Chapter 233: Chapter 197: Soft and Boneless

"They’re having an affair, aren’t they?"

"Senior Sister, don’t talk nonsense. It was probably just because of the special circumstances just now."

"They definitely are."

"Even if they are, you shouldn’t use the word ’affair’."

"Adultery?"

"...Shut up."

It wasn’t until the Xiao Family’s carriage was far in the distance that Fengchun Building returned to a state of calm.

Everyone looked at each other, none of them knowing what had just happened.

Meanwhile, in the private room upstairs.

Liu Wen was still in a blind rage. After smashing everything in sight, he glared at Liu Zhaoxue with bloodshot eyes and demanded:

"You’re pretty pleased with yourself, aren’t you?"

"That bastard just now was praising you! He said you’re the model of the Liu Family, that you have grace and know when to advance or retreat!"

Liu Zhaoxue shook her head and hesitated. "Second Brother, you..."

Before she could finish, Liu Wen flicked his sleeve and stormed out.

"I will explain everything that happened today to Second Uncle and the family later."

"You should prepare to return to Jing State soon."

Liu Zhaoxue stared blankly as he left the room, her expression suddenly turning grim.

’Second Brother, you truly are... a fool!’

Just then, a pot-bellied, ordinary-looking middle-aged man walked in from outside.

He glanced at the wreckage on the floor, clucking his tongue. "Second Young Master Liu lashes out in a fury, and the young miss of the Xiao Family leaves in anger."

"Miss Zhaoxue, everything is going just as you predicted."

At this, the middle-aged man’s tone shifted, and he asked with a smile, "So, are we proceeding with the plan tonight?"

But to his surprise, Liu Zhaoxue shook her head, her face cold. "We’re holding off for now."

The smile vanished from the man’s face. He asked seriously, "Why is that?"

"Miss Zhaoxue, you should be aware that if we act now, everyone will assume it was Second Young Master Liu’s doing."

Liu Zhaoxue shook her head again. The image of Chen Yi’s calm yet piercing eyes surfaced in her mind, and a sense of apprehension arose within her.

"Let’s wait. Acting tonight would be too obvious."

"Very well. We’ll let the young miss of the Xiao Family live a few more days."

Liu Zhaoxue thought for a moment before saying, "I need you to do something for me in the next couple of days."

The middle-aged man put on a fawning smile. "Miss Zhaoxue, we’re in the same boat now. If you need something, just give the order. There’s no need to be so polite."

"Help me investigate that live-in son-in-law of the Xiao Family."

"Oh? The one named Chen Yi?"

Liu Zhaoxue grunted in affirmation. "Help me dig into his background."

The middle-aged man nodded nonchalantly. "He’s just some frail scholar, that’s all."

"If Miss Zhaoxue finds him displeasing, I can go kill him right now."

Liu Zhaoxue looked at him. "I advise you to be cautious. I have a feeling he’s not as simple as he appears."

"Is that so?"

"Well then, I’m rather curious to see why he’s earned such apprehension from Miss Zhaoxue, heheh..."

...

The outcome was just as Chen Yi had expected.

There was indeed something fishy about today’s trip to the Fengchun Building.

Although he didn’t know the specifics of the banquet Liu Zhaoxue had arranged, he knew her target was Liu Wen.

’It could only be one of a few schemes.’

’She probably wanted to use today’s conflict between Liu Wen and Xiao Wan’er to frame the Xiao Family for Liu Wen’s subsequent death.’

’Or, if her schemes ran deeper, she might have targeted Xiao Wan’er directly to provoke the Xiao Family into dealing with Liu Wen.’

’A classic case of borrowing a knife to kill someone.’

’The result would be the same either way—Liu Wen would die in Shu State!’

But...

’Liu Zhaoxue probably never expected that Xiao Wan’er wouldn’t come to the appointment alone today.’

As Chen Yi considered all this, he made a decision. He couldn’t let her get her way.

Just then, he felt a slight movement in his hand and turned his head to look.

He saw Xiao Wan’er, her head buried in her cloak, pretending to be nonchalant as she discreetly tried to pull her hand from his grasp.

Chen Yi chuckled inwardly. He turned to look out the carriage window, pretending not to notice as he tightened his grip slightly.

Xiao Wan’er immediately froze.

She quietly raised her head, her slightly reddened eyes glancing at Chen Yi, who was still "lost in thought." She let out a soft sigh of relief.

’He didn’t notice. Thank goodness.’

Xiao Wan’er thought to herself and wiggled her hand a little.

Seeing that she could pull it out a bit, she continued to inch her burning-hot palm away.

Then Chen Yi tightened his grip again.

Once again, Xiao Wan’er didn’t dare to move.

A moment later.

She tried again.

But this time, not only did Chen Yi add a bit more pressure, he also gave her hand a mischievous little squeeze.

’As soft as if it had no bones.’

Xiao Wan’er almost cried out. In an instant, she felt as if her entire body was on fire.

Even so, she didn’t dare lift her head, terrified of meeting Chen Yi’s eyes.

