Just as unexpected as Old Madam Ren was Concubine Fang.
"You say she escaped?" Concubine Fang looked at the matron who had rushed to Yunyang City to report, her usually gentle tone rising unusually.
For some reason, sweat beaded on the matron's forehead. "Yes, Madam. We followed your instructions and first moved her out of the residence, but she was too cunning and managed to escape in the end."
Concubine Fang gazed at the shifting tree shadows outside the window, her expression inscrutable. Those around her dared not speak lightly.
After a long pause, they heard her sigh very softly. "I was careless. She was never one to be easily controlled. Search for her secretly. We must find her before First Madam's people do."
Seeing that Concubine Fang did not hold them accountable for their failure, the matron breathed a huge sigh of relief and said gratefully, "Yes, yes, of course. This servant will go at once."
Only after the matron had withdrawn did Concubine Fang's beautiful willow-leaf eyebrows knit tightly together.
Madam Kang had actually disappeared! These useless fools who can't accomplish anything!
It wasn't that she wouldn't punish her subordinates. It was just that, unlike other legitimate mistresses, she didn't have many capable and trustworthy people around her—most were brought from her maiden family. Now was precisely when she needed people. Rather than punishing them one by one, it was better to let them redeem themselves through merit.
However, a shadow had been cast over Concubine Fang's heart. She had rescued Madam Kang from the Ren Family, yet Madam Kang still chose to flee. This meant Madam Kang didn't trust her. Who knew what trouble this might cause in the future.
When Xiao Jingxi heard his subordinate report that those dragon heads had gone missing, he was momentarily stunned. Then, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly in something like a smile, yet his eyes remained as deep and inscrutable as ever.
At that moment, what surfaced in his mind was the thoughtful expression Ren Yaoqi had worn while watching those dragon heads in the river from the painted pleasure boat after disembarking from the large ship.
"It was likely the Lei Family's own doing," the attendant Tongde added dutifully, seeing his master did not press further.
Xiao Jingxi raised an eyebrow slightly. "You just watched?" His tone gave no hint of emotion.
Tongde replied meticulously, "Master previously said not to interfere in these matters. If Master wishes to hold the Lei Family accountable, this servant will send people immediately. We have been secretly tracking their movements all along."
Xiao Jingxi tilted his head slightly and sighed, though a smile still played on his lips. "Forget it. Let her be."
Tongde detected a subtle complexity in his master's words and couldn't help but look up, unsure who the "her" referred to. Or did it mean the Lei Family?
"Where is Tong Xi?" Not giving Tongde a chance to speculate wildly, Xiao Jingxi asked as if casually.
Tongde remained silent. Tong He, standing nearby, immediately replied, "Tong Xi is cleaning the library, Master. Do you wish to summon him now?" After a pause, Tong He added carefully, "He has been going to the library quite frequently these past few days."
Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi raised an eyebrow thoughtfully but said nothing.
Tong Xi, or rather Dongsheng, was indeed in the library of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion's outer study at that moment. The library of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion was vast, with five spacious rooms filled with bookshelves packed with volumes.
A feather duster was tucked into the collar of Dongsheng's robe at the back of his neck, but he was leaning against a bookshelf in the innermost room, frowning intently as he leafed through a thick volume in his hands.Although he had told Ren Yaoqi that he hadn't found any information about the Qu family, Dongsheng was a meticulous and cautious person. Recalling the slight disappointment in Ren Yaoqi's eyes, he felt uneasy.
After returning, he used cleaning as an excuse to visit the library and check the local chronicles of Yan Prefecture from the past few decades, fearing he might have overlooked something in his previous searches.
The library in the outer courtyard of Yanbei Prince's Mansion, though large and filled with numerous books, contained only ordinary texts for the use of the prince's advisors residing there. It held no confidential materials, which was why Dongsheng could enter so easily and frequently.
"Still nothing. How could there be no trace of the Qu family Miss mentioned?" Dongsheng moistened his right index finger with saliva, flipping through the volume in his hands while muttering to himself.
His voice was so soft it was barely a whisper, and even someone standing nearby wouldn't have been able to hear him.
Just then, a gentle voice asked, "What are you looking for?"
Startled, Dongsheng turned his head and saw Xiao Jingxi standing not far away. He hadn't noticed anyone approaching.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Dongsheng quickly placed the volume on the nearest wooden ladder and bowed to Xiao Jingxi. "Greetings, Young Master. I was here to clean and happened to glance through some books."
Xiao Jingxi casually picked up the volume Dongsheng had been reading from the ladder and smiled at him. "Local chronicles?"
Dongsheng lowered his head.
Xiao Jingxi handed the volume back to Dongsheng without pressing further.
"Young Master, are you here to find a book? I can help you search," Dongsheng offered immediately.
Xiao Jingxi replied, "I was just passing by and knew you were here, so I came to see you."
Dongsheng bowed his head again. "Please forgive me, Young Master. I shouldn't have left my post without permission."
Xiao Jingxi didn't address that topic. Instead, he pondered for a moment before asking, "Was it her who sent the message to the Lei Family?"
Though Xiao Jingxi didn't specify who "her" was, Dongsheng understood. Remembering Ren Yaoqi's instructions, he answered frankly, "Yes, Young Master."
Seeing how readily Dongsheng admitted it, Xiao Jingxi had nothing more to say.
Xiao Jingxi seemed to have asked the question casually. Afterward, he walked to a nearby bookshelf and began searching for books on his own.
Dongsheng, who had been observing his movements and expressions, hesitated for a long time before finally approaching and asking, "Young Master, have you ever heard of a family named Qu? I heard they were a prominent clan in Yanbei decades ago."
Xiao Jingxi looked at Dongsheng in surprise, seemingly not expecting the question. He didn't answer immediately.
Dongsheng explained honestly, "I'm looking into this for Fifth Miss, but I haven't found any leads after searching for so long. I wonder if the local chronicles are complete."
Dongsheng decided to ask Xiao Jingxi directly because Ren Yaoqi had advised him that with a master like Xiao Jingxi, it was best to be straightforward and honest, without hiding anything—otherwise, things could end badly. He sensed that Xiao Jingxi's attitude toward Ren Yaoqi was relatively favorable, at least for now, and there seemed to be no conflict of interest.Moreover, it was said that this new master was exceptionally intelligent and omniscient, so Dongsheng asked. Although he hadn't served for very long, Dongsheng had a feeling that if even Xiao Jingxi didn't know something, then there was likely no one else who would.
Everyone who served Xiao Jingxi would develop this kind of blind admiration to some extent during their time with him. This could be considered one of Second Young Master Xiao's personal charms.
Xiao Jingxi fell silent for a moment, as if pondering the question, though the silence didn't last too long.
"If the local records here aren't complete, I'm afraid you won't find a complete set anywhere," Xiao Jingxi's voice still carried a hint of lazy amusement. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please come to Qidian to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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