Early in the next morning, Old Madam suddenly gathered all nannies and servant girls in her courtyard. This had been the first time for her to summon so many people together since she was ill and asked servants to leave for a good rest.
Everyone arrived. Near the stairs, Old Madam closed her eyes to take a break on a large chair on which a brocade cushion was placed, while Qin Yunuan waited by her side quietly along with Maner and Ting Xue.
Yuanyang looked around the courtyard in a majestic manner and then said seriously, “Yesterday, Third Young Madam lost a valuable agarwood-made case. We’ve searched all maids and servants in Jiyu Pavillion, but we didn’t find it. This case is very precious. If any of you has seen this or has sticky fingers, you’d better hand it over now. If so, Old Madam won’t blame you. Otherwise, she will punish you no matter what contribution you have made to our family.”
Most people in the courtyard were obedient. But several veteran nannies who had worked here for 4 decades were bold. “Your Grace, this is not fair to just suspect us of stealing Third Young Madam’s case. You should treat everyone equally before catching the thief, so why not also interrogate people working in Concubine Sun’s mansion?”
Immediately, some people echoed, “Right. We all are here to take interrogations except Concubine Sun’s servants. There is nothing valuable getting lost before Concubine Sun moved in. Who knows whether one of her maids steals the case?”
“Shut up.” Old Madam suddenly scolded coldly and loudly. She opened her eyes which had seen so many changes. There were wisdom and cruelty mirrored in them. “Yuanyang, search everywhere.”
“We protest.” The nanny who spoke first just now yelled again, “Although Third Young Madam is an infant and comes from a prestigious family, she can’t treat us in this way. We have all worked here for a long time, but those of Concubine Sun have not. If you want to search for us, you should search for them first.”
At once, all people asked loudly to search Concubine Sun’s servants first. Qin Yunuan took a glance at Old Madam in silence. This actually was what they wanted. Qin Yunuan smiled. All accidents that happened before had proved that the Sun Family had bunches of tricks planned for them. So this time, she had to strike first, or she would be held in play.
Dongchun Courtyard, Sun Baozhen’s place, was quiet. Sun Baozhen already got up and Xiuru, her close maid, helped comb her hair on the temples. Sun Baozhen picked up a pomegranate-flower-shape clasp made of rubine from her make-up case. This clasp was her favorite. The rubine was glittering, and the flower shape was pretty and also cute.
“Your Grace,” Xiuru reminded her in a low voice, “You’ve already married, so such a flamboyant clasp is not suitable to wear.”
Sun Baozhen was a bit angry and looked askance saying nothing. Then Xiuru said obediently, “Madam has additionally prepared a set of jadeite jewelry as the dowry for you, and you can wear that when greeting and serving tea to Old Madam.”
While speaking, Xiuru opened a small case nervously and handed it to Sun Baozhen. The latter just took a glance and found the dark-green jadeite clasp and bracelet in it looked gorgeous but a bit old-fashioned. She said lightly, “At such a young age, should I wear these dated things?”
“Your Grace.”
Sun Baozhen shook her head and sighed. She knew where she was now. “Fine. Pin this clasp for me.” Without checking, Sun Baozhen randomly took out a clasp. For her, all things in the case were dated, so wearing which one made no difference.
Right at this time, a servant girl waiting outside ran in breathlessly and said, “Your Grace, Old Madam’s nanny has led many people here, and they are asking to search our courtyard.”
Sun Baozhen glared and suddenly shook off Xiuru’s hands. That delicate jadeite clasp was broken into three pieces.
“Play rough with me in the second day when I married Prince Ning. What does Ge Yunying want to do?”
Hearing this, Xiuru covered Sun Baozhen’s mouth at once and said, “Your Grace, you can’t directly call Old Madam by her name.”
Sun Baozhen was a grumpy woman, but she could use the mesmerization spell better than anyone else in the Sun Family. So Madam Sun had spent most time and energy training her. Xiuru was cautious and skilled, so Madam Sun specially picked her out to serve Sun Baozhen. She would be a great help for Sun Baozhen in the Prince Ning’s mansion.
It was noisy outside. The leading person was a capable nanny who served Old madam, and she was arguing with Sun Baozhen’s servant girl.
“Now that you work in our mansion, you have to obey all rules here. All people in the mansion will be searched. How can you be spared?”
“What on earth is missing, and you search for it in such a big way? If we see it, we’ll send it back to Third Young Madam.”
“It’s the heirloom Old Madam gave to her. It’s priceless.” The nanny was resolute.
