Jinyi Spring

Chapter 165 Jade Fragrance

The next morning, Yuxiang packed a small package; today was her day off.

Before leaving, Xia gave her a pair of silver bracelets as a reward.

Xia Shi always treated her servants with great generosity.

She instructed, "Before you return to the manor tomorrow, go to Xu's Bamboo Shop. The flower basket I bought yesterday is a little small; have them make one with a slightly larger belly, using more yellow bamboo strips. I need it urgently..."

She pretended to think for a moment, "How about three days from now? I'll have someone pick it up from the shop in person on the seventh day."

The previous agreement that she would "go to the shop to pick it up in person" meant that she would personally go to the usual place to meet the Xue family.

Yu Xiang curtsied and said, "Yes."

She left the mansion through a side gate, walked along the back street for about fifteen minutes, and then turned into the third alley. Deep inside the alley, the innermost courtyard was her home.

As she walked, two familiar faces approached. Yu Xiang greeted them with a smile, and after watching them enter her house, she turned and went into the neighboring courtyard.

The house belongs to the nephew of Steward Wei's wife. The young man is about to get married and asked his uncle, who has connections, to help him find this house.

Inside the house, Steward Wei had been waiting for quite some time.

During this period, whenever Yuxiang was on leave and went home, the two of them would meet here.

Yu Xiang is already working for him.

It only took two sentences to persuade her: "Xia Achan's sins are grave, and her master knows it. Look at those loyal servants around her; none of them met a good end."

Yu Xiang did not hesitate at all. "My family has been servants of the Ming government for three generations. Our master is our god. The First Madam sent me to serve the aunt who is staying here temporarily, but I should still obey the proper master. Since Master Wei was sent by the First Master, I will do whatever you say."

Afterwards, Yu Xiang secretly kept an eye on everything Xia Shi did and reported what she knew to Steward Wei.

Manager Wei pointed to the chair opposite him, "Miss Yuxiang, please sit down."

Yu Xiang sat down and lowered her voice, saying, "Yesterday morning, my aunt took my cousin to Xu's bamboo ware shop. While she was picking things out, my cousin deliberately pulled a few of us servants aside to help her choose the bamboo ware she wanted to buy."

"I kept glancing at my aunt out of the corner of my eye—she blocked our view with her body, and that must have been when she handed something out."

She paused, then continued, "Yesterday afternoon, my aunt took us to arrange furniture in the second master's courtyard again. She first went into the study in the west room alone and stood in front of the desk for a while. Her body was blocking my view, so I couldn't see if she was taking anything."

"Later, she went to the bedroom alone. I couldn't see her, but there happened to be a wardrobe there. When she came out, I noticed a slight bulge in her arms, as if she was carrying something. This morning, she asked me to go to Xu's Bamboo Ware Shop again tomorrow..."

He relayed Xia's instructions.

A ruthless glint flashed in Steward Wei's eyes. "That wicked woman, what a waste of all the kindness the old Duke and the old lady have shown her over the years."

He looked at Yuxiang with satisfaction, took out a silver note from his pocket, and handed it to her. "You did very well. This is a reward from the master."

Yu Xiang quickly waved her hand, "Grandpa and Uncle Wei saved my life, I dare not accept any reward."

She felt even more fortunate; her aunt had indeed betrayed the Ming family. If she hadn't received Wei's advice and unknowingly helped her do bad things, not only would her aunt have lost her life, but her family would have been ruined as well.

Steward Wei smiled and stuffed the silver note into her hand. "This is a reward from the master, so take it without worry. The master said that you are a smart person. After this matter is settled, you can go to the master's study as a head maid. There are only guards and servants there, and they are in need of a maid who can take care of things carefully. In addition, your father is very good, and he will be promoted to stable manager."

Yu Xiang was overjoyed. She stood up, curtsied, and accepted the silver note, saying, "Thank you for your help, Master. Thank you for your trust, Uncle Wei."

As soon as Steward Wei returned to the manor, he went straight to Zhuyin Tower. The old Duke and Ming Shanyue were waiting there.

He repeated Yu Xiang's words verbatim.

After hearing this, the old Duke shook his head, too lazy to even curse.

Ming Shanyue said, "Quickly, have Xisha thoroughly clean out Second Uncle's things, focusing on the study desk and bedroom wardrobe. Do it discreetly."

Xisha was a servant left behind by Ming Changqing. Because he was meticulous and his wife was in poor health, he did not go on long trips with her. He was in charge of Ming Changqing's courtyard.

Half an hour later, Xisha went to Zhuyin Tower.

He knelt down as soon as he entered, his voice trembling, "This servant deserves to die. I failed to look after the Second Master's belongings properly. I carefully checked the Second Master's items, and a jade pendant is missing from the second drawer of the desk in the study. A garment is missing from the wardrobe in the bedroom. When this servant is not in the room, the doors and windows are always tightly closed..."

His eyes were red. If he hadn't been ordered to clean up this time, he wouldn't have known anything was missing. He wouldn't have known who stole it or when.

Ming Shanyue said gently, "Get up and answer. Think carefully, is there anything special about the lost jade pendant and inner garment?"

Xisha stood up, pondered for a moment, and said, "I remember that jade pendant clearly. It was made of Hetian jade, greenish-blue, round, and this big."

He gestured to indicate the size and said, "It's carved with auspicious cloud patterns all around, and in the center is a ruyi (a type of scepter) this big. It's a very ordinary old ornament. Before the Second Master left, he casually placed it on his desk. This servant wiped it clean and put it in the drawer."

These jade pendants are too ordinary, and there are too many different styles of cloud-patterned ruyi designs. Ming Shanyue got up and instructed the servant outside the door to go to the storeroom and bring all the round cloud-patterned ruyi jade pendants here.

The old duke then asked, "And the undergarment?"

Xisha wiped the sweat from her forehead and opened the package she had brought. "I took out only this pair of moon-white soft silk trousers. It seems that an undergarment was missing."

He looked puzzled. "Though the clothes are made of soft silk, they were worn before and aren't worth much. I wonder what that thief would do with an old garment."

The old Duke said in a deep voice, "Keep this matter to yourself, and no one is allowed to utter a word about it. If even a single word gets out, not only will you be beaten to death, but your entire family will be wiped out."

He had spent half his life on the battlefield and had always been kind and lenient to his servants; this was the first time he had ever spoken so harshly.

Xisha was so frightened that her legs went weak and she knelt down again. "This servant understands... This servant dares not, I would rather die than say another word."

He already knew in his heart that this matter was by no means simple.

Before long, the servant brought three boxes of jade pendants.

They lay on the table, varying in size and color, all adorned with auspicious cloud and ruyi patterns.

Xisha selected four pieces of jade, saying, "These are so big, this shape, the cloud pattern is roughly like this, the ruyi pattern is like this..."

After Xisha withdrew, Ming Shanyue discussed a few more words with the old Duke, then picked up his underpants and four jade pendants and left.

After dinner on the seventh day, the old lady was in a good mood, and the family chatted and laughed until 7 p.m. before Xia helped her to bed and left.

When Xia returned to her small courtyard, Yuxiang helped her wash up and get into bed.

After Yuxiang blew out the gauze lamp and closed the door.

Xia opened her eyes; the tent was pitch black. (End of Chapter)