Upon hearing the words "private interrogation," Tang Jiaojiao erupted in anger: "Throw all those from the Wannian County Government out, and henceforth, do not allow them to step foot inside the Duke Yan Mansion even half a step!"
When the eldest lady said to throw them out, it meant literally tossing them out from the front gate.
Yao He, with some agility, managed to stay stead, while Xue Shaoqin, a frail scholar, almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, Yao He swiftly supported him.
Xue Shaoqin instinctively thanked him, but upon realizing it was Yao He, couldn’t help but glare at him: "Look at what you’ve done!"
Yao He awkwardly chuckled, patted off the wrinkles on his clothes, and sighed: "I didn’t expect the Second Miss Tang, just a young girl, to be so cautious."
Xue Shaoqin straightened his attire and scolded: "Is this about being cautious? A gentleman does not deceive in the dark; how can your conscience be at ease troubling a young girl this way?"
Yao He laughed heartily: "I’m not a gentleman." Seeing Xue Shaoqin glare at him, he quickly conceded, "Yes! Yes! My fault! My fault!"
Only then did Xue Shaoqin stop glaring at him and continued scolding.
Yao He supported him with a smile as they walked away, lowering his voice to ask, "Don’t you think that the Second Miss Tang is overly nice to Ding Shiqi? She even specially sent him meals."
"So what?" Xue Shaoqin glared at him again, "Didn’t the Second Miss bring you meals?"
"I’m not—"
"You’re just being petty!" Xue Shaoqin interrupted coldly, "Although Ding Shiqi is just a servant, he is loyal and brave, saved the Second Miss; she is a kind and understanding child, reciprocating gratitude, what’s wrong with that?"
Yao He scoffed: "And you just know that little girl is kind and understanding? Didn’t she report us so harshly just now? She almost outright said we were probing into the Duke Yan Mansion!"
"How could the Second Miss have all your complicated thoughts?" Xue Shaoqin shrugged, "Isn’t she reporting you because you took advantage of her youth? If you didn’t have such crooked thoughts, would the Second Miss have reported you? Is such a pretty, adorable, humble, and courteous child ever wrong? It was all Yao He, this scoundrel, who provoked everything!"
Yao He no longer argued, laughed a couple of times, and changed the subject: "What do we do now? The Duke Yan Mansion won’t let us in; what can others find out? Just hearing the words ’Duke Yan’ would scare them lifeless."
Xue Shaoqin gave him a strange look: "Evidence has already been collected from the Duke Yan Mansion; why are you still fixated on that Ding Shiqi?"
"I just think there’s something odd about him." Yao He replied.
"What’s odd about him?"
Yao He pondered deeply for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Don’t you think... he doesn’t seem like a servant?"
...
"They suggest that Ding Shiqi doesn’t seem like a typical servant—"
Outside the Bright Moon Building, Tang Jiaojiao was saying something similar.
As spring came to an end in April, apricot blossoms fell petal by petal on the steps.
The delicate white petals landed softly on the little girl’s fine hair, but she flung them off with a sharp turn of her head.
"How does he not seem like one? In what way doesn’t he? Is it because he’s too good-looking? Having good looks isn’t his fault!" Tang Xiaobai fired off questions in quick succession.
Tang Jiaojiao listened and chuckled, brushing off an apricot blossom that had drifted onto her shoulder, and said: "Maybe it’s because he seems too composed despite his youth."
"What’s wrong with being composed?" Tang Xiaobai looked unconcerned, "Aren’t the people of the Duke Yan Mansion worldly? Must we be flustered upon seeing a government officer?" Thinking it over, she added, "It’s not just Ding Shiqi; the one I casually questioned today in the West Wing was also excellent!"
"Oh?" Tang Jiaojiao was skeptical.
"Yes!" Tang Xiaobai nodded vigorously, "If you don’t believe me, go find out for yourself. He’s called... I don’t know his name, but go to the West Wing and see for yourself. Our household servants are all good!"
The boy she questioned before was about the same age as Qin Xiao, not as handsome, but still endearing and pleasant. Especially when he spoke, his voice was clear and articulate, particularly pleasing to hear.
It’s fair to say the staff of the Duke Yan Mansion are indeed of high quality.
Tang Jiaojiao responded noncommittally with a "Hmm," took her hand, and led her into the house.
Before entering, she was a good sister who would protect and cherish the young.
Once inside, she flung her hand away and cast her a cold look: "You’ve embarrassed us all!"
Tang Xiaobai couldn’t immediately process the abrupt shift in their sisterly bond.
Tang Jiaojiao still felt unsatisfied and pinched her cheek harshly, saying: "How have I taught you usually? Are you going to let yourself be bullied in your own house? Are you only going to cry for help when bullied? Our Duke Yan Mansion has hundreds of people; wouldn’t you have them beaten up and thrown out?"
Tang Xiaobai was startled, covering her face and muttered: "That wouldn’t be right... even a County Magistrate is still an official..."
"A mere County Magistrate dares to run wild in our Duke Yan Mansion?" Tang Jiaojiao snorted coldly.
Tang Xiaobai sighed.
Sister, you’re so capable, do you even know how this will end?
At least she did.
But those were things she couldn’t say, so Tang Xiaobai could only sigh again and change the subject, asking: "Then... will they come again?" Being targeted by the government office was indeed worrisome.
Tang Jiaojiao sneered: "Yes!"
Tang Xiaobai’s face turned bitter.
"To come and apologize!"
Eh?
"Then... will they come to question Ding Shiqi again?" That was her main concern.
Tang Jiaojiao gave her a sidelong glance: "How would I know?"
Tang Xiaobai’s face grew even more bitter.
"Anyway, we’ll beat them up every time they come!"
Uh... Sister, you’re so skilled in plot twists, it’s a shame you don’t write webnovels.
However, knowing Qin Xiao wouldn’t be watched anymore, Tang Xiaobai felt much relieved. She happily helped the eldest sister to her seat, attentively flattering: "Sister, Sister, you came just in time earlier. When you appeared, those two were as pale as sheets... Ah right, Sister, how did you arrive so quickly?"
From the time she sent someone until Tang Jiaojiao appeared, there wasn’t even enough time for the servant to reach Tang Jiaojiao’s residence, the Vermilion Pavilion.
This speed, only slightly slower than a summons.
Tang Jiaojiao sat down, adjusting her sleeves, and glared at her: "I was coming to find you anyway. Originally, I came to see if you were taking your nap; how could I have known you’d get bullied at home without any means to defend yourself? You... you really made me proud!"
Tang Xiaobai humbly accepted the lesson: "I will certainly learn well from Sister!"
If it weren’t for the eldest sister and Little Qin, she would have been caught up in a scheme.
However, the eldest sister’s approach was reasonable, but the pearl in Little Qin’s hand... hidden quite deeply indeed...