Chapter 374 Stealing a Painting
Coming out of the study, Hu Xiner looked around as if she had noticed something, but found that there was no one around, so she tiptoed back to her yard.
She actually received Liu Se's affirmation today, which was something she had not expected, and it also made her confidence swell even more.
In the next few days, Hu Xiner continued to improve her longevity peach, from a small, crooked one to a large and brightly colored one.
When she had just made the birthday peaches, she had wanted to share them with the second old lady and others. Later, she was worried about the crowds and eyes, so she didn't go out. She just tasted them with Yun Qiu in the small courtyard, and occasionally sent some to the Lu family.
Chen knew that she would prepare birthday gifts for Old Master Liu, so she often came to her yard to sit.
"Your birthday peach is now well made." Chen said happily.
Hu Xin'er smiled and patted the flour off her apron: "Hard work pays off."
Chen smiled and said, "Speaking of which, when I first learned you were going to make birthday peaches, I was a little nervous. After all, the old master's birthday banquet is going to be grand this year. If your birthday gift isn't up to par, the first wife might use it as a handle."
"Will there be many people at the birthday party?" Hu Xiner asked curiously.
Chen nodded.
Upon hearing the news, Hu Xiner was a little excited. After Chen left, she rushed into the kitchen again.
A large number of people means a mixed crowd. By then, it would be no problem to make Old Master Liu happy, find out the whereabouts of the key, and then take the key in the chaos.
Even if you don’t get it at the birthday party, you can look for other opportunities.
After handing the key to Liu Se, you can get evidence of the Lu family tragedy.
Thinking that she was getting closer to the truth about the Lu family, which meant that the day of reunion with Mu Qing was getting closer, Hu Xiner kneaded the dough with more energy.
A little maidservant was spying furtively outside the courtyard. "Hey, what do you think the young lady is doing in the courtyard? Why haven't we been allowed in these days?"
"I don't know. Maybe he was in a bad mood after quarreling with the old master, so he was talking in private." The other servants were reminded by the maid and also noticed something unusual, but they didn't take it to heart.
When the little maidservant found out nothing, she went outside.
"Hey, what are you doing?" The other servants held her back. "Sister Yunqiu has told us to guard the yard well."
The little maid rolled her eyes, clutching her stomach and saying in pain, "The weather has been getting cold these past few days, and my stomach is always hurting. I need to go to the toilet. I really can't stand it anymore—"
The other servants saw her like this and quickly said, "Then go and come back quickly!"
The little maid showed a triumphant smile on her face and ran away quickly.
But the place she went to was not the toilet, but the old lady's room!
The servants in the old lady's room were not surprised to see her coming, and automatically made way for her.
In the room, the old lady, Liu Zhi and Liu Qingyi were discussing something with frowns on their faces.
Liu Qingyi complained, "Mother, Grandmother, didn't you say you wanted to kick that woman out? Why is she still staying in the mansion?"
Liu Zhi angrily said, "Silly girl, the old master has already lost his temper with her and forced her to divorce Lu Yunjue. Isn't it easy to drive her away?"
Liu Qingyi was half-believing and half-doubting: "Really? But why did I hear that Grandfather wanted to take this woman into our house and raise her, and even find her a husband?"
Thinking that Hu Xin'er was about to divorce Lu Yunjue and become a deserted woman known to everyone, she felt a sense of pleasure in her heart.
But if Hu Xiner stayed in the Liu family and still wanted to choose a husband... then she would be competing with her for the dowry!
How is this possible?
Liu Zhi said helplessly: "She has no husband's family to rely on, and she has offended the old master. If she goes to the mansion, won't we be able to control her? By then, her money..."
She told Liu Qingyi her plan in this way, and Liu Qingyi's eyes suddenly lit up.
Liu Zhi complained to the eldest old lady again: "Mother, didn't the old master already put Hu Xin'er under house arrest? Why hasn't he mentioned letting her go yet?"
The eldest old lady looked very calm: "Don't be impatient, the family is preparing for the birthday gift, the master may be too busy, but..."
The corners of her mouth curled up slightly: "Lan Xinyuan has been in turmoil recently."
Liu Zhi was about to ask what had happened when he saw a little maid being brought in. She looked familiar. She was the servant in Lanxin Garden, named Xueer.
She immediately perked up. It was because Xue'er was the spy they had planted in Lanxin Garden.
As soon as Xue'er entered the room, she plopped down on her knees and said, "Old Madam, the young lady has been in a hurry lately, and her body is covered in white ash. She even dismissed the servants and is doing something in her room!"
The three people including the old lady sitting there looked at each other, revealing expressions of surprise and pride.
"There must be something fishy going on here." Liu Qingyi said impatiently. "Mom, let's go check her out!"
Liu Zhi nodded: "In broad daylight, she didn't know what shameful things she was doing in the room. She was simply ruining the reputation of our Liu Mansion."
The old lady pondered and said, "I'm afraid this alone is not enough to convict her."
Liu Zhi smiled complacently: "Mother, you don't know, do you? A few nights ago, the servants in my courtyard actually discovered that Hu Xin'er was entering and leaving the old master's study under the cover of darkness!"
"What? Study?" The old lady and Liu Qingyi said in unison.
Liu Qingyi rolled his eyes. "Strange, what is she doing in the study? There's no money in the study."
The eldest old lady said, "That's wrong. There are many valuable things in that study! Have you forgotten those paintings that the old man placed there?"
"That authentic Wang Xizhi painting is priceless." Liu Zhi thought about this and said with a confident smile, "Now, can we convict Hu Xin'er?"
In connection with the previous clues, they had reason to infer that Hu Xin'er was stealing the Liu family's calligraphy and paintings, and wanted to take them away during the birthday party when there were many people around.
"How abominable! Grandfather has rarely entered the study in the past two years. That Hu Xiner actually wanted to take this opportunity to steal the paintings." Liu Qingyi screamed. She didn't even dare to sell the paintings in the Liu Mansion. Why did this woman from outside do this?
"There is no time to lose. Let's go and see if the painting has been stolen." The old lady looked at the sky outside. It was dusk and it was about to get dark.
The three of them took advantage of no one's attention and came to the door of Old Master Liu's study.
Although there was no one guarding Old Master Liu's study, there was a clear order that no one was allowed to enter or leave at will. If anyone was discovered, the person who led the way in would definitely bear the wrath of Old Master Liu!
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