"Suo Luo!"

  Xie Qigong let out a loud shout, startling Wang's wife who was standing behind him, causing her shoulders to tremble as she stepped forward.

  "Li Ershun said you went to ask them about Lang Ge and Ya Niang's affair before, is it true?" He asked slowly without looking down.

  Wang's hands clenched again.

  Su Luo knelt down, hung her head and looked at her knees, remaining silent for a while before speaking: "As for what Master said, it's naturally not true. I'm just a servant who happened to have seen Li Ershun twice when I was delivering messages at the Second Young Master's residence in Huangshi Town. Just now, Third Miss also said that Li Ershun is full of nonsense, and he would do anything to slander Madam, please be wise, Master."

  Wang's whole body relaxed.

  Xie Wan glanced at Su Luo twice and then withdrew her gaze.

  Xie Qigong furrowed his brow and remained silent for a moment before waving his hand and saying: "Get up!"

  Su Luo got up, and Xie Wan also followed suit. Xie Qigong looked at her for a moment, but didn't say anything.

  "Go ahead."

  With another wave of his hand, he walked into the inner chamber with his hands behind his back.

  Wang knew this meant there was something to be said and had no choice but to follow along.

  Xie Qigong furrowed his brow and said: "About Lang's affair with the maid, did you or did you not have Su Luo go investigate?"

  "Wang sighed: "Just now, Wan's sister and Su Luo both explained it, how can Master still not believe me? Even if Lang is not my grandson, he is a member of the Xie family. Can I be so unaware of what's proper?"

  As she spoke, she picked up the teapot on the table and poured a bowl of tea for him, "Naturally, it was my fault that Lang's son moved house back then, which led to outsiders taking advantage of the situation. This matter has passed for a long time, how can Master still question me about it? What Li Er said has nothing to do with me."

  Xie Qigong took a sip of tea, composed himself and said: "It's not that I intentionally made things difficult for you. You've been in the Xie household for over 30 years now, and you're also aware of our family rules. Rong'er has always instructed us to avoid any trouble on this side. If it indeed originated from our own household, then we'd be bringing calamity upon ourselves! Rong'er is the pillar of the Xie household, if we were to hinder his progress, it would bring no benefit to anyone."

  Wang's heart skipped a beat, and he hastily said, "Yes, sir, you're absolutely right." As he continued to pat the old man's back, he looked up and asked, "What about Li Ershun's matter?"

  Although Xie Wan was exempt from punishment, the matter had not been settled. Since County Magistrate Zhao personally came to the mansion and said so, a statement had to be made to the family.

  Xie Qigong's face sank again: "In any case, that County Magistrate Zhao is not strict with his subordinates. Even if they slander others outside, they come to my door and ask me to account for it. What kind of logic is this? Don't bother with him first!"

  Wang's eyes widened in shock, and his gaze gradually dimmed.

  Xie Wan stepped on a road of water flowers and returned to Yifeng Courtyard again.

  Wu's mother had already prepared hot food and heated up clothes for her to change into. Xie Wan said while changing, "Go call Luo Ju over for me."

  She didn't believe that Wang would let Xie Qigong let them off so easily, no matter what. After all, it was Xie Zhuang who had beaten him up, and if County Magistrate Zhao insisted on pursuing this matter, Xie Zhuang would also have to go to the Zhao residence to apologize.

  Before Xie Lang comes back, she must take advantage of this time to get a clear understanding of things.

  When Luo Jiyu came in, she was already sitting at her desk, refreshed and waiting. She first recounted what had just happened in the main courtyard, then got straight to the point: "You go now and find out if Li Ershun is really working as a house servant at County Magistrate Zhao's residence. If he is, when did he start, who has he been in contact with - I want you to find all this out for me."

  Luo Ju immediately went to prepare.

  Fortunately, there was originally a mule cart in the second house, which did not need to disturb the mansion, and Luo Ju's departure did not attract anyone's attention.

  Xie Wan was eating breakfast when she thought of Wang Shi's intentions, and her lips turned as cold as the winter rain outside.

  Xie Rong had instructed Xie Qigong to give up the immediate small benefits in the study that day, but Wang Shi was not Xie Qigong. Now that Xie Rong is no longer a concern for her, the eldest son Xie Hong is still hanging in mid-air. As his mother, what she cares about now is the future of her eldest son. With her shallow understanding, she would not think that making a move on the second house would have any impact on Xie Rong's prospects.

  So Xie Rong's words were taken as imperial edicts by Xie Qigong, while Wangshi was clearly being hypocritical.

  Wang's family in the mansion was overwhelming, even Su Luo, who was by her side, handled this matter with ease, and her foundation in the Xie Mansion was deeper than Xie Yu thought.

  The heavy rain continued until nearly noon before letting up.

  Xie Wan finished reading a volume of books, and outside the door, Yu Xue's voice rang out: "What are you carrying?"

  Luo's voice came: "Don't ask first. Is the girl in the pavilion?"

  Yu Xue led them in. It turned out that apart from Luo Ju, there was also Shen Tian, and the two of them were carrying a bulging bag as they walked in.

  Xie Wan also looked at them with confusion.

