Chapter 127

Chapter 127: The Plot Revealed, Searching Luo Ning

Marquis Manor was quiet for a few days.

The Old Madam and the others were still at the Summer Retreat Villa. Luo You had gone to the Academy, so there were far fewer people left in Marquis Manor.

These days, Luo Chong Ye was resting in the Outer Courtyard. The Bai family had sent over two concubines, and they often went to pay respects in front of the Marchioness.

Luo Ning’s maid Dong Yan again asked Luo Ning: “Miss, when will you send someone to visit Second Young Master?”

Before Luo Ning could answer, Qiu Lan’s face darkened. She said: “Why do you keep talking about Second Young Master?”

Dong Yan was so scared that she dropped to her knees at once. “This maid was only asking. I had no improper thoughts.”

Luo Ning looked at Qiu Lan.

Qiu Lan said: “Get up. Speak clearly. What has happened?”

“Chun Tao, the maid by Second Young Master’s side, picked up a few things that Second Young Master left behind. She wants to send them to him.

“But she has no way to do it, so she begged me to help. Next time Miss sends something to Second Young Master, I am to take these out and send them along with your things.

“The bundle is in my hands. There are two pairs of Second Young Master’s shoes in it. I thought it should be fine, but I was also afraid it might not be proper, so I asked,” Dong Yan said in a rush as she stood up.

After hearing this, Qiu Lan glanced at Luo Ning.

Luo Ning thought in silence.

The young maid’s words did not sound like a lie.

Some girls were like her. They could not stand to refuse when others begged them. In a moment of heat, they agreed to things they could not really do.

Then they regretted it, felt they had done wrong, and did not dare explain clearly to their lord or master. They thought about it on their own and tried to find some chance to fix the matter quietly.

So, in the lord’s eyes, all their actions and words became sneaky and full of bad intent.

Luo Ning did trust her a little.

Most servants were just earning a meal and had no big ambitions. Like Chu Shuang, when Luo Yin had kept looking at her back then, she had been scared half to death, afraid that Luo Ning would send her out to be a bed servant.

In Wenqi Courtyard, their days were easy and comfortable. They lived well and ate their fill. It was hard for outside people to buy off the maids here.

Luo Ning had seen selfish and vicious people, and she had also seen loyal and brave ones. She had her own judgment. She believed what Dong Yan said, but she still kept some doubt, just in case.

“Qiu Lan, take her down and explain things to her clearly. Do not scold her,” Luo Ning finally said.

Qiu Lan agreed.

She led the young maid back to her own room and pretended this was her first time seeing that small bundle as she opened it.

She spoke slowly to Dong Yan: “Second Young Master goes out to study, but he gets days off every month. He can come back himself to get his things.

“Usually we do not send things to him, for fear of disturbing him. Even if we really need to send something, it will be arranged by Nanny Fan or Chun Zhi, not just anyone.

“You live in the Inner Residence, and you took this kind of thing. Just these two pairs of shoes alone are hard to explain.”

Dong Yan’s voice was choked. “Sister, the more I thought about it, the worse I felt. I only wanted to send them out quickly and be done with it.”

“If you knew it was bad, you should have given them back to Chun Tao, not hurried to send them out. Why are you so stubborn?” Qiu Lan said.

Dong Yan said: “I… I promised her.”

“This is not your job, and you cannot do it at all. Chun Tao knows that. She is the one who made things hard for you first. What if you go back on your word? So what? You are only a third-class young maid. If you make a mistake, it means death. Do you not want your life?

“Next time, remember this. Even if you really did not think it through for a moment, once you notice something is wrong, the way to fix it is to step back, not to keep forcing your way forward and making more and more mistakes,” Qiu Lan said.

She added: “In a deep inner courtyard like this, it is better to have no merit than to have faults. If the masters want to beat you to death, it only takes one word. People like us have no right to make mistakes.”

Dong Yan was so scared that she started crying. She knelt and said: “Sister, what should I do now?”

“The things are still here. Before long, Miss will send some food to Second Young Master. We will send your bundle along with it. Do not panic,” Qiu Lan said.

Then she asked: “Has Chun Tao come to look for you?”

“She has. She asked about it,” Dong Yan said, wiping her tears.

