Chapter 242 Found the Patriarch’s Military Token
"Sister Cailian!"
There was a sound behind her. Cai Lian turned around and saw several maids who had just committed a crime running towards her.
"We found these things on that couple. We've checked carefully, and they're all belongings from the previous three rooms." The maid respectfully handed the items forward, fearing she'd be punished. "It was our stupidity that nearly caused such a disaster. I beg you to calm down, sister, and don't bring this up in front of the young lady..."
"We can forgive your mistakes, but you must find the woman who spread the lies." Cai Lian put away the valuable ornaments and said with a stern face, "Something filthy has entered the mansion. I can't hide it from the young lady. Whether you can escape this beating depends on how you do."
The maids looked at each other and responded hurriedly, "We understand. Thank you, Sister Cailian."
"Go ahead." Cai Lian waved her hand, fatigue welling up between her brows. She glanced lightly and noticed an inconspicuous scratch on the Moon Gate. "Wait!"
The maids all stopped and looked at her in confusion.
Cai Lian squatted down and took a closer look at the scratch. Her fingertips gently twisted the dirt on it and asked, "When did this scratch happen?"
The maids behind her looked at each other, no one could answer. "Sister Cailian, maybe it was scratched by the servants when they were carrying heavy things."
"Something's wrong." Cai Lian twisted the dirt between her fingers, her brow furrowed. "This is dried mud. This door only leads to the young lady's Lixiang Garden and the master's Pingfeng Courtyard. The surrounding area is all brick ground, with no grass or trees. Where did the mud come from?"
The leading maid was stunned and didn't react for a moment.
Cai Lian's eyes suddenly became sharp, "No, you guys hurry to Pingfengyuan and Lixiangyuan and check if anything is missing!"
Seeing that her expression was not right, the maids did not dare to delay and quickly responded, "Yes!"
Cai Lian flicked the dirt off her fingertips, her face pale as she muttered to herself, "Don't let anything happen... Please don't let anything happen..."
It was late at night, with the crescent moon hanging high in the sky, when the Zhao family's carriage slowly drove back.
"Miss, slow down." Qingshuang stretched out her hand and helped her master out of the car.
Just as Su Cheng stood still, she saw the servant guarding the gate rushing forward and saying, "Miss, there's trouble at home."
Hearing this, Su Cheng frowned slightly and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"
"The couple who came to the mansion this morning stole something." The servant wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and whispered, "I heard from the people in the backyard that Cailian was very angry."
Su Cheng's eyes flashed with surprise, and he looked at Qing Shuang beside him.
"Didn't Miss predict that Liu Shoucheng and his wife would commit a crime?" Qingshuang frowned and asked in a low voice, "Cai Lian also knew it in her heart, so why is she so angry..."
"There's probably something wrong." Su Cheng lowered her eyes and lifted her skirt. "Keep an eye on the door, and pay special attention to whether there are any unfamiliar people lingering in front of the house."
"yes."
"Miss, wait for me." Qing Shuang hurriedly took the things from the car and chased after the beautiful figure.
As soon as he stepped through the gate of the Zhao family, Su Cheng vaguely felt the weird atmosphere. He walked straight to the backyard and saw many servants holding torches standing in the garden, forming a circle. Inside the circle were Cai Lian with an ugly face and a group of maids and old women.
"Get out of the way, the lady is coming."
Someone called out, and Cai Lian looked up. Seeing that her master had really returned, a flash of guilt crossed her face. She bowed and called out, "Miss..."
Su Cheng opened his eyes and looked around before asking, "What happened?"
"I was negligent and let Liu Shoucheng and his wife take advantage of the situation and enter the master's Pingfeng Courtyard." Cailian trembled slightly, her face wrinkled, and it was easy to see her guilt. "They stole some jewelry from the courtyard where the third wife used to live, and when no one was paying attention, they slipped into the study in Pingfeng Courtyard."
After saying this, Cai Lian picked up the smashed wooden box and handed it to her master. "When I found out, the contents of the box were gone."
Cai Lian bent her knees and knelt straight on the ground, saying loudly, "This servant has failed to observe the rules, please punish me, young lady!"
The maids and servants standing not far away also knelt down and repeated her words, "Please punish me, young lady—"
"Get up, this is none of your business." Su Cheng supported Cai Lian's arm and lifted her up with a little effort. "Where is the maid I left to guard Hengyang Courtyard? And where is the servant guarding the gate of Pingfeng Courtyard? Bring them all here for questioning."
"Although the Zhao family isn't royal, they're a family of meritorious service. They have hundreds of servants, and so many eyes couldn't keep an eye on two idiots who can't fight." Su Cheng immediately grasped the point. His almond-shaped eyes half-narrowed, his sharp gaze swept across the faces of everyone present. "A lot of flies have flown into the house. If you can't catch them, get out of here!"
"Cailian, keep an eye on them and don't let any of them go."
Cai Lian lowered her head and said, "Yes."
Su Cheng rubbed his brows, handed the box to Qing Shuang, and said softly, "Put the account books we collected today in my room. Take this box and wait on the road that father must pass. He will most likely come out of the palace at this time."
"I understand." Qing Shuang took the tattered wooden box and was about to turn around when she saw a servant running towards her. He was so anxious that he didn't even care about one of his shoes flying away.
"Miss! Something happened to Miss!"
Su Cheng's eyebrows jumped, and he turned around and looked at him with a sharp gaze, "What happened?"
"The second son of the Sheng family discovered a private army outside the capital and sent people to investigate. The soldiers turned and ran, and only one was captured. The captured soldier could not withstand interrogation and betrayed the family master, saying that he had received the family master's order to station here and await military orders."
"What a joke!" Su Cheng couldn't help but sneer and said loudly, "Just a few crazy words and you think you can throw dirty water on the Zhao family?"
"Miss..." The servant hesitated for a long time before speaking softly, "The second son of the Sheng family found the master's military token on that soldier."
"Military Token?" Su Cheng was stunned for a moment, his mind blanking out. "Impossible! How could my father allow such an important item as the Military Token to fall into the hands of others?"
"It's absolutely true, young lady..." The servant was so anxious that he wanted to cry but couldn't. He was sweating profusely. "News came from the palace that the master of the family was detained and interrogated before he even left the palace. A few eunuchs came outside and said they wanted to temporarily seal off the mansion."
"Ridiculous! How dare they seal off the mansion before the final decision is made?" Qing Shuang's face turned pale as she spoke in disbelief. "If the mansion is sealed, how can the young lady face others? How will people outside judge the Zhao family?"
The servant kept wiping his sweat and didn't dare to speak again.
Su Cheng grabbed the damaged wooden box from her hand, his eyes as cold as a deep pool, and asked, "Is the Sheng family... the mother's family of Princess Qin?"
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