Yangzhou

On the canal, which runs north and south, the boats slowly dispersed as the crossing receded. Near the red-painted railing, two men in blue brocade robes leaned on the side of their boats, gazing at the calm river with boredom.

"Beili, why do you think the Lord wants to keep Miss Yurong in Sizhou? Although we have official business to attend to, we have to return to Beijing anyway. Why not escort her back on the way?" Qi Qi lay on the side of the boat, looking puzzled.

How dull is this guy? Didn't he see what Second Young Master Bai was up to?

Beili glanced at him lazily and said unhappily, "Miss Yurong rarely comes to visit her family, how can she leave so soon? Of course she wants to spend some more time with Old Madam Bai."

The second young master of the Bai family was carefully selected by Madam Su. Originally, this visit was for the purpose of seeing each other. Only Qi Qi thought that he was simply here to visit relatives.

"But, why don't you spend more time with Miss Yurong, sir?" Qi Qi felt that Liu Yurong was the most suitable lady for his master at the moment. Most importantly, she was not afraid of his master, and his master also took good care of her.

Hearing his mumbling, Bei Li's expression changed for a moment. "You... think that the Lord is very protective of Miss Yurong?"

"Isn't it? In the capital, apart from the suspect and Miss Yurong, which woman would your lord have so much to talk to?" Qi Qi said seriously. His lord's reputation was well-known, and it was rare for a noble lady in the capital to be fearless and dare to talk to him. Miss Yurong was delicate and weak, but she could stay with his lord for so many years. If his lord had not deliberately indulged her, she would have been scared away long ago.

Bei Li laughed at his logic and glanced at the sky in an unseemly manner. In the eyes of his master, Miss Yu Rong was probably no different from him and Qi Qi, except for her appearance.

"My lord, you have been here for so many years and you didn't even know that Miss Yurong doesn't like tea." Beili curled the corner of his lips and said casually.

Qi Qi's baby face was startled. "Miss Yurong doesn't like tea? Why did I see you drinking tea while talking to her? If you don't like it, how could you be so careless and not notice it?"

"Didn't you notice it, too?" Bei Li scoffed. Careless? Who in the Ministry of Justice wasn't meticulous? His master was especially good at observing people's subtleties. Who knew if he didn't notice it, or if he noticed it and didn't care?

After a pause, Beili's memory drifted back to the days at the official post station. No, even before that. He could easily blame his junior sister's affairs on his middle-class wife, Er Niang, with whom he had a casual relationship, but he couldn't even interfere with that person's affairs. Even though they hadn't spent much time together, he knew someone who loved sweet things and troublemaking, and would stare closely at anyone who appeared in his presence.

"How could I dare to pay attention to Miss Yurong? Men and women shouldn't touch each other. But you dare say that Master hasn't been very protective of her all these years?" Qi Qi felt a hint of disdain in his partner's eyes, and he muttered in retort. Master always hated explaining things to others, but Miss Yurong was always very patient every time she came to visit. Wasn't that considered special treatment?

After picking at his eardrums, Beili suddenly said, "Ruo is very protective of Miss Yurong. I wonder why the Lord calls Aruo like that." He almost had a falling out with the Dali Temple because of her, although this kind of kidnapping of prisoners was not the first or second time.

"Aruo? That's different," Qi Qi waved his hand as a matter of course. "Aruo is a suspect. Your Excellency is just handling the case impartially. Besides, isn't it true that Aruo gets along well with everyone? Your Excellency comes from a noble family, so your future match will definitely be a woman from an aristocratic family."

The question was, could their master get along with everyone? Even the ladies from aristocratic families, those ladies whose legs trembled and their words stuttered when they saw him in person, and who only dared to fantasize about his gentle treatment behind his back?

Beili sneered and said meaningfully, "Qi Qi, it's not up to you or me to decide who is the perfect match for you. As long as you like her, that's all that matters. Besides, Aruo is a good girl."

As for the relationship between the Su family father and son, Bei Li never felt that his own master would be influenced by his father. In Bei Li's view, Su Zirui's obedience to Su Qing was not so much filial piety as it was his inability to care. This was the way he was as an official and as a son. But it was just because he didn't care. If there was someone who cared, it would be different.

