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Upon her departure, I retreated to my chamber to fetch paper and ink. Relying on my memory, I meticulously sketched the wooden box I had discovered the previous day.

The box was in the possession of Elder Sister Lianyan; she had intentionally placed it on the high table by the window after bringing back the books from the study. Mother Zhang was meticulous in her actions, leaving no loose ends behind.

If she indeed had ulterior motives, she would inevitably find an opportunity to investigate anything that had been brought out of the study.

Last night, Elder Sister Lianyan had concealed herself within the thorn tree outside the window.

This morning's sudden stomachache was a signal. Lianyan remained in Shen Yuan to keep an eye on Mother Zhang, while I ventured out to fetch medicine, using the opportunity to search for a way to unlock the box.

Lu Shiyi was known for his efficiency, and true to form, he returned within an hour, bearing the requested items. Behind him followed a sturdy man dressed in a simple green cloth garment.

"This is Master Guan from the government office, well-versed in all sorts of mechanical traps and hidden weapons. Tell him what kind of device you wish to have unlocked."

Master Guan, once a renowned gentleman-thief in Yangzhou, was famed for no treasure in the city being beyond his reach. Little did he expect that one misstep would land him behind bars. It was Lu Shiyi who recognized his skills and secured his release from prison, recruiting him to work for the local bureaucracy.

Rong Shu handed the sketch to Master Guan, saying, "This wooden box has no keyhole; it appears to be just a block of wood carved with auspicious beasts. However, when I shook it, there was a sound inside, suggesting that it contains something."

The wooden box depicted on the parchment was vividly portrayed, with minute details on every side. Master Guan picked up the letter, squinting at it intently for half an hour.

"The wooden box seems somewhat akin to the 'Four Palm Box' my master mentioned," Master Guan put down the drawing, rubbed his eyes, and said, "By striking four specific spots on the box, the internal mechanism will align itself, revealing the lock's keyhole. However, finding the right spots to clap is no simple task. You might stumble upon it by chance, but if luck isn't on your side, you could clap until your hands ache in vain."

Master Guan then pulled out a copper key, "This key holds the secret to unlocking doors in my lineage. I owe Old Lu a favor, so I'll gift this key to you. You're an esteemed lady with better fortune than common folk. If you manage to reveal the keyhole through clapping, this key will unlock the box. If you can't find the keyhole, don't worry. Come to the yamen in two days, and I'll have the pleasure of encountering this fabled 'Four Palm Box.' Just remember, if you don't want the contents destroyed, don't force it open."

Rong Shu received the key with solemn gratitude and, accompanied by Lu Shiyi, returned to Shen Yuan.

It was already late afternoon, and many servants and matrons were taking their afternoon rest in the back chambers. The Yi Lanzhu was eerily quiet.

Luo Yan sat on the bed, her ears keenly listening for any sounds from outside. Soon, she heard light footsteps approaching steadily.

Initially, Luo Yan intended to get up immediately, but remembering Rong Shu's warning from the previous night, she hesitated and lay back down. Only when she heard Rong Shu's voice did she slip on her shoes and go to open the door.

"Did you get the medicine?"

"Yes, I did."

Rong Shu placed the food box on the table. Seeing Luo Yan's usually rosy cheeks now pale, she chuckled, "Sister Luo Yan, your pretending to have stomachache is quite convincing."

The young girl's smile was truly charming, no wonder the general and the county princess adored her.

Yan felt a bit embarrassed as she said, "The ladies and grandmothers in Datong Prefecture are overly enthusiastic about finding me a match. I've gotten quite skilled at pretending to be sick, even fooling the physician that Mother Zhang brought over this morning."

"Mother Zhang specially found a physician for you?" Rong Shu furrowed her brow.

The Shen family had always been generous to their servants. During the Moon Lady Festival and Chongyang Festival, there had been incidents where servants overindulged in crabs and ended up with stomachaches. The mansion always had medicine on hand; why would they need to call in a physician?

Rong Shu couldn't tell if she was merely being suspicious of Mother Zhang or if she was overthinking things.

"I've already found out how to open yesterday's wooden box."

Upon hearing this, Yan hastily lifted the soft blanket off the bed and retrieved the wooden box. With a defeated look, she said, "I spent the whole day trying to unlock it, but couldn't even chip off a single splinter."

"Inspector Guan from the local office told me it's called a 'Four Palm Box.' You have to clap your palms on the right spots four times to find the lock."

Rong Shu slapped the wooden box "slap slap" four times, but nothing happened.

She tried different spots, yet nothing changed. After attempting this more than ten times, the young girl's palms turned red, but still, nothing occurred.

She passed the wooden box to Yan, asking her to give it a try.

With great strength, Luo Yan slammed the wooden box dozens of times, but it remained as unyielding as a stubborn stone, showing no signs of change.

Rong Shu was not in a hurry. Seeing that Luo Yan was about to get frustrated, she placed the box aside and said, "It's alright. I can always visit the government office in two days. Besides, perhaps Mother Zhang will tell me how to open it tonight."

Luo Yan widened her eyes. "Miss wants to try tonight?"

"Mm-hmm, it's better to act sooner rather than later," Rong Shu replied calmly. "Otherwise, the efficacy of the medicine might fade away if we delay any longer."

"I'll guard outside your room like last night. If anything unexpected happens, I can enter through the window to help you," Luo Yan suggested.

Rong Shu lowered her gaze and thought for a moment before declining with a "no".

"Luo Yan, continue pretending to be sick. I've brought you some food. Don't eat anything from the manor for the next couple of days."

Somewhat puzzled, Luo Yan still nodded seriously.

In the food box Rong Shu had brought back, there was a bowl of osmanthus pear soup and a few pieces of Huangqiao sesame cakes.

Mother Zhang loved the sesame cakes from the shop by Tianshui Bridge. When Rong Shu was young and went out to play, she would always bring her a portion upon returning home.

During the evening meal, Rong Shu placed a bowl of Autumn Persimmon Soup and warm, bedside baked buns in front of Mama Zhang, saying, "I specially brought these back for you. Please sit down and have them with me."

She had always been close to Mama Zhang since childhood, and it wasn't the first time she had asked her to sit and share a meal.

Mama Zhang initially tried to decline a few times, but eventually gave in to Rong Shu's persistence and sat down, finishing the entire bowl of soup.

After dinner, Rong Shu excused herself, asking to rest early, leaving Mama Zhang to keep watch through the night. She then dismissed the maidservants one by one, like a procession.