Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 698 - 699: Eerie (3)

Chunliu cautiously asked, "Would you like to change clothes? It’s getting late, and if you leave earlier, you can return sooner."

As Chunliu finished speaking, Xiqiu suddenly paused. She turned back to Chunliu and asked, "What did you just say?" Her face turned somewhat pale, and Chunliu, startled by her serious demeanor, nervously repeated, "I said, if you leave earlier, you can return sooner..."

Xiqiu abruptly stood up and said to Chunliu, "Go and find the Third Young Master." Chunliu, seeing her in such a state, although clueless about the situation, began to feel anxious. She nodded, lifted her skirt, and ran out.

Xiqiu caressed her stomach, pacing back and forth in the room. Could it be true, as she suspected? If so, might Fourth Master Xiao be in danger?

Lost in her thoughts, Tong Quanzi hurriedly entered the room, saw Xiqiu, and asked, "Sixth Sister, what do you need?" Xiqiu quickly approached him, a look of tension on her face, "Third Brother, I want you to sneak out through the West Corner Gate and inquire at Lord Huang’s mansion, Lord Han’s mansion, Dongchang Bo Mansion, and Wuchang Bo Mansion if anyone has received a summons to the palace tonight." Tong Quanzi looked puzzled, clearly not understanding Xiqiu’s intention. Xiqiu couldn’t wait any longer and pushed him out, "It’s hard to explain now, call two or three fellow apprentices to go with you and gather information quickly!"

"Oh, understood." Tong Quanzi, despite his bewilderment, couldn’t ignore the seriousness of Xiqiu’s expression. He composed himself, nodded, and quickly leapt down the steps, vanishing into the night.

Xiqiu anxiously paced around the room, Nanny Cen heard the commotion and entered, "Madam, I heard someone from the palace has arrived?"

"Yes." Xiqiu responded absentmindedly, then suddenly looked at Nanny Cen and directed, "Nanny Cen, take two servants and go to the Marquis Mansion to check if Fourth Master is still there."

"What’s wrong? Has something happened?" Nanny Cen’s expression changed as she asked.

Xiqiu shook her head, looking uncertain, "I can’t explain it, I just have a bad feeling!"

Nanny Cen’s expression turned serious, she immediately responded, "Madam, don’t worry, I’ll take someone to the Marquis Mansion right away."

"Be careful." Xiqiu nodded her head, watching as Nanny Cen left the room. She then sat down on the edge of the bed, her mind racing with various possibilities...

About half an hour later, Tianjing had already come in to urge her twice, "Madam, Chief Guan is very impatient, urging you to hurry." Pausing, he added, "Madam, I feel there’s something not right about this Chief Guan!"

Xiqiu hesitated upon hearing this, and asked, "What makes you say that?"

Tianjing thought for a moment and replied, "I can’t quite explain it, but it seems he shouldn’t be out handling affairs often. He keeps wiping sweat with his sleeve while sitting in the room, and periodically asks about the time, getting up to pace around. When I asked him about Lord Shi from the palace, he appeared completely oblivious..."

Indeed, it’s very strange. Shi Shengjie is the Commander of the Forbidden Guard, he might not have direct contact as a eunuch, but he should know, only two explanations are possible: either he isn’t a eunuch from the palace at all, naturally knowing nothing; or he is extremely nervous, his mind unsettled, unable to focus on speaking with Tianjing, possibly not even hearing what Tianjing said, thus unable to respond meaningfully!

"I understand, just keep him here, don’t let him go anywhere!" Xiqiu instructed solemnly.

Tianjing asked no more, responding with a grave tone.

After waiting for some time longer, Tong Quanzi finally returned. As he entered, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and didn’t even have time to sit down before Xiqiu hurriedly asked, "Did you gather any information?"

"Yes." Tong Quanzi, indifferent to whose teacup it was, took one and drank it in a gulp, then replied, "Someone from the palace has gone to Huang Mansion, Han Mansion, Dongchang Bo Mansion, and Wuchang Bo Mansion; they’re waiting in the gatehouse now. Especially at Huang Mansion, when I arrived, I saw a eunuch rush in, jumping off the carriage before it even stopped."

Upon hearing this, Xiqiu’s expression completely darkened. She furrowed her brow, pacing back and forth in the room, Tong Quanzi watching her, full of confusion, and asked, "Sixth Sister, what’s happening? Has something occurred?"

"Third Brother." Xiqiu stopped and looked at Tong Quanzi, instructing, "You now take people to those mansions and stop the ladies from going to the palace with these visitors. You must prevent them from leaving with them." Tong Quanzi appeared more puzzled, "Why?"

"These individuals are unlikely to be attendants of the Empress, and the decree wasn’t personally conveyed by the Empress." Xiqiu said gravely, slowly explaining, "I can’t be certain about what happened, but something must have gone wrong within the palace."

Tong Quanzi’s expression also changed, and he asked reflexively, "What could have gone wrong?"

Xiqiu shook her head, unsure, "Just follow my instructions for now; all answers should become clear by tomorrow."

"Understood." Tong Quanzi responded, quickly turning and leaving the room, just as Nanny Cen returned. As she entered, she reported, "Madam, all the doors of the Marquis Mansion are closed, and I couldn’t find out whether Fourth Master is inside." Seeing Xiqiu’s expression change slightly, she added, "But Fourth Master’s horse is still at the side gate, yet there’s no one nearby, not even the usual gate-keeping servants and maids."

Something must have happened.

Where has Fourth Master Xiao gone? What has occurred in the Marquis Mansion?

Xiqiu’s heart raced, thinking about the Marquis Mansion, Huang Da, Han Cheng, and both Dongchang Bo and Wuchang Bo...

What might have happened?

Xiqiu anxiously sat on the edge of the bed. Nanny Cen also sensed the gravity of the situation and said to Xiqiu, "Madam, shall I check the guards in all corners of the mansion?"

"Go ahead!" Xiqiu nodded and then added, "Bring Min and Xing to me." Pausing, she further instructed, "Close the mansion gates, and no one is allowed to leave."

Nanny Cen agreed.

Tianjing returned and reported, "Chief Guan says you are defying the order and awaits the Empress’s censure, demanding to return to the palace to report." Xiqiu nodded and asked, "What did you say?"

"I..." Tianjing scratched his head, hesitantly replied, "I put something in his tea..."

Tension was relieved from Xiqiu’s mind as she was amused by him, nodding, "How long will it last?"

Not receiving rebuke, Tianjing brightened and replied with a smile, "Four hours!"

Four hours, should be enough!

Xiqiu nodded, "Go on with your tasks!" Tianjing complied and left.

Nanny Cen brought the sleeping Xing and Min to her Warm Pavilion, Xiqiu covered them with blankets, and Nanny Cen asked, "Would you like to rest for a while?"

"No need, I can’t sleep." Xiqiu remained seated, her brow continually furrowed. Looking at Nanny Cen, she said, "Ensure the guards and maids remain alert!" Nanny Cen agreed.

Xiqiu sat quietly until late at night when Tong Quanzi returned with his men, explaining the outside situation to Xiqiu, "At Huang Mansion, Madam Huang had just prepared to leave, I relayed your words to her, she was so shocked she immediately sat down paralyzed. Not daring to stay longer, I went to Dongchang Bo Mansion next, Madam Qian, much like yourself, appeared anxious and unsettled. Upon learning my intentions, she immediately asked if your mansion had also been summoned. After I explained everything, Madam Qian had her people detain the eunuch in the outer court and closely shut the mansion’s gates." Tong Quanzi rattled on, "At Wuchang Bo Mansion, I didn’t get in, I knocked on the door for a long time without any response..."