Gu Shenwei's half-true, half-false story moved the two girls. Though they did not state their positions on the spot, he knew that the first step of his plan had succeeded.
But it was only the first step. He had no way to control Shangguan Ru's thoughts. Where this domineering girl would ultimately lead the matter, he could only wait and see.
The next morning, the Twins went to school. Gu Shenwei found an opportunity to slip back to the Eighth Young Master's main courtyard to report to Xue Niang. He did not use the method Xue Niang had taught him, because she had clearly overestimated young Huan Nu's influence over the Ninth Young Master. The life or death of a single servant was not enough to interest Shangguan Ru.
At the main gate, Gu Shenwei ran into several people carrying out a large basket. He recognized one of them as San Nu, one of the ten boys Miss had brought with her.
Of those ten, some had died and some had left. Four remained in Kindling Courtyard. Miss had thoroughly forgotten them, and naturally no one else had any reason to remember them.
San Nu's face was stiff, his eyes dull and lifeless, as though he had not seen Huan Nu at all. With his head lowered, he hurried away with the others carrying the basket.
For some reason, Gu Shenwei was acutely sensitive to this trivial matter. He wanted to know what was inside that basket.
Even if it held a corpse, that was nothing strange in Golden Peng Fortress. Yet Gu Shenwei simply could not dispel his curiosity and faint unease. His mind kept turning it over until he entered Xue Niang's room.
Xue Niang's attitude was unexpectedly kind. Not only was she satisfied with the progress of