The red lanterns at the entrance of the Yongchang Marquis’s mansion had been replaced with white ones bearing the character of “mourning”. Yu Jin’s face looked even worse than the swaying white lanterns.
He had waited here for half a day, only to see this?
He punched the tree trunk, causing the large tree to shake violently and drop many leaves.
“Master, your hand is bleeding!”
Yu Jin carelessly wiped his hand with a handkerchief, his gaze never leaving the entrance of the Yongchang Marquis’s mansion.
Long Dan secretly rolled his eyes.
His master was truly a jar of vinegar (extremely jealous). With such a major event at the Yongchang Marquis’s mansion, even if the heir was a scoundrel, he wouldn’t be thinking about romance at a time like this. Miss Jiang was perfectly safe.
He had completely underestimated his master.
How could Yu Jin be just a jar of vinegar? He was a river of vinegar!
Yu Jin understood the logic that Long Dan could figure out, but just thinking about Jiang Si standing next to another man made his heartache.
“Long Dan.”
“This servant is here.”
“Didn’t the maid following Miss Jiang carry a small bundle?”
“Yes.”
Yu Jin narrowed his eyes, “Their two mansions are so close, why would her maid need to bring a bundle?”
Long Dan thought for a moment, then had a flash of insight, “Miss Jiang must be staying over!”
With the two mansions being neighbors, only staying overnight would require bringing personal items.
Yu Jin’s face darkened even more as he turned to leave.
“Master, where are you going?” Long Dan hurried to catch up.
“To find Erniu.”
At crucial moments, Erniu was more useful than guards.
Erniu had returned to the civilian residence in Quezi Hutong and was happily eating a bowl of meat bones.
Cold Shadow, usually taciturn and expressionless, was exceptionally gentle with Erniu, “Don’t rush, there’s more after you finish.”
As he spoke, he extended a hand with distinct knuckles and unceremoniously moved the bowl of meat bones away.
Moved it away!
Erniu looked up in confusion, meat juice still clinging to his whiskers.
Yu Jin patted Erniu’s back, “Stop eating, there’s important business.”
Erniu flopped onto the ground, sweeping his tail listlessly.
The half-eaten meat bones had been taken away. Was there anything more important than that?
In any case, he didn’t want to hear anything.
“Erniu—” Yu Jin’s tone carried a warning.
Erniu glanced sideways at his master, still maintaining a blank expression.
Depriving a dog of its food, doesn’t your conscience hurt, master?
“Go do the task first, and when you return, I’ll have Long Dan buy you some braised beef.”
Erniu immediately stood up, shaking his sleek fur, his tail wagging.
Yu Jin brought Erniu to a spot not far from the entrance of the Yongchang Marquis’s mansion and pointed at the vermilion-painted main gate, “Find a chance to sneak in and protect Miss Jiang well.”
Previously, when Asi went to stay at the Long Xing Marquis’s mansion, she encountered that psychopath of an heir who had buried a garden full of corpses. Now she was going to stay at the Yongchang Marquis’s mansion. Who knows what might happen?
He wished he could switch places with Erniu and go himself.
Erniu looked at Yu Jin warily.
Why was his master’s gaze so full of envy?
“Go on.” Yu Jin suppressed his regret and patted Erniu’s head.
Erniu let out a low bark, cleverly avoiding the crowds and running along the wall towards the back.
Yu Jin slowly withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyes to look at the scratch on the back of his hand, and silently left.
Jiang Si was led directly to Xie Qing’ao’s boudoir.
Xie Qing’ao sat motionless on the bed, surrounded by several women trying to console her.
Jiang Si felt a bit dazed.
Just yesterday, she and Xie Qing’ao were here chatting about the Jade Gentleman, praising the kitchen maid’s snowflake cakes, happy and carefree.
But in just one day, Xie Qing’ao’s life had undergone an earth-shattering change, and this change touched Jiang Si just as profoundly.
Jiang Si stood rooted to the spot, suddenly feeling as if her feet weighed a thousand pounds, unable to take a step.
The maid who had led Jiang Si in called out, “Miss, Fourth Miss Jiang is here.”