Chen Yi gave an order, then glanced impassively at "Uncle Gui" before adding to Wang Lixing:
"Today, we'll check out a livelier, more bustling area. I'll need you to bring a few skilled men, Brother Xing."
"Understood."
Wang Lixing accepted the order and left.
A few Armored Warriors stood guard outside the garden.
Chen Yi then led Xiao Wuge into the Spring Lotus Garden. He saw Xiaodie sitting in the pavilion, staring blankly at the pond, and said with a warm smile:
"Xiaodie, take the Young Master to change into some plainer clothes. We're going out for a stroll later."
"Oh, huh?"
Xiaodie started, then her mind caught up. "Sir, has the Second Master lifted your confinement?"
"The Old Marquis gave his approval, so the Second Uncle won't object."
"Don't worry, we're not going to a place like South City this time."
"Oh, good." Xiaodie patted her chest, relieved.
Chen Yi patted Xiao Wuge on the back, gesturing for him to follow Xiaodie and change his clothes.
Once the two had entered the side room, his smile vanished. After a quick scan of the area, he immediately executed the Wandering Dragon and Phoenix Body Technique, vaulting lightly into Jiaxing Garden.
With his current Middle Stage of Ninth Grade Cultivation and Skilled Level Wandering Dragon and Phoenix Body Technique, he could cross ten zhang and leap over a low wall in just three breaths when exerting his full strength.
After confirming Jiaxing Garden was empty, Chen Yi went straight to the pavilion from before and reached underneath to feel around.
Soon, he found a piece of coarse paper. He opened it and took a look.
"B-14, C-3, S-21..."
Four lines of thirty-two code groups. It was still a cipher that required a key to be decoded.
Chen Yi quickly memorized it, then placed it back under the pavilion. His body moved like the wind as he leaped over the rockery and returned to the Spring Lotus Garden.
Before he could even settle the churning Qi Mechanism in his body, he heard the voices of several Armored Warriors outside the garden:
"Brother Si, it's rare to see you in the rear courtyard. Did Brother Xing call for you?"
"Yeah. I heard the Young Master is leaving the mansion."
"And the Master, too, with his group. I hope they're not going to South City this time..."
'Liu Si'er sure got here fast,' Chen Yi thought.
'I wonder if he was tipped off by that "Uncle Gui" or if this is just his scheduled time.'
'Still, hiding the secret letter in a 'third-party' location like this feels unnecessarily complicated.'
Chen Yi stood quietly for a moment. He glanced toward the wooden building and saw that Xiaodie and Xiao Wuge weren't ready yet, so he quietly slipped over to the outside of the slightly more distant wooden building.
KNOCK... KNOCK-KNOCK.
He tapped on the door.
Pei Guanli opened the door a crack and held out a small, pale hand, palm up.
Chen Yi paused. "...My apologies, I forgot to bring you breakfast."
He'd been so focused on getting the Old Marquis to lift his confinement, and then he'd run into Uncle Gui right after returning, that he'd completely forgotten about it.
Inside, Pei Guanli pouted, pathetically rubbing her stomach. "Brother-in-law, I'm hungry..."
Chen Yi could only offer a few words of comfort before instructing her in a low voice, "Do you remember that Armored Warrior you saw earlier?"
Pei Guanli's spirits lifted, and she forgot all about being hungry. Blinking her big eyes, she asked with great interest, "Brother-in-law, is he making a move again?"
Chen Yi hummed in affirmation. "His name is Liu Si'er. The Young Master and I will be leaving the mansion shortly, and he should be following us. I want you to try to get into his quarters and look for any books, painting albums, play scripts, and so on that he has. Just write down the titles."
A delighted look appeared on Pei Guanli's face. "Okay, okay."
Chen Yi cautioned her, "Don't be so quick to agree. It's daytime, and security in the Marquis's Mansion is tight. If it's not possible, just retreat. And remember, don't cause a commotion like last time."
"Also, his accomplice is still hiding in the mansion—it's that hunchbacked old man you saw earlier. Be careful not to let him spot you."
"I understand, I understand..."
Seeing her like this, Chen Yi still felt uneasy and reminded her of a few more things.
He then told her the general location of Liu Si'er's residence and what to watch out for, before leaving with a natural expression.
The two secret letters had thoroughly piqued his interest.
If he didn't figure out who these people were and what they were after, he'd probably dream about it at night.
That was why he had subtly instructed Wang Lixing earlier. He had been planning to lure Liu Si'er away so that Pei Guanli could conduct her search.
