Xiao Qiniang sat behind the desk, her brow furrowed.
"You're saying Li Man'er was indeed in the room and didn't go out?"
"Yes, your subordinate saw it clearly."
This person was none other than the minor leader who had been shouting about catching a thief outside the side room.
Xiao Qiniang mused, "She's actually staying put, that's strange."
The minor leader hesitated before saying, "Seventh Miss, the words in the capital aren't always to be believed."
"I have my own considerations." Xiao Qiniang looked at the minor leader with a hint of displeasure and a murderous intent, a stark contrast to her demeanor during the day or when she was with Li Man'er.
The minor leader bowed his head in agreement, daring not to speak carelessly anymore.
"Did you see her appearance then?"
"We were urgent in knocking on the door, and her maid kept blocking us from opening it. By the time your subordinate was about to force the door open, it was opened. That First Miss Li was sitting on the couch, her hair dishevelled, and she hadn't even bothered to put on her clothes properly, only draping a large cloak over herself." The minor leader recalled the situation and added, "Only one lamp was lit in the room, so it wasn't very clear. However, your subordinate specifically looked at First Miss Li's embroidered shoes, which were placed under the small couch. They were clean, with no signs of anything amiss."
Xiao Qiniang frowned and murmured, "Where did it go wrong?"
The news she had received all said that the Li family's eldest daughter's personality had changed significantly. In the past six months, she had stopped hiding her talents, transforming from a pitiful figure surviving under her stepmother's care into a resourceful and courageous strategist.
She was half-believing, but any factor that could hinder her grand plan had to be eliminated.
"You may go now!"
"Yes, your subordinate takes his leave."
After the minor leader left, Xiao Qiniang gazed at the candlelight, lost in thought, for a long time without speaking.
The maid behind her dared not disturb her, only accompanying her in silence.
"Alright, you may rest now!" After a long while, Xiao Qiniang finally said this.
The maid quickly stepped forward to serve her and blew out the candles.
The night returned to silence, even the lamps in the main courtyard were extinguished.
Li Man'er, however, had no intention of sleeping. She hid on the couch, repeatedly replaying the scene she had witnessed that night.
Who were the two people who followed Xiao Qiniang into the main courtyard? Their identities must be extremely concealed, otherwise, they wouldn't have to wrap themselves entirely in black robes in the dead of night.
Yet, the two guards at the entrance seemed to see them not, as if they were accustomed to it.
If they were indeed someone unsavory, Xiao Qiniang would have had them silenced.
This meant that it was likely a tactic of her own deception.
Recalling Xiao Qiniang's appearance of being almost dead from anger during the day, Li Man'er couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. She wasn't the only one acting; this Miss Xiao was truly surprising!
Liu Ya was also awake and said in a very small voice, "Miss, tonight was truly dangerous."
Li Man'er asked her, "Aren't you cold sleeping on the floor?"
"Not cold. Your servant has three layers of mattresses beneath her. She's never had such comfortable days before; sleeping on straw on the ground was enough. "
Li Man'er fell silent, thinking of something. A while later, as Liu Ya was half-asleep, she heard her say, "Mobei is cold, unlike the south."
The night passed uneventfully.
The next morning, Jiaoniang prepared hot water to wake her, but Li Man'er was impossible to rouse and continued to sleep in the room.
Liu Ya, however, was already up. She opened the door and said, "Our Miss needs a little more sleep. You can go fetch water to help the Marquis wash up first. Be quiet, you wouldn't want to bear the consequences of disturbing Miss's sleep."
"Yes!"
Jiaoniang was full of resentment but did not dare to retort. She could only be more careful than usual, fetching hot water to help Li Shu wash his hands and body, and change his clothes.
After finishing these tasks, Jiaoniang was already sweating. The stench of the unpleasant clothes made her want to vomit several times, but because she hadn't eaten breakfast, she couldn't even throw up.
Li Man'er, with her wicked heart, chose to speak precisely when Jiaoniang was carrying out the clothes.
"Jiaoniang, what's the hurry? I have something to tell you."
Jiaoniang looked at the clothes in the basin and said weakly, "First Miss, your servant will take these dirty clothes out first..."
"No need, just carry them. I only have a few words."
Jiaoniang's face turned pale. She didn't know whether to put down the basin or hold onto it, so she could only wear a distressed expression and say, "Please speak."
"Jiaoniang, I need to avoid suspicion, so I can't stay in the inner chambers. And your Miss Xiao is so stingy, she hasn't arranged another side room for me. Don't you think it would be good to set up a screen here to provide some privacy? Surely such a large manor wouldn't be unable to find a screen? I'm not asking for double-sided embroidery or jade and emerald; ordinary would suffice."
Jiaoniang almost fainted from anger, but for the sake of her great future, she had to endure it.
"Your servant understands. I will arrange it immediately."
"Mmm, then you may attend to your duties!"
Only then did Jiaoniang take the basin and hurry out.
Liu Ya grinned as if nothing else mattered, "Miss, you should have seen her face. It turned green."
Li Man'er also smiled, "Before she comes back, I'll get up quickly."
Li Man'er was dressed and ready. Liu Ya called for an old woman to bring hot water and attended to her washing.
Li Man'er was extremely picky, complaining that the water was too hot or that it lacked fragrance.
The old woman who brought the water was startled, "Young lady, this old woman doesn't know how there would be fragrance in the water."
Li Man'er rolled her eyes, "Flower petals should be added to the facial wash."
"Miss is joking. In this cold weather, where can one find flower petals?"
"People in the capital like to preserve fresh summer flowers to make dried ones, and then bring them out in winter. They still have fragrance. If you don't like this kind of floral scent, add a few drops of fragrant dew to the water, and then after washing your face, your whole body will smell fragrant."
The old woman kept flattering her, and finally said, "Miss, please forgive this old one. In this remote place, we don't have such fine things."
Li Man'er waved her hand impatiently, "I know."
After washing her face, she had someone tidy up the room and waited for breakfast.
Li Shu's breakfast was, as usual, a bowl of chicken soup. Li Man'er's meal was also monotonous, consisting of meat dishes, pickled vegetables, and potatoes. The main reason was that vegetables were rarely available in Mobei during winter, so they had to make do.
Li Man'er was not fussy about the food itself, but she couldn't help but complain a few words while eating, picking and choosing, deliberately so others could hear.
After finishing breakfast, the screen was delivered.
"Miss, where would you like it placed?"
Li Man'er was very satisfied with the eight-panel screen before her. "Place it by the couch, leaving about a foot of space for shoes."
The old women set up the screen and then asked for Li Man'er's opinion, "Miss, is this acceptable?"
Li Man'er nodded, her expression unreadable, neither happy nor unhappy. She simply said, "You may leave now!"
The old women bowed and went out. Li Man'er, however, took out a dagger and began to tamper with the screen.
Liu Ya curiously leaned over to take a look and was immediately greatly shocked.