Did Brother-in-law See It?

Seeing that the newcomer was Liu Si'er, Chen Yi secretly frowned and said with an unchanged expression on his face:

"Fourth Brother, what is the urgent matter that brings you to Chunhe Garden in the middle of the night?"

Standing in the shadows on the inner side of the corridor, Liu Si'er stepped forward at those words, exposing himself to the moonlight, and bowed in salute as he looked straight at him:

"This subordinate was presumptuous. Just now, this subordinate heard footsteps in the garden, and fearing for the safety of the Young Marquis and the Son-in-law, I barged in blindly. I hope the Son-in-law will forgive me."

Chen Yi looked at him calmly, guessing when he had entered Chunhe Garden and whether he had seen Pei Guanli.

"Just now, I was practicing in the dead of night, not expecting to cause Fourth Brother to misunderstand."

Liu Si'er uttered an "oh", maintaining his bowing posture, raised his head to look at him, and after sizing him up, said with sudden realization:

"Is the Son-in-law worried about the upcoming examination? That is true, the Second Master is truly too harsh on you to make you step into the lower stage of the Ninth Rank Realm within two months."

Before Chen Yi could reply, Wang Lixing was seen walking into Chunhe Garden. Evidently having heard the conversation between the two, he glanced at them and frowned as he said:

"Fourth Brother, you are not following the rules this way."

Liu Si'er repeatedly agreed, saying with a smile: "Pardon me, Son-in-law; pardon me, Lixing. I was indeed a bit impatient."

Wang Lixing patted him on the shoulder, then bowed to Chen Yi and said: "Son-in-law, it was I who failed to stop Fourth Brother. I hope you will forgive me."

Chen Yi understood in his heart that Liu Si'er should have just entered Chunhe Garden and, catching sight of his figure, wanted to test him.

Thinking of this, Chen Yi smiled openly: "No matter. Fourth Brother is concerned with the safety inside Chunhe Garden, so he deserves a reward. Tomorrow I will have a word with Wu Ge and let him request it from the Old Marquis."

Wang Lixing's expression froze slightly. "This..."

Liu Si'er's heart sank slightly. Even if he did not spot anything unusual about Chen Yi, hearing him maneuver against him like this right now made him very displeased.

If not for knowing that the Directorate had plans and arrangements regarding the fledgling, he would have definitely given the fledgling a taste of color.

Before the two could speak again, Chen Yi waved his hand and said: "This son-in-law is tired. You two should continue guarding outside the gate."

Seeing him leisurely enter the wooden tower, where a lamp lit up in the study inside, Wang Lixing's expression turned somewhat ugly as he turned and pulled Liu Si'er outward.

"Fourth Brother, you crossed the line this time!"

Liu Si'er gave two dry laughs and said: "Sorry, just now I misheard, thinking it was that petty thief who sneaked into the Marquis's mansion previously."

"I didn't think much of it, and before I had time to notify you and Third Brother, I leaped over the wall and into the garden to check. It was my fault."

Even so, recalling Chen Yi's response just now, he turned to ask: "Has the Son-in-law been practicing the Great Spear Stance Cultivation all this time recently?"

Watching him not seem to be faking it, Wang Lixing sighed and said: "The Second Master's examination is no joke, and the Son-in-law naturally knows the consequences. When that petty thief broke in last time, I knew he was secretly practicing at night."

Liu Si'er clicked his tongue inwardly. It seemed to be true.

Immediately, he lifted the suspicion surrounding Chen Yi.

Come to think of it, this fledgling Chen Yi was merely a weak scholar and had been imprisoned in the Chen Family of Jiangnan for so long; even with some knowledge, it was impossible for him to discover him.

It was just that after these past few days of investigation, he could be certain that the maid who had entered his room was the one who appeared in several dwellings in the back courtyard.

Since she was not in Chunhe Garden, she could only be in the neighboring Jiaxing Garden.

The latter was more likely-perhaps when he sent out that secret letter, that person saw it clear as day.

Thinking to himself inwardly, Liu Si'er wore a somewhat wry smile on his face. "What now? The Son-in-law is going to lodge a complaint with the Old Marquis..."

Wang Lixing glanced at him and said helplessly: "Based on my observations over these past few days, the Son-in-law is very easy to talk to. Tomorrow you should go find him and make an apology."

