Chapter 15 Suspicion
When Prince Duan came to the Marquis's residence, Chu Yannuo was not there.
Upon returning and hearing the housekeeper's report, he couldn't help but ask a few more questions out of suspicion.
"Why did you come here?"
The butler replied truthfully, "It seems he has taken a fancy to the Third Miss and came for her sake."
Prince Duan had only recently come of age.
Nothing particularly noteworthy, but nothing major either.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he will remain a quiet and unassuming prince for the rest of his life.
If you genuinely like the younger sister, then it's a good match.
"Okay, I understand."
Chu Yannuo took a few steps and casually asked, "Is there anything else?"
The butler hesitated and said, "It seems they had a fight with the Third Miss."
Chu Yannuo frowned: "Why?"
The steward said, "They said that a few days ago, Miss Biao got lost in the palace and was escorted out by Prince Duan. Miss Biao did not express her gratitude. Just now, Prince Duan insisted that Miss Biao go over to thank him, but the Third Miss refused, and the two of them started arguing. Prince Duan left in a huff."
Chu Yannuo felt a sudden surge of wariness.
Since Prince Duan likes his third sister, why does he insist on meeting his cousin?
Could it be that he had a hidden agenda...?
"These past few days, security has been heightened at Cuizhu Garden, and all the people from Songxiuzhai have been transferred there."
“Okay,” the butler agreed and began preparations.
Xiaoqian suddenly heard a lot of people coming outside, so she hurriedly opened the window to check.
There were many more guards outside the courtyard.
"Miss, something terrible has happened."
She hurriedly found Tang Xinuan, "There are so many people outside, has the young master discovered our plan?"
Tang Xinuan walked to the window to observe, and couldn't help but frown. Logically speaking, she had just discussed it with Xiaoqian, and it was still just a preliminary idea; her cousin shouldn't know about it.
Why are there so many people all of a sudden?
"Xiaoqian, my cousin took two embroidery patterns from me a few days ago. Can you get them back for me?"
Xiaoqian said anxiously, "What do we need embroidery patterns for now, Miss? We might not be able to escape."
Tang Xinuan looked at the guards in the distance, her delicate face unusually calm, her gaze exceptionally firm.
"I will not stay in this manor any longer. We will definitely be able to get out."
Xiaoqian suddenly sensed that her mistress had changed.
She no longer recognized him.
"Miss... okay, I'll go ask the Third Miss for it."
As Xiaoqian walked out, she thought someone would stop her or at least question her.
But the guards seemed not to see her at all, showing no expression from beginning to end.
Xiaoqian suddenly understood.
These guards were not on guard against her.
After receiving the embroidery pattern from Chu Yanqing, he quickly returned to the Green Bamboo Garden.
Just like when I left, no one stopped me from going back.
"Miss, these people didn't even ask me."
Tang Xinuan's eyes lit up, and she smiled happily.
"Tomorrow you will exchange those things for silver."
Once midnight had passed, Zhou Chuanxing changed into his night clothes.
Prince Duan insisted on joining in the fun.
I thought sneaking into the Green Bamboo Garden of a small marquis's mansion at night would be a piece of cake.
When he arrived at the scene, Prince Duan was startled.
"What is this Prince Chu trying to do? The security measures at Cuizhu Garden are even stricter than those at the Imperial Palace."
Zhou Chuanxing helplessly rubbed his forehead.
"We've already alerted the enemy."
Prince Duan asked doubtfully, "That can't be."
Zhou Chuanxing: "With you and my younger sister arriving one after the other within a day, it's normal for Prince Chu to be suspicious."
Prince Duan couldn't help but curse, "That bastard!"
He doesn't want to get married, yet he's so strict about it. Is he sick?
What do we do now? Even if the two of us could fly, there's no way we could avoid being detected.
Zhou Chuanxing sighed: "Let's find another opportunity."
If a young girl ever hints at wanting to leave, he will rush in without hesitation, even if it means snatching her away.
Even now, he still doesn't know what the girl is thinking.
