The Famous Detective of the Red Mansion

The clouds scattered, and the rain rested on the grape trellis.

Sun Shaozong picked some leaves and carefully wiped the swing frame before sitting on it with Ping‘er in his arms.

Seeing that Ping’er was still lost in the lingering charm, he took care of her and helped her gather her upper clothes and took out a handkerchief to help her clean up the aftermath.

However, as the handkerchief was wiped on her body, Ping'er woke up from her loss of consciousness and quickly held onto Sun Shaozong's big hand, saying in fear, "I should have done this myself. How could I dirty your handkerchief?”

Sun Shaozong kissed her cherry lips and blocked all the remaining words, then unquestionably helped her clean up the traces.

After tidying up, Sun Shaozong rolled up the handkerchief covered in filth and was about to take it back into his sleeve pocket. However, it was snatched away by Ping’er, and she hid it in her arms. She blushed and said, "It's inconvenient for you to hold this thing. It's better to wait for me to wash it clean and find a chance to bring it back to you.”

“Sure!”

Sun Shaozong nodded and chuckled in a pun, "After you wash it clean, I will continue using it next time.”

Ping’er became increasingly ashamed, especially through the dense vines, where she could vaguely see Yuanyang hiding in the nearby bushes. Although it might not be possible to see clearly, the wild movements just now couldn’t escape her ears.

Unable to suppress shame, Sun Shaozong patted her bare thighs and urged her, "First put on your clothes; don't get caught in the cold again.”

Ping’er hurriedly put her clothes on her body, and when everything was ready, Sun Shaozong took the opportunity to hook her into his arms and lazily said, "Alright, the main task has been completed. If you have any other matters at the moment, please let me know.”

Ping’er took the opportunity to pillow on his chest and said in a coquettish voice, "Actually, it's nothing. My Madam heard that there’s a profit earned, and she can't help but think about putting it in her pocket. So she sent me to discuss with you and see if we can get a bonus before the end of the year.”

“Sure enough, she’s a... Cough"

Upon hearing this, Sun Shaozong originally intended to say that Wang Xifeng had long hair and short knowledge. However, since he was speaking to a woman, it would be better not to use this saying.

So he pretended to clear his throat and continued, "Your Madam doesn't need to even think about it. Although the timber business started in early July, Marshal Wang's side has been purchasing timber since March.”

“So there are not only accumulated inventory here but also some small merchants who are unable to pay their debts and can't afford it. They voluntarily transferred their debts, which is why the profits are so abundant.”

“Although the profits in the next few months will not decrease, they will never be as windy as they were at first. After all, when there is a way to get money, and I'm afraid it's not just us who will get the news.”

“If we don't accumulate more Capital quickly, we can’t attract more sources of goods in the future, and this profit may further decline.”

Now that Ping’er's body and mind have been subdued, she naturally listened to everything he said, pecking at the rice like a chicken that has reached its peak and solemnly saying, "I will speak clearly to my Madam when I go back and advise her to endure for a while.”

However, Sun Shaozong felt a bit inappropriate. He pondered for a while, then shook his head and said, "With your Second Madam's shortsighted and greedy nature, I'm afraid she may be unable to endure this for so long. Just return and report that after your ultimate argument, I reluctantly agreed to advance a portion of the bonus.”

Anyway, his Big Brother just retrieved a sum of silver from Prince Zhongshun, which should be enough to send Wang Xifeng away.

Ping'er obediently responded and then reached out to the gift box on the ground, saying, "This ”Golden Bell and Glass Pagoda” was a congratulatory gift from Second Master Jia Lian. He said he was going to make peace with you. He even planned to come and deliver the gift personally, but Second Madam stopped him.”

Originally, she mentioned Jia Lian and referred to him as ”Second Master,” but now she openly calls him by his name.

A gift from Jia Lian?

Sun Shaozong frowned and looked at the gift box; his heart turned a few times, but he couldn't guess the purpose of Jia Lian's actions. Remembering last month when he went to Rongguo Mansion, he was still full of hostility towards himself.

By the way!

Remembering the scene when he went to Rongguo Mansion last time, Sun Shaozong quickly informed Ping'er about Lin Hongyu stealing her clothes from the Yihong Courtyard that day and took the opportunity to inquire whether it was Lin Hongyu's intention or who had instructed her.

“Did Xiaohong steal your clothes?”

Upon hearing this, Ping'er was also surprised. Seeing that Sun Shaozong was not joking, she pondered and said, "If it were really her theft, it probably wasn't from her original intention. A few days ago, this little hoof approached Jia Lian and wanted to become a concubine.”

