Duan Senze instinctively reached out, but Nan Xiao pressed his hand down. "Second brother, he's one of us."
Eagle shot him a cold glance and handed Lan Yu Xi an earpiece. "Sovereign Xi, they went into the rock garden. I was afraid of being discovered, so I didn't follow."
Lan Yu Xi put on the earpiece and turned to Duan Senze. "Second brother, are there any mechanisms inside the rock garden?"
Duan Senze nodded. "I'll take you in."
Lan Yu Xi and the other two followed Duan Senze through another hidden entrance into the rock garden. Distant voices could be heard intermittently, but they were too faint to be clearly understood.
Lan Yu Xi adjusted her earpiece and opened a file on her phone. Soon, Duan Ning and the steward appeared on her screen.
Lan Yu Xi raised her hand slightly, signaling them to stop. "Second brother, are there any more mechanisms ahead?"
Duan Senze lowered his voice. "No, but there's a trap less than a meter from them."
Lan Yu Xi frowned slightly. "The steward has finished poisoning, and he's here to collect his reward. They're negotiating, and if they can't come to an agreement, this steward is likely to meet his maker."
Duan Senze clenched his fingers forcefully. "Damn it! You guys wait here. I'll go disable the mechanism. This steward can't die yet."
Lan Yu Xi nodded and, with Nan Xiao and Eagle, they moved invisibly to another spot.
Over there, the steward suddenly raised his voice. "You said that after this was done, you'd marry my son. How can you go back on your word!"
Duan Ning hissed, "I said I'd marry your son *after* it was done! You've only administered the poison, he's not dead yet, and you haven't successfully framed Lan Yu Xi for this."
"The medicine is already brewing. In less than half an hour, the Patriarch will drink it. Once the Patriarch is dead, Lan Yu Xi will have no choice but to take the blame."
Duan Ning took a small step back. "I'll say it again, I won't marry your son until the job is done!"
The steward, his brows furrowed, approached her. "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You've always had your eye on Nan Xiao, waiting for him and Lan Yu Xi to break up so you can marry him."
"I haven't!"
"You know better than anyone whether you have or not! Since you're using me, don't blame me for turning against you! I'll tell the Patriarch and the Second Master right now!"
Duan Ning raised her hand and slapped him. "You're not going!"
The steward touched the side of his face that had gone numb from the blow, and suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Duan Ning's neck.
"You dare hit me! If I hadn't protected you all these years, you'd be dead by now!"
Duan Ning nimbly dodged aside, clearing the area of the trap. The steward, driven by inertia, rushed straight into it.
A cold glint flashed in Duan Ning's eyes. As long as he fell in, her plan would be perfectly executed.
However, the steward didn't fall as she expected. He stood above the trap, turned, and charged at her again.
Duan Ning was stunned, and then she began to fight with the steward.
Lan Yu Xi, hidden in the shadows, raised an eyebrow. "I didn't expect Duan Ning's martial arts to be that good."
Nan Xiao scoffed. "You call that good? Children of the Duan family start practicing martial arts as soon as they can walk. She's this old and only knows a few tricks."
Lan Yu Xi observed for a moment, chin in her hand, and seeing Duan Senze leading a dozen people, she pulled Nan Xiao and led Eagle back the way they came.
At the exit, Elder Duan stood holding two children, one in each arm.
Mu Mu saw her parents emerge and rushed forward with open arms. "Mommy, why did you leave me again!"
Lan Yu Xi smiled and caught her. "Who said Mommy left you? Mommy and Daddy were just taking care of something. As soon as we finished, we came to find you."
Mu Mu pouted. "Time for dinner."
"Alright, let's go have dinner."
Nan Xiao looked at Elder Duan. "My second brother has cast his net. Are you waiting here, or are you coming back with us?"
Elder Duan's face was grim. "You go ahead and eat. After you're done, take the children to rest. I'll return after I've dealt with this."
Nan Xiao smiled and took Zhao Zhao from Elder Duan's arms. "Master, you just told Third Uncle to learn to let go. This matter should be handled by Eldest Brother and Second Brother."
Elder Duan suddenly laughed. "How could I forget this? Come, I'll join you for dinner."
The group returned to Elder Duan's courtyard. Several young grandchildren of the Duan family were still there. Seeing them enter, they enthusiastically greeted them.
Elder Duan waved them away. "Your uncle and aunt are about to have dinner. You don't need to guard here, go back."
Duan Yu Ting pouted. "Second Grandfather, I still want to chat with Aunt Yu Xi for a while."
Elder Duan said sternly, "It's this late, what are you still chatting about? They're not leaving tomorrow, you can talk tomorrow."
Seeing their Second Grandfather angry, the young people sheepishly left.
Just as Lan Yu Xi and the others finished their meal, Duan Feiyang walked in briskly.
Elder Duan glanced at him. "Has that girl and your steward confessed?"
Duan Feiyang's gaze deepened. "They had no choice but to confess. Yu Xi's two subordinates gave me the recordings and videos. I came to ask you how to deal with them."
"You and the Second Master can discuss it."
"Sen Ze wants to send them to the police, but I think if we do that, first, we'd be betraying our deceased Eldest Uncle, and second, if this gets out, the Duan family's reputation will be ruined."
"Then what do you plan to do?"
"I want to send her to St. Mary's Academy in Y Country. As for the steward, we can just find a reason to send him to the police."
Elder Duan frowned slightly. "St. Mary's Academy in Y Country is equivalent to our women's prison. It's right for her to spend a few years there and be reformed. However, regarding your steward, once he's in the police station, can you guarantee he won't reveal anything about our family?"
Duan Feiyang said calmly, "I won't give him a chance to speak."
Lan Yu Xi smiled and gave him a thumbs up. "Eldest Brother, with you as the Patriarch, the Duan family will surely reach new heights."
Duan Feiyang gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "Sister-in-law, please don't tease me. I'm just racking my brain for this solution."
Elder Duan glanced at him. "Wasn't it your wife who gave you this idea?"
Duan Feiyang paused, then lowered his head. "Please don't blame her for speaking out. Actually, she said what I was thinking, but I was hesitant to do that to Duan Ning out of consideration for family ties."
Elder Duan said sternly, "I'm not blaming her. As a Patriarch, you must be ruthless, otherwise, how will you manage such a large family in the future? Sen Ze spends ten months a year in the army. If you encounter something you can't figure out, talk to your wife. She's suitable to be a matriarch."
Just then, a male servant rushed in. "Patriarch, something bad has happened..."