Xiao Xiang took off her shoes from her feet. Yuan Yang picked them up and handed them to Ling Xuan. Ling Xuan immediately reached out and took them, then took an imprint of the footprints on the Xuan paper. He personally returned them to Xiao Xiang. As he was returning them, he accidentally knocked over the teacup beside Xiao Xiang. Xiao Xiang instinctively reached out to catch it, but halfway through, she immediately retracted her hand. The movement was extremely fast, but it did not escape Ling Xuan's eyes.
The tea spilled all over Xiao Xiang. Xiao Xiang immediately stood up, her brows furrowed, seeming displeased.
"I'm so sorry, Second Miss. I was too careless. Please forgive me," Ling Xuan apologized quickly.
Xiao Xiang did not look at Ling Xuan but instead looked at He Qingyi. "Mother, your daughter will take her leave."
"Mm, you may go back now."
Ling Xuan watched the Second Miss depart, a subtle gleam flashing in his eyes. "My apologies for the disturbance. I shall take my leave."
"Don't see me out."
Ling Xuan exited the General's mansion. His gaze fell on the footprints imprinted on the Xuan paper. They were the same as the footprints left at the scene, but these alone could not convict Xiao Xiang! Moreover, Xiao Xiang was the Second Miss of the General's mansion. Everyone in the General's mansion, from General Xiao Zhen himself to the eldest daughter Xiao Man, was protective of their own. If he dared to arrest someone without conclusive evidence...
Ling Xuan touched his face. The face that Xiao Man had stepped on still ached faintly. Xiao Man would definitely not have been lighter with her actions last time!
"Boss, did you get anything?"
"More evidence is needed," Ling Xuan said faintly. "Without conclusive evidence, who would dare arrest a young lady from the General's mansion?"
"But the General's Second Miss rarely leaves her chambers. How can we find more evidence?"
Ling Xuan looked back at the direction of the General's mansion. "That depends on what we have in our hands."
"Boss, are we returning to Jingzhao Prefecture now?"
"No, we're going to the Duke of Lu's mansion." Ling Xuan's eyes flickered. To find more evidence, he had to enter the General's mansion. However, the General's mansion was heavily guarded, and a forceful entry was impossible.
Xiao Man had sent an invitation to Xiang Huan'er of the Duke of Lu's mansion, inviting her to the mansion for a flower viewing. He could then disguise himself as Xiang Huan'er's maid and enter the General's mansion with her. He had to see Xiao Man. Xiao Man was someone who would not tolerate any wrongdoing. If she knew Xiao Xiang had issues, she should assist him in his investigation. With Xiao Man's help, it would definitely be twice as effective with half the effort. At the very least, he could secretly investigate Xiao Xiang's courtyard!
Xiao Man soon received news of Ling Xuan's visit. "Qiu Tong, how is the flower viewing banquet prepared for tomorrow?"
"Reporting to Miss, it's almost ready. It's just that the plum blossoms haven't bloomed much yet." Qiu Tong looked at the early plum blossoms outside, only a sparse few had opened. To host tomorrow's flower viewing banquet, it was rather meager.
"Tonight, hang lanterns on the plum trees and light them. Then, wrap the tree trunks with thick quilts to warm them up. More blossoms should open then," Xiao Man instructed. "Oh, and don't forget to prepare the wontons."
"Yes, Miss."
The General's mansion's small banquet, in addition to inviting the Ninth Princess Nangong Wu, Miss Bai from the Bai family, and Miss Xiang from the Duke of Lu's mansion, had also invited the young lady from the Prince of Qin's mansion. For a time, many people were speculating whether Xiao Man was about to take action against this young lady.
Liu Zhu felt uneasy all the way. Although Miss had always wanted to visit the eldest young lady Xiao, now that they were about to meet, she felt worried. After all, there were many rumors about this eldest young lady Xiao, and she was definitely not easy to get along with.
"Miss, why is Princess Yongning inviting Miss to the flower viewing banquet at this time?"
"I've been sending her invitations. Coincidentally, she's hosting a flower viewing banquet and invited me along," Dan Yu Yan said distractedly. If one looked closely, one could see that Dan Yu Yan was somewhat nervous, anxiously twisting the handkerchief in her hand.
"This servant feels like it's a banquet of treachery."
"Nonsense," Dan Yu Yan chided playfully. "She extended a kind invitation, and you twist it into ill intentions. What does she want from me?"
"His Highness the Prince of Qin."
"His Highness the Prince of Qin is neither my family nor my husband. If she wants him, she can negotiate directly with him. With her status and wealth, the Prince of Qin likely wouldn't refuse. Why go through such a roundabout way?" Dan Yu Yan instructed. "When we enter the General's mansion later, speak and act cautiously. Do not speak carelessly, or I won't be able to save you."
"Yes, Miss."
The carriage from the Duke of Lu's mansion stopped at the entrance of the General's mansion. Xiang Huan'er alighted from the carriage, followed by a tall maidservant. The maidservant kept her head lowered, somewhat uncomfortably tugging at the skirt of her clothes.
Xiang Huan'er glanced at the maidservant and grinned. "Don't say it, you look quite pretty in women's clothes."
Ling Xuan truly wished he could hide his face, afraid of being recognized. "Don't look at me, someone might recognize me in a moment."
Xiang Huan'er laughed even more heartily. "At this appearance, even your father wouldn't recognize you, let alone anyone else."
"Xiang Huan'er!" Ling Xuan gritted his teeth.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. You're too boring and can't take a joke!" Xiang Huan'er swaggered inside. Steward Lu was waiting at the entrance and immediately greeted her. "Miss Xiang has arrived. Please come in."
Xiang Huan'er walked in with a bright smile, Ling Xuan following closely behind. Just as they entered, they heard another arrival. They immediately stopped and saw the carriage from the Prince of Qin's mansion. Ling Xuan instinctively moved closer to Xiang Huan'er.
"The Prince of Qin's carriage. It must be that Miss Dan who has arrived. This Miss Dan is now envied by all the young ladies in the capital. So many people envy her for living in the Prince of Qin's mansion."
"What, you want to live in the Prince of Qin's mansion too?"
"I'm not interested in the Prince of Qin. Such a powerful man, I couldn't handle him." Xiang Huan'er pulled out an apple from somewhere, casually wiped it on herself, and took a bite. "You think it's relevant that Xiao Man invited her to the flower viewing banquet?"
"A woman's thoughts. Shouldn't you women know better?"
Xiang Huan'er took a large bite of the apple. "I think Xiao Man isn't someone who would make things difficult for a young girl."
"Young girl?" Ling Xuan stared at Xiang Huan'er for a long time. "She's older than you all. Young girl? You are the young girls!"
Xiang Huan'er rolled her eyes at Ling Xuan. "I mean, Xiao Man isn't someone who bullies people with her status."
"Are you blind? Xiao Man doesn't bully people with her status. Her specialty is bullying people with her status and preying on the weak!"
"Oh, I almost forgot. She once kicked you out of the General's mansion. You still hold a grudge. As a man, you can't be so petty, or women won't like you."
Ling Xuan's face darkened. This Xiang Huan'er was truly too malicious, bringing up sore points. If they hadn't known each other since childhood, he truly wouldn't bother with Xiang Huan'er!