"Aunt Xiao, how dare you barge into Sixth Miss's courtyard! Who gave you the audacity!"

Qiaolian blocked Xiao Mama's way, then glanced at the old woman guarding the gate tonight, "Since when can Sixth Miss's courtyard be entered without prior notice?"

She stared directly at Madam Xiao, her eyes flashing with a sharp light. "Does Madam Xiao think she's the master of the Marquis's mansion, able to enter the masters' courtyards without announcing herself?"

Madam Xiao was the old woman in charge of maintaining order in the inner quarters. She was skilled in martial arts, so she was more robust than the average old woman and had an imposing presence unlike anyone else.

At this moment, Fang, with his square face and droopy eyelids, looked back at Qiaolian with piercing eyes. "If I have offended you in any way, this old servant will personally apologize to the Sixth Miss. Right now, you are preventing me from entering the house to inspect. If the Sixth Miss is harmed by villains, then an apology will not be enough to solve the problem!"

Then, she raised her hand and ordered, "Search! If anyone resists, arrest them as accomplices of the villains. The First Madam will make her decision later!"

"Let's see who dares!"

Jiang Segu walked out yawning, his words soft and unassuming, but his eyes, which held a hidden power, made people hesitant to act rashly.

Madam Xiao lowered her eyelids and bowed to Jiang Segu, "Greetings to the Sixth Miss..."

"Greetings? Judging from Madam Xiao's demeanor, she doesn't seem to be here to pay her respects; it's more like she wants to make an enemy of me!"

I was just about to go to bed when Madam Xiao came to my courtyard with a group of servants. What brings you here?

Her voice was somewhat weary, soft and weak, but her words were hard to resist.

"This old servant apologizes to the Sixth Miss! This old servant was on patrol just now and saw a figure run into the Sixth Miss's courtyard. This old servant was worried that someone might harm the Sixth Miss, so I gathered men to protect her!"

"Oh... so not only can I not blame Aunt Xiao for trespassing into my yard, but I should also reward her?"

"This old servant is merely doing his duty and dares not accept any praise from the Sixth Miss. This old servant humbly requests the Sixth Miss's cooperation to prevent the thieves from escaping!"

Jiang Segu narrowed his eyes and sneered repeatedly, "Mother Xiao said that if she sees someone enter my courtyard, she should search it. Does that mean that in the future, any servant in the Marquis's mansion who claims to have seen someone enter my courtyard can come and search it?"

Madam Xiao bowed her head respectfully and said, "Sixth Miss, this old servant is only thinking of your safety..."

"As you can see, Mother, I am currently unharmed, but I feel extremely tired!"

"Sixth Miss, please allow us to search the place thoroughly so that you can sleep peacefully tonight without any worries."

Jiang Segu's fingers brushed across the bamboo leaf pattern on his sleeve, his gaze sharp as he looked at Mama Xiao, a half-smile on his face. "So, according to Mama Xiao, if I don't let you search the courtyard tonight, you won't be able to sleep peacefully?"

“That’s not what I meant, it’s just…” Her eyes glanced meaningfully towards the east room, “Sixth Miss, why are you obstructing my search? Could it be that someone has tricked this thief into the wall?”

"How dare Madam Xiao be so disrespectful to the Sixth Miss!" Qiaolian was furious.

"This old servant is simply acting in accordance with the law. If I have offended anyone, I will report to the Madam later. If the Madam says that this old servant is wrong, this old servant is willing to accept the punishment!"

Jiang Segu's gaze suddenly sharpened. "Since Mama Xiao won't let me sleep peacefully, then no one in the Marquis's mansion will sleep! Qiaolian..."

"Yes, sir!"

"Do you still have the gong we bought last time?"

"Yes, miss, I'm still here!"

"I see what looks like fire in your aunt's yard. Take two people and go quickly to beat the gong to put out the fire!"

As he spoke, he gave Qiaolian a wink.

Qiaolian understood and agreed, so she took the gong and led the people towards Jiyue Courtyard.

Madam Xiao was slightly surprised by Jiang Segu's actions, but thinking of the purpose of her visit tonight, she said loudly, "If Sixth Miss refuses to cooperate with this old servant, this old servant will have no choice but to force her way in!"

"You want to search? Fine! But I'd like to ask, if you don't find anyone in my yard, how will Mama Xiao apologize to me?"

"If we can't find the person, I'll accept whatever punishment you wish, Sixth Miss!"

"Okay! It's a deal! Mama Hou, you stay with them and make sure they don't break anything in my room!" After saying that, she yawned and went into the main hall, where she leaned back on the daybed and closed her eyes to rest.

It was naturally impossible for Xiao's mother and others to find Gu Songhan.

Gu Songhan had already left through the window at Jiang Segu's request.

While Madam Xiao was searching every room in Jiangse Valley's courtyard, Qiaolian led her people to Jiyue Courtyard.

She noticed that the gong had attracted people, and one of the two people she brought took advantage of the situation and started lighting fires around Jiyue Courtyard with a tinderbox.

"Fire has broken out!"

With Qiaolian's loud shout, the crowd that had gathered scattered like birds and beasts...

Madam Jiang, who was half asleep, was awakened by the commotion. She lifted the bed curtains and asked, "Zijin, what's going on?"

"Reporting to Madam, our courtyard is on fire!"

Madam Jiang's dazed mind was instantly struck by a thunderbolt. "What? How could there be a fire?"

"Perhaps the old woman on night duty didn't watch the candles properly. I'll go out and check!"

A quarter of an hour later, Zijin, having ascertained the situation, hurriedly entered and told Madam Jiang that after Qiaolian arrived with people banging gongs and drums, the courtyard had caught fire.

Madam Jiang, who was rubbing her temples, flew into a rage upon hearing this, "What is that wretched girl A-Zi trying to do! Is she trying to burn me alive to make way for her mother?!"

Zijin did not point out the grammatical errors in Madam Jiang's words, and continued to report with her eyes lowered: "This servant heard that Mama Xiao went to search the Sixth Miss's courtyard in the name of the First Madam, and the Sixth Miss was so angry that she sent Qiaolian to cause trouble in our courtyard!"

"What? Aunt Xiao searched her yard in my name? What would I be doing searching her yard in the middle of the night? That old hag Aunt Xiao dared to send me to do this! Go and bring her back to me. I want to ask that old hag what she's up to!"

When Zijin arrived at Jiangse Valley's courtyard after receiving the order, Xiao Mama, who had been arrogant before, was kneeling in front of Jiangse Valley.

When Jiang Segu saw Zijin, she smiled faintly, "Sister Zijin, are you here to rescue Mother Xiao?"

Zi Jin's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly curtsied, "Sixth Miss, you flatter me. I am just a servant and do not deserve to be called 'Sister' by Sixth Miss!" She then continued, "Madam heard that Mama Xiao came under her name to disturb Sixth Miss's rest, so she sent me to question Mama Xiao."

She knew that it was impossible to take Xiao's mother away right now, so she simply didn't mention it, lest the Sixth Miss think that she was really ordered to rescue Xiao's mother.

Before Jiang Segu could speak, Madam Xiao took the blame, saying, "It was this old servant who offended the Sixth Miss. It has nothing to do with the First Madam. No matter how the Sixth Miss punishes this old servant, this old servant has nothing to say."