Sun Siyuan led Xu Keke northwards and soon arrived at a courtyard surrounded by greenery.
But now, five or six soldiers with guns stood outside the quiet courtyard. Xu Keke decisively slapped away Sun Siyuan's hand that was pulling at her sleeve. She exchanged a glance with Yan Shuo's guard, an "old acquaintance" standing outside the door, knowing that they had succeeded inside, and then swaggered in.
The guards pushed Sun Siyuan aside and dutifully followed behind her.
More than a dozen servants stood guard in the courtyard, armed with guns, all huddled in the eastern corner of the wall where a crabapple tree grew. The more timid ones trembled with fear, unable to even stand steadily.
Sun Siyuan finally understood why he hadn't seen anyone since being led to Lanyue Pavilion. It turned out that the Third Madam's people had all been detained here.
Inside, a young military officer was being dealt with. Mrs. Sun, her hair disheveled, sat on a chair, sobbing, her hands clutching her clothes. Beside her stood a burly man, wearing only underpants, shirtless, kneeling on the ground with his head bowed.
Upon seeing Xu Keke and Sun Siyuan, the officer merely glanced at them and ignored them. Because the two of them made absolutely no noise, Madam Sun didn't even notice anyone approaching. She kept going on about how the man had tried to take advantage of her.
The officer sat to the side, completely unmoved. He crossed his legs and listened with a cold smile.
A commotion arose outside, and Old Madam Sun entered, surrounded by a group of people. Beside her was a woman dressed in a deep purple velvet high-necked cheongsam, her hair neatly styled in an updo, her expression solemn, and who appeared to be of some age. Xu Keke guessed that this was the Second Madam, who had been secretly strategizing for Sun Siyuan while picking up Buddha beans.
"In this sweltering heat, the officers are still out on business," said Madam Sun, her arrogance from the previous day long gone, her old face beaming with a wide smile.
The young officer didn't move when she entered. Old Madam Sun quickly gave a wink to the servants following behind.
"It's just a small token of my appreciation. Thank you all for your hard work, gentlemen." Madam Sun accepted the wooden box handed to her by the servant behind her and presented it with both hands.
The officer didn't stand on ceremony and glanced at the soldier standing beside him. The soldier, being quick-witted, immediately stepped forward and took it. He even opened it to show the officer what it was.
Xu Keke wasn't close enough to see it; she only caught a flash of gold, which must have contained gold bars. The young officer dismissively looked away, clearly not taking it seriously.
Seeing that the box had been taken away, Old Madam Sun leaned forward again, smiling obsequiously, and asked, "Sir, may I ask what happened here?"
The young officer didn't stand on ceremony and pointed at the kneeling man, saying, "We've received intelligence that the new group of massage therapists at Tiandetang are using the guise of massaging wealthy women to actually commit lewd acts."
Madam Sun blinked visibly. Xu Keke guessed that she was definitely wondering what this had to do with the garrison.
The young officer was also arrogant and didn't care what others thought. He raised his foot, and his black military boot kicked the kneeling man to the ground. "Alright, the main character has arrived. Don't keep quiet. Say whatever you want."
The man didn't dare to resist, and after a long while, he straightened up and raised his head. He had striking, handsome features, but his age was hard to guess. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating one side of his face, revealing fine lines at the corner of his eye, suggesting he was no longer young.
Xu Keke was somewhat surprised; this man was not the one she had seen at the banquet that day, the one who had wanted to find Mrs. Sun.
The man spoke clearly, describing in detail how they provided in-home massages and how they offered special services if the ladies requested them.
The old lady Sun blushed, and the second wife of Sun covered half of her face with a handkerchief.
"You're lying, that's not true at all. You came in and said you had something important to tell me, and told me to get rid of all the servants. Then you, you took off my clothes, and I... I don't even know you."
Mrs. Sun was sobbing uncontrollably, and her aggrieved appearance seemed genuine to Xu Keke.
The man didn't argue, remaining kneeling upright, as if to say, "I've said what I was supposed to say, and the rest is none of my business." He showed neither panic nor fear, his calm composure somewhat eerily unsettling.
This is really illogical. Xu Keke laughed, thinking that Madam Sun might not be lying. Could it be that, in order to complete the task she assigned, Yan Shuo's subordinates have arranged for someone to come out and do it?
"Madam, you must do me justice!" Mrs. Sun cried as she rushed to Old Madam Sun's side.
"Think about it, what a coincidence! This person came in, and then these soldiers barged into our house right after him. Ask the servants in the yard, this person really has never been to our yard before."
Old Madam Sun grasped Third Madam Sun's hand in return, clearly believing her. Second Madam Sun gave a mocking smile from the side.
"What, are we wronging you again? We caught you red-handed today. You still want to deny it?" The young officer shook his leg, looking at the two men with a thuggish air. His posture made it clear: you have to admit it or not.
Madam Sun was in a dilemma. Seeing her third daughter-in-law's state, she felt that someone was deliberately framing her. However, her family couldn't afford to offend these people, and she didn't know what they wanted. She couldn't very well ask them directly.
Anyone who could say a few kind words to these soldiers, even just a little more money, would do. She looked around, trying to find someone to help her, but the Second Madam remained expressionless, still seemingly indifferent to everything. Old Madam Sun glared at her angrily.
When she turned her head again and saw Xu Keke, Madam Sun's eyes lit up.
"I know, I know!" Before Old Madam Sun could speak, Third Madam Sun shouted out first.
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