“It's just that Jia Lian has suddenly regained his temper recently, and as a result, he has been sidelined. However, Xiaohong still revolves around Jia Lian all day, and I guess it's probably because of Jia Lian's instigation.”

Jia Lian sent Lin Hongyu to steal his clothes, then turned around and sent a gift to seek peace?

What kind of medicine was sold in this gourd?

Was it because two direct conflicts have suffered losses, so he wanted to numb himself first and then resort to cunning revenge?

So, did he steal his clothes to frame a crime?

No!

The matter of losing his clothes has been heard by everyone in Yihong Courtyard. Even if he really intended to use this opportunity to frame himself, he might only be doing useless work.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that it was complicated and confusing. It was almost as complicated as Wei Ruolan's case.

However, it was not the right time to contemplate with Ping'er. Although it was like a storm, it took only half an hour. If he continued to be delayed, it was likely to reveal its shortcomings.

So Sun Shaozong and Ping’er were interdependent, saying some personal words, and then bid farewell to her, carrying the ”Golden Bell Glass Pagoda” sent by Jia Lian and walking towards the garden gate first.

As Sun Shaozong passed by the bushes where Yuanyang was hiding, he paused slightly. However, he saw Yuanyang desperately burying her head in front of him, afraid to look up at him, as if she were the adulterer who had an affair.

Looking at her ostrich-like appearance, Sun Shaozong intended to tease her for a few words but thought that she had escaped to his mansion because of Jia She's molestation; he gave up the idea and walked away without looking askance.

Until Sun Shaozong's burly body disappeared outside the small garden gate, Yuanyang didn’t dare to lift her head.

Ping’er came out of the grape trellis and saw her like this. She then came forward, patted her on the shoulder, and said, "Alright, now there are only us two; who are you showing these actions to?"

Actually, when she first stepped out of the grape trellis, Ping’er was also very nervous. Although Yuanyang had already known about her affair with Sun Shaozong, there was still a certain gap between knowing it and witnessing and hearing it firsthand.

But seeing Yuanyang blush like this, she immediately became less anxious and more playful.

“Ah!”

Yuanyang let out a low snort and was about to get up from behind the bushes. She just straightened up, and her legs were numb. If it weren't for Ping’er's timely help, she might have fallen directly into the bushes.

Yuanyang was still in shock, but she heard Ping’er snort and covered her mouth with a smile, saying, "You look even more embarrassed than me. If someone unrelated sees you, they must think it was you who had an affair with Second Master Sun in the grape trellis just now.”

Spit!

Yuanyang spat with a redhead and a swollen face, stroking her chest and trying to suppress the wild jump in her heart. She blushed and said, "Who just said that the sky and the sun are clear and dares not act recklessly? How could you change immediately?”

Before she could find a suitable word to describe the shameless frenzy she had just experienced, she was hugged by Ping’er and rubbed with her like a tofu. "My good Yuanyang, you know I only sneak once in a few months; how can I control it? Besides, with you covering up on the side, who would have thought that I had an affair with Second Master Sun?”

Such intimate behavior was also a common practice between the two before.

But today, as soon as Yuanyang thought about the recent movements, her heart felt uncomfortable. She quickly broke free from Ping’er's constraints and stomped her feet, saying, "I'm really afraid of you! Let's go; hurry back to the Elder Madam's yard so that no one can see any flaws.”

Since Ping’er has already tasted what she wanted, she naturally wouldn’t refuse.

The two of them walked shoulder to shoulder to the door, but Yuanyang felt uneasy in her heart. She called out to Ping'er and told her to wait inside. When she went out to investigate and confirm that no one was nearby, it was not too late to call her out again.

So, Ping’er took advantage of the situation and hid behind the door, while Yuanyang pretended and walked out of the garden with her head held high.

Unexpectedly, without waiting for her to raise her eyes and look around, she heard a human voice say, "Unexpectedly, it's really you.”

Yuanyang was startled and hurriedly followed the sound, only to see Qingwen, with a picturesque face, standing coldly next to a weeping willow, which seemed to be the place where Sun Shaozong had previously hidden.

”Why are you here, Sister?”

Yuanyang first asked in a somewhat flustered tone and then pursued, "What did you mean by that remark just now?”

There was a hint of disappointment in Qingwen's eyes, and she shook her head and said, "I thought you, like me, were just a temporary stay and would return to the Rongguo Mansion in the future. We wouldn't be trapped here as rumored, but I didn't expect...”