  Shen Tiao wiped the sweat, stepped on a sack of hemp and said: "I just heard Luo Da Ge say that the girl wants to ask Li Er Shun questions, I'm afraid he can't do it alone, so I followed him. Who knew this kid turned around and wanted to escape as soon as he saw us? I knocked him out with a brick and brought him back, let's see what tricks he still dares to play!"

  Is this Li Ershun in the sack? Xie Wan's eyes widened in shock and she subconsciously looked towards the door.

  "Girl, don't worry, no one noticed. When we entered the door and unloaded the car, we also said that it was a bag of cloth heads brought back from the shop."

  As long as no one finds out, it's much more convenient to bring people back and interrogate them directly.

  Xie Wan felt relieved, thought for a moment, and instructed Shen Tian: "First, get the person to the small courtyard in the back, find an empty room and open the bag." Then she said to Luo Ju: "Let Wu Xing go to the school and tell his brother that something has come up at the shop, and he should take care of it after class before coming back. Also, have Wu Xing go and inform Luo Guan Shi about it."

  Luo Ju went out of the door, Xie Wan sat on the ground for a while, and then got up and walked to the side house.

  Li Ershun had already been splashed with two buckets of cold water and was now kneeling on the ground, frantically looking around.

  Xie Wan walked into the house, sat down in the already clean and tidy armchair at the head of the room, and gave him a cold glance. With every move, she released all the coldness and solemnity that had been hidden under her eight-year-old appearance.

  She didn't say anything either, just staring at him like that.

  Her pupils were originally large, and with the clear distinction between black and white in a child's eyes, Li Ershun was already disoriented, and suddenly seeing her walk from the bright to the dark was startling. Seeing that she stared at him without saying a word made him feel even more mysterious, and he opened his mouth several times but couldn't say anything.

  Although she was just a young girl, the aura that surrounded her seemed to have been tempered for half a lifetime. The calm and composed demeanor, which showed neither sorrow nor joy, was even more unsettling.

  Sweat gradually condensed into beads on his forehead as he leaned against the door frame.

  Yu Xue came in and served a cup of tea to Xie Wan, who took it in her hand and slowly drank half a cup. Looking at his trembling legs, she gazed at the tightly closed window and said: "I beat you up in Huangshi Town on the 16th of the twelfth lunar month. At that time, you were working as an apprentice in the town's blacksmith shop. Our madam Wang Shi Su was friends with Mrs. Zhao, so she found out about your beating and recommended you to Mrs. Zhao. Then, together with County Magistrate Zhao's family, they put on a good show for our master. Is that right?"

  "No, no!" He gritted his teeth in denial, but looking into her eyes, he suddenly recalled the searing pain of those two lashes on his face.

  Xie Wan seemed to have not heard it, paused for a moment, and then asked herself: "What conditions were set between Wangshi and Zhao Furen?"

  County Magistrate Zhao was also a seventh-grade parent official, and he had some status, so Wang's family would not agree to join forces with her unless she offered them conditions that moved their hearts.

  Li Ershun was dumbfounded and speechless.

  He couldn't have imagined that she would directly point out the culprit, yes, he was not as clever as others, not as diligent as others, and even flattering and fawning were not as good as others. If it weren't for Wang's promised reward that day, how would Madam Zhao agree to take him in?

  He remained silent for a long time, and Xie Wan didn't urge him either. It was only when she suddenly tilted her head that her voice became calm, as if instructing someone to bring pastries: "Shen Tian, bring the thin quilt, and also bring a stick."

  The quilt was added with a stick, and those who had mixed in the big house for some time could hear that this was going to be punished. The stick hit the person wrapped in the quilt, which would only cause internal injuries, but nothing could be seen from the outside. This trick is extremely cruel, and if you are not careful, it will lead to rupture of the internal organs and death. She's just a naive little girl, how did she know all this!

  Shen Tian went to fetch the cotton stick, and Luo Ji happened to finish speaking and return, hearing Li Ershun's panicked shrill cry, he rushed up in one swift motion and covered his mouth.

  Li Ershun's eyes showed a dying terror, using all his strength to struggle.

  He came out this time, and no one knew where he went, not even himself could be sure where he was. If he died at the hands of Xie Wan today, no one would avenge him! It's possible that his body wouldn't even be found! Even if he managed to escape with his life, who would believe that he was defeated by this nine-year-old girl and take her seriously?

  He started to be really afraid of her.

  But Shenda had already brought the quilt over and, without saying a word, wrapped it around him, tying him up tightly with rope. His mouth was gagged with a cloth, unable to speak or beg for mercy, as thick arms raised high clubs.

  "Wooo... Wooo..."

  He was like a madman, violently thrashing about on the ground, desperately banging his head against the wall and table legs, his will to live expressed in this moment with utmost clarity.

  Xie Wan gave Luo Ju a look.

  Luo Ju pulled him forward, his hair raised, and two large blood blisters had already appeared on his forehead. His pupils were severely contracted due to fear. Luo Ju dragged him to the foot of Xie Wan, and Shen Tian pulled out the cloth from his mouth, pinching his throat with one hand.

  He panted heavily, his breathing sounding like a bellows blowing rapidly.

  Xie Wan remained calm and asked: "What conditions were agreed upon between Mrs. Zhao and Wang?"

  He stared at her with wide eyes, his expression as if he had died and come back to life.