"Yes, I was lucky. That gold leaf didn't fall in front of anyone else, but it fell right in front of me. I picked it up and brought it back so you could live a good life." Song Qijin said with a proud look on his face.
The Song family must be very grateful to him and regard him as their savior.
Song Dujuan frowned, a sense of foreboding creeping into her heart. She lowered her voice and said, "I suspect you've fallen for a trap."
"What? What? We've fallen for their trap?" Song Qijin was confused.
"Perhaps the government is testing you. You found gold but didn't hand it over. Instead, you hid it and took it back yourself. Maybe our family is already being watched and people know about your relationship with everyone."
Song Qijin's expression changed immediately upon hearing this.
"It can't be that bad. I've been very careful for the past month and haven't come back once. I think the housekeeper trusts me quite a bit."
Song Dujuan shook her head.
"You underestimated Qiao Lian'er. Someone like her wouldn't trust people so easily."
"If it really is her trap, then you've been exposed."
Song Qijin immediately tensed up: "Oh no, what should we do?"
He couldn't possibly return that piece of gold, could he? Firstly, he couldn't bear to part with it, and secondly, why didn't he hand it over in the first place, but only later? He needed to get through this round of questioning.
Song Dujuan was also at her wit's end: "When you entered the manor, didn't I tell you not to take advantage of anything you shouldn't, not to take anything you shouldn't, and not to say anything you shouldn't, even in private, even if no one saw you? How could you be so blinded by greed? It's not worth losing mountains of gold and silver for a single gold leaf."
Song Qijin became increasingly flustered as he listened. He had gone to great lengths to get into the Qiao residence, and he didn't want all his efforts to be in vain.
"Dujuan, you must think of a way. Who are we working for in the Qiao family? Isn't it all for you? If we can't succeed, none of us will be happy."
Song Dujuan was very annoyed. She was useless and couldn't stand up for herself. If she had known this would happen, she would have preferred to go to the Qiao residence herself.
"Go back first and see if Qiao Lian'er has any unusual reactions. If she does, we'll talk about it later."
Song Qijin returned to the Qiao residence with a heavy heart.
Qiao Lian'er decided to hold back for now and see how far this family could go with their act.
However, Song Dujuan's idea was quite unexpected, which showed that Song Dujuan was smarter than she had imagined.
When Song Qijin returned to the mansion, Steward Chai had already finished searching with his men. They found no one had stolen or hidden any valuables, and the matter was considered closed.
Song Qijin spent a few days in a state of anxiety.
Qiao Lian'er made no comment; everything remained as usual.
It seems she didn't even notice it, nor did she do it intentionally.
He even deliberately walked past Qiao Lian'er, but Qiao Lian'er didn't even glance at him.
Song Qijin was largely relieved.
Song Dujuan was not entirely at ease. It wasn't until two more months passed and everything calmed down that she finally believed that she hadn't aroused Qiao Lian'er's suspicion.
It is now the height of summer, and the cicadas chirp and chirp, their calls echoing in waves, creating a sultry atmosphere in the lush garden.
Qiao Lian'er was browsing through the quarterly account books submitted by various counties and states on the waterside pavilion, while Pei Shijiu sat beside her, holding a silk fan and gently fanning her.
"Just have the servants do this," she said.
Pei Shijiu shook his head: "They don't have much strength in their hands, and they can't hold on for long."
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