As she spoke, she let out a faint sigh and said, "Don't worry, Sister. I won't tell anyone about this matter. Even if someone knows about it, it's not a big deal. There are already three concubines in the house of the Second Master, and you can be the fourth.”

It turned out that when Sun Shaozong came out of the garden just now, he happened to be seen by Qingwen. Due to the misunderstanding of the wet nurse, Qingwen always avoided spending time alone with Sun Shaozong, and this time it was no exception.

So after seeing Sun Shaozong from a distance, she hurriedly hid.

She was supposed to wait for Sun Shaozong to leave and go on her errand.

After seeing Sun Shaozong back at the West Cross Courtyard, Qingwen suddenly realized that there was something wrong with this small garden, which was mostly planted with fresh vegetables and fruits for several masters in the mansion to taste, so there was no scenery inside.

What did Sun Shaozong do in the small garden for no reason?

Being curious, she hid behind the weeping willow to see if anyone would secretly meet Sun Shaozong. However, after a short wait, she saw Yuanyang coming out from inside!

Watching her face flush and her chest fluctuating, how could Qingwen not guess what was happening inside?

After listening to Qingwen's words, Yuanyang also knew that she had been misunderstood and wanted to explain something, but if she wanted to take herself out, she had to confess Ping’er!

However, Ping’er was Jia Lian's big maid, and the severity of this problem was more than a hundred times more serious than an ordinary maid colluding with the Second Master in the mansion.

Therefore, when the words reached her lips, Yuanyang could only stop talking.

“Alright, you don't need to explain anything, Sister.”

Qingwen saw her appearance and felt even more ”clear” in her heart. She shook her handkerchief and said, “Just pretend I didn't see anything just now. I still have some things to do, so let me take a step ahead first.”

As she spoke, she swayed her slender waist and headed straight towards the front yard.

“Qingwen, Qingwen!”

Yuanyang chased after her and shouted a few words. Firstly, she didn’t dare to speak loudly, and secondly, she was afraid that leaving Ping'er in the garden would cause further trouble. Therefore, she could only watch Qingwen drift away.

This was really a big trouble.

Forget it; there have been many rumors circulating about this mansion, and Qingwen has always been arrogant, so she shouldn't have said anything about it.

She thought so, but after calling out Ping’er, Yuanyang couldn't help but feel embarrassed and angry. She rushed forward and pushed and pulled with her, saying angrily, "It's obvious that you're cheating, but now I'm the one who suffers.”

Ping'er had already heard Qingwen's words and knew that she was feeling aggrieved, so she just laughed and resisted. However, amidst this pushing and pulling, a handkerchief was pulled out of Ping’er’s skirt.

“Give it back to me quickly.”

Now Ping’er was really anxious, blushing, and rushing forward to compete.

But Yuanyang looked at her anxious appearance, and how would she return the things to her?

As she turned her back to dodge, she spread out the handkerchief and sneered, "I want to see what kind of precious handkerchief it is, which can make you secretly hide in your arms?”

However, as soon as the handkerchief was unfolded, there was nothing strange inside; instead, there were many sticky filth on the hands.

Yuanyang couldn't help but be taken aback, and Ping’er quickly seized the opportunity to snatch the handkerchief away and took it back into her arms with great care.

“What is this... What is this?”

Yuanyang looked at her and didn't dislike any dirt at all. Her curiosity grew even more intense, so she put her hand under her nose and sniffed hard.

Cluck, cluck

Upon seeing the situation, Ping’er couldn't help but smile and roll back. It took her a while to pull over Yuanyang and explain a few words in her ear.

“What!”

Yuanyang immediately exclaimed in surprise, intending to take out a handkerchief to wipe it, but was really unwilling to let her personal belongings get contaminated with such filth. In the end, in a fit of anger, she simply wiped them all onto the weeping willow.

After repeatedly rubbing against it for a long time, the little hands were all red, but she still felt dirty. She couldn't help but scold again, "Thank you for taking these things with you.”

Ping'er laughed beside her with a stomachache but couldn't help but suppress it. She said in a muffled voice, "I'm sorry, but when you have someone in your heart, you'll know that it's already late. Let's hurry back to the Elder Madam's yard.”

As she spoke, seeing Yuanyang still practicing iron sand palms on the tree, she added, "You must as well take a fragrant sponge, so that you can scrub it clean…”

Before the words fell, Yuanyang rushed towards the back house in a panic.