Chapter 5: Tracing the Butler's Footsteps

Qin Luoli moved with the grace of a shadowy spirit, silently trailing behind Zhang Fugui. The moonlight was hazy, and the swaying tree shadows danced around her as she occasionally concealed herself behind dense branches or hid near the rocky mounds, her agile movements blending seamlessly with the night.

Zhang Fugui hurried along, frequently glancing back with a furtive, suspicious demeanor that only deepened Qin Luoli’s doubts. A cold breeze swept past, bringing a chill that made her tighten her cloak around her.

Holding her breath to avoid making any noise, her heart pounded wildly, as if ready to burst from her chest. Eventually, Zhang Fugui stopped before the ancestral hall of the Xiao family.

The heavy wooden doors were tightly shut, casting an eerie shadow in the moonlit night. After looking around to ensure no one was watching, he gently knocked.

With a creak, the door slowly opened, and a shadowy figure peered out through the crack, whispering, “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Zhang Fugui.”

The door opened fully, Zhang Fugui slipped inside, and the door shut firmly behind him.

Qin Luoli’s heart tightened. The ancestral hall rarely saw visitors at this hour, so what was Zhang Fugui’s purpose in coming here at night? She quietly approached, hiding behind an ancient tree to catch the conversation within.

Inside, the atmosphere was heavy and tense. By the dim candlelight, Zhang Fugui sat facing a mysterious figure.

“How’s the matter progressing?” the figure asked in a low, hoarse voice that sent chills down the spine.

“Everything is proceeding as planned,” Zhang Fugui replied, bowing obsequiously. “However... that new young mistress seems difficult to deal with.”

“Hmph, a country girl like that—what trouble could she possibly stir up?” The mysterious man sneered disdainfully. “Just stick to the plan. When this is over, your rewards won’t be small.”

“Yes, yes.” Zhang Fugui nodded repeatedly.

The mysterious man paused, his tone turning cold. “Also, keep a close watch on Xiao Jingyuan. If he dares to interfere...”

He made a throat-slitting gesture. Zhang Fugui shuddered in fear and hurriedly promised, “Understood, understood.”

Hiding in the shadows, Qin Luoli was shocked. These two were conspiring against her and Xiao Jingyuan!

Clenching her fists, she fought to control her emotions, refusing to act rashly. She needed to uncover who this mysterious man was and what their plot entailed.

As the conversation continued inside, Qin Luoli quietly slipped away to ponder how to confront this sudden crisis.

The night deepened, the cold wind howled, and her figure vanished into the darkness, leaving only the eerie laughter echoing from within the ancestral hall.

“Heh, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind...” a low voice whispered from behind Qin Luoli.

She did not act rashly but quietly retreated, disappearing like a phantom into the night. She knew that mere fragments overheard would not expose the full conspiracy. She needed concrete evidence.

After the two men left the hall, Qin Luoli followed the mysterious figure to his residence, gathering clues for future use before returning to her own quarters.

The candlelight flickered, casting a glow on her focused expression as her slender fingers flipped through ledgers, her keen eyes swiftly pinpointing crucial details.

The Xiao family’s accounts became a labyrinth in her hands, and she was the clever solver of its mysteries.

Before long, a faint smile curled at her lips. “Ah, there really is a problem.”

Zhang Fugui’s embezzlement was crude and amateurish, utterly transparent to Qin Luoli, a modern finance expert.

She quickly uncovered the deceit—inflated prices, forged documents, and embezzled funds—each piece of evidence irrefutable.

In recent days, Xiao Jingyuan noticed Qin Luoli was constantly busy, secluded in her room, working on something mysterious. Curious but too shy to ask, their eyes occasionally met before quickly looking away, filling the air with a subtle awkwardness.

“*Ahem,*” Xiao Jingyuan cleared his throat, trying to break the silence. “What... have you been busy with lately?”

He immediately regretted the question, feeling as if he were interrogating her.

Qin Luoli met his slightly concerned gaze with a faint smile. “Just some family matters.”

She revealed little, closing the ledger and moving to the window, gazing at the hazy moonlight. Softly, she said, “Some things are better resolved sooner rather than later.”

Outside, the night breeze stirred the shadows of the trees.

Her words seemed loaded with meaning, deepening Xiao Jingyuan’s confusion.

He opened his mouth to speak, then hesitated, unsure how to proceed.

At that moment, a shadow quietly approached Qin Luoli’s courtyard...

