After he said that...
The others echoed this sentiment.
Gu Baozhu couldn't get angry, and said nonchalantly, "It's because my martial arts skills are not good enough. No wonder Third Brother said that after we finish dealing with Sixth Sister-in-law's matter, he would make me learn more martial arts so that I wouldn't become a laughing stock. Fine, I'll see how good the thieves are first. If they have some skills, I won't go up and cause trouble for you."
Qin Yuan couldn't help but smile.
This kid is really fearless, like a newborn calf, already thinking about the next time.
Gu Baozhu complained to Qin Yuan, "Third sister-in-law, that thief ran too fast, we didn't catch him."
Qin Yuan responded, smiled and patted her head, saying, "Go back and change your clothes quickly. Kang Ge'er and the others are worried about you, and Lan Jie'er keeps saying she wants her little aunt."
Gu Baozhu left in a hurry.
Gu Shiliu said to Qin Yuan, "Madam, we don't know who this thief is. I think he was hiding his strength, but he ran away because he felt we had discovered him."
Qin Yuan asked, "Is it because Miss Seven is here that you can't perform well?"
Gu Shiliu just laughed and didn't deny it.
Qin Yuan said, "You are right to protect her. If something bad happens to her, it will be a loss. If that thief is an outsider, daring to cause trouble at the Marquis's residence, he is far too skilled and audacious."
Gu Shiliu then asked, "Does Madam think this person is not a thief?"
Qin Yuan nodded.
Gu Shiba said, "The person jumped into the passageway next to the house where the Xu family lived. Our shift saw the commotion, blew the whistle to warn them, and the Xu family started shouting."
Qin Yuan said, "Then let's go take a look now."
She left Cuiming behind, taking only Hongye with her, and was escorted by the crowd to the meditation room where the Xu family lived.
Just as they reached the door, they heard Madam Xu raise her voice and ask warily, "Who is it?"
Hongye immediately introduced herself: "Madam Xu, this is my Lady Hou."
Only then was Madam Xu relieved. Through the door and window, she asked, "Did you come to visit, Madam? Has that man been caught?"
Qin Yuan said, "I heard you were frightened, so I came to see you."
Madam Xu then ordered someone to open the door.
Qin Yuan went inside. The room was filled with Xu family members, young and old alike, all with uneasy expressions. They were relieved to learn that the thieves had already fled.
Madam Xu, holding Qin Yuan's hand with great enthusiasm, sighed, "That thief is too audacious! Who would have thought he would even dare to break into the Marquis's ancestral temple? I thought you were overreacting, Madam. Ah, thankfully we all live together, and none of those who don't like to squeeze in with others have gone to live elsewhere. Otherwise, I'm afraid that thief might have succeeded."
Qin Yuan laughed and said, "It's good that no one went out and wandered around. If we had run into them, we might have been ambushed by that thief."
Madam Xu nodded, still shaken.
Qin Yuan added, "I just came to check on you. You can rest assured."
Mrs. Xu said apologetically, "If you hadn't come, our whole family was planning to sit here until dawn."
Qin Yuan chuckled: "We all sat together with the children in our arms, and only breathed a sigh of relief when they returned. Tomorrow we will all be heading back to the city. On the way, we will have someone take a note to the Prefectural Governor's Office and have a good talk with them so that they can apprehend the thieves."
Madam Xu nodded repeatedly.
Qin Yuan asked more about the thieves, and Madam Xu said, "Today, I was so angry with the little novice that my liver ached, and I didn't sleep well. I woke up when I heard the whistle, and then I heard a 'thud' outside the wall, and I screamed in fright. The clan..."
He paused, then said apologetically, "...Some young people don't learn good things and steal chickens and dogs. We just shout to scare them away and that's it."
Many of the Xu family's sons lived a life of hardship in the city, and inevitably picked up some bad habits.
Qin Yuan laughed and said, "Luckily you shouted in time. That person was so frightened that he jumped out again. He was chased onto our roof and broke a piece of the roof tile. I'm afraid we'll have to have someone check it and replace it tomorrow."
Madam Xu also smiled.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Qin Yuan stood up to say goodbye.
Madam Xu hurriedly saw them out.
He watched them turn into the corridor before going back.
Qin Yuan then said, "Tell someone to send a message to each room, saying that the thief has escaped and that everyone should rest. Anything else can be dealt with at dawn tomorrow."
Gu Shiliu agreed.
Gu Shiba said, "The young master of the Xu family fell into a dry well during the day and picked up a skull, which scared Madam Xu to death. She was also frightened in the middle of the night, so it's no wonder she's so afraid."
Qin Yuan smiled.
"That is indeed quite a coincidence."
Suddenly remembering something, Qin Yuan gave Gu Shiliu a few instructions.
Gu Shiliu smiled and said, "Madam is truly brilliant."
As she turned to leave, Qin Yuan said, "You're fast on your feet, go find Cui Ming and get some calming incense pills to send to the Xu family so they can relax and not have trouble sleeping."
Gu Shiliu responded and quickly disappeared.
Hongye's eyes widened in surprise.
Qin Yuan said, "Let's go. When we have time, I'll let Sixteen show you his skills."
Hongye's face flushed.
Fortunately, it was dark, so no one could see very clearly.
Only a few guards chuckled quietly.
When they returned, Cuiming greeted them and said, "Sixteen asked for some incense pills just now, and Granny Rong also lit some to lull the young master and young lady to sleep."
Qin Yuan yawned and said, "Go to sleep, go to sleep."
Gu Baozhu sat on the couch, her eyes wide and her eyebrows raised sharply, and said, "Third Sister-in-law, you can sleep peacefully. I'll be watching over you."
"What are you guarding? Go to sleep, I promise I won't come back."
Qin Yuan lay on the bed and fell into a sweet sleep.
"How did Third Sister-in-law know?" Gu Baozhu asked, puzzled, then said angrily, "How come she's asleep again?"
When Qin Yuan woke up the next morning, she saw Gu Baozhu fast asleep on the bed. She quietly got up to wash and asked the maid who was serving her. She learned that Gu Baozhu hadn't slept at all last night and had only gone to bed when the roosters in the temple crowed.
Hongye whispered, "I really didn't expect that Miss Seven would be so...so trustworthy."
Qin Yuan smiled and glanced at her, saying, "The pearl does have quite a few benefits."
Hongye chuckled and asked, "What did Miss tell Sixteen to do yesterday? He seemed to be smiling very mischievously."
Qin Yuan said, "Why don't you just ask him?"
Hongye twisted her body and muttered, "How could he tell me what Miss instructed him to do?"
Qin Yuan said, "You'll know when the time comes. Why ask? It won't be effective if too many people know it."
Cui Ming glanced at Gu Baozhu lying on the bed.
The red leaves remained silent.
After breakfast, Qin Yuan instructed Gu Shiba to find the abbot and said that the monks had been performing rituals for days and had been working hard. In principle, they should be thanked one by one after the rituals were completed, but thieves came to the family temple last night and the women were frightened. They needed to go back early and asked the monks to wait in the meditation hall so that Lady Hou could give them thanks one by one.
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