CHAPTER 354: CHAPTER 356: CONSPIRACY (PART 5)

It felt extremely filthy at the moment, making her unwilling to linger any longer.

Xiqiu glanced back at Chunliu, who was trembling as she pushed the door.

The door slowly opened like this...

And the scene inside the room was exposed to everyone’s view.

The room’s setup was very simple, as if it were a servant’s quarters—a small bed with two people lying on it... without a blanket covering them, so their current appearance was entirely visible!

The man lying in the outer room was bare-chested, his dark skin and the hand drooping over the bed’s edge still smeared with mud, his pants legs rolled up high... while the woman lying inside wore just her undergarment, one hand resting on the man’s body; both were unconscious, completely unaware!

"Chunyan!" Chunliu rushed over and pushed the man in the outer room to the floor, hugging Chunyan as she desperately shook her, "Chunyan, Chunyan, wake up!"

But after shaking her for a long time, Chunyan still lay limply in her arms. Chunliu fearfully checked her breath, then turned back to Xiqiu standing at the door, saying, "Miss... she’s fainted."

Xiqiu’s vision blurred as she clasped the door frame, her hand trembling incessantly. Bihuai and Biwu, faces pale, supported Xiqiu, while Ziyang sat on the ground, dumbfounded, staring into the room.

"Help her get dressed!" Xiqiu suppressed the tears in her eyes, exhaled, and said, "Take her back!"

Upon hearing this, Chunliu wiped her tears and helped Chunyan get dressed. Bihuai and Biwu entered, and the two helped Chunyan onto Chunliu’s back. The three of them followed Xiqiu out of the courtyard.

The courtyard door was tightly closed, with a mama guarding at the entrance.

"Fourth Madam, you can’t take the person away like this!" The mama stood firm, blocking the doorway, hands on her hips, glaring at them!

Xiqiu smiled coldly and said, "The person is from my room; let’s see who dares to stop me today!" With that, she didn’t call for anyone else and went to open the door herself.

The mama usually saw the Fourth Madam with a kind face and a smile. Seeing her now with a cold expression and even a hint of terrifying murderous intent in her eyes, she was so frightened that she took a step back, "Fourth Madam... please don’t make it difficult for a servant. This incident occurred in the First Madam’s courtyard; you must give our madam an explanation!"

Such a filthy matter—First Madam has always been aloof and solitary; how could she tolerate such an incident happening in her courtyard!

Xiqiu slowly turned her head and coldly sneered at the mama, "Matters like this are not for you to comment on; I will give my sister-in-law an explanation." Saying this, she had already opened the door herself.

Chunliu, carrying Chunyan, stepped out of the courtyard in one big stride under the astonished gaze of the mama.

Xiqiu, hands behind her back, turned and walked directly into the First Madam’s main room.

The First Madam was still sitting coldly in the chair. She didn’t even lift her eyelids when she saw Xiqiu enter. Xiqiu went in, curtsied to the First Madam, and slowly said, "Thank you, sister-in-law!"

The First Madam was taken aback and looked up. Xiqiu then smiled and said, "Thank you, sister-in-law, for not letting the matter escalate. I am deeply grateful." She could have invited the Grand Dowager or the Second Madam, or even Chief Steward Hu, to handle the situation; she had many ways to deal with this, yet she only asked her alone to come over.

Xiqiu thanked her sincerely!

"I need no thanks for acting as I did," the First Madam said coldly, "Such an affair, if spread, would disgrace not just you alone. Fourth Sister-in-law, think carefully about how you will explain this to Mother and the others!" After saying this, she turned her head away from Xiqiu.

Xiqiu pondered briefly and replied, "I’ve already sent for Tianyi to come over. First, take the man to the outer courtyard for custody. As for Chunyan... Sister-in-law, excuse my rudeness, but I also have questions for a maid in your house."

The First Madam was surprised upon hearing this, looked up at Xiqiu, and asked, "A maid in my house?"

Xiqiu nodded, "This afternoon, it was Zijuan from your house who called Chunyan out. That’s the first point. The second point is that although your courtyard has few people, each room must have keys or mamas walking around. How could someone unfamiliar with the place hide anyone inside? Moreover, as you have seen, both Chunyan and the man are still unconscious, clearly having been drugged. Undoubtedly, someone orchestrated all this from behind the scenes!"

The First Madam was not stupid; she had been managing the household for over a decade. She had seen all sorts of things, but having such a matter occur in her courtyard, for whatever reason, was utterly revolting!

"Whether or not there is someone behind this, Fourth Sister-in-law, is for you to investigate and unrelated to me. But from now on, do not let me see that maid again. As for my maid, you have no right to interrogate her!"

Xiqiu held her anger inside but had to suppress it. She looked at the First Madam and laughed coldly, "Sister-in-law needn’t assume superiority. I know how to deal with my maid. As for this matter, surely Sister-in-law won’t entirely wash your hands of it, right?!"

"You!" The First Madam was startled, glaring at Xiqiu, and barked, "What do you mean?"

Xiqiu smiled and said, "Then please summon Zijuan and ask her yourself."

The First Madam frowned and went to the door, calling a mama to find Zijuan. However, after searching for about half an hour, they couldn’t find her anywhere in the Man Mansion. At this moment, the First Madam showed a puzzled expression. Just then, Tianyi brought people in, and Xiqiu instructed Tianyi, "Bind the man with a sack and take him out. Find a place to watch over him. When he wakes up tomorrow, interrogate him carefully; if he knows nothing, don’t make it difficult for him. If he does know..." She hesitated, unwilling to continue.

Tianyi immediately responded, "I understand what to do, Fourth Madam, rest assured."

Xiqiu lowered her eyes, nodded, and said nothing more.

Tianyi then led a few people to bind the still-sleeping man with a sack and carried him out of the courtyard.

Xiqiu turned to look at the now visibly agitated First Madam and, with a voice that was much gentler than before, said, "Sister-in-law, whatever opinions you may have of me, the fact is that this is obviously a deliberate act targeting both of us. I must protect Chunyan at all costs!" After a pause, she looked at the First Madam and said, "Zijuan is missing. As far as I can see, she’s likely in grave danger. This matter can’t be hidden, but regardless, we must find the person or the body. So tomorrow, I’ll have people search for her, and once Zijuan is found, everything will become clear."

If Zijuan were dead, this lead would be entirely severed. If Chunyan remembered things, that would be good, but if not, the opponents would likely leave no clues for her to uncover!

But no matter what, she would never let anyone manipulate her!

The First Madam, clearly furious, had been living in the mansion for so many years, always staying out of conflict. Now, just by renovating a flower room, someone had taken a dislike to her!