What's so good about the noble ladies of the capital? His Excellency is indifferent to them, unmoved by joy or sorrow, almost unreal. On the contrary, when he's with Aruo, his emotions become more pronounced, and he behaves like a normal man. It's just that no one seems to have noticed this yet. Beili is like a poor man who has discovered a treasure, always feeling the urge to announce it to the world.

"I didn't say anything bad about her." Qi Qi felt wronged. He had only said a few words of gossip about Aruo in Sizhou, and Xiao Caixin was already treating him like an enemy. But being born in the Marquis of Jing'an's mansion, he had been instilled with the idea that the words and deeds of the noble ladies in the capital were the role models for women.

"Alright, my Lord, you've got it figured out. Is there any need for you to intervene?" Beili was speechless. No wonder his Lord said he hadn't gotten the hang of things yet and needed more training. After all, Qi Qi had only been at the Ministry of Justice for a mere two years... Beili felt like he'd uncovered a shocking secret. Qi Qi had no experience, but he had studied the brothers-in-law of his three brothers-in-law!

Touching his chin, Beili thought that maybe the tradition of the Ministry of Justice a few years ago could be used to let Qi Qi try. Back then, they used the secrets of various prefectures in the capital as one of their special trainings.

This kind of family secret has always been kept secret, and it is more difficult to investigate than a major case of treason. Everyone who enters the core of the Ministry of Justice will be sent to practice their skills. Over time, they will keep their distance from those in the mansions of the rich and powerful.

The weak and pitiful eldest daughter of this family is cruel and murderous in secret, the virtuous lady of that family can entertain relatives and friends in a dignified and generous manner right after killing her concubine, and there are also those delicate and charming concubines who are making love in the backyard... Unfortunately, because they know too many secrets, this tradition has been stopped by the current emperor who has seen enough of the show. However, the skills of these people in investigating these things have been perfected, and they will dig up some secrets to entertain themselves when they have nothing to do.

Beili felt deeply that he and his master had not yet married at this age because they were frightened by these noble ladies.

"Please stop imagining. Your expression is scary enough." Qi Qi rubbed his arms. "It's windy. Are you thinking it's going to rain?"

As the official ship entered the bend, the view began to be obstructed by the mountains. No other ships were visible, and the terrain seemed vaguely strange. A sudden breeze from the river, a storm loomed, and the ship began to sway slightly.

Bei Li's expression changed slightly, and his hand subconsciously rested on the sword at his waist.

In early July of the eighteenth year of Jianning, 100,000 silver coins were stolen. Enraged, the emperor ordered a secret investigation by the Ministry of Justice, which uncovered the theft in Sizhou. The Minister of Revenue, fearing the crime, committed suicide, leaving behind a list of names. The court was in a state of panic, and over a dozen officials of varying ranks were executed in a matter of days. Mid-month, the Ministry of Justice official in charge of the investigation was attacked on his way back to the capital, and his whereabouts remain unknown. Officials, led by the Secretariat, reported the theft overnight...

In the well-arranged inner courtyard of the Qin Mansion in Yangzhou, layers of light gauze danced in the wind. Inside the pavilion, the girl, who was almost sunken in the soft cushions, slowly opened her eyes and rubbed them. Her big eyes were moist and still cute. Because the afternoon summer breeze was still a little chilly, she put two basins of ice in the room. Although her face was red from sleeping, there was no sweat on her temples.

No worries about food and drink, no worries about the world around him, just eating well, sleeping well and gaining weight every day. This kind of life at home without leaving the house has completely dampened Aruo's will to wander the world. He almost wants to stay at home forever. After a lazy yawn and fumbling to drink a cup of tea, Aruo felt a little more awake.

"Finally you're awake." Cai Xin walked into the pavilion carrying some fruits. Seeing her get up from the cushions, she smiled. "You've slept so much. If you get sleepy at night, don't drag me along to talk by candlelight."

Because it was a nap and she was in the inner courtyard, Aruo didn't tie up her long hair, but just casually rolled it up, frowning slightly, "Didn't I tell Manju and the others to do these things?"

Cai Xin pursed her lips and smiled, "How can I order everyone around? It's just a few steps away. Come and have some watermelon, it's so sweet."

