Phoenix in the Moonlight

She had seen Yifeng's right-hand man. He was an interesting creature. While Wang Yifeng was open with his emotions, at least in front of her, that man always wore a blank expression on his face. He looked like a seasoned servant who had served for too long and seen too much bloodshed. His body moved with grace unlike that seen in the common noble's servant. It piqued her interest, but she was slightly afraid of guessing the true identity of this man.

"What else did you find out?"

"The Young Master has a newlywed concubine at home. He had not even been married for a month when he came here. The servants were perplexed why he chose to marry a commoner's daughter but said that the couple's relationship was harmonious and that they are very much in love."

"For someone who thinks they didn't do a good job, you brought on quite a bit of information!" she chuckled.

"Miss, there is more. They spoke ill of you, especially one servant girl who badmouthed both you and the concubine at the main house," Mian Mian said. She felt almost guilty for bringing up the information. But it was her duty to inform the Miss of all conversations she had participated in and overheard. She would be lacking in her job if she didn't equip her Miss with all the information. What if these servants need to be won over in the future or turned into enemies, instead? One had to be careful and analyze every situation.

Unfortunately, even though she was good at conversing, she wasn't good at foreseeing what was to come. She left that to her quick-witted and cunning Miss.

"Make a note of her and keep your eye on her. No need to inform me about her whereabouts until she does something suspicious or harmful." She looked at the little girl and couldn't help but smile. "What? Did what she said offend you?"

Mian Mian nodded.

"She called Miss terrible names and questioned your integrity." Though furious, Mian Mian was not the kind to burst out into flames.

"There will be people with filthy mouths. But remember, it is these loud-mouthed people who are all bark and no bite. Beware of the snake hidden under the flower. Once you go in to sniff the fragrance, they will slither out and bite you."

"Mian Mian understands." She nodded eagerly, making note of this.

"Bai'er, what is the news on the gambling house?" she sounded bored. She had done her part, now she only needed to see the scene unfold.

"The people from the justice department and the guard who you met on the street got news shortly after your departure. They rushed in and found his body on the floor. There were some women who had ventured out and sought out the clerk. There were screams and the like. But overall, nothing much happened." He paused for effect.

"The magistrate came in the morning and looked through the house for clues. Finding the women in the back was damning information, so the people who had been detained under the suspicion of the murder were taken into custody for questioning. Most of them were drunk or losing money, but they had some interesting characters in there." Xin raised her brow in interest. "They found the transaction books and the discrepancies and information on money laundering. But I am afraid that there will be no action taken. The boss of the gambling house left unscathed and the magistrate brushed the whole matter under the rug."

Xin scrunched her brow in frustration. "Who is it that interrupted?"

"It seems that the owner of the gambling house has some connection to the magistrate. I haven't exactly figured out how so, but if Miss asks, I will keep tabs on them." She nodded.

She had finally untangled her hair.

"They found the women and took them into custody," Bai'er said after a long silence. "They will probably be sent back home after this." She scoffed.

What family would take back a girl who was kidnapped? It was unheard of in this society where daughters were seen as burden and wives and concubines the vessels that bore children and had no rights and opinions of their own.

"You don't need to be concerned about them. It's no headache of ours." He hummed in accent but she knew that he was conflicted. She stopped herself from sighing. He was still a child and had to learn that helping everyone you came across or pitied wasn't a good thing.

People were evil and they only used others to their advantage. Once they got what they wanted, they wouldn't mind selling away their benefactors for some small benefits to their enemies.

It seemed that Bai'er would have to learn the hard way. It was a pity.

"Come, help me in the kitchen, Bai'er." She strolled out of the room, across the courtyard, and into the kitchen. The little man followed silently watching her light the fire. "Blow on it until it is bigger."

She started to prepare the vegetables in a neat and quick fashion. If anyone saw her now, it would give away her prowess with the blade.

Within a minute, the oil was hot and she had poured the vegetables in. She stirred and added the sauces she had prepared beforehand, adding spice and sour. It was her unique recipe to a simple vegetable stir fry. Apart from her fellow organization members, no one had tasted it. It was a quick meal that cost little and took little time to cook.