Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 185 Don't worry, she can't tell.

Beyond the curtain is an open room, and further in is Wei's bedroom. During the day, the curtain is naturally open, and one can see the scene inside as soon as one enters.

"The mirror is over here."

The maid led the way, lifting the curtain as she went.

Lu Jia went inside and inquired around. The luxury of the place was self-evident, and there were also many calligraphy, paintings and antiques, which were consistent with the outside.

Aside from an incongruous air of elegance, the entire room showed no other flaws.

However, the affected manner throughout the room is already a flaw.

"Here's a clean comb, please use it, young lady."

The maidservant presented the dressing case with both hands.

Lu Jia took the items; they were all of good quality, but not unusual. The comb, hair dryer, and hair oil were all included. They weren't brand new, but they had no smell at all, clearly indicating they had been carefully washed and were intended for guests.

But Wei was a widow, and the Jiang family didn't need her to socialize. It was enough for her to take care of herself on a daily basis. So how could she have guests coming to visit?
Even if there were, how could it be like her today, where she just happened to need to comb her hair?
Unless, of course, she actually has guests here!
"This servant will help you, young lady."

As the maidservant was about to help her take off her hair, Lu Jia said, "Doesn't the old lady ever go out for a stroll? Isn't it boring to stay at home all day?"

"I always go to the temple to burn incense on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month. When the weather is nice, I will occasionally go out for a walk."

Lu Jia laughed and said, "It's not fun to wander around alone."

The maid opened her mouth, but before she could make a sound, she closed it again.

Lu Jia glanced at her in the mirror twice, then turned her head: "You are the old lady's person, how could I trouble you? I have maids outside, could you please go and call them in for me?"

The maid nodded.

Lu Jia watched her leave, glanced at Wei's bed, bit her lower lip, quickly walked to the bedside, glanced at it a few times, and then reached under the pillow.

There was nothing under the pillow.

When I looked under the sheet, it was empty and flat.

Lu Jia paused.

If Wei's actions were truly as she suspected, then there must be clues in this house. With so many paintings, calligraphy, and antiques already brought in, the exchange must have taken quite some time; it's perfectly normal for the other party to have left behind a few items.

She quickly smoothed out the bed and then quickly looked around.

Qinghe was outside at dawn. Knowing that she had suddenly asked to comb her hair, she knew they would try to delay her for a moment, but it wouldn't be long. A few words would be enough.

Where could they possibly be hiding?
After looking around, her gaze returned to the dressing table, next to which was a window, and below the window was a desk.

There were pens and paper on the desk. She walked over and saw that the paper was clean, and there wasn't a single scrap of paper in the spittoon beside it. Only a few pens hanging under the jade pen holder had traces of writing on them.

Her gaze swept over the pens, and she was about to look for her next target when she suddenly turned her gaze back quickly!

She quickly took two pens from them—

"Miss Lu, they've arrived."

The maid's voice rang out from behind.

Lu Jia tried to calm her pounding heart, calmly put the pen back, and turned around with composure: "Why did it take you so long to come in? You've been dawdling."

The maid glanced at the pen holder and said with a forced smile, "It's my fault for being clumsy. The two ladies were warming up in the next room. When I went to deliver the message, they got up in a hurry and spilled the tea. Please don't be offended, Miss." Lu Jia sat down casually, "Come on, don't keep your aunt waiting outside for too long."

……

Wei roused himself and treated them to a meal, followed by tea, which finally managed to get rid of the two vengeful spirits.

As soon as Lu Jia and the others left, Wei Shi collapsed onto the kang (a heated brick bed).

“In previous years, they would send their housekeeper to deliver gifts. Why did they change their minds this year? Of all the people she could have sent, she had to send this girl. Isn't she just deliberately making things difficult for me?”

A maidservant brought forward tea, her face showing some worry: "Madam, when Miss Lu was fixing her hair in the room earlier, did she discover anything?"

In the Lu family, Madam Wei was worthy of being called the matriarch, but in the Jiang family, since the eldest and second sons were still in charge of the household, she was still considered the wife.

Upon hearing this, Madam Wei paused, frowned, and looked at her: "What could she possibly discover? What could possibly be here that could be discovered by someone?"

The maid bit her lip, took two steps forward, bent down and lowered her voice: "This servant saw that the young lady picked up the pen on the desk earlier."

Madam Wei was truly stunned. She sat up abruptly: "She's looking at the pen. What's she doing looking at the pen?"

The maid shook her head: "I don't know if she picked it up casually to look at it, or if she meant something else? In any case, I saw her holding it in her hand with my own eyes."

Wei scrambled off the ground, walked to the desk, picked up all five or six pens from under the pen rack, examined them carefully one by one, frowned and thought for a moment, then relaxed her tense shoulders.

"It's no big deal. Even if she's seen it, she wouldn't be able to tell the difference."

"That's what I thought too," the maid said hastily, "but I saw that you had it in your hand earlier, and I was afraid something might go wrong, so I told you in advance."

Wei returned to the kang and sat down leisurely: "If you haven't actually handled these things, you can't tell who used them at all."

"Not to mention she's been away from home for over ten years and has only been back for a few days. Even if she were proficient in literature, let alone illiterate, she couldn't possibly discern anything from just a few pens."

"Don't be so paranoid; it will only leave a trace."

The maid nodded: "What Madam says is true."

……

Lu Jia calmly left the Jiang family with Madam Mu. After returning to the Lu residence, she watched Madam Mu leave, then suddenly called for Changfu to stop the carriage: "Come out with me again."

The group then accompanied her out the door.

They indeed returned to the vicinity of the Jiang family's residence by the same route, but instead of returning to the front gate, they turned left and entered another alley next to the west courtyard of the Jiang family's residence.

After entering the alley, Lu Jia slowed the carriage down. Thinking they were almost at the Jiang family's residence, she dismounted. Walking along the courtyard wall, she soon spotted a gate.

Lu Jia looked around and beckoned Changfu back to the car: "Park further away and keep watch here. If anyone comes out later, go up and ask him which branch of the family he belongs to. Be smart and don't give yourself away."

Changfu nodded and did as instructed.

Many families live in the alley, so there are also many vendors selling all sorts of things.

Before long, the small door opened and an old woman came out. Changfu quickly pretended to ask for directions and went up to her.

After asking a few questions, he quickly ran back: "Miss! She's from the third branch of the Jiang family!"

"That's right!" Lu Jia immediately sneered, "Go back to Swallow Alley now and have the guards quickly pass on a message to Young Master Shen. I have important matters to discuss with him!"