Shulan startled, "Miss, what do you think is wrong?"
Xin He’s gaze unintentionally swept over the faces in the room before she spoke. "You know what happened that day, I was almost killed by that black bear."
As she spoke, she sighed lightly, "How can I easily let go of this? Tell me, why did the black bear only chase me and no one else?"
"The servant heard from the Dali Temple that it seems to be because of the make-up powder."
Xin He retorted: "But, that black bear was so ferocious and seemed impossible to kill, how do you explain that?"
At these words, both Shulan and the usually reticent Jinxiu grew tense. "Could there be more to this than meets the eye?"
Xin He patted her chest and said, "I don’t know either. It’s just a conjecture. I need to find an opportunity to go to Dali Temple and report my doubts. Otherwise, I’m afraid there will be more twists and turns in this."
Shulan hesitated to speak, "But if that’s the case, wouldn’t you need evidence?"
Xin He lowered her voice and said, "I went to the Prime Minister’s Mansion today. Mu Houchu said that this item will help me. I will then submit it to Dali Temple."
As she spoke, she took out a small box from her sleeve.
"What is this?"
"It’s..." Xin He was about to tell, but she closed her mouth and glared at her, "Why are you asking so many questions?"
Shulan awkwardly said, "The servant was just curious, Miss, please forgive me."
Xin He then spoke, "Thank God for Mu Houchu. Otherwise, I’d really be at a loss about what to do. If he said it will be useful, it certainly will be."
Shulan laughed, "The Prime Minister has treated Miss so well. It must have made many maidens in the capital jealous."
Xin He, full of pride, laughed, "Enough, don’t flatter me now. Keep an eye on the people coming in and out of the garden later. Don’t let them break the rules. I’m tired, I’m going to sleep a little, don’t let anyone disturb me."
"Yes."
Xin He then carefully put the small box in the glazed Tower, obviously attaching great importance to it, as she didn’t trust anyone else to handle it.
After Shulan and Jinxiu had helped Xin He lay down to rest, they ordered everyone else to leave and then stood guard outside the door themselves, ready to respond to her needs at any moment.
Once the sound of the door shutting reached their ears, Xin He gently opened her eyes, a chilly expression settling in her gaze.
-
Early the next morning, an astonishing event sent waves through Le Yuanhou’s Mansion.
"Miss, Miss! The Prime Minister has arrived for the proposal! The Prime Minister has arrived for the proposal!" Shulan ran in, panting heavily.
Xin He seemed slightly taken aback. She knew he sought a marriage proposal, but she did not expect him to move so swiftly!
"He came?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
Shulan panting, replied: "Yes, he’s been here for a while! He’s currently in conversation with Lord Marquis! The betrothal gifts being brought in are endless, it’s truly a feast for the eyes!"
Xin He rose and was about to step outside, "I will go take a look."
"What is Miss going to do? It would be improper for the lady of the house to come out during the man’s proposal."
Xin He felt restless, "Then I’ll hide behind the screen in the hall to watch."
"Ai, Miss!"
"You don’t need to follow me." Having said that, Xin He ran out directly.
By this time, the entire Le Yuanhou Mansion was really bubbling with excitement. Setting aside everything else, the Prime Minister was known for abstaining from lustful pleasures, else, what could explain his being single at 24?
Such a stubborn and aloof man, actually has plans to marry! Even this plan is not surprising enough, he deigned to propose personally.
"Is it really the Prime Minister who has come to propose marriage? I thought I was imagining things. The betrothal gifts he brought are massive! Really extraordinary."
"What do you know? At the palace that day, the Prime Minister injured himself to save our Eldest Miss. With such character, it is evident that his feelings are genuine."
"So you’re saying, our Eldest Miss has really caught the Prime Minister’s heart? Wonder what is so special about, her that he treats her with such sincerity. I haven’t seen such thing in years."
The gossip amongst the servants in the mansion was indeed lively.
As Xin He left the Glazed Tower, she went straight for the hall where Mu Houchu and Le Yuanhou were located. On her way, the maids and women paid their respects, their eyes gleaming ambiguously. Looking at their Miss’s alert appearance, did this mean that they were in a genuine mutual affection?
But as she walked into the thicket of the fake mountain, she suddenly stopped. After looking around to confirm there was no one nearby, she turned and went back via another path.
Inside the Glazed Tower.
At this moment, Shulan was very anxious, pacing back and forth. "What should we do now? The Miss has run to the front hall. If the Lord blames us, we can’t escape that."
Jinxiu laughed, "Look at you, so anxious. This is a joyous event, what are you worried about?"
"But when the man comes with a marriage proposal and the lady of the house runs out, it’s really quite embarrassing. And the Miss didn’t let me follow her, what if something were to happen..."
Jinxiu said, "The Miss didn’t let you follow her but it’s probably because she was afraid that you would ruin things. Why are you so worried? If you really can’t sit still, why don’t you go to the small kitchen and check if the Miss’s pear soup sweetened with rock sugar is done stewing? The Eldest Miss has a habit of having a bowl every morning, make sure it isn’t delayed."
With no other option, Shulan said, "Alright, I’ll go take a look."
And with that, she left.
After Shulan left, Jinxiu’s eyes flickered. She then ordered the other little maids who were also cleaning the room, "You’ve almost finished cleaning the Miss’s room. We can’t keep dawdling in here, you all go rest first."
As a head maid, the others naturally had to follow her orders.
The four little maids confirmed their obedience and left.
Jinxiu then began to tidy up the tea utensils. After a while, when there seemed to be no noise outside, she gently stood up and went into the inner room.
Jinxiu confidently walked towards the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, where she took the small box that Xin He had put on it the day before. She opened it to look inside, but it was empty, there was nothing in it.
Jinxiu’s face changed. Something was wrong. The Eldest Miss said yesterday that the box contained certain evidence. Why was there nothing inside now?
Jinxiu was confused at the moment, but she didn’t have time to think more about it. She hurriedly closed the box and rushed out.
Little did she know that her every move had already been observed by Xin He.
Xin He sneered. With only a little trick, she had fished out a traitor. It was true that she had been blind before, allowing such people to take advantage.
But she didn’t know who was behind this person. Old Man Chen? Or was it someone else she didn’t know about?
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