Not surprisingly, Agate and Pearl followed behind with slightly strange expressions. Aruo nodded at them with a bit of a headache.

Although she wasn't used to ordering maids around, these maids were specially trained by Qi Shaozhen and Qin Shuang to serve her. If she refused, these pitiful beauties would look at her with tears in their eyes, as if she had done something stupid to hurt them. After several times, Aruo gave up on self-sufficiency and let herself sink into the routine of the rich. After all, such days were few and far between.

It’s just that Cai Xin is used to taking care of her, and she has unconsciously taken away the work of several maids. No wonder they look unhappy.

But Aruo also understood Caixin's awkwardness; she was different from herself. Qi Shaozhen and his wife loved her like a sister, and their years of wandering abroad made them eager to give her the best, because she was family. But Caixin was different; she felt like a guest here, always separated from them by an invisible barrier.

Qin Shuang is very cunning and protective of her family, but there are only four people who come and go that she considers her own family, and Cai Xin is not among them. Naturally, she is a little scrutinizing and distant towards Cai Xin who accompanies Aruo in wandering around.

Although she knew Caixin had been a little wronged, Aruo wasn't one for sentimentality. Her senior brother and his wife were her closest relatives in this world, and Aruo accepted all their care and protection. She could work in the fields, wearing men's clothing, and earn a living, or she could live in this pavilion as a wealthy lady, never leaving her house and enjoying the comforts of home. Everything was just as her master had said: take things as they come.

"Do you still want to play mahjong today?" They had been in Yangzhou for three days. Apart from sleeping, they had also invited a few maids to play cards with them. The days were so leisurely that Caixin missed the small stalls in the capital.

Her words brought him back to his senses. Aruo stretched his limbs and said, "No, I have an appointment with Yiyuan to meet at Qianlixiang today. Let's get ready and go."

Speaking of going out, Cai Xin's bright eyes lit up, and even her smile became brighter. "Really? I haven't seen Master Yiyuan for a long time. Come, let me help you do a beautiful bun."

Following her hand, Aruo stood up, looking listless. "Why would I wear such a beautiful hairstyle just to meet a monk?"

"Miss Caixin, since you're going to see Master Yiyuan, why don't you go back to your room and freshen up?" Manjue stepped forward, bowing and causing the two girls to stop. With a smile on his face, he said, "You've been running around for quite some time, and you look a little sweaty."

Cai Xin touched her forehead and found that she was sweating a little. She subconsciously looked at Aruo.

"Go ahead and put on the new skirt I made yesterday. The lotus embroidery is very delicate, which matches my lotus embroidered skirt perfectly." Aruo thought of Yiyuan's talkative look and nodded in agreement. "Let's go to Qianlixiang and eat the lotus leaf roasted chicken you've been craving for."

"Then, I'll go back and wash up first." Cai Xin nodded and agreed with a smile.

"Miss Caixin, let Pearl serve you." The girl with twin buns in emerald clothes smiled and took Caixin's arm. "Pearl's bun is so pretty, it's definitely not worse than Sister Manjue's."

The two of them were discussing fashionable hair accessories as they walked towards Zhaixingxuan. Manju smiled at Aruo and said, "Miss Yu, let Manju serve you."

Blinking his eyes, Aruo suddenly put his hand on her shoulder and sighed, "Manju, I remember you used to be lively and talkative. Why are you always talking about yourself now? You're so distant."

The gentle and steady maid with delicate features looked seriously at the ruffian-like girl, then suddenly smiled, "Miss Yu, you didn't like to touch me before, did you?"

Was she reserved before? Aruo looked at the hand she had dodged with suspicion.

"Besides, what's the point of being lively and talkative? Didn't Miss Yu abandon me and leave without hesitation?" Glancing at her with resentment, Manju raised her hand and pressed the corner of her eye. "I waited for four years for you to come, and who knew you would bring such a beautiful girl..."

Feeling guilty at the look in her eyes, Aruo almost thought he was some unfaithful man who had hurt the girl in front of him. "Well... let's go back and change."

"Miss Yu, please." The professional maid Agate instantly returned to normal, tucked her chin in slightly, lowered her head slightly, and her posture and etiquette were flawless.

How Qin Shuang trained his servants made Aruo feel like he was back in the Wanxing class.