Inside Baixiangju, Chen Jinran happened to be in a good mood, so he asked Zhang to play a tune for him.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Qinhe, who was known for her musical skills, made a series of mistakes after playing a melodious tune, causing the man to frown deeply.

Chen Jinran's eyebrows twitched slightly, her slender fingers unconsciously tapping the chess pieces on the table, and she asked leisurely,

"Qinhe, is something on your mind today?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang's eyes went blank, and her expression became somewhat flustered.

Her heart pounded like a drum. She quickly gathered her skirt, stood up, and apologized to the man.

"My lord, I am not feeling well today, so I will rest now. If you would like to hear the zither again, I will go and fetch the musician..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jinran's expression turned grave, and he asked with concern, "Is Madam unwell? Should we call a doctor to come and take a look?"

"Thank you for your concern, my husband. I am just a little tired. There is no need to call the imperial physician."

"Oh? In that case, Madam, you should get some rest."

"Very well, then I shall take my leave."

Upon returning to her bedchamber, Madam Zhang summoned Ru Shuang, the maid from the old lady's room, and asked, "Did Gu Qianluo find out anything today?"

With a smile in her eyes, Ru Shuang flattered, "The First Madam is resourceful and wise; the Second Madam has been investigating for a whole day but hasn't found any clues."

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhang's tense expression relaxed slightly, and she instructed, "Good! That's good! Go and investigate for me again, and report back immediately if you have any news!"

This is your reward; remember to keep a close eye on it for me!

Ru Shuang accepted the ingot and hid it in her sleeve. She curtsied and said goodbye, "This servant will certainly not disappoint the Madam."

"Go! Don't let the old lady find out you've sneaked out."

Ru Shuang was originally a maid in the old lady's room. Her husband had once worked for the Marquis's mansion, but he had recently passed away due to illness.

Among the maids and servants, she was the one most favored by Ping-jie and An-ge.

As the eldest sister-in-law, Zhang naturally had to take good care of Chen Jinheng's children. Because of the gifts of clothes and food, she often interacted with Ru Shuang. Over time, Ru Shuang became Zhang's confidante.

Gu Qianluo, having taken on the task of reviewing the accounts, resolved never to give up until she found any problems.

From Chen Shi (7-9 AM) to Hai Shi (9-11 PM), Gu Qianluo's eyes never left the table, in order to find the flaws in the account book as soon as possible.

The old lady was very distressed to see that she wasn't eating or drinking, so she ordered someone to bring her some food, saying...

"Luo'er, listen to your grandmother, eat a little more, don't ruin your health. Otherwise, when Jinheng comes back, he will complain to his grandmother."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qianluo's eyes lit up with joy, and the corners of her mouth turned up as she thanked her, saying, "Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. I will gladly accept your offer and have some."

The old lady was pleased to see that her daughter was obedient. "That's a good girl!"

However, she only took a couple of bites before starting her all-night work again.

As the saying goes, perseverance pays off. After several hours of hard work, Gu Qianluo finally managed to find the flaws in the account book.

The old lady had sat with her all day and was now asleep on the small couch.

Gu Qianlu picked out the problematic account books, bundled them together, tucked them under her arm, and walked out of the Changxin Palace gate.

The old lady only allowed her to come today, so Cui'er did not come with her.

Although Changxin Palace was not far from Luoying Palace, the thought of a woman walking alone in the darkness still made her somewhat apprehensive.

After all, what she's holding now concerns the interests of the Marquis's mansion; what if something goes wrong...?

In the midst of my turmoil, suddenly, a familiar figure descended from the sky, a handsome face appearing before me.

"Second Madam! You've finally come out. I came especially to greet you."

Gu Qianluo's brow twitched slightly, but when she saw who it was, her expression gradually relaxed, and she gave the order.

"Bamboo Shadow, find me a carriage at 5:45 AM tomorrow. I want to go to Chaolu Manor in the suburbs."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ying was startled and asked in a low voice,

"Madam, would you like to send more people? The journey is long, and more people will make it easier to take care of things."

Although Chaolu Villa is a property of the Marquis's mansion, it is the furthest from the mansion and was originally a courtyard confiscated by the late emperor as punishment for criminal officials.

Because the Marquis and his wife lived on the frontier for most of the year, they rarely visited Chaolu Manor, perhaps only once every one to two years.

Gu Qianlu frowned and said in a deep voice, "No need. This mission is of great importance, and I don't want to be too conspicuous. Just the two of us will go."

Zhu Ying's heart skipped a beat, and her expression became anxious. She reminded him, "I've heard that bandits often roam the road to the manor, and some merchants have been robbed of everything when they passed through."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qianluo's eyes sparkled, and she suggested, "How about we disguise ourselves as poor scholars tomorrow?"

"Does Madam really insist on going?"

"If you don't go and see for yourself, you won't know how much falsification is mixed in with these accounts."

"Alright! Then I'll go and prepare right away! Please rest early, Madam. The journey is long, and I'm worried that you might not be able to handle it."

"It's nothing! Once you've arranged everything, wait for me at the west gate of the Marquis's residence tomorrow."

"Yes, sir!"

The next morning, at dawn, all was quiet, with only a sliver of sunlight peeking through the sky. Occasionally, the crowing of roosters and the calls of birds would break the stillness of the night, marking the time when all things were awakening.

Outside the west gate of the Marquis's mansion, Gu Qianluo, dressed in a light green brocade robe, walked gracefully towards the gate. She had a handsome face and regular features, looking every bit the refined scholar.

The bamboo shadow beside him was dressed in white, with a handsome face and sculpted features. Compared to his usual black night clothes, he exuded a noble air.

The two men stood together, both handsome and refined, like young masters from some wealthy family traveling for leisure.

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