While Qin Luoli had just unraveled Zhang Fugui’s corrupt accounts, Lady Liu could no longer sit still.

No one knew how the gossip reached her ears, but she was like an ant on a hot pan, restless and anxious.

Her illicit dealings with Zhang Fugui could not withstand scrutiny. If Madam Xiao discovered the truth, Lady Liu’s position as a concubine would be at risk.

Resolute, she decided to strike first.

Crying and wailing, she went to Madam Xiao, exaggerating and twisting the truth to accuse Qin Luoli.

“Madam, you must defend me! That new daughter-in-law, flaunting her status as the general's wife, constantly makes things difficult for me and now slanders me by claiming I have an affair with Steward Zhang, ruining my reputation!”

Madam Xiao’s face darkened immediately. “Preposterous! Bring her here!”

Qin Luoli was summoned from her studies of the ledgers by a maid, told that Madam Xiao wished to see her.

Her heart skipped a beat, a faint premonition of trouble stirring within.

Stepping into the main hall, a heavy, oppressive atmosphere greeted her.

Madam Xiao sat at the head of the room, her face ashen and stern, while Lady Liu wept bitterly, appearing deeply aggrieved.

Qin Luoli instantly understood—this was a trap.

“Qin Shi, how dare you! Accusing Lady Liu—do you know what crime that is?” Madam Xiao’s furious shout made Qin Luoli’s eardrums ring.

Drawing in a deep breath to suppress her frustration, Qin Luoli replied calmly, “Madam, I would never slander anyone. I merely uncovered something important and felt compelled to report it.”

With that, she presented the carefully compiled ledger and evidence.

Madam Xiao’s face grew darker as she examined the documents.

Lady Liu trembled beside her, pale as death.

Unfazed, Qin Luoli continued, “I found that Steward Zhang has been embezzling a significant amount over the years, and Lady Liu appears to be involved as well...”

Madam Xiao immediately ordered a thorough investigation.

As expected, the evidence of Zhang Fugui’s corruption was undeniable, and Lady Liu had indeed profited from it.

Furious, Madam Xiao placed Lady Liu under house arrest and demanded the recovery of all embezzled funds.

Lady Liu collapsed to the floor, her face drained of color.

Watching this unfold, Qin Luoli felt no joy—she had only done what was right.

Outside the main hall, a small figure hid behind a pillar, observing everything.

Xiao Jingxuan’s eyes widened as she whispered to herself, “Sister-in-law... she’s amazing...”

Hiding shyly, Xiao Jingxuan’s mind swirled with questions. Her sister-in-law seemed almost supernatural—accused unjustly yet managing to turn the tables so brilliantly!

She dashed over to Qin Luoli, her big eyes sparkling like stars.

“Sis-in-law, you’re incredible! How did you do it?” Xiao Jingxuan tugged at her sleeve, brimming with curiosity.

Amused, Qin Luoli pinched the little girl’s cheek. “Want to learn? Then you must call me ‘master’ first.”

“Master!” Xiao Jingxuan declared without hesitation, her face shining with excitement.

She believed her sister-in-law was capable of anything and wanted to become just as formidable.

Thus, the Xiao family’s courtyard often witnessed a tender scene: Qin Luoli patiently teaching Xiao Jingxuan modern little lessons—how to make the ‘okay’ hand gesture or sing brief popular songs.

Xiao Jingxuan learned eagerly, her laughter bright as silver bells.

Watching this innocent niece, a shadow faded from Qin Luoli’s heart.

Xiao Jingxuan’s fondness for her further solidified Qin Luoli’s standing within the Xiao family.

Even Madam Xiao softened her attitude, as who could resist someone who brought both joy and honor to the household?

Yet Qin Luoli never let her guard down.

She sensed the Xiao family was a vast enigma—calm on the surface but rife with hidden currents.

Zhang Fugui and Lady Liu were merely the tip of the iceberg; darker plots lurked beneath.

That subtle, lingering shadow unsettled her deeply.

“This Xiao family is no simple matter,” she murmured softly by the window, watching the swaying tree shadows in the courtyard.

She knew she must uncover the truth swiftly to protect herself and those she cared for in this strange, perilous ancient world.

A gentle evening breeze brushed past, chilling her back. Turning, her gaze swept the room, and she thought she caught a glimpse of a shadow flickering outside the window.

Without a sound, she approached and quietly closed the window.

Her fingertips traced along the window frame, sensing something amiss.

Slowly, she lifted her hand, delicately feeling the woodwork…