If I can't be my cousin's wife, what about a concubine?
Prince Duan had never seen his second brother like this before. He was heartbroken and reluctant to part with him, torn between his feelings. He was nothing like the invincible and all-powerful regent he knew.
"Second brother, how about I come to the Marquis's residence again tomorrow and just break things up and ask for the girl out?"
Zhou Chuanxing waved his hand to stop him, "That will only push people further away."
...
Early the next morning, Chu Yannuo went to the outside of Cuizhu Garden to inquire about the situation.
"Was there any suspicious noise last night?"
"No," the head guard replied.
Chu Yannuo felt a sense of doubt. Was he being paranoid?
Prince Duan's only target was his third sister.
"Be extra careful these next couple of days."
After breakfast, Xiaoqian put some of the easily accessible jewelry in her clothes and left the Marquis's residence under the pretext that Tang Xinuan wanted to eat the snacks from Yueyang Tower.
Of course, the guard wanted to go in her place.
She retorted angrily.
"Miss doesn't just want to eat one thing, do you know that? When I go out, I can guess what Miss likes and buy a few more things. Do you even know what Miss likes?"
The guards dared not utter a sound and could only let her out.
Anyway, as long as my cousin is in the house, that's fine.
After leaving the Marquis's mansion, Xiaoqian walked a street before taking out a piece of cloth from her bosom, spreading it on the ground, and wrapping up all her jewelry inside.
She had never been to a pawnshop before, and she was worried, always afraid that someone would cheat her.
These items were all carefully selected by the young lady.
The ones that are too big are hard to take out, and some that look good are probably not worth much.
Some were gifts from the Crown Prince, so we have to be careful that he doesn't ask about them.
There aren't many things that can be sold after careful selection.
If she gets scammed, the young lady will have no means of making a living after she escapes.
She took out a safety buckle that she knew the price of and went to two or three pawnshops.
Only one company offered a price that seemed reasonable.
She plans to buy several more items from this store.
Then he took out a few more pieces of jewelry.
The shopkeeper's eyes almost disappeared from his smile. "Grandma, let me tell you, my shop is the fairest in the capital. You can bring out whatever you want. If I cheat you on even one thing, may I never get rich for the rest of my life."
Xiaoqian found his explanation reasonable.
He handed over the young lady the jade pendant of unknown origin.
"Shopkeeper, how much silver do you think this jade pendant is worth?"
She straightened her back and coughed twice: "If the price is fair, I'll take it as yours; if it's not, I'll take it."
"Fair, fair," the shopkeeper, having seen many treasures, said.
I just received this jade pendant; it is absolutely priceless.
"May I ask where this jade pendant came from, young lady?"
Xiaoqian naturally couldn't tell the truth. "It's my master's. He went out drinking and gambled and racked up debts with loan sharks. He didn't dare let the old lady know, so he sent me out with the jade pendant to pawn it. Don't try to fool me, or my master will definitely come looking for me."
The shopkeeper held the jade pendant, stroking it with obvious delight. "One price, five thousand taels."
Xiaoqian gasped.
The jewelry she wore was all worth tens or hundreds of taels.
The only item worth over a thousand taels was something the young lady had picked up.
She couldn't help but swallow hard.
"You're not kidding me, are you? Eight thousand taels, I won't sell it for even a tael less."
The shopkeeper hesitated for a moment, then suddenly his hand loosened, and the jade pendant was snatched away by a tall man.
Xiaoqian became anxious: "That's mine, give it back to me."
Prince Duan never expected that his second brother's personal jade pendant would be sold at a pawn shop while he was just out for a stroll.
I gave it to the little girl a few days ago.
He looked at Xiaoqian with a complicated expression. "Where did you come from?"
Xiaoqian didn't want to reply to him, and reached out to snatch it, saying, "Give it to me, this is my master's stuff, give it to me now."
Prince Duan scoffed, "Your master? I think it was you who stole it. Men, take her to the yamen. She stole something."
A note from the author:
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