“Now that every corner is searched, my courtyard of course can’t be spared.” Sun Baozhen already came out. She wore a piece of gorgeous aqua-blue dress embroidered with the golden Phoenix, with her waist tied tightly to show her good figure. Gorgeous as it was, this dress was a bit dull, not as bright as what young girls wore.
“Your Grace.” Seeing Sun Baozhen, servant girls outside all curtsied to her.
Taking a glance at the nanny, Sun Baozhen said, “Help yourself.”
The nanny had no concern and directly took servant girls to walk in. Sun Baozhen gave a hint with eyes, and Xiuru followed them immediately. Sun Baozhen just lived here, and she had no time to search for the fourth map. However, she couldn’t just let other people frame her at will in this search.
Dongchun Courtyard was not big, but the nanny had searched it for a long time. Although she carefully searched every corner including Sun Baozhen’s bedroom, she found no case.
“Now, you can go back to report the result to Old Madam.” Sun Baozhen wore a smile.
“Wait.” The nanny suddenly said, “There is one place we missed.” Then she glanced at Xiuru who stood near her. “That’s Xiuru’s bedroom.”
Sun Baozhen snorted and expected that they wouldn’t find the missing case in Xiuru’s room. Because she knew well about Xiuru and other servants in her courtyard as well. All people who followed her to live here were outstanding and loyal.
At once, the nanny took people to walk in Xiuru’s room and searched everywhere, even Xiuru’s cabinet and bedding. Not long, a young servant girl pointed at a bronze basin which was put upside down. She said, “There is a wooden case in it.”
Sun Baozhen frowned and saw that girl took out a palm-size agarwood case. The servant girl was bold and took a look at Sun Baozhen. At once, Sun Baozhen knew what was waiting for her. She remembered this unimpressive small girl, Xi’er, who served Qin Yunuan.
The leading nanny took a look and confirmed, “Right. This is the missing case.”
Sun Baozhen was furious inside, but she tried to remain clam. “Nanny, what do you mean?”
The leading nanny said reverently, “Your Grace, please follow us to see Old Madam.”
Xiuru looked pale. She had never expected that there was such a case in her room. She kept a close eye on everyone who searched her room, and they had no chance to place the case just now.
“Your Grace, I’m innocent. Please save me!”
Sun Baozhun didn’t look at Xiuru, but Xi’er, who seemed calm but a bit happy, happy about their half-done trick. She said, “Don’t worry. If it is someone that frames you, I won’t easily spare her!”
In the Lotus Fragrance Courtyard, Leng Shuang was reporting the latest news. Qin Yunuan and Old Madam were sitting under the pavilion to play chess. They were at the final phase which few could solve. Old Madam loved to play chess and had solved many difficult chess games except this one.
“Concubine Sun is coming here.”
Old Madam nodded and still focused on the chessboard. Qin Yunuan didn’t know how to play chess, but Old Madam was in a good mood and asked her to watch and learn.
“My sister once thought I was too bold and not suitable to play chess.” Old Madam held a white chess piece and didn’t decide where to put it. “But I think you are even bolder.”
“Strike first.” Qin Yunuan still slowly analyzed this chess game along with Old Madam. “I don’t think I’m taking risks.”
Old Madam didn’t look up and asked, “Take a look. If you play this, how do you solve it?”
Qin Yunuan merely knew how to play Go, and she barely understood that the black side already put the white side into an impasse. No matter which stepped the white side chose to go next, the other side would hound it again. This was why there were only two people knowing how to solve this.
“Fine, you don’t even know how to play chess.” Seeing Qin Yunuan said nothing for a long time, Old Madam shook her head.
“I figure it out.” Qin Yunuan suddenly smiled and swiped all chess pieces on the chessboard to the ground. The sound chess pieces made when they fell down was harsh. “Old Madam, this is my solution.”
Old Madam was in a trance, and Qin Yunuan said every word clearly, “Now that we’re in the impasse, we should not follow rules anymore. Feel fear-free to fight, and we can walk out of the impasse.”
Old Madam looked at Qin Yunuan attentively. Right at this time, Yuanyang reported in a low voice, “Old Madam, Third Young Madam, Concubine Sun has arrived.”
Qin Yunuan smiled. When she looked back, she saw Sun Baozhen already stood gracefully near the pavilion stairs. Qin Yunuan smiled as majestic as a powerful hostess.
“Old Madam.” Sun Baozhen curtsied slowly and then suddenly turned back to shout at Xiuru who was behind her. “You, kneel down.”
Seeing Sun Baozhen changed her attitude suddenly, Xiuru was a bit frightened. “Your…Your Grace.”
“Kneel down!” Sun Baozhen sounded very serious.
