Jiang Yimian found it amusing and looked at the figure hiding here and there, saying helplessly, "Zhao Xiaonian, stop hiding, I've seen you."
Zhao Xiaonian was startled. He shrank back and peeked out from behind the artificial hill, a little embarrassed, and said with a dry laugh, "Wow, so many people."
"Sister Yimian, I... I have something to do, so... I'll head back now."
After saying that, he was about to slip away from behind the artificial hill.
However, before they could take more than a few steps, they were pushed out by two little guys who suddenly appeared in the artificial hill.
Xiao Nuan walked ahead with her arms crossed, followed by Xiao Ye, both of them looking dissatisfied.
Especially Xiao Nuan'er.
The little guy's fair face scrunched up tightly. He circled around Zhao Xiaonian a few times before saying to Jiang Yimian and the others, "Sister, you need to keep an eye on Brother Xiaonian. He hasn't come home at night for the past few days. I don't know what he's busy with. He's also nowhere to be seen during the day. He's so mysterious."
The little guy spoke with righteous indignation, his brows furrowed tightly, clearly tattled on someone.
However, her height, which barely reached Zhao Xiaonian's thigh, didn't really have any imposing presence; she looked more like she was being coquettish.
Xiao Ye glanced at Zhao Xiaonian before saying seriously, "Yes, Brother Xiaonian has been staying out all night these past few days. He comes back every day with big bags and small bags. I wonder what he's doing."
If he and Xiao Nuan'er hadn't deliberately waited for him here today, they probably wouldn't have seen Zhao Xiaonian at all.
Jiang Yimian raised an eyebrow and looked at Zhao Xiaonian's bundles, which were bulging and bulky. If you didn't know better, you would think he had gone out to do some kind of petty theft. It was really hard not to be suspicious.
"Tell me, where have you been?"
She had heard from her parents a few days ago that Zhao Xiaonian was leaving early and returning late, and she thought that he was probably busy with fortune telling and that nothing should happen to him.
Unexpectedly, these past few days this guy has been returning late at night, or even not at all, which has really worried the people in the manor.
If she hadn't failed to catch this guy these past few days, she would have warned him long ago.
Zhao Xiaonian scratched his head awkwardly, feeling a little guilty under the gaze of so many people. After a while, he said, "Sister Yimian, I'm doing something important. I've been helping a family exorcise evil spirits recently. You can't eat behind my back like this."
Don't worry, I absolutely didn't do anything wrong.
He's the most law-abiding young man in the Great Jin Dynasty; at most, he'd have his fortune told, he wouldn't do anything bad.
Jiang Yimian looked him up and down, and asked suspiciously, "You can exorcise evil spirits?"
Everyone in the manor knows Zhao Xiaonian's unreliable fortune-telling skills; he's messed with almost everyone. Now, instead of messing with other people in the capital, he's going to exorcise evil spirits. This is hardly a good business.
Thinking it over, she said, "If your exorcism skills are like fortune telling, you'd better be careful, lest you get beaten up."
Upon hearing this, Liu'er burst out laughing and quickly chimed in, "Xiao Nian, you should be careful. When wealthy families hire someone to exorcise evil spirits, it's usually because something bad has happened in the household. If you get involved, it won't be a good thing."
Besides, you're just a child. If people discover your true colors, they won't let you off easily.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiaonian immediately became dissatisfied, straightened his back, and said smugly, "Don't worry, don't look down on me. I know a lot of things, exorcising evil spirits is a piece of cake."
"Don't worry, once I, Master Zhao, become famous in the capital, you'll all be part of the glory."
Upon hearing this, not only Jiang Yimian disbelieved him, but Lu Cijian and Jiang Qingyuan also looked at him with suspicion, their brows furrowed.
Zhao Xiaonian felt uneasy under their gazes and quickly touched his nose, explaining, "Just kidding, just kidding. To tell you the truth, it's not about exorcising evil spirits, it's just about scaring people."
"I'll just treat it as going to watch the fun. Don't worry, I'll be going out with Song Er tonight, nothing will happen."
Even if someone beats him up, Song Er will take the hits; he'll definitely be fine. When it comes to escaping, no one can beat him.
Besides, he was mainly there to watch the excitement and maybe make some money on the side; he wasn't really getting involved in other people's affairs.
Jiang Yimian was relieved and said, "Remember to listen to Song Er and don't mess around."
Zhao Xiaonian is usually very measured in his actions, knowing what he can and cannot do. He might get into trouble if he acts impulsively, but with Song Er watching over him, nothing bad will happen.
Zhao Xiaonian nodded happily in agreement, took out two packets of pastries from his bundle and stuffed them into Xiao Nuan'er's hands, then slipped away as fast as he could.
Jiang Yimian suddenly thought of something, and turned her head to meet Lu Cijian's ambiguous smile.
She immediately grabbed Lu Cijian and headed straight for her own courtyard.
Jiang Yimian dismissed the servants in the courtyard before looking at him and asking curiously, "What do you plan to do? Since we've discovered that Marquis Anding is in private contact with a mysterious person, why don't we just ask Chen Shuyu directly? She must know something."
I wonder if this mysterious person is the one who caused Lu Cijian's birth mother to die back then.
Lu Cijian raised an eyebrow. "How do you want to ask?"
Jiang Yimian whispered a few words in his ear and said with a smile, "How was it?"
Originally, she thought that Chen Shuyu would be more at ease to tell everything once she was completely disappointed in Lu Chengyuan, but now she felt that the hope was slim.
If that mysterious person were someone Chen Shuyu couldn't afford to offend, she would never have revealed it, even if it meant her death. She might even have kept the secret for Lu Chengyuan.
Warm breath sprayed onto Lu Cijian's earlobe, like someone gently teasing him with a feather, causing a slight tickle.
Just as Jiang Yimian was about to step back, Lu Cijian reached out and pulled her into his arms. Looking down at the person in his arms, he smiled and said, "Are you sure you want to come with me?"
Jiang Yimian nodded seriously, "Of course, I'll be there to help you with whatever you're doing on your own."
They might discover some unexpected surprises, but more importantly, she was genuinely curious about who that person was.
A person whom even Chen Shuyu feared.
Lu Cijian hesitated for a moment before chuckling, "That works too."
His original plan was to have the spies planted in the Marquis's mansion learn those secrets from Chen Shuyu.
Since Mianmian wants to go with him, then let's go together. After all, it may have been many years since he last went back.
*
As darkness fell, the gloomy sky was covered in black, with only a few scattered stars shining near the crescent moon.
The mansion was now completely dark, with only a few lanterns under the eaves casting a dim yellow glow; otherwise, there was hardly any light inside.
Occasionally, guards carrying lanterns would pass by in front of the various courtyards, diligently patrolling the mansion.
No sooner had the patrolling guards left than two figures tiptoed over the high wall of the Marquis's residence.
The movements were light and silent.
The two figures headed straight for their destination, successfully avoiding the patrolling guards along the way, and finally arrived at a courtyard.
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