As he thought, Chen Yi stood outside the wooden building. 'If it works, it works. If not, I'll find another chance.'
Once Xiao Wuge and Xiaodie had changed into plain clothes, Chen Yi led them out.
"Brother-in-law, we don't need to call Brother Heir, do we?"
"If you want to, I don't mind."
"Hehe, I don't! I really, really don't..."
「Not long after.」
The Spring Lotus Garden was exceptionally quiet.
Pei Guanli carefully pulled open the wooden door. Amid a CREAK, she surveyed her surroundings, a cunning look on her face.
'I knew coming to the Xiao Mansion was the right choice, and following Brother-in-law was the right choice, too.'
'Not only does he teach me how to break through to the next Realm and point out the flaws in my Technique, but he's also letting me help him catch a spy in the Marquis's Mansion.'
'Hehe, how interesting! Sister Jinghong's husband is much more fun than those people in my tribe.'
'Ah Ge, Brother-in-law should be the one to be Sister Jinghong's husband. You're just not in the same league.'
While thinking this, Pei Guanli tiptoed out.
Bright sunlight shone on her, revealing that she had changed into the attire of a Maid from the Marquis's Mansion.
The short green top was puffy, worn over a horse-face skirt. On her feet was a pair of embroidered cloth shoes. Combined with the pair of buns in her hair, she was the very picture of a pretty Maid.
After making sure no one was around, Pei Guanli stretched and then headed toward the location Chen Yi had described.
Who would have thought that just as she reached the entrance, she would run head-on into an eagerly dashing Zhang Heng.
Zhang Heng glanced at her, then ran into the Spring Lotus Garden without a second thought, shouting, "Runaway groom! Brother Wuge! This Heir has arrived! Come out and greet me..."
Pei Guanli pouted her full lips. Before he could realize the Spring Lotus Garden was empty, she scurried away.
Along the way, she walked without a hint of fear.
Aside from her eyes darting around from time to time, whenever she encountered Maids or Household Servants from the mansion, she would even exchange a few plausible pleasantries.
Even when the burly Armored Warriors looked her way, she met them with a magnanimous smile.
A few of the young, vigorous Armored Warriors, full of Blood Qi, were so captivated by her smile that they stared at her retreating back until she was out of sight.
"Which residence is that Maid from?"
"Probably not from the main branch. Maybe from one of the masters' courtyards in the second branch. Last time, I heard that Master Chen is keeping a mistress outside."
"You mean she's... with that figure and those looks? What a pity."
"Don't even think about it. We may be the Marquis's Mansion's Personal Guards, but marriage still depends on family background. How could a pretty little thing like her ever look our way?"
"You're right..."
It wasn't that these Armored Warriors failed to notice something odd about Pei Guanli.
Firstly, the Marquis's Mansion was a bustling place. Aside from the gatekeeping Household Servants and the Third Steward, no one could remember so many faces.
Secondly, in broad daylight, the Armored Warriors naturally let their guard down. It was the same principle as 'darkness under the lamp'—the closest place is often the most overlooked.
No one would ever imagine someone would dare to throw on a Maid's uniform and strut around the Marquis's Mansion. Even Chen Yi hadn't expected Pei Guanli to be so bold.
She was truly living up to his personal evaluation of her as a "recklessly bold girl." She certainly had a tiger's spirit.
In any case, Pei Guanli met no obstacles along the way and smoothly arrived outside a side building next to the front courtyard stables.
'One, two, three... seven, eight. There are so many rooms! Which one is Liu Si'er's?'
Pei Guanli looked left and right; they all looked the same. She tilted her head in thought, and a clever smile instantly appeared on her face.
Then, she cupped her hands around her mouth and, as if she were singing a mountain folk song like in the old days, called out in a clear, crisp voice:
"Anyone home?"
"Who is it?"
"A girl? A girl is here?"
Her call was like a single stone setting off a thousand ripples. Two stablehands came out to look. Seeing it was a pretty Maid, they self-consciously tugged at their sweaty shirts.
"Miss, who are you looking for?"
"Which room does Brother Si live in? The Master and the Young Master left the mansion and forgot something. They said it's in Brother Si's room, so I've come to look for it."
"The one at the very end... Ah, forget it. I'll take you. It's dirty and messy by the stables here, don't want to get your clothes dirty, Miss."
Pei Guanli smiled and thanked them, then followed them to Liu Si'er's room.
After sending them away, she patted her puffy chest, muttering to herself about how she was scared to death, so frightened, and that she'd have to make her brother-in-law compensate her.
It's just that, Miss, when you say things like that, could you please not smile so happily?