“Do not startle the snake. You must not let her know what we talked about today. If she asks, you answer her the same way as before,” Qiu Lan said.

Dong Yan nodded.

She added: “Chun Tao really wants Second Young Master to come back soon. I heard someone is trying to arrange a match for her, to marry her off to a rotten gambler.”

“She said that herself?”

“No. The other day in the Rear Garden, the daughters-in-law who take care of the Flower Arbor were saying it. Chun Tao did not say it,” Dong Yan said.

Qiu Lan reminded her a few more times, telling her to act as usual and not show any sign of change.

When she returned to the main room, Qiu Lan told all this to Luo Ning.

Luo Ning put down her book.

This matter was actually a bit better than she had expected.

“I will go find Aunt,” Luo Ning said.

That night, after every courtyard had locked its gates, Second Madam told her trusted aide, Nurse Song, to bring Chun Tao over.

On the night of the third day, trouble finally broke out in the Marquis of Zhen Nan household.

In the Marchioness’s East Main Courtyard, a small golden Buddha statue was missing. It was about the size of a teacup, solid inside, weighed about one and a half jin, and was very valuable.

Second Madam was called to the East Main Courtyard.

Nanny Zhen looked very anxious. She said: “That was what our Master of the House bought for Madam after he entered the capital. He said it was for calming the mind and guarding the house. Madam has been sleeping much better these days, and her spirits have also improved.

“Usually we wrap it in red silk and leave it on this shelf. Because it is so precious, we do not touch it when cleaning. Just now Madam thought of it, but when we looked for it, it was gone.”

The Marchioness wore a pure white inner robe and a short jacket the color of sky after rain. Her face was dark. She said: “Second Sister-in-law, this house was handed to you to manage. Now a thief shows up in my courtyard. Where have you been putting your mind usual days?”

Second Madam had just spent an hour talking with Luo Ning last night, so she knew the tricks were starting.

She stayed calm. “Sister-in-law, something was stolen from your courtyard. That does not mean I have failed at managing the house. The people here are all your own.”

The Marchioness gave a cold laugh. “My people all have clean hands. None of them would steal chickens or dogs.”

“What does Sister-in-law plan to do?” Second Madam asked.

“Of course we must investigate. A golden Buddha statue this big is not easy to sell right away. It must still be inside the manor,” the Marchioness said.

Second Madam said: “You mean, to search?”

“Of course.”

“I am not stopping you. To search up and down in your courtyard would take less than an hour. You do not need to ask me,” Second Madam said.

“My courtyard must be checked, and the places outside must be checked too,” the Marchioness said. “If we delay, once the thing is hidden, it will truly be impossible to find.”

Second Madam thought for a while. “Sister-in-law, Mother and Third Sister-in-law are not at home, and the eldest niece-in-law is not here either. If we search, will we search their courtyards too?”

“Of course we will.”

“That will not do, unless Lord Marquis gives his word in person,” Second Madam said. “With the masters gone, if we start searching all over the place, I will not be able to bear the blame later.”

“Go out and look up at the plaque on this estate,” the Marchioness said coldly. “What does it say? ‘Marquis of Zhen Nan Residence.’ I am the First-Rank Titled Madam. This is my house.

“Even if they told you to manage things, you are not the master. What does it mean that you bear the blame? What right do you have to bear it?”

She was no longer acting crazy. The air of a household matriarch was back on her.

Second Madam thought of what had happened that day at the Thirty-li Post Station, and also of what Madam Bai had done. She felt no fear at all.

“Sister-in-law, it is useless to say this to me. Above us are Mother and Lord Marquis. In this Inner Residence, whoever they tell to manage is the one in charge. You are an enfeoffed lady of the Imperial Court. If you feel this is unfair, go to the Imperial Court and make a complaint,” she said.

Madam Bai, Nanny Zhen, and Bai Ci Rong all stared at Second Madam in shock.

When had this somewhat plain, not very eye-catching Second Madam become so sharp-tongued?

She even dared to challenge the Marchioness.

Everything had changed.

These people were all about to rebel.

While they were still arguing, Luo Ning arrived. She had not come alone. She had also brought the Marquis of Zhen Nan.