Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 640 - 642: Joyful News (2)

Without Lianqiao, the Grand Dowager promoted Bilian to take Lianqiao’s place.

"The Marquis is awake!" Bilian, who was petite and looked quite endearing, said, "He would like you to visit him."

The Grand Dowager stood up, her face full of joy, and nodded, "I’ll go right away." She then instructed Xiqiu and Mrs. Shen, "Since he is awake, he is fine now. You can both go back and rest. You’ve been busy all morning."

Xiqiu and Mrs. Shen nodded in agreement.

The Grand Dowager went to Xiao Yanyi’s room. In the afternoon, Xiqiu heard about Xiao Yanyi’s actions. He insisted on moving to Lingbo Hall to live, did not allow the two concubines to serve him, and showed no reaction to Second Madam losing her title and being expelled from the Imperial Family. Yet, he had someone search the Second Madam’s room. Xiqiu didn’t know what he was looking for, but it seemed he didn’t find it.

Xiao Yanyi also showed great interest in Zijuan’s death, ordering a thorough investigation into the matter.

Xiqiu secretly wondered if he had guessed something or if there was another reason for Zijuan’s death.

In the evening, when Fourth Master Xiao returned, she told him about Zijuan’s death and the reactions of the Grand Dowager and Xiao Yanyi: "... Fourth Master, I feel like there is something we don’t know about this matter?" This issue involved the Empress Dowager and Prince Rong, as well as Shen, so she could not take it lightly.

Fourth Master Xiao frowned, about to speak, when Tiancheng said from outside, "Fourth Master, the Marquis requests your presence."

Xiqiu was stunned and suddenly felt a sense of unease.

Fourth Master Xiao stood up and said to Xiqiu, "I’ll go take a look!" With that, he walked out with his hands behind his back. Xiqiu saw him off to the door and then went alone to visit Min. After staying for about an hour, calming Min to sleep, she returned, only to find that Fourth Master Xiao still hadn’t come back. After freshening up, she picked up the "Herbs" book given by First Madam and carefully read it.

She dozed off with the book in hand, and in her haze, she heard the sound of the door opening and Chunliu speaking. She was startled awake and saw that Fourth Master Xiao had already pushed the door open and had entered. His face looked grim. She wanted to get out of bed to greet him, but Fourth Master Xiao had already closed the door and sat by the bed, saying, "It’s chilly at night, don’t get up!"

"Fourth Master!" Xiqiu looked at Fourth Master Xiao, waiting for him to speak.

Fourth Master Xiao held her hand and replied, "Second Brother is fine; his injuries are stable. He... asked me to thank you for saving him." Although Xiqiu knew there was nothing between her and Xiao Yanyi, she couldn’t help but keep her eyes on Fourth Master Xiao, feeling a bit apprehensive.

Fourth Master Xiao, seeing her expression, resignedly patted her head and said, "It’s nothing!"

Xiqiu frowned at him and asked, "Then why is Fourth Master upset?" Clearly, Fourth Master Xiao was not pleased.

Fourth Master Xiao straightened up, embracing Xiqiu, his tone heavy as he said, "Mr. Bao has already been recommended by Second Brother to the Ministry of Industry. The Emperor also intends to appoint him as Imperial Censor cruising the Eight Prefectures South of the Yellow River. Second Brother was initially concerned, and today he said he would submit a request after his injuries recovered."

The Eight Prefectures South of the Yellow River— it might be difficult to return to the Capital in less than a year and a half! Is it because of her and Fourth Master Xiao that Xiao Yanyi is avoiding the mansion?

Xiqiu looked at Fourth Master Xiao with some difficulty and asked, "Is Second Brother discussing this with you, or has he already made a decision?" Xiao Yanyi pondered for a moment and replied, "It seems he has made a decision."

Xiqiu lowered her eyes without saying a word.

Fourth Master Xiao also sat quietly for a while, and after a moment of silence, he brought up another matter: "Last night, Big Brother signed a cooperation agreement for salt mine extraction in Second Sister-in-law’s room."

"What!" Xiqiu was shocked and looked up sharply at Fourth Master Xiao, "Where is that agreement? Was it retrieved?" Such an agreement must not be signed.

Fourth Master Xiao shook his head and replied, "No, neither on Second Sister-in-law nor in her room." Xiqiu frowned, a little tense, and said, "There were many people in and out of the room last night. Second Sister-in-law’s mind is unclear now; could she randomly throw it somewhere? Also... could Prince Rong..."

"No!" Fourth Master Xiao shook his head and said, "Tiancheng was there all night, and he stood at the door for a while before leaving. Moreover..." He looked at Xiqiu, "Second Brother said that Second Sister-in-law had been holding it, but when we arrived, we didn’t see any so-called agreement in Second Sister-in-law’s hands."

Xiqiu couldn’t remember if Second Madam had any contract in her hand at the time, but since no one was in the room, the agreement should have remained in the room back then. Was it lost after they took Xiao Yanyi away? Who might have taken it, or did Second Madam secretly hide it somewhere?

If it’s the former, then undoubtedly someone with intentions wants to hold a handle against the Xuanning Marquis Mansion. If it’s the latter... it can only mean that everything about Second Madam now is all an act, that she’s lying low for now and planning to threaten Xiao Yanyi in the future?

Thinking about Second Madam’s reaction last night, she couldn’t be sure, but instinctively, she felt that for such a proud person like Second Madam, it was unlikely she would play foolish games.

Then, is it the former option? She looked at Fourth Master Xiao, "Since the Marquis has already investigated, what conclusions have been drawn? From the time we left until today when Nanny Liu took people to clear the room, how many people have been in and out of Second Sister-in-law’s courtyard?"

Fourth Master Xiao saw her anxiety and sighed in consolation, "The room, inside and out, has been thoroughly searched, and those entering and exiting have been checked with no suspicious findings." He paused and added, "Since the agreement cannot be found, we must prepare for the worst. Second Brother and I have already discussed it and have a plan."

Xiqiu didn’t focus on the plan, realizing that no matter how they circumvented the issue, doubts would inevitably arise in the Emperor’s heart; history has shown that emperors are often suspicious, and the current Emperor would be no exception. No matter what, doubts were already sown in the Emperor’s mind.

She furrowed her brows, pondering various possibilities. Suddenly, she grabbed Fourth Master Xiao’s arm and said, "Fourth Master, do you think it could be Zijuan who took it?" There were many questionable points about Zijuan’s death, but if she had taken the agreement and hidden for the night, waiting for someone to collect it in the morning, only to be killed afterward? If this hypothesis is correct, then it explains her unusual behavior of leaving early but not escaping and then committing suicide in the morning.

Fourth Master Xiao listened and squinted his eyes, evidently agreeing with Xiqiu’s reasoning. He called out to the door, "Someone!" Chunliu responded through the door, and Fourth Master Xiao instructed, "Have Tiancheng come in."

Chunliu acknowledged, and soon, Tiancheng hurried in. Fourth Master Xiao instructed, "Go to the outer courtyard and see where Zijuan’s body is placed. Check if there are any other wounds on her, and make sure her body is thoroughly examined!"

Tiancheng agreed and left. The next day, the result was consistent with the household doctor’s findings: Zijuan had no new wounds, nor was there any sign of the agreement signed by Xiao Yanyi within or outside her body. Fourth Master Xiao then discussed countermeasures with Xiao Yanyi, but that is a story for another time.