Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Li Yu thought that other than the gardener, Old Madam Liu, Aunt Zhang, and the guards who stayed in the government office had all been brought over from Qingchuan. There shouldnât be a problem with these people.
The rest were the people they had bought in Yunzhou. The old women had all gone to the manor, and only the gardener had stayed in the back office. Could it be that the gardener had entered the study?
Li Yu sat up and lit the oil lamp. She went to the dressing table and sat down. She looked at the makeup box on the dressing table and opened it one by one to check. She realized that the position of some things had also changed slightly. Someone had come to check in the room and study. It seemed that someone was watching the back office, What was this person trying to do?
The more Li Yu thought about it, the more she felt that something was wrong. She glanced at the sleeping Yangyang, put on her clothes, closed the door, and walked towards the backyard.
When she arrived at the entrance of the back garden, Li Yu saw that the moon cave door was already locked. She kicked the wall and flipped over like a ghost. She landed under the back window of the servantâs room where the gardener lived alone.
She stood there quietly and listened attentively. She did not find anyone in the house. Li Yu was about to turn to the front to open the door to check when she suddenly heard the door to the back garden open with a bang. Then, it was closed again. Someone walked over quickly. Listening to the heavy breathing and footsteps, she felt that he did not seem to be a professional spy. Then, she heard the sound of the door being pushed open, followed by the sound of someone taking off shoes and getting into bed. After 15 minutes, she heard snoring.
It turned out that they had long fought their way into the back office. Li Yu returned to her room and reflected on herself. She began to think about what the gardener wanted to do. Did he want to steal information or harm her family? Li Yu looked at Yangyangâs red face from sleep and became worried.
The next morning, Li Yu asked Gu Yu to call Ruyi over and tell him about her late discovery. When Ruyi heard this, his eyes widened. Seeing that Li Yu had already realized that something was wrong with the Jiang guy but didnât arrest him, he knew that Li Yu had a plan. He whispered, âMadam, what are your
Li Yu raised her hand to stop Ruyi. âWe donât have enough manpower, and I canât watch the gardener all the time. You have something to do too. How about this! Iâll stay at home and watch the children these days. Iâll go look for
Shopkeeper Chu and ask him to send someone to monitor the gardener.â
âGot it, Madam. Iâll be careful. He lives alone in the servantsâ room at the back. We donât usually pay much attention to him. I wonder what heâs done behind our backs?â Ruyi felt that he had been too careless.
âDonât blame yourself. You can watch people, but you canât see their hearts. We canât let Yangyang and Seven Pounds get close to him.â Li Yu suddenly remembered that she had promised the two children to build a kennel in the back garden. She hurriedly instructed Ruyi, âFind some wood to make a kennel for the two of them in the corner of the eaves.â
âGot it.â Ruyi retreated.
Li Yu went out to the Four Seas Bank and told Chu Feng about the problem with her gardener. âShopkeeper Chu, my family doesnât have enough people. Find someone to follow me back and be a rough servant for a few days. Have this person watch the gardener and see what is up with him.â
Chu Feng thought to himself, âOnly Lord Zhou and his wife are so open. They clearly know our identities, but they still asked me to send someone to stay at their house and follow their servants.â
Chu Feng thought for a while about the people in his hands and remembered a suitable one. âMadam Li, I have a subordinate called Yan Niang. She knows some work on the stove. Let her follow you back and help you do some work on the stove.â
Li Yu smiled and thanked Chu Feng. âThank you, Shopkeeper Chu.â
Chu Feng instructed the servant outside the door. Soon, an extremely ordinary-looking woman in her thirties rushed to the main hall. The woman cupped her fists at Chu Feng and bowed. âShopkeeper, Iâm here.â
Chu Feng pointed at Li Yu and said to Yan Niang, âThis is the magistrateâs wife.
Follow Madam Li back and listen to her instructions. You canât disobey!â
Yan Niang bowed and replied, âI understand!â She turned around and bowed respectfully to Li Yu. âGreetings, Madam.â
Li Yu smiled politely and said, âThank you.â
âYouâre too kind, Madam.â
Now that she had found someone, Li Yu didnât sit any longer. She smiled and stood up to bid farewell. âShopkeeper Chu has many things to do at home, so
Iâll bring Yan Niang back.â
âAlright, Madam, take care.â Chu Feng smiled and sent Li Yu out the door.
In the carriage, Li Yu told Yan Niang about the situation at home and said to her, âWhen Gardener Jiang first came, we still observed him for a few days and didnât find anything unusual. When we returned from the manor, I felt that something was wrong. We didnât have enough people at home, so we could only ask Shopkeeper Chu for help and find someone to keep an eye on him.â
Hearing Li Yuâs gentle tone, Yan Niang had a good impression of her. She smiled and comforted Li Yu. âMadam, donât worry. Iâm not very skilled but Iâm best at spying. I promise to keep a close eye on him.â
Li Yu brought Yan Niang back to the back office. She pointed at Yan Niang and said to Gu Yu and the others, âThis is Yan Niang. Sheâs here to help take care of Yangyang and Seven Pounds. In the future, when you work together, everyone has to get along well.â
Gu Yu, Old Madam Liu, and the others replied loudly, âYes, Madam.â
Yan Niang followed Li Yu around the back garden and saw the gardener. She noted his appearance and began to keep an eye on him.
Ruyi found a wooden board and made a kennel for the puppies of Yangyang and Seven Pounds according to Li Yuâs blueprint. He smiled and asked the two children who were playing with the puppies, âYoung Master, you and Seven Pounds both have names. What names did you give the two puppies?â
When Yangyang and Seven Pounds heard this, they looked at the puppies and thought for a long time. Seven Pounds pointed at the white spots which looked like flowers on the puppy and said, âFather, Iâll name it Da Hua.â
âDa Hua.â Ruyi looked at the white spots on the puppy and nodded with a smile.
âYes! Thatâs true. Da Hua is not bad. Young Master, havenât you thought about
Yangyang looked at Ruyi and said with a smile, âUncle Yi, Iâve thought about it.
Iâll call it Xiao Bai (Little White).â
âXiao Bai?â The father and son looked at âXiao Bailâ, who was chasing and biting Da Hua. Seven Pounds looked at Yangyang and smiled. âYoung Master, itâs clearly Little Black!â
Yangyang ran over and picked up the little black dog. He pointed at the white spots above its eyes. âLook! Itâs white here. Shouldnât it be called Xiao Bai? Mother said that this is its other two eyes. She said that it has four eyes. Four eyes doesnât sound good, but Xiao Bai sounds good.â
Seven Pounds raised his hand in agreement. âYes! Xiao Bai sounds good, but
Four Eyes doesnât.â Yangyang looked at Ruyi, who smiled and said, âYes, Xiao Bai sounds good. Iâll call it Xiao Bai in the future.â
Yangyang looked at Ruyi. âUncle Yi, Granny Liu made two straw mats for them.
When you finish building Da Hua and Xiao Bails small houses, Brother Seven
Pounds ana I will pad them. It wonât De cold at nignt. Father she said that theyâre the young of hunting dogs and will watch the house to catch thieves.â
âFather Shi also said that they will also hunt when they grow up!â Seven Pounds pulled Yangyang and reminded him.
âOkay, when they grow up, weâll take them hunting in the mountains.â Ruyi smiled. The two children held hands and jumped up happily..
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