Madam Ji’s face could not hide her worry. “You’re living at the Prince Ling’s residence now—can’t you, for Meng Ruxue’s sake, do us a favor and look after us a little?”
Wen Qianyue spread her hands, helpless. “I already gave the house to Prince Ling. If you want to stay here, you’ll have to ask him.”
Those words made Ji Wenzhan’s expression shift into open surprise.
Anyone in Lingzhou knew what a temper Prince Ling had. Offend him and you might as well be courting death.
As the Ji family’s faces changed color like dye soaking through cloth, the murmurs in the crowd died down. The constables who had been keeping a low profile stepped forward; one of them pulled Madam Ji back, away from the center of attention.
“Let go of me!” Madam Ji struggled, indignant. “What right have you to grab me like this?”
Ji Wenzhan’s jaw tightened. “Mother, that’s enough. Since Miss Wen has already given the house to Prince Ling, we should move out.”
Wen Qianyue smiled faintly. “Good sense, Ji. A learned man you are—wouldn’t think of stealing someone else’s property.” The barbed compliment made Ji Wenzhan flinch; he glanced down at the faces in the crowd.
Disdain glittered in more than a few eyes.
“All right, since there’s been a misunderstanding, carry on with the birthday banquet.” Wen Qianyue smoothed her sleeve and spoke with an air of magnanimity. “After all, it’s the old man’s birthday—bad form to send everyone away today. You can move tomorrow.”
The Ji family had no words. After what had happened, who could possibly celebrate?
Meng Ruxue’s smile was more like a pained grimace. “…Thank you, Miss Wen.”
Relieved that there was no need to use force, the magistrate’s men prepared to leave—above all, they didn’t want to cross Prince Ling.
But just as they were turning away, a new recruit tugged at the lead constable’s sleeve and kept glancing back. The lead constable was about to scold him when the recruit spoke, voice small: “Big brother, look at that ornament in the back. Doesn’t it look like the ones the Huainan Prince reported missing a few days ago?”
The lead constable froze and looked. The ornament was unmistakable.
The mood shifted instantly. The Huainan Prince’s household had filed a missing-persons report—or rather, a report of missing valuables. The case had gone cold for lack of leads. If this was a clue, it would be a major break. The deputy magistrate had been losing sleep over this; finding those things would be a feather in his cap.
It didn’t take much imagination to put the pieces together. If the missing silver from the Prince’s accounts had vanished, could Meng Ruxue and the Ji family be involved?
The constables turned back. The crowd’s collective sigh of relief evaporated and was replaced by renewed tension. Ji patriarch’s smile faltered. “Sir, what—what is this about?”
Before anyone could react, the lead constable raised a hand. A cluster of men pressed forward and seized three members of the Ji household.
“What are you doing?” Ji patriarch gaped, incredulous.
Madam Ji fought and shouted, “This is outrageous! What law allows you to snatch people like this?”
“We have reason to suspect you are principal suspects in a theft from the Huainan Prince’s mansion,” the lead constable said. “You’ll come back to the yamen with us to explain.”
The scene flipped and spun so fast no one could keep up. People gasped; gossip turned into a spectacle richer than any play.
Meng Ruxue watched her uncle and aunt being led away and called out anxiously, “Sir—what exactly have my uncle and aunt done?”
Nobody answered. Chaos was the only apt word for the scene.
When the prisoners were out of sight, the new recruit seemed to feel a pang of pity and muttered an explanation: “We suspect the Ji family stole from the Huainan Prince. Don’t try to block us—you could be taken in as well.”
The birthday banquet was over. With the hosts detained, it couldn’t go on; whether the Ji family would return was an open question.
Xie Yunxiao stood frozen where he was, mouth half open. Meng Ruxue called his name three times before he slowly turned, eyes blank as if dragged awake from a dream.
“What…what did you say just now?”
She grabbed his sleeve without thinking. “Xiao, you have to help my uncle and aunt—please!”
Xie Yunxiao opened his mouth, but no words came. He had never imagined this uproar would touch him. He had never known Meng Ruxue had kept so many secrets.
On the walk home he said nothing at all. Back at the main residence, Wen Qianyue heard that Xie Yunxiao had shut himself up in his quarters and wouldn’t see anyone.
For the first time, Meng Ruxue met a cold door at his house and had to return to her own small courtyard. Once inside, she flew into a rage and smashed every object in the room to pieces.
Nanny Li sent the servants away. “Miss, you’re tired—go rest.”
Meng Ruxue’s panic had unstitched the calm she usually wore. Nanny Li tried to soothe her. “Don’t fret. Your uncle will be fine. You must keep your health.”
Meng Ruxue wasn’t so worried about the Ji family being harmed; she feared that, if the yamen’s investigation dug deep, the Ji family might point to her to deflect blame. If that happened, she’d be doomed.
Nanny Li wiped her tears with a handkerchief and said, “For now, the best thing is to secure the Huainan Prince—get him on our side. Otherwise, matters at the young master’s side will get…complicated.” She left the rest unsaid, poured a cup of tea, and handed it across.
Meng Ruxue drew in a breath and regained a measure of composure. “You’re right.” Her head throbbed; she waved Nanny Li away. “Give me some time to think. Send the servants to tidy up.”
“Yes.”
Compared to the small, tense household at Ice-Clear Courtyard, Guan Yun Manor felt almost relaxed. Since Wen Qianyue had disciplined Li Hong, the servants were careful and obedient. The new mistress was strict, but generous, and that steadied them.
Wen Qianyue had someone prepare a small box of delicate appetizers to send to Xie Yunxiao. The banquet had been interrupted before anyone had eaten; they would be hungry. Su Ye hesitated, worried. “Do you think the Huainan Prince will even have an appetite right now?”
Wen Qianyue pondered a moment. “Tell him it’s from me. Make him try it.”
When she was a child and stubbornly refused to eat, her mother would cook for her. One bite of her mother’s food always chased the bad mood away.
Su Ye took the order and hurried off. As Wen Qianyue stepped outside, she caught sight of Wang Xi standing at the gate of Guan Yun Manor. He nearly turned and fled on the spot.