Chapter 376: Is it really that thrilling?

Chapter 376: Is it really that thrilling?

Meanwhile, Xiao Huai returned home just as Xiao Yuming arrived. The two met at the mansion's entrance. Xiao Yuming stood there in silence, his head bowed. Xiao Huai glanced at him and entered the mansion, with Xiao Yuming hurrying after him.

Upon reaching the Shi An Yuan, they found Tang Shuyi sitting on a brocaded couch reading a book. Seeing them enter, she looked at Xiao Yuming and asked, “Well? Did you see that old madam?”

Xiao Yuming, head still lowered, replied, “No.”

Tang Shuyi put down her book and said, “Just give it a thought, and you'll know that old madam either fled or is dead.”

Xiao Yuming clenched his fists and sat down to one side, asking, “Has Steward Zhao found anything?”

Tang Shuyi shook her head, “It's unlikely to uncover anything so soon. The other party isn't foolish; why wouldn't they cover their tracks?”

“Next time something happens, and you're feeling hot-headed, silently repeat 'calm down' three times,” Tang Shuyi advised further.

Xiao Yuming nodded, then sat in contemplation. After a while, he said, “If we can’t find out, we can guess!”

“Who do you suspect?” Tang Shuyi asked.

Xiao Yuming: “Whoever is stirring trouble at this time, it's either the Empress or Consort Liang.”

Tang Shuyi hummed in agreement, “So, what do you plan to do?”

Xiao Yuming snorted, “If it’s related to the Empress, it must be the doing of the Wu family. If it's Consort Liang, then it's those servants from the Liang family left in the capital. None of them are good people; we have ways to make them confess.”

Tang Shuyi pondered for a moment, then said, “Start with the Wu family, but make sure no lives are lost.”

“I know.” Xiao Yuming stood up and added, “Wu Xiao Liu is timid but troublesome; I’ll deal with him.”

Tang Shuyi nodded, and Xiao Yuming turned and strode away.

“There's a high chance that the Empress is behind this,” Tang Shuyi said, looking at Xiao Huai. “If we confirm it's the Empress and the Wu family, let the Wu family vanish from the capital.”

The last encounter with the Empress left her thoroughly disgusted; should it be her doing again, no one could blame her for losing her temper.

"Alright," Xiao Huai said, "The Empress and the Wu family have always sought to control the court through the Third Prince. I had planned to let Jing Yi stabilize his position before acting. It seems they've grown impatient and are courting death."

"They simply can't reconcile with their loss," Tang Shuyi remarked, "They feel the prize that was almost in their grasp has been snatched away by someone else, and naturally, they can't accept that."

………

Over here, Xiao Yuming learned that Wu Xiao Liu was gambling at Shun Fa casino, so he took two of his friends and went there. By the time they arrived, Wu Xiao Liu was already gambling in desperation, having bet even his jade pendant and hairpin.

Xiao Yuming approached Wu Xiao Liu, nudged him with his shoulder, and asked, "How much have you lost?"

Wu Xiao Liu turned and, recognizing him, paused before retorting, "What's it to you?"

Xiao Yuming smiled, "I bet you're going to lose this next round as well."

"Damn it! Xiao Yuming, shut your mouth," Wu Xiao Liu, now irate, could not stand to hear the word 'lose.'

But just then, the dealer revealed the results — it was 'big,' but Wu Xiao Liu had bet on 'small' and lost again. Watching his jade pendant and hairpin being taken away, he turned in a rage, attempting to shove Xiao Yuming.

But Xiao Yuming was not one to be pushed around; he swiftly kicked Wu Xiao Liu in the stomach. Wu Xiao Liu staggered back several steps before falling to the ground. His attendant hurried over to help, but by that time Xiao Yuming had walked over, grabbed Wu Xiao Liu by the collar, and dragged him outside.

It was getting dark as Xiao Yuming dragged the man into an alley, followed gleefully by Qi Er and Yan Wu.

At the end of the alley, Xiao Yuming threw him to the ground, stepped on his chest, and looking down imposingly, said, "Wu Xiao Liu, do you know why I've brought you here?"

"Xiao Yuming, let me go right now, or you'll regret this," Wu Xiao Liu flailed about on the ground like an octopus, but it was futile.

Hearing his threat, Xiao Yuming drew a dagger and stabbed towards his face. With a yelp, Wu Xiao Liu fainted.

"He really can't take a scare, can he?" Qi Er commented from the side.

"Look at this," Yan Wu said, pointing to Wu Xiao Liu's attendant.

Xiao Yuming and Qi Er turned to look; the attendant was shivering, with a steady drip coming from his wet trousers. Xiao Yuming and Qi Er couldn't help but laugh; Wu Xiao Liu was a coward, and his attendant was no different.

Xiao Yuming approached the attendant, dagger in hand, and said, "Start talking."

"Talk about... what?" the attendant asked, his lips quivering.

Xiao Yuming grazed the attendant with the dagger, asking, "What do you think you could possibly tell me?"

The attendant fell to his knees with a thump, crying, "Young Master Xiao Er, I'm but a servant, bound to follow my master's orders. Spreading rumors about you was commanded by the head of the household!"

Having learned what he needed, Xiao Yuming still didn’t release the attendant, pressing further, “Anything else?”

The attendant hesitated, then understanding the half-smile on Xiao Yuming's face, ventured, "If I tell you, will Young Master Xiao spare me?"

Xiao Yuming: "That depends on what you have to say."

Clenching his fists and grinding his teeth, the attendant finally spoke, "My master... he has an affair with the Second Lady."

Silence enveloped the group before Yan Wu exclaimed, "Damn! Is it really that thrilling?"

Xiao Yuming and Qi Er, faces alight with gossipy zeal, nudged the attendant, Qi Er kicking him lightly, "Go on."

Trembling, the attendant revealed, "The... Sixth Young Master has amassed a debt of fifty thousand silver taels outside."

"Continue," Yan Wu commanded.

The attendant said, "The Third Master has kept a mistress outside."

Xiao Yuming: "Tell us everything you know."

The attendant looked miserable, but proceeded to spill everything he knew, down to Wu Xiao Liu pinching a maid’s buttocks that very morning, only then did Xiao Yuming and his companions decide to let him go.

Just then, Wu Xiao Liu regained consciousness, and Xiao Yuming walked over to kick him, declaring, "I'll spare you this time. Next time you see me, walk the other way, or I'll beat you every time I see you."

With that, the three men swaggered away. The attendant hurried over to help Wu Xiao Liu to his feet. Wu Xiao Liu watched them leave and asked the attendant, "What did they do to me?"

The attendant shook his head, "Nothing."

"Then what did they do to you?" Wu Xiao Liu pressed on.

The attendant answered with his head lowered, "They hit me a few times."

Wu Xiao Liu looked at him questioningly, and the attendant continued, "They really just hit me a few times, then Young Master Qi Er said it was getting dark and they needed to hurry back or they would be punished, so they left in a rush."

Wu Xiao Liu believed his words and allowed the attendant to support him as they headed home.