Chapter 234: Chapter 198: Liu Wu, Most Suspicious

「Just past noon.」

The scorching sun beat down, and pedestrians along the road were drenched in sweat.

But Wang Ji, riding in his horse-drawn carriage and holding an ice-filled jar, was feeling refreshed and clear-headed. As he thought about the tasks Chen Yi had given him, he couldn’t help but have some reservations.

Since Chen Yi had entrusted him with running the Hundred Herbs Hall as its Shopkeeper, he had come to know the man quite well.

In his mind, Chen Yi was not only a greatly talented scholar but also skilled in the art of business and the Medical Dao.

This was evident from the ever-growing success of the Hundred Herbs Hall.

But there were other things Chen Yi did that Wang Ji simply couldn’t fathom.

Even though he had a hand in some of these affairs, they still felt shrouded in mystery.

For example, why sell the house in the East Market right after buying it, only to purchase several more?

And why was Guard Liu active only at night? What was he doing?

Then there was what Zhang Dabao had unintentionally let slip—that Chen Yi sometimes went out at night in disguise.

With all these things going on, Wang Ji couldn’t help but overthink.

It wasn’t that he was worried for his own safety. He was simply afraid that if he were kept on the sidelines for too long, Chen Yi would no longer see him as important.

Take today, for instance. He had deduced that Chen Yi and Guard Liu were planning something major.

And yet, he was still stuck doing minor tasks like buying property and delivering letters.

It was hard not to feel dejected.

’Looks like I’ll have to brief Yan Hai properly before he leaves for Shu State. Can’t have him botching this trip.’

A short while later, Wang Ji’s carriage arrived at the Xiao Family estate.

This time, he didn’t intend to enter for a visit. Instead, he handed a letter to the Third Steward, who was waiting at the entrance, and said with a respectful clasp of his hands,

"I must ask you, Steward, to please deliver this letter to the Eldest Miss for me."

The Third Steward, Lu Tong, was younger than the first and second stewards of the mansion. He was about forty, in the prime of his life, and naturally quick-witted.

He took the letter, glanced at it, and said with some surprise, "Oh? Is this from the Second Young Master-in-law?"

Wang Ji smiled and nodded. "My boss and Mr. Qingzhou hit it off immediately. They’ve made plans for an evening outing by Quchi tonight. To prevent anyone in the mansion from worrying, Mr. Qingzhou asked me to deliver this letter to the Eldest Miss."

The Third Steward put the letter away with a nod of understanding and clasped his hands in thanks. "Thank you for taking the trouble to come all this way, Shopkeeper Wang."

Having been with the mansion for a long time, he was naturally aware of the partnership between the Xiao Family Medicine Hall and the Hundred Herbs Hall. He had also heard that the mansion was earning a handsome profit from it.

As such, he naturally held Wang Ji, the Shopkeeper of the Hundred Herbs Hall, in high regard.

"You’re too kind, Steward Lu. Now that the letter is delivered, I won’t take up any more of your time. I’ll let you get back to your work."

Just as Lu Tong was about to reply with a few pleasantries, he heard a commotion behind him.

With no time for further words, he simply bid Wang Ji farewell before taking the letter and hastily shutting the mansion gates.

Wang Ji, for his part, didn’t try to pry.

It was only natural for a great house like the Xiao Family to have matters they preferred outsiders not to see.

In any case, he had delivered the letter.

Meanwhile, Lu Tong entered the front courtyard. He took one look, his brow furrowed, and asked in a low voice,

"Hundred Households Wang, what is going on?"

He saw Wang Lixing, who had been away from the mansion for some time, berating Ge the Third and Liu Si’er. When he heard Lu Tong’s question, he offered no detailed explanation, simply saying,

"My apologies, Steward Lu. I was a bit loud just now."

"As long as you’re aware. This is not far from the main gate. A commotion here will inevitably attract the attention of passersby and start idle talk."

"You’re right to correct me."

Seeing that he had stopped, Lu Tong said no more and headed directly for the rear courtyard with the letter.

Wang Lixing pursed his lips, glaring coldly at Ge the Third and Liu Si’er.

"You two are veterans in this mansion, so I’ll let it slide this time. If there’s a next time, you can go explain yourselves to the Second Master and receive your punishment!"

Liu Si’er and Ge the Third nodded with sheepish smiles. "We’ll head to the medicine halls in a bit to try and fix this. You have to put in a good word for us with the Second Master."

"Hah. Scared now, are you?"

"Mistakes happen. We really didn’t expect such a lapse during our patrol. To think someone would steal herbs from the Medicine Hall in broad daylight."

"Enough excuses. Get over there and find out what’s going on before word of this reaches the Eldest Miss."

"Right, right, right..."

Wang Lixing shot the two of them a final glare before turning and heading toward the central courtyard.

Once he was a good distance away,

Ge the Third and Liu Si’er exchanged a glance. Then, wearing woeful expressions, they placated the surrounding Armored Warriors before leaving the Marquis’s Mansion together.

It wasn’t until they were on South Street that Liu Si’er’s lips finally moved. "I truly never imagined you were ’Hawk,’ sir."

"If you hadn’t given me that signal earlier, I nearly would have reported you to Wang Lixing."

Ge the Third cracked a smile. The miserable look on his face was long gone, replaced by a shrewd glint in his eye.

"Something unexpected came up. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have willingly exposed myself."

Liu Si’er didn’t ask what the unexpected event was. He remained silent, waiting for further orders.

Ge the Third glanced at him and nodded to himself, inwardly approving of the Iron Banner Officer’s discipline.

After they had walked a bit farther, he finally explained,

"Recently, I and several other Silver Banner Officers have been planning a major operation."

"It was supposed to be top secret, but last night, one of the Xiao Family’s Hidden Guards got an insider to talk."

"Although that Hidden Guard was critically injured and the Old Marquis hasn’t received the intel yet, my associates and I must respond to this. We can’t let it jeopardize our main objective."

"I can’t go into the specifics."

"I’m telling you this so you can be prepared. It’s very likely I’ll have to pull out ahead of schedule."

As he spoke, Ge the Third carefully scanned their surroundings for anything out of the ordinary. Once he was certain no one was watching, he continued,

"Whether our operation succeeds or fails, you have only one mission from here on out: maintain your cover and keep a close eye on the ’Fledgling’ for me."

Liu Si’er committed every word to memory.

’No wonder the Old Marquis was in such a rage today,’ Liu Si’er thought. ’He even ordered the Third Master to make inquiries with the Imprisonment Department. It must have been about that Hidden Guard.’