Zhao Jingyi opened her eyes groggily, about to roll over and go back to sleep, when she discovered her jade bracelet was missing from her wrist.
"Chunxia, come in quickly."
Chunxia, standing in the outer room, heard her and immediately came in to ask, "Miss, what is it?"
"Where is the delicate white jade bracelet my mother gave me for my ninth birthday?"
"Miss, don't you wear that bracelet daily? Your servant has not seen it."
"I clearly remember wearing it last night before I went to rest. Go find it for me quickly."
"Yes."
Chunxia immediately got up and went to search Zhao Jingyi's vanity case. She opened several boxes, all empty. Chunxia's face changed, and she rushed back to report.
"Miss, not only the white jade bracelet is gone, but several boxes are also empty. Your servant clearly saw them all when tidying up last night."
"Who has such great audacity? To dare steal this young lady's belongings. Gather all the maids in this courtyard. I intend to interrogate them thoroughly today."
"Yes."
Soon, a room was filled with kneeling maids and servants, all with fearful expressions.
"Miss, your servant only entered your room once yesterday to deliver medicine. How could I possibly take so many pieces of jewelry?"
"Miss, have mercy! Your servant was misguided by greed before and stole an inconspicuous hairpin of yours. Your servant truly knows nothing else."
After the young maid finished speaking, she bowed her head to the ground, trembling uncontrollably.
"Vile servant! How dare you steal your mistress's belongings? Drag her out and give her twenty heavy blows as a warning."
Zhao Jingyi's stern gaze swept over everyone present. "If any of you know who took them, speak up, and this young lady will reward you handsomely."
"Your servant does not know."
"Then search! Anyone who stole anything will be beaten to death."
Several servants who had not had the opportunity to serve in Zhao Jingyi's room received the order and were about to leave.
A嬷嬷 (māmɑ, a senior female servant) from Madam Bo's side arrived.
"Greetings to Fourth Miss. Madam Bo sent this old servant to inquire if anything was lost in your courtyard."
Zhao Jingyi felt extremely wronged and said indignantly, "嬷嬷, even my favorite jade bracelet is gone. I am currently investigating."
"Has Miss searched carefully? Have any other items been lost?"
Zhao Jingyi immediately understood. She gave the key to Chunxia, telling her to check her small treasury. Soon, Chunxia returned, looking terrified.
"Miss, all the items are gone."
"Useless! Were you all dead last night? Allowing so many things to be stolen without your knowledge. What is the use of the Bo Estate keeping you?"
Zhao Jingyi, ignoring her illness, got up angrily to search herself. She had been too focused on her anger before; now she realized that the calligraphy, paintings, and ornaments were also stolen.
The entire household was cleaned out. Only her old teacups and clothes, shoes, and socks remained. Enraged, she smashed several teacups to vent her anger.
The 嬷嬷 returned to report to Madam Bo. The 嬷嬷s who had gone to the young masters' courtyards also returned.
Madam Bo felt dizzy and almost vomited blood upon receiving the news. Her dowry! All her dowry was gone.
Who possessed such great capability to steal so many items from the estate in a single night? At this moment, she suddenly remembered something and rushed out excitedly.
"Madam, Madam, where are you going?"
A group of maids and servants immediately followed. Soon, they arrived at the Bo Estate's treasury.
The accountant was utterly confused. It wasn't the day for checking accounts today.
Upon opening the treasury, Madam Bo immediately led people inside to inspect.
Madam Bo: "Impossible, how can this be?"
The accountant was also stunned. Did this room swallow things? After regaining his senses, he quickly bowed and ran to the accounting room.
There was not a single tael of silver left inside. Were his ledgers all for naught? In any case, he was just an accountant, and the loss of property had nothing to do with him.
However, this matter needed to be reported quickly. Throughout the morning, wails echoed throughout the Bo Estate. Especially the Old Madam, who cried as if her parents had died again.
"Oh, you black-hearted wretch! You even stole my personal money as an old woman. I curse you to die a horrible death! May you fall into the Avici Hell after death! Wuwuwu~"
"Mother, Mother, don't cry. The money is gone, but your son will earn more for you. You are so old, please take care of yourself."
The Bo Lord, with a pained expression, comforted her. He was afraid that if his mother wailed herself to death, he would have to observe mourning for his parents.
The Old Madam pounded his chest with her fists. "You earn? How can you earn? That was left to me by your maternal grandfather. You are truly killing me!"
Madam Bo remained silent, lowering her head and constantly wiping away tears.
"Heaven's wrath! What were all those household guards and escorts doing? Such a large sum of property would require several carts to transport. How did no one notice?"
"My son, go report it to the authorities! Hurry and report it. This money must be recovered. We cannot let that little thief get away with it! Ahhh~"
"How can my son possibly say that?"
"Are you still afraid of losing face at this moment? That is money! It is the accumulation of generations of the Bo Estate, money that you can never earn in a lifetime. How much is that little bit of face worth?"
Madam Bo: "Mother, no one will believe us if we say this. Money doesn't grow legs and run away. How could it disappear without a sound?"
The Old Madam's eyes rolled, and she clapped her hands.
"These things must still be in the estate. They must have been hidden by the thief. They are waiting for us to let down our guard, then transport them out bit by bit."
The Bo Lord: "That's very likely. Your son will have people search again, digging three feet deep to find the items."
"What's the situation with Jing Shu? Why haven't we heard her report any losses? Second Elder left her with good things."
Madam Bo quickly stood up and wiped her tears with her handkerchief. "Perhaps that girl is timid. It is my fault as her aunt. I have been so busy today that I completely forgot to inquire about Second Miss's situation. I will go and see her now."
"Go quickly and check. All her things were packed in whole boxes. If the thief had to move them, they must have made some noise. Ask her if she saw anyone suspicious."
"Yes, this daughter-in-law will take her leave now."
"My child, tell the servants to search carefully and not to damage my old belongings. You should go and attend to things as well. I need to rest. My old age makes my body increasingly disobedient."
"Son understands."
Mei Garden.
Luzhu: "Miss, Miss, I heard that many things were lost in the estate. I just went to check, and fortunately, our things are all still here."
Jun Jiuli: "You are so well-informed. Why do you sound a bit schadenfreude?"
"Your servant absolutely does not! If things are lost in the estate, your servant is also very sad."
Luoluo: "I heard that even the Old Madam's and Madam's dowries are gone, and Fourth Miss's bracelet was pried off her hand."
"Luoluo, you must not speak such words in the future, lest you ruin Fourth Sister's reputation."
Luoluo covered her mouth and immediately bowed. "Luoluo knows her mistake and will never dare to do it again."
"Get up. There is no one else in this room. Just be careful when you speak in the future."
"Luzhu, go help me with a matter. You must go and come back quickly."
"Yes, Miss."