"There are assassins in the manor, and we need to search the entire estate. Miss's room cannot be overlooked," said Mama Chen, signaling to the guards behind her.
The guards had seen the abilities of Yan Jiaojiao and were unsure whether to proceed.
At this moment, Rong'er also heard the commotion and got up, her hair still somewhat disheveled. Seeing the situation, she quickly ran to Yan Jiaojiao's side and asked in a low, vigilant voice, "Young Miss, what's going on now?"
Yan Jiaojiao instructed her, "Mama Chen wants to search our courtyard. You can lead them. If they damage anything, make a note of it, and we'll have Second Madam compensate us for the price later."
Rong'er agreed repeatedly.
Mama Chen pouted, and the guards bypassed Yan Jiaojiao and entered the room. Rong'er indeed followed them closely, and whenever she saw a guard being heavy-handed, she would loudly exclaim, causing the guards to be hesitant. After a considerable fuss, they finally searched the entire courtyard.
Yan Jiaojiao was not afraid of them searching the room. Xiao Hei's barrier had set up concealment and soundproofing, so outsiders could not see nor hear what was happening inside. Even if Tong'er were singing, it would not be audible.
The search yielded no results. The leader, a man in black, came out, casting a resentful glance at Yan Jiaojiao as he reported to Mama Chen, "We found nothing."
Mama Chen glared at them and personally went to Yan Jiaojiao's room to conduct a thorough inspection. Indeed, she saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Suddenly, Mama Chen's gaze fell upon the table where Yan Jiaojiao had placed the jade pendant she had brought back.
"Isn't this Miss Xue'er's jade pendant?" Mama Chen stepped forward, her usually stern old face twitching slightly, and stared at Yan Jiaojiao. "You stole Miss Xue'er's jade pendant!"
Rong'er immediately shielded Yan Jiaojiao. "This jade pendant originally belonged to the Young Miss. Miss Ru Xue returned it to the Young Miss!"
"Silence! You wild girl, showing no respect for etiquette! What right do you have to speak here?" Mama Chen rebuked. She could not control Yan Jiaojiao, but dealing with a mere maid was easy. She immediately moved to take the jade pendant from the table.
Yan Jiaojiao would not allow anyone else to touch it. Before Mama Chen could reach the table, she had already taken the jade pendant into her hand, making Mama Chen's grab futile.
"Have you had enough of this drama?" Yan Jiaojiao tilted her chin slightly, looking down at the flustered Mama Chen. "Disturbing the mistress's dream late at night, failing to find anything, and then causing trouble here. Does the Yan family have no house rules to punish you?"
"I am carrying out my duties under the orders of Second Madam," Mama Chen almost sprained her back and only stood upright by leaning on the table. Her gaze still lingered on the jade pendant. "This jade pendant of yours is problematic. Everyone knows it belongs to Miss Xue'er."
Not knowing how desperately Mama Chen wanted to find fault with Yan Jiaojiao, Yan Jiaojiao simply smiled and said, "Very well, then let's go ask Yan Ruxue to clarify."
With that, without waiting for Mama Chen's reply, Yan Jiaojiao strode out of the room first, with Rong'er immediately following.
Standing at the doorway, Yan Jiaojiao glanced back, as if reminding Mama Chen to follow. Her gaze was directed towards the barrier where Xiao Hei and Tong'er were hidden.
Tong'er, being isolated by the barrier, could not see outside. He had already finished his pork ribs and was playing with the Luban lock conjured by Dongfang Cangwu.
Xiao Hei the dog still lay on his lap, feigning sleep. When Yan Jiaojiao looked back, Dongfang Cangwu seemed to sense it and lazily lifted a small paw. A faint glimmer of light flickered between his claws.
Seeing the fleeting glint of light, Yan Jiaojiao had no further reservations. She turned and walked towards Yan Ruxue's courtyard.
"This..." Mama Chen hesitated for a moment before finally leading her people to withdraw from the courtyard and follow Yan Jiaojiao.
By this time, it was already close to midnight.
It was the fifteenth day of the lunar month, and the moon in the sky was exceptionally round and bright, like a large, cold disc hanging high in the night sky, surrounded by countless stars. It was a perfect night for moon-gazing.
Yan Jiaojiao walked leisurely, as if she were out for a stroll, and her mood seemed to be quite good.
Mama Chen trailed behind her, her resentment palpable. "I have already invited Second Madam to accompany us."
"Fine," Yan Jiaojiao replied without looking back, completely treating Mama Chen's words as a report.
Mama Chen grew even more incensed.
Soon, they arrived at the entrance of Yan Ruxue's courtyard. Chen Wenyu, whom she had not seen for several days, was indeed waiting there, her expression somewhat peculiar.
Yan Ruxue's courtyard was quiet, with only her few young maids standing dejectedly behind Chen Wenyu.
Yan Jiaojiao's smile widened.
Earlier, when she had led the man in black around, she had also circled near Yan Ruxue's courtyard and observed it briefly. Yan Jiaojiao was seventy percent sure that Yan Ruxue had sneaked out again tonight.
Yan Jiaojiao was pleased that Yan Ruxue would disregard her reputation to meet Sheng Mobai privately. She had initially intended to indulge this behavior, but then Tong'er's incident had occurred.
She had every reason to suspect that the spiritual energy orbs that Tong'er had stripped were supplied to the sisters Yan Ruxue and Yan Ruoliu.
Coupled with Mama Chen's commotion, Yan Jiaojiao did not mind pushing Yan Ruxue a bit further. Why not help her publicize her clandestine meeting, saving her the trouble of sneaking around in the future?
As soon as Yan Jiaojiao reached the entrance, Chen Wenyu blocked her path. "I heard you took Xue'er's jade pendant. Return it to me, and I will not pursue this matter further."
"This servant is unaware, but you, as an aunt, should know that the jade pendant was originally mine?" Yan Jiaojiao smiled. Chen Wenyu knew Yan Ruxue was not in the courtyard and had deliberately come to stop her.
"I don't recall. I only saw Xue'er wearing it often," Chen Wenyu said, giving a signal. The maid beside her stepped forward to snatch it.
Yan Jiaojiao nimbly dodged, and stepped into the courtyard. "Perhaps you are getting old and forgetful. Yan Ruxue will certainly know."
"Stop right there!" Chen Wenyu immediately shrieked. "Why aren't you all stopping her!"
The maids behind her reacted instantly and lunged towards Yan Jiaojiao.
However, Yan Jiaojiao's movements were unpredictable. Even without using her hidden spiritual power, she moved like a nimble fish in water. Not only did she evade the maids, but with a few leaps, she grew closer and closer to Yan Ruxue's door.
As she dodged, she called out loudly, "Moreover, the manor was attacked by assassins. This courtyard needs a thorough search to prevent Yan Ruxue from being frightened, right?" Finally, she let out a loud shout, her sweet voice echoing throughout the courtyard. "Yan Ruxue, stop sleeping! Get up and open the door!"
Mama Chen, having caused some commotion in her search for Tong'er, was further amplified by Yan Jiaojiao's loud disturbance. A large portion of the Yan family was woken up.
Curiosity is human nature. Seeing the commotion here, many people began to gather around Yan Ruxue's courtyard.
Chen Wenyu was both angry and anxious, her eyes bulging. Seeing Yan Jiaojiao about to kick open Yan Ruxue's door, she shouted hoarsely, "Hold her down!"