Jiaxing Garden?
Chen Yi stared at the contents on the panel, thinking that Hidden Guard really knew how to pick a place.
Among the ten residences in the Marquis's mansion's rear courtyard, only Jiaxing Garden had lax defenses, since Xiao Wan'er, Shen Huatang, and the others were away.
Recalling what he had seen when he visited Jiaxing Garden at night before, Chen Yi knew that the rockery pond lay just beyond the wall of his Chunhe Garden. A decision formed in his heart.
Even for the sake of Fortune, he had to go and see just who that so-called "Hidden Guard" was.
With that thought in mind.
Chen Yi calmed himself and waited quietly for the time it took to burn an incense stick. Once he was certain Xiao Die and the others had fallen sound asleep, he quietly rose again and left the Wooden Tower.
This time, with the Playful Dragon Teases Phoenix Body Movement Technique, his figure was even lighter and swifter. In barely five breaths, he reached the western courtyard wall of Chunhe Garden.
After cautiously surveying the surroundings and seeing no movement from the Armored Soldiers outside, Chen Yi vaulted into Jiaxing Garden.
What he did not notice was that, within Xiao Jinghong's chamber, a figure had spotted him and revealed a puzzled expression.
"Brother-in-law, what are you sneaking over there for?"
Pei Guanli tilted her head and thought for a moment. A sly smile appeared on her face, and she quietly left the side room as well, chasing after Chen Yi.
Elsewhere.
Hidden beneath a cluster of flowers and trees, Chen Yi crouched in a corner of Jiaxing Garden, quietly waiting for that "Hidden Guard" to appear.
But not long after he had hidden himself, he saw a figure vault over from the direction of Chunhe Garden.
He had thought it was the Hidden Guard. Looking closely, however, he saw that it was Pei Guanli.
Chen Yi was rendered speechless.
But it was clearly inappropriate to warn her now. Who knew whether that Hidden Guard had already arrived in Jiaxing Garden?
Left with no other choice, he tossed out a stone, creating a faint sound.
Fortunately, Pei Guanli was clever enough to follow the noise over. Upon seeing him, she opened her mouth and asked, "Sister..."
Before she could finish, Chen Yi clamped a hand over her mouth, pulled her into the thicket, and lowered his voice beside her ear. "Shut up and watch."
The scorching breath made Pei Guanli's earlobe itch. She hurriedly waved to show that she understood.
Chen Yi released her without another word. He merely pointed toward the rockery pond, signaling for her to watch and stay silent.
Pei Guanli followed the direction of his finger. Though she had no idea what she was supposed to see, she knew she could not make a sound now, so she obediently crouched to one side.
Chen Yi ignored her, his eyes fixed tightly upon the rockery pond as he waited for the Hidden Guard to arrive.
As they waited, within the silent thicket.
Pei Guanli inexplicably recalled the scorching sensation beside her ear. Her little heart was still pounding nonstop.
She touched her slightly burning cheeks and glanced at Chen Yi.
Seeing his calm expression and how intently he watched the distant pond, Pei Guanli could only press a hand to her chest, secretly take a deep breath, then slowly let it out as she tried to calm herself.
You're so hopeless, Pei Guanli. Have you never seen a man before?
And besides, he's Sister Jinghong's husband... Stop. Don't think about it!
What Pei Guanli, lost in wild thoughts, failed to notice was that a burly figure had quietly entered Jiaxing Garden.
Chen Yi spotted the newcomer at once. Holding his breath, he stared at him unblinkingly, a faint sense of familiarity surfacing in his mind.
Who was it?
He had not come into contact with many Armored Soldiers in the Marquis's mansion. Apart from Wang Lixing and a few others, the rest were only the guards who had accompanied him to the south of Shuzhou City that day.
After matching them one by one, a figure flashed through Chen Yi's mind—was it him?
Soon, as that figure stood in the pavilion beside the rockery pond, Chen Yi confirmed his guess.
Though the man wore armor and a helmet, with a faceguard covering his face, Chen Yi could be certain that he was Liu Si'er, the man who had driven their carriage earlier!
"Fourth Brother? Heh. A Marquis's Mansion Guard handpicked from the army turned out to be a spy who had hidden himself for years."
