsmoothly.
The current situation is unclear to Xiao Shinuan, who feels deeply uneasy.
If the news leaks out, and her elder brother finds out, she won’t have a good time.
"Send someone again to scout around the Pei Family; perhaps we can uncover some clues," Xiao Shinuan forced herself to remain calm. "Also, dispatch someone to find that organization contact; offer whatever price, but get me the information!"
"Nuannuan, what are you doing in the room? Mother has called you several times and you didn’t hear."
Mrs. Xiao’s voice came from afar, gradually approaching. Xiao Shinuan tried to calm her inner panic and opened the door to welcome her mother.
"Mother, what do you need me for?"
"Oh, child, have you forgotten? Yesterday you sent out invitations, asking the noble ladies to come and admire the flowers. How could you forget by now? Everyone’s already here, waiting in the flower hall."
Mrs. Xiao smiled kindly, very pleased with the current situation. Despite her son’s words, humans can change fate; having her daughter interact with those noble ladies—who knows which one might catch her son’s eye one day? These things can’t be predicted.
Only then did Xiao Shinuan recall that this was indeed the case. The garden was full of blooming flowers, and she had always wanted to invite some well-connected noble ladies to visit; it benefits her and her elder brother.
She immediately said to her mother, "I’ll dress up a bit and head out soon."
Mrs. Xiao went ahead to entertain the guests.
Meanwhile, Xiao Shinuan changed into a blouse with chrysanthemum patterns, and wore a sapphire ornament with beads, and red jade earrings before applying rouge, smiling contentedly at her reflection in the mirror.
Suddenly, the sound of heavy objects hitting the ground came from the courtyard.
"What sound is that?" Xiao Shinuan got up to check.
In front of the Xiao Mansion, a man rode a tall horse, his face stern, brows sharp as swords and eyes bright like stars. He dismounted from the horse upon reaching the entrance.
This man was Xiao Shiqing.
With the army only halfway through, he was informed by a servant that his mother was unwell, so he galloped back.
He tossed the whip to the steward nearby and strode inside.
While entertaining the female guests, Mrs. Xiao heard of her son’s return and quickly went to welcome him happily.
"My son—"
Xiao Shiqing’s gaze fell upon his mother, and he glanced faintly at the female guests behind her, frowning.
Seeing this, Mrs. Xiao felt somewhat uneasy and guilty, yet she still stepped forward with a smile, about to speak.
Suddenly, a sharp scream erupted from the back courtyard.
It was coming from the direction of Xiao Shinuan’s courtyard.
"Ahhhh—"
"Miss, what’s... ah—"
The maid, who heard her mistress’s scream, hurried forward to check. Upon seeing the courtyard’s scene, she let out a single scream before fainting completely.
But Xiao Shinuan couldn’t faint. Her body turned to mush like mud, and she collapsed against the doorway, trying to escape but seemingly held by invisible hands, preventing her from moving an inch except to scream.
When Xiao Shiqing arrived, he furrowed deeply and intensely at the scene in the courtyard.
Within Xiao Shinuan’s courtyard was a gruesome sight of bloody limbs; the scene was as brutal as a battlefield—enough to make not just women but even men weak at the knees.
A young servant beside Xiao Shiqing sat on the ground, feeling sudden warmth below, his pants wet.
The following Mrs. Xiao and other female guests were intercepted outside by guards, unaware of what happened yet deeply alarmed within.
Miss Xiao’s screams were too harrowing. What on earth has happened?
The man on the beam stepped out upon seeing Prince Xiao arrive, saluted with clasped hands, and laughed, saying, "Shi Yi greets Prince Xiao, this is my master’s gift returned to Miss Xiao, please accept it with joy!"
Xiao Shiqing’s gaze instantly turned cold, and he flew upward, grabbing with his knife.
Shi Yi soared lightly, leaving one last sentence: "Returning the favor in kind; rather than spending time catching me, better ask your sister what she did. Farewell!"
Seeing Prince Xiao about to catch up, he indeed halted his steps.
Shi Yi breathed a sigh of relief; Prince Xiao was on par with his master, how could he be a match for Prince Xiao?
Luckily, his master had foresight, personally instructing the speech and predicting Prince Xiao’s actions with clarity. It also mattered thanks to his Qinggong skills; otherwise, he’d have been caught just now.
The future events of the Xiao Family aren’t his business anymore; returning to report is crucial.
Most importantly, the bet among him and his three brothers might be revealed today.
Pei Mansion, Lixiang Courtyard.
Qu Fulan, having listened to Heir Pei’s recount of the process, was left with nothing but cold laughs, over and over.
She never dreamt the flaw wasn’t from her but from Xiao Shinuan.
That woman simply has a serious problem with her brain!
Time and again stirring trouble at the Pei Mansion; even her brother couldn’t necessarily win favor from Heir Pei. Who does she think she is, even sending assassins inside, attempting to silence her?
Besides the assassination attempt at Pei Mansion, the initial breach was when Xiao Shinuan sent people to scout around the Pei Mansion, planting the hazard from that moment.
Qu Fulan recalled when Heir Pei suddenly asked her to be a maid; the reason turned out to be this.
He suspected her of having an issue, worried she might harm the elderly, so he supervised her personally under his watch.
And subsequently? His suspicion of her surely wouldn’t reduce; testing her constantly while sending people to investigate her background.
Unable to find answers from her, he targeted the Xiao Family, reversing his approach.
As soon as he uncovered her origins, Xiao Shinuan sent assassins her way. That night, the disturbance she heard was caused by the assassins, later intercepted by the four guardians and successfully captured.
The two missing guardians were Shi Yi and Shi Er; they went to interrogate the assassins.
Heir Pei knew everything now; in the upcoming conversation, she had no need to hide anything about the original owner’s background.
"Whatever Heir wishes to know, I won’t withhold or hesitate." Qu Fulan admitted defeat, having no choice.
"Let’s start with your background," Pei Ji’an said.
Qu Fulan paused briefly, then realized, though he had investigated everything and knew what there is to know, he still wanted her to say it personally to check if she would hide anything and if her confession was sincere.
She didn’t struggle and calmly said, "My name is Li Jirou, daughter of the Governor of Yunzhou..."
From childhood companions, childhood sweethearts, to male exile and female slavery, she exposed everything without holding back.
Pei Ji’an’s expression remained calm, as he lifted a white jade teacup with slender fingers and spoke softly, "Why did you lie?"
Qu Fulan bitterly laughed, "Heir, I was wrong to hide my background, but given my current situation, aside from hiding it, I had no other choice."
She lowered her head looking at the teacup in her hand; the water within was now slightly cool. She continued softly, "I can’t possibly bear the label of a criminal slave in the Pei Mansion; it would only worsen my circumstances. Everything I’ve done was solely for self-preservation, nothing more."
"Why not seek Xiao Shiqing?"