Two Lines

Thinking he had figured out the reason, Xu Yi withdrew his perception. Just then, a servant happened to pass by, and he stopped him, deliberately asking where the Head Butler was.

Knowing Xu Yi's status was no ordinary one, the servant answered and hurried into the inner courtyard to find the Head Butler and notify him.

In the elegant room, Marquis Anqing was startled to hear that Xu Yi had returned. The hairs on his body nearly stood on end. He stared hard at the Head Butler. "Didn't you say he'd already left? How did he come back? Could you have given something away?"

He knew how troublesome Xu Yi could be. The key to his entire scheme lay in keeping Xu Yi unaware; if the man caught even the faintest whiff of anything, all the painstaking plans would likely go up in smoke.

The Head Butler had never seen Marquis Anqing wear such a terrifying expression. He kept kowtowing. "Please calm down, my lord. This old servant watched Mr. Xu—no, that Xu fellow—leave with my own eyes. He must have come back for something else."

In truth, the Head Butler had already guessed that the problem most likely stemmed from his panicked order for the burly middle-aged man to go to the accounts office and collect his reward. But with Marquis Anqing liable to fly into a rage, how could he dare admit it?

"Go at once. Be sure to sound him out."

Marquis Anqing waved his hand repeatedly.

The Head Butler hurried off and raced to the front courtyard, forcing a smile as he asked warmly, "Hadn't you already left, sir? What brings you back? Is there something else you need?"

Xu Yi smiled. "I just received word that the trouble facing the Xiong brothers has been settled.