Liu Si'er led five armored guards in a salute to Wang Lixing, then turned and went to inspect the front courtyard as usual.
The moon shone clear and bright, spilling silver light across the ground.
The dim yellow lanterns swayed, leaving Liu Si'er's figure indistinct in their shifting light.
He gripped the long saber at his waist and scanned his surroundings, missing not a single blind spot.
"Fourth Brother, do we really need to be so tense? Would those petty thieves actually dare break into the Marquis's mansion to seek their deaths?"
Liu Si'er said evenly, "Didn't you hear what Second Master said? There have been quite a few unfamiliar faces in the city these past few days, including experts of the upper three grades."
"Besides-just stay sharp, all of you. If someone really sneaks in, we'll all be punished!"
Liu Si'er wasn't certain whether any villains would actually come.
It was just that he had received a message from the Silver Banner Officer yesterday, ordering him to investigate the situation within the Xiao Family closely.
Although the secret letter from the Silver Banner Officer hadn't specified what information he should investigate, given the recent rumors in Shuzhou, Liu Si'er could readily guess that it concerned whether Xiao Fengchun and Fu Wanqing were still alive and whether they were hiding with the Xiao Family.
It wasn't just him. Those scoundrels constantly spying on the Xiao Family from outside probably had the same aim.
As Liu Si'er pondered these things, he circled along the bridle path from the front courtyard to the rear courtyard.
"Fourth Brother, there shouldn't be anything happening in the Rear Residence."
"The people with the highest cultivation bases in our mansion are all watching this area. What blind fool of a thief would dare come here?"
"Exactly.