Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Tao'er woke up.

She didn't sleep well that night, her mind preoccupied with the medicinal herb field in the space and the events of the previous night. She tossed and turned until the early hours of the morning before finally managing to fall asleep.

I had just finished washing up in the morning and opened the door, ready to go outside and breathe in some fresh air.

They saw Shi Qi leaning against the door frame of their courtyard, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, looking like he had been waiting for quite some time.

Shi Qi spat out the grass stem, his eyes sparkling. "Miss Tao'er, wake up and let's go. I'll take you to see a good show."

Tao'er looked up in surprise, glanced around, and asked, "What's the show?"

Shi Qi nodded, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "They were those three people from last night."

I have already taken them to the second wife's room.

The second wife is probably still asleep.

"Are we going to join the fun?"

Tao glanced at the sky; it was still a while before she usually got up to work.

She wasn't usually one to get involved in these kinds of things, but since this matter concerned her own safety and she wanted to know how it would go, she nodded and said, "Let's go."

The two avoided the servants who got up early to clean, and nimbly dodged the lazy early-rising village guards.

Shi Qi took a secluded route and quickly arrived at the house where the Second Madam lived.

The courtyard was much more spacious and exquisite than where Tao'er and the others lived, but it was quiet at the moment.

Shi Qi gestured for Tao'er to be quiet and led her around to the side of the main house.

He squatted down and gestured for Tao'er to step on his shoulder.

Tao'er quickly understood, hesitated for a moment, and then felt there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

Without any hesitation, she stepped onto Shiqi's shoulders, held onto the wall, and used the momentum to easily climb onto the roof. Then she turned around and pulled Shiqi up with her.

The two lay on the roof tiles, and Shi Qi skillfully and gently lifted two tiles, revealing a gap, and the scene inside the house was clearly visible.

Second Madam Liu was still lying on the carved canopy bed, fast asleep, with the brocade quilt half-covering her.

Outside her bed lay three men in black, the three assassins from the previous night.

Their eyes were closed, their faces were ashen, and they had long since stopped breathing. However, due to their position, at first glance, it looked as if they had slept in the same bed as the second wife.

This scene was truly bizarre and terrifying.

"You're pretty wicked, actually killing all three of them..."

Aren't you afraid of scaring the Second Madam to death?

Tao covered her mouth and chuckled, almost bursting out laughing.

I wonder what kind of expression the Second Madam will have when she wakes up?

"It was just a prank. This second wife is really too wicked. She actually sent people to kill Ayan and you. It's good that I didn't kill her directly."

If we really scare her to death, it'll save us the trouble of taking action later.

Shi Qi glanced coldly at the second wife in the room.

Tao'er didn't expect Seventeen to be so straightforward, and she realized that this guy was actually standing up for them.

At that moment, light footsteps could be heard outside the door.

The two held their breath and stopped talking.

It was Xiao Cui, the second mistress's personal maid, carrying a copper basin filled with steaming hot water. She came to help her mistress get up, as usual.

She pushed open the door to the inner room, softly calling out, "Madam, it's time to rise..."

The words came to an abrupt halt.

Xiao Cui's gaze fell on the bed. She was stunned for a moment, then her pupils shrank sharply, and the color drained from her face instantly.

She opened her mouth wide, making a hissing sound as if someone was choking her.

"what……"

A piercing, distorted scream abruptly shattered the morning tranquility.

Xiao Cui's hand trembled, and the heavy copper basin crashed to the ground with a "bang," splashing hot water everywhere, wetting the floor, as well as the hem of her skirt and the top of her shoes.

She was completely oblivious, pointing at the bed, trembling like a leaf in the autumn wind, backing away until her back bumped against the door frame.

Ignoring the pain in his back, he shouted, "Master, Madam..."

Oh no, something terrible has happened…

This earth-shattering commotion immediately alarmed the entire Rose Courtyard, as well as the First Madam and the Chief Zhang Fei who lived in the neighboring courtyard.

The sound of hurried footsteps quickly approached from afar.

The first to rush in were several old women and maids who had been drawn in by the screams. They were all horrified when they saw the scene inside.

They stood blocking the doorway, too afraid to go in, yet they couldn't help but peek out, and whispers murmured among them.

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Fei, the leader of the gang, strode in with a livid face, followed by his wife, Madam Wang, whose expression was filled with suspicion.

Zhang Fei had stayed up late dealing with matters at the mountain stronghold last night, and was woken up by the noise. He was already angry, but when he saw what was happening on the bed, his mouth dropped open.

His concubine was sharing a bed with three strange men, who were sleeping like logs.

