Chapter 300: A Clue Has Been Found
Now that it was determined that Huo Yunting was unlikely to enter the Huo residence through the side gate, Shen Qingci no longer needed to wait at the gate.
But the next morning, Shen Qingci still went out. This time, however, she openly strolled around the city and eventually chose a private room in a teahouse to sit down.
Lately, the talk of the town has been all about the gathering of Shen's army.
Inside the teahouse, the crowd was indignant: "When they said General Shen was colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, we didn't believe it. But who dared to stand up for General Shen back then? Those who stood up to speak for General Shen were all accused of being accomplices, taken away, and died horribly."
"Yes, back then we thought, as long as we're alive, we can always find a way to fight another day. We'll be able to wait for the truth to come out eventually."
"As expected, they kept us waiting!"
"Speaking of which, Miss Shen is truly remarkable. Back then, General Shen hastily married her off to the Huo family in order to protect her. Who knew that Huo Yunzhan was such an unreliable scoundrel? But Miss Shen has excellent judgment. She saw through Huo Yunzhan's tricks at a glance and chose a truly worthy son-in-law for herself. Now she is even the Empress, truly a case of 'after hardship comes happiness.'"
Shen Qingci sat in a private room on the second floor, listening to the discussion downstairs with her eyes down. She couldn't help but laugh, but her smile was tinged with bitterness.
It's not that she has good taste; it's clearly that she paid the price with her life in her past life to achieve what she has today.
Her gaze swept casually across the ground floor, but she keenly noticed that in the corner, there was a person whose expression was out of place with the others.
The man was a middle-aged man. Although his clothes were inconspicuous, the expression in his eyes was disdainful, even contemptuous.
He ignored the heated discussions around him about Shen's army, sitting there coldly, occasionally glancing out the window with a gloomy expression.
Shen Qingci narrowed her eyes, instinctively feeling that something was wrong with the person, so she took a few more glances.
Just then, a guard silently entered, interrupting her thoughts: "Master, a message has come from the secret service, saying that there is important news to report to you."
Shen Qingci nodded, stood up, and glanced at that corner again, only to find that the person was gone.
She pondered for a moment, then lowered her voice and ordered, "Arrange for someone to investigate the man in the gray cloth shirt who was sitting in the southeast corner earlier. Given the current situation, it's better to kill the innocent than to let any clue slip by."
After giving her instructions, she went downstairs and returned to her small courtyard through the back door.
The secret agents were already waiting. Upon seeing Shen Qingci enter, they hurriedly bowed and said, "Master, as you instructed, we have arranged manpower in the courtyard where Huo Yunting of the Huo family used to live."
“Last night, our men sneaked into the inner courtyard and hid behind the house for half the night, but they found nothing. Everything seemed normal.”
"But today, during the day, our people made an unexpected discovery."
Shen Qingci narrowed her eyes and walked to the head seat to sit down: "What discovery?"
“The old steward of the Huo family has probably been replaced.” The secret agent said with certainty, “The current steward, although he tries his best to hide it, has some traces of disguise on his face, and his figure and gait are also slightly different from the old steward.”
"What's even more suspicious is that this morning, the steward took the opportunity of reporting on household affairs to stay in Madam Huo's room for a full two hours."
"During these two hours, Madam Huo dismissed all the servants and stayed alone in the room with the steward, and... in the bedroom."
Shen Qingci frowned slightly: "In the morning?"
Where was Huo Yunting this morning?
The guard quickly replied, "In the morning, Huo Yunting was in the palace. After the morning court session ended, His Majesty took seven or eight officials, including Huo Yunting, to the Imperial Study to discuss state affairs, which lasted until noon."
Shen Qingci nodded. Since Huo Yunting was in the palace, with Chu Jichen and so many other officials present, there was no way he could fake a clone.
If that's the case, then the disguised butler staying in Madam Huo's bedroom for two hours shouldn't be a meeting with Huo Yunting.
What could that be for?
A lone man and a lone woman, alone in a room, especially in a bedroom...
Could it be that the man disguised as the Huo family's steward is... Old Madam Huo's lover?
The absurd thought flashed through Shen Qingci's mind, but she quickly realized that something was wrong.
It's unlikely that someone like Madam Huo, who values reputation and family interests so highly, would risk her life for personal reasons at this critical juncture.
The guard was still reporting in a low voice: "Because it was daytime, there were many people and eyes in the courtyard, so our hidden agents dared not get too close, and there was no way to eavesdrop on the person's identity and the content of their conversation."
Shen Qingci waved her hand, indicating that it was alright: "It's okay."
“If that person is suspicious, then they certainly wouldn’t only be making moves during the day. Whether it’s passing on a message or something else, they need a trigger.”
"Huo Yunting is almost always under the dual surveillance of me and His Majesty during the day. If he wants to take any action or send out any key information from the Huo residence, he can only do so at night."
Shen Qingci's gaze turned slightly cold as she said in a deep voice, "You don't need to worry about the steward for now, so as not to alert him. Tonight, you must keep a close eye on the movements in Old Madam Huo's room!"
“Especially that butler, see if he shows up again tonight, or... if anyone else enters that courtyard under the cover of night.”
"Yes!" The secret service officer accepted the order and left.
As night deepened, Shen Qingci sat by the window, gazing in the direction of the Huo residence. She had a vague premonition that something big might happen tonight.
The night was as dark as ink, so thick it seemed to swallow the entire capital.
Shen Qingci was wide awake.
"Knock knock knock".
Three light taps, with a rapid rhythm.
"Come in."
The secret agent pushed open the door and entered, still carrying the chill of the night dew. His expression was grave: "Master, something has happened."
Shen Qingci sat up straight instantly: "Speak."
"Just after midnight, there was movement in Madam Huo's courtyard. The disguised steward entered the main house again, and this time..." The secret agent paused, his tone somewhat strange, "Shortly after he went in, the lights in the house went out."
"Lights out?" Shen Qingci raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. "And then?"
"Then, after about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the steward came out again. But he did not leave; instead, he went to the dry well in the courtyard."
"A dry well?" Shen Qingci's heart skipped a beat. There was indeed a dry well in Huo Yunting's courtyard that had been abandoned for many years and was usually ignored.
“Yes. He lingered by the well for a while, seemingly making sure no one was around, and then…” the ANBU took a deep breath, “he actually jumped in!”
Shen Qingci suddenly stood up, his eyes flashing with a sharp light: "Sure enough! There's a secret passage in that well!"
Her previous guess was correct. The Huo family mansion did indeed hide a secret passage, and the entrance to this passage was actually in Huo Yunting's courtyard, under that seemingly inconspicuous dry well!
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