"It can only be so..."

Inside the wooden tower.

Chen Yi leaned against the window, gazing at the tranquil garden outside.

The moonlight fell upon him through the gaps in the trees, swaying with the wind and leaving behind an erratic shadow of him.

Amidst the silence, he pondered quietly.

Liu Si'er should have tracked Pei Guanli's traces from that day to reach the back courtyard. It seemed necessary to remind Pei Guanli to be careful hereafter.

Although with the connection of Xiao Jinghong, the Marquis's mansion would not do anything to Pei Guanli, Liu Si'er was another matter entirely.

Chen Yi next thought of the contents of that secret letter, his thoughts churning.

What on earth do these people from the Hidden Guard want with me?

People on the outer fringes of the Hidden Guard like Liu Si'er and Uncle Gui should not know about it. After all, they have been in the Marquis's mansion for so many years, and their time does not line up with when I arrived here.

Perhaps the Hidden Guard mentioned in the secret letter as replacing Liu Si'er knows something.

Thinking of this, Chen Yi stood in the side chamber, his feet crossed and interlaced, circling in place seemingly slowly yet actually swiftly.

As his Meteor Butterfly Steps grew increasingly proficient, his figure gradually blurred, actually forming a ghostly shadow in the darkness.

Replacing Liu Si'er, replacing... That person should have come from outside the estate recently. It shouldn't be hard to investigate.

Early the next morning, Chen Yi was dressed neatly as he followed Wang Lixing to the Purple Bamboo Grove.

While loosening up his limbs, he asked: "That petty thief from earlier hasn't been caught yet, right?"

Seeing him bring it up on his own initiative, Wang Lixing explained: "With all due respect to the Son-in-law, apart from the personal guards on rotation, everyone else in the Marquis's mansion is investigating in secret."

"That is why Fourth Brother heard a commotion last night and became so nervous. I hope the Son-in-law will forgive him and spare him this once."

Chen Yi gave a light laugh and said: "Brother Xing, this son-in-law understands the logic of expediency in times of crisis, so naturally I won't blame Fourth Brother."

"It's just that things can happen once but not twice. If there is such a matter again next time, Brother Xing must hold him back a bit."

Wang Lixing's heart relaxed, and he hurriedly agreed.

Fortunately, it was the Son-in-law here; if it were the Second Miss here instead, Fourth Brother would likely suffer terribly.

"Let's leave it at that for today, then. Brother Xing can feel free to do as you please."

Wang Lixing opened his mouth, and watching Chen Yi not even pretending anymore, said in a muffled voice: "Son-in-law, or should this subordinate have a look at your Stake Training for you?"

Chen Yi waved his hand repeatedly. "No need. With you here, this son-in-law will feel uncomfortable instead, and the cultivation effect will be greatly diminished."

When Wang Lixing left Chunhe Garden, Chen Yi did not rush to cultivate, instead quietly heading to the wooden tower to find Pei Guanli.

Tap, tap-tap.

After a slight knock on the door, Pei Guanli ran over, appearing as if she had just woken up and was still muddled.

With her hair disheveled, the string of bells still worn around her neck, and wearing only undergarments, she opened the door and said in a spoiled, lazy voice: "Brother-in-law, it's not dawn yet..."

Chen Yi glanced over without lingering, and directly shoved the written slip of paper into the doorway, reminding her in a low voice: "Remember to burn it after reading."

With that, he returned once more to the Purple Bamboo Grove.

Pei Guanli closed the door, rubbed her sore eyes, and by the faint lamplight, read the contents of the slip of paper. Her little tiger teeth instantly bared themselves.

Fine! I haven't come looking for you yet, but you're being unrelenting instead.

Just you wait until Brother-in-law finishes peeping at you, see if I don't have Sister Jinghong wipe you out.

Pei Guanli muttered a few words, and after reducing the slip of paper to complete ashes, she finally felt the chill on her body and looked down at herself.

"Ah!"

Pei Guanli crossed her arms over her chest, two flushes instantly blooming on her face.

Brother-in-law saw it, right?

Brother-in-law must have seen it.

Her face burning like fire, Pei Guanli hurriedly ran back to the side chamber, leaped onto Xiao Jinghong's bed, and buried herself deep inside the quilt.

By now she was thoroughly awake, and completely unable to sleep anymore.