Because it died in the middle of the night, it's not obvious that it's dead; people who don't know the situation might really think it just died in its sleep.

The veins on his forehead bulged instantly, and his dark face turned from red to purple with anger, finally becoming a terrifying iron-blue.

"You bastard!"

"You beast, you bastard!"

Zhang Fei squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth.

His chest heaved violently.

He turned around abruptly, his gaze piercing as he looked at Xiao Cui, who was slumped on the ground and almost fainted, before shooting towards the Second Madam, Liu, who had finally been awakened and was rubbing her eyes and sitting up in a daze.

Liu was not fully awake and muttered, "What's all the noise about..."

When her gaze focused, she saw the three men beside her, and then her furious husband and the complicated-looking first wife at the door. The sleepiness and languor on her face instantly froze, turning into boundless terror.

Xiao Cui pointed to the three people on the bed, because she could tell they were dead.

That's why she screamed just now, and she also recognized them as the three assassins she had bribed last night.

The second wife was completely stunned...

Only a pair of beautiful, charming almond-shaped eyes were wide open.

The thought of his second wife sleeping with three corpses all night sent chills down his spine.

"Boss, I don't know..."

Why are they on my bed...?

I didn't do anything wrong to you...

"Boss, I swear..."

Liu burst into tears, wrapped herself in the quilt and shrank back, her face pale with fright, and she became incoherent.

Zhang Fei roared, his voice shaking the roof tiles.

He pointed at Xiao Cui and Liu Shi, and roared at his trusted subordinates who had followed him in: "Shut up, get these two sluts up!"

Wake up!

Two burly old women stepped forward and, with a combination of dragging and pulling, lifted up Xiao Cui, whose legs were weak. They then unceremoniously dragged Liu Shi, who was only wearing a nightgown and trembling, off the bed.

Zhang Fei didn't even glance at them; his gaze swept over the three corpses, and a murderous intent surged in his eyes.

He turned around abruptly, walked a few steps to the round table in the room, looked at the teapot and teacups on it, and seemed to have found an outlet for his venting. He then waved his arm.

"Bang………"

With a crash, he swept the entire tea set to the ground.

The white porcelain teapot and cups shattered, tea leaves and cold water splashed everywhere, and broken pieces of porcelain littered the ground, gleaming coldly in the morning light.

The room fell into a deathly silence, save for Liu's suppressed sobs and Xiao Cui's chattering.

Zhang Fei's chest heaved as he breathed heavily. His gaze slowly swept over everyone in the room, finally settling on the window, his eyes filled with a terrifyingly gloomy expression.

He knew that this was not just a simple matter of stealing someone.

How did three dead people end up on his concubine's bed?

Is it a warning, a trap, or...?

They came for Zhang Fei?

Or were they after the second wife?

The second wife collapsed at Zhang Fei's feet, weeping bitterly, "Master, I really don't know what happened..."

I swear I did nothing to betray you.

I didn't steal anyone.

Boss, think about it. If I were to steal people, I couldn't possibly steal three!

Does that mean I stole someone and then killed them?

That's even more impossible...

Someone must have framed me…

The second wife was much calmer at this moment.

She even has people who suspect her.

Even so, you're still dirty...

I'll give you two choices.

The first option is to give you some money, and you, master and servant, can go down the mountain.

second,

From now on, you and your maid will move to the side courtyard. You will still be the second wife, and your food, clothing, and daily necessities will not be lacking, but I will no longer go to your room.

The second wife begged the head of the gang with tears in her eyes, but the head of the gang still refused to soften his heart.

After a long pause, she finally said, "Boss, I choose option two."

He was then helped away from Fangfei Courtyard by Xiao Cui.

The First Madam watched the whole thing without saying a word.

As soon as they left, the leader waved his hand, and two men immediately came over. "You two go and investigate how these three people died."

How are things on ordinary days in the village?

The two responded and left.

"Madam, have someone clean this place. We'll dismantle this bed and burn it for firewood."

Zhang Fei then gave further instructions.

"Yes, Boss."

The First Madam nodded.

Then he left with the leader, Zhang Fei.

The First Madam also went out to make arrangements, and she glanced at the room as she left.

On the roof, Tao'er and Shi Qi exchanged a glance and quietly restored the tiles.

There was no one left in the room at this time.

After seeing Shi Qi leave, Tao'er immediately sneaked back into the Second Madam's room.

Then, with remarkable speed, she located the second mistress's makeup clips and two wooden boxes under the bed, which she stored away in her personal space.

Then he secretly left and went to the kitchen.