Only then did Pei Guanli notice the extra person by the rockery. Startled, she hurriedly covered her mouth, nearly crying out.
She looked at Chen Yi. Seeing his grave expression but no movement, she quickly shrank back further, terrified of being discovered by that man.
Not long after.
After sweeping the area with eyes as sharp as an eagle falcon, Liu Si'er lightly drew a stack of papers from his robes and stuffed them into a crevice beneath the outer side of the pavilion.
Afterward, he surveyed the surroundings once more before leaving Jiaxing Garden through its main gate.
Seeing this, Pei Guanli was just about to move when Chen Yi raised a hand ahead of her and pressed it against the back of her neck. Leaning closer, he whispered:
"Don't move. Wait a little longer."
That breath made Pei Guanli feel dizzy at once. In a fluster, she pressed down the bell at her neck and nodded her little head.
In barely ten breaths, Liu Si'er returned. Like a ghostly shadow, he stood in the darkness by the entrance and scanned the surroundings.
Once he was sure there was nothing unusual, his gaze eased. He gently shook his head and left Jiaxing Garden again.
Yet Chen Yi still did not move, his hand remaining on Pei Guanli.
It was not that he was overly suspicious, nor that he knew anything about these Hidden Guards concealed within the Marquis's mansion.
It was because, even now, he had not received a notification that he had obtained Fortune.
Sure enough.
After nearly the time it took to burn an incense stick, Liu Si'er returned to Jiaxing Garden for the second time. He headed straight for the rockery pond, even deliberately leaning out to touch the Secret Letter outside the pavilion before finally leaving with peace of mind.
[Witnessed the Hidden Guard of the Marquis's mansion's alert caution and ghostly Body Movement Technique, comprehending the mysteries of his movement technique. Reward: Playful Dragon Teases Phoenix upgraded to Mystic Grade, Fortune +12.] [Evaluation: The person arrived, the sound was heard, the scene was witnessed, but the sneaking aura remains far too strong. Truly a naturally wretched fellow.]
As the illusory words flashed past his eyes one by one, additional knowledge regarding the Playful Dragon Teases Phoenix Body Movement Technique immediately appeared in Chen Yi's mind.
Since he had already cultivated this set of movement techniques before, he needed only a moment of reflection to understand the differences. He believed it would not be long before he could raise the cultivation progress of the new Playful Dragon Teases Phoenix.
As he thought, Chen Yi stood up.
After examining the surroundings, he walked straight toward the pavilion.
Pei Guanli came back to her senses at the sight and hurried after him. "Brother-in-law, you're incredible."
"How did you know he would come back again? Had you discovered him before, so you know him well?"
"Who is he, anyway? Is he a spy hiding in the Marquis's mansion? Can I tell Sister Jinghong?"
Her chatter gave Chen Yi a headache. He frowned. "Shut up."
Pei Guanli obediently closed her mouth, but she still could not suppress her excitement.
In that brief span of time alone, she had already imagined an earth-shattering, tragic love story of silent devotion without asking for anything in return.
Brother-in-law clearly possesses such incredible abilities, yet because of "love," he willingly chose to marry into the Xiao Family for Sister Jinghong's sake. He's simply amazing!
Sister Jinghong will definitely be moved when she finds out, right?
As though she had uncovered some great secret, Pei Guanli clung closely behind Chen Yi. Watching him retrieve several items from beneath the pavilion, she could not help leaning in to look as well.
"Brother-in-law, what is this?"
The Secret Letter contained only four lines and twenty-eight characters, but they were things like Jia-1 and Yi-Bing-3.
Chen Yi shook his head. He did not know either.
Clearly, this Secret Letter required a codebook to decipher. Without finding that codebook for comparison, it would be impossible to crack its contents in a short time.
After pondering for a moment, he came up with an idea.
He immediately returned to the study, found brush and ink, added several characters to the Secret Letter, then placed it back beneath the pavilion.
Pei Guanli quietly followed him the entire time. Once she saw the characters he had added, she endured for a long while but ultimately could not hold it in any longer, bursting into laughter.
"Brother-in-law, you... you're too wicked, hahaha..."
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