The young master nodded, retrieved an exquisite jade pendant from his sleeve, and handed it to Shen Qing. "This is a VIP token of Baiwei House. With this pendant, you may enter and leave the VIP rooms at any time without announcing yourself."
Shen Qing accepted the jade pendant, secretly pleased, though her expression remained completely calm. "Thank you so much for your immense kindness, Young Master."
Twirling his folding fan, the young master smiled broadly. "Think nothing of it. By the way, may I ask the young lady's honorable name?"
Shen Qing paused for a brief moment, casually fabricating a name. "This humble one's surname is Gu, with the single given name 'Jin'."
"Ah, Miss Gu." The young master nodded. "My surname is Li, given name Ziqian. Miss Gu, if you have any leisure time, you are welcome to come to Baiwei House to find me at any time."
Shen Qing smiled faintly. "You are too kind, Young Master Li."
The strange phenomenon in the market startled a man in black on the second floor of the teahouse. He stroked the half-broken Yin-Yang jade pendant at his waist, watching the purple Qi swirling around Shen Qing's Fate Disk, and let out a raspy laugh deep in his throat. "Found you at last..."
Just as Shen Qing was preparing to leave the market, she suddenly felt a cold gaze fall upon her.
She looked up and saw a man in black standing at the window of a tavern on the second floor in the distance. The man had a stern expression and a gaze as sharp as a knife, staring intently right at her.
Shen Qing felt a chill in her heart, thinking to herself, "Who is this person? Why is he staring at me like that?"
She quickly lowered her head, blended into the crowd, and vanished into the bustling streets.
Gu Changfeng returned home, his mind still dwelling on Shen Qing's words.
Sitting in his study, he recalled Shen Qing's mysterious smile and could not help murmuring to himself, "What on earth is that woman's background?"
His pageboy, Xiaoliu, saw this and asked curiously, "Young Master, what are you thinking about?"
Gu Changfeng shook his head and said, "It's nothing. I just feel I met an extraordinary woman today."
Xiaoliu smiled and said, "Could the Young Master have fallen in love?"
Gu Changfeng glared at him and said, "Cease such nonsense!"
Xiaoliu stuck out his tongue and said no more.
After leaving the market, Shen Qing did not return directly to the Marquis Manor. Instead, she wound her way through several small alleys, and after making sure no one was following her, she quietly returned to the Star and Moon Pavilion.
Qing'er was already waiting anxiously at the courtyard gate. Seeing her return safely, she hurriedly went up to her. "Miss, you're finally back! Someone from the manor came by a moment ago to ask where you had gone. Just as you instructed, I only told them you were resting in your room."
Shen Qing nodded, handing the banknotes and the jade pendant from her bosom to Qing'er. "Keep these safe. They will be useful later."
Qing'er took the banknotes and the jade pendant, a trace of surprise flashing in her eyes. "Miss, what are you..."
Shen Qing smiled slightly, her tone carrying a profound meaning. "This is only the beginning. Qing'er, there is still much for us to do."
She then produced a slaughtered chicken.
Qing'er's eyes were full of admiration. "Miss is amazing."
"We will stew these to eat tonight. Anything sent from the main kitchen can just be secretly dumped."
"Yes, Miss." Smiling broadly, Qing'er took the chicken and went to stew it in the kitchen.
Shen Qing walked into the room, sat before the dressing table, and gently brushed her hand across the bronze mirror. The mirror reflected her clear and graceful visage, yet her eyes carried a hint of coldness.
"Miss, did everything go smoothly when you went out today?" Qing'er asked cautiously as she tidied away the banknotes.
Shen Qing gave a faint smile. "Quite smoothly. In the future, keep a close eye on the movements within the manor, and secretly help me inquire about matters concerning my mother."
Hearing this, Qing'er's expression changed. "Miss, you mean Madam's death..."
Shen Qing gently closed the mirror lid, turned to Qing'er, and said, "Qing'er, my mother's death was definitely no accident. Madam Feng and Shen Ying'er have subjected me to all manner of difficulties over the years; there must be hidden reasons behind it. Help me investigate in secret, especially the maids and older women who served my mother back then. See if anyone knows anything."
With a solemn expression, Qing'er nodded in assent. "Rest assured, Miss, I will act with utmost caution and not alert the enemy."
Shen Qing nodded slightly, a trace of approval flashing in her eyes. She knew that although Qing'er was young, having grown up by her side, she was meticulous and reliable in her work—the only person she could trust in this Marquis Manor.
"Miss, dinner is ready," Qing'er reminded her softly.
Shen Qing stood up and walked over to sit at the table. A bowl of steaming chicken soup was set upon it, sending forth an appetizing aroma. She picked up the spoon and gently stirred it.
"Qing'er, pay close attention to the movements of Madam Feng and Shen Ying'er over the next few days, especially their communications with the outside world," Shen Qing instructed in a low voice.
Qing'er nodded. "Don't worry, Miss, I'll keep a close eye on them."
Shen Qing took a sip of the soup, the corners of her mouth curving upward slightly. "Madam Feng thinks I am weak and easily bullied, little knowing that I am no longer the Shen Qing of yesteryear. The more she tries to suppress me, the more I will show her what it means to lift a rock only to drop it on one's own feet."
In the dead of night, Shen Qing lay in bed, her mind a flurry of thoughts. She knew she was isolated and helpless in this Marquis Manor, and only by moving step by step could she turn the situation around.
"Li Ziqian..." Shen Qing murmured softly, a complex look flashing in her eyes.
Early the next morning, as soon as Shen Qing got up, she heard a commotion coming from outside the courtyard. Frowning, she walked to the window and saw Madam Feng aggressively storming in with several older women in tow.
"Shen Qing, get out here!" Madam Feng stood in the courtyard, her voice shrill.
Shen Qing gave a cold smile, straightened her clothes, and stepped slowly out of the room.
Standing on the steps, she looked down at Madam Feng with a condescending air, her tone detached. "Madam has come to my quarters so early in the morning. What is the occasion?"
Seeing her so calm, Madam Feng felt a slight tightening in her chest, but quickly resumed her aggressive demeanor. "Shen Qing, where were you yesterday?"
Shen Qing raised an eyebrow. "I was resting in my room all day yesterday and never stepped out even half a step."
Madam Feng sneered. "Stop playing dumb! A servant in the manor saw you slip out through the back door. As a proper young lady of the Marquis Manor, sneaking out is completely unseemly!"
A stir rippled through Shen Qing's heart, but outwardly she remained composed. "Madam, such words should not be spoken recklessly. Do you have proof?"
Left momentarily speechless by her counter-question, Madam Feng turned pale with anger. "You... you still dare to quibble! Someone, search the place!"
At this command, several older women immediately rushed into the room, rummaging through boxes and cabinets. Seeing this, Qing'er stamped her foot in anxiety. "What are you doing? Is my Miss's room a place you can just search at will?"
Yet Shen Qing remained completely unconcerned, as if all of this had nothing to do with her. She lightly smoothed her sleeve and said indifferently, "Since Madam insists on searching, then go ahead and search. Only, if you find nothing, don't blame me for being impolite."
Gritting her teeth with frustration at Shen Qing's composed manner, Madam Feng could do nothing about it.
A moment later, the women returned empty-handed and reported in low voices to Madam Feng, "Madam, we found nothing at all—only... some chicken bones."
Madam Feng's expression changed, and she demanded angrily, "How can that be! Where did chicken bones come from?"
Shen Qing gave a cold laugh. "A wild chicken flew into my room yesterday, and I had Qing'er catch it to make soup. Is there a problem with that?"