’If that happened, she didn’t know if she would die of embarrassment and wish for the ground to swallow her whole.’

’Hopeless.’

After that, Xiao Wan’er gave up trying to move, simply letting him hold her hand.

Her heart was pounding relentlessly.

Her mind a chaotic mess, she felt for the first time in her life that time was passing so slowly.

Fengchun Building was only two streets away from the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion.

It was so close, yet the journey felt so long.

It wasn’t until the carriage entered the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion and Shen Huatang knocked twice on the carriage wall to announce their arrival that Xiao Wan’er dared to lift her head from her cloak.

But when she met Chen Yi’s teasing, smiling face, she instinctively shrank back again.

’Cute.’

The word popped into Chen Yi’s mind, and he chuckled inwardly.

Without realizing it, he had seen several of Xiao Wan’er’s rare expressions today.

’But we’re home now.’

Chen Yi let go of her hand and said with a smile, "Eldest Sister, we’ve arrived at the mansion."

Xiao Wan’er quickly pulled her hand back. "I-I know."

After taking a long moment to compose herself, she finally nodded and stepped out of the carriage first.

But her face was still bright red, and she seemed to be in a daze.

Xie Tingyun saw this and couldn’t help but wink at Shen Huatang again.

’See? I told you there was something going on between them.’

’Stop talking nonsense.’

Chen Yi, of course, was unaware of the thoughts of the two high disciples of the Celestial Sect outside the carriage.

He stepped out of the carriage.

Just as he was about to speak, he saw Wang Ji in the distance and, understanding, waved him over.

"Eldest Sister, Shopkeeper Wang is here. It must be that Boss Chen Yu from Hundred Herbs Hall has sent a reply. I’m going to go see."

Xiao Wan’er’s eyes darted quickly between him and Wang Ji before she nodded and walked toward the rear courtyard without a word.

Shen Huatang followed close behind.

Xie Tingyun, meanwhile, led the carriage to the stables.

Watching the three of them leave, Chen Yi greeted a few acquaintances nearby before leaving the Xiao Family grounds with Wang Ji.

Xiao Wan’er, on the other hand, walked a long way. It wasn’t until she had passed through the central courtyard that the coolness of the air finally began to seep into her.

She couldn’t help but let out a long breath.

Seeing her like this, Shen Huatang hesitated for a moment before asking in a low voice, "Eldest Miss, you and the Second Young Master-in-law..."

A blush rose on Xiao Wan’er’s face again, and she hurriedly quickened her pace.

"Huatang, quickly, come with me to sort through the mansion’s ledgers. The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming, and we need to prepare extra gifts for the various courtyards."

"..."

Shen Huatang watched her go, a flicker of astonishment crossing her usually cool and detached face.

’No way. Could Senior Sister have been right?’

’It can’t be, can it?’

’He’s the Second Miss’s...’

...

「A few moments later.」

Aboard the Hundred Herbs Hall carriage, Chen Yi discreetly spread a bit of his True Essence to confirm no one was paying attention before he asked calmly:

"Did Guard Liu send you?"

Wang Ji replied respectfully, "Yes. Guard Liu said you gave him instructions in advance."

Chen Yi grunted. "Change course and head to Chuansi Street."

After giving the order to the driver, Wang Ji continued, "I’ve also taken care of the matters Dabao mentioned this morning." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"The residence in the East Market was purchased through a familiar broker. He has already left the city to lay low for a while."

"Before leaving, he helped purchase three residences, all near Chuandong Street."

Chen Yi nodded slightly. "Make sure to clean up any loose ends."

Wang Ji’s heart stirred. He looked at Chen Yi and asked, "My lord, is something major going to happen in the city soon?"

Chen Yi glanced at him but didn’t elaborate, only instructing, "It doesn’t concern you."

"You just need to manage Hundred Herbs Hall well."

"This lowly one spoke out of turn. My lord, please forgive me."

Soon, Chen Yi arrived at the residence on Chuansi Street.

After having Zhang Dabao apply a disguise, he summoned Liu Lang.

Before long, Liu Lang hurried over.

"Boss, we’ve received word from the Spring Rain Building, just as you expected."

Chen Yi wasn’t surprised. "Tell me the details."

"Early this morning, Black Tooth came to find me. He told me to inform you that there’s a gathering at the Spring Rain Building tonight."

"Anything else?"

Liu Lang faltered. "Anything else... No, that’s all he said."

Chen Yi glanced at him sideways and prompted, "The third floor."

Realization dawned on Liu Lang, and he said with some embarrassment, "I haven’t been able to locate the silver coins."

"Did you notice anything unusual?"

"Unusual... yes, there was something."

"There are several new guards on the third floor. They don’t look like they belong to the Spring Rain Building. In fact, they have the air of Evil Demons about them."

Chen Yi understood. He looked out the window at the high sun and said thoughtfully, "I’ll go over tonight."

"But I’ll probably be a bit late. Explain that to Black Tooth for me."

Liu Lang was taken aback. "What are you going to do?"

"I’m going to invite a distinguished guest to accompany me to the Three Towns..."