Chapter 6: Are These Matters Related to You?

Chapter 6: Are These Matters Related to You?

"Since that's the case, we won't discuss this matter with you further, Jiuye and I. The most pressing concern now is that we must prepare in advance.

If it's really an execution of the entire family, we can only accept our fate. But if it's exile, we need silver to ensure we don't starve on the journey."

"Sister Six, I have three hundred taels in my personal savings. As long as we're frugal, it should be enough," Sister Six offered promptly.

The mention of personal savings made Sister Eight feel a little insecure.

"Mother, you know my habits. I have a bit of a sweet tooth, so I usually spend my monthly allowance on snacks. However, I do have a few decent pieces of jewelry that might fetch some silver."

"I have some valuable items as well that I can convert into banknotes to bring along."

Listening to their sisters' eager declarations of their assets, Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran exchanged a knowing glance.

Both understood that while the sisters had some savings, these possessions were not the same as cash. It was unlikely the Emperor would allow them to leave with such wealth openly.

If that were the case, wouldn't their search be in vain?

"Dear sisters-in-law, I know you all have no selfish intentions. At this point, there's no time to exchange those items for banknotes," Mo Jiuye's words were like a basin of cold water poured over the eight sisters-in-law.

They instantly lost their composure.

"Ninth Brother, then what should we do? Although the things we have aren't worth much, it would be a shame to let those bastard sons of bitches benefit from them," fretted Sixth Sister, her frustration leading her to use vulgar language.

Mo Jiuye had considered this aspect as well but was at a loss for a solution.

Just as everyone was at a loss, He Zhiran spoke up.

"Mother, dear sisters-in-law, I suggest that each of us sew a small pocket close to our bodies and wrap the banknotes with cotton before storing them inside. Cotton is soft and even if someone searches us, they might not be able to detect it. As for the other items, we can figure out a way with the remaining time we have."

Old Lady Mo approved, "Mm, He's suggestion makes sense. Let's follow her advice and prepare right away."

According to etiquette, they should have immediately returned to their duties after their mother-in-law's command. However, the imperial physician had yet to attend to Mo Jiuye's injuries, leaving them worried and reluctant to leave.

Madam Mo usually pitied her daughter-in-laws for being without husbands and rarely assumed the airs of a senior. But now, with the urgency of the situation, it was not the time for their caprices.

Thus, Madam Mo sternly spoke, "Stop standing there like statues. Hurry back and prepare."

Seeing no other choice, the eight sisters-in-law reluctantly followed one another out.

With the others gone, Madam Mo's gaze returned to Mo Jiuye.

"How long has it been since someone was sent to fetch the imperial physician? Your sisters-in-law and I have been here almost two hours, yet the physician still hasn't arrived."

As she finished speaking, servants who had gone to summon the physician began returning with reports.

Each of them conveyed the same message: excuses from the physicians as to why they couldn't tend to Mo Jiuye's injuries.

It didn't take He Zhiran much effort to deduce the reason behind this – the Emperor simply didn't want Mo Jiuye to recover, or even leave the capital alive, hence the intentional delay by the physicians.

Mo Jiuye seemed to have predicted such an outcome and didn't display any unusual reactions.

However, to reassure his mother, he said, "Mother, my injuries are not severe. There's no need for you to worry."

Madam Old Mo was not someone without plans. Now that the situation had come to this, even if she was worried about her son's injuries, there was nothing she could do about it.

Moreover, judging from Mo Jiuye's current state, there shouldn't be any major issues.

"In that case, I'll go back and make some preparations."

Regardless, Mo Jiuye had indeed taken fifty strokes of the cane. It would still be difficult for him to walk around.

He Zhiran offered to escort Madam Old Mo out of the courtyard.

After returning to her room, she secretly took out two indenture contracts from her space while using her sleeves as cover.

One belonged to Qiao Yu, and the other to another maid who came with the dowry.

"The Emperor has ordered the Duke's residence into exile. We won't be able to bring servants along on the journey. I plan to return the indenture contracts of the maidservants and set them free."

In response, Mo Jiuye didn't object, as he had indeed been considering the same idea.

"Alright, if you think it's appropriate."

Just as Mo Jiuye was about to say something more, a panicked guard rushed in with news.

"Your Grace, I regret to inform you that our manor's storeroom has been robbed, and it's been cleaned out completely, leaving only empty shelves behind."

As the guard finished his report, Eldest Sister and Second Sister hurried over, both visibly flustered.

"Ninth Brother, Eldest Sister and I went to the kitchen to prepare some provisions, but everything was gone."

"Ninth Brother, our Duke's Manor must have been hit by thieves."

Upon hearing Eldest Sister claim that the manor had been robbed, He Zhiran felt a twinge of guilt, for she was the 'thief' they were talking about.

However, she quickly reassured herself. She hadn't truly intended to steal; her actions were for the benefit of everyone.

Hearing this, Mo Jiuye was equally baffled.

Despite the fact that the Duke's residence was on the brink of being seized and its inhabitants exiled, it had yet to come to pass. The guards were still on their regular patrols. It would be impossible for someone to plunder the storeroom completely without leaving any traces, let alone pilfering a few small items casually. A hunch told him that He Zhiran was somehow involved in this incident. After all, her actions were too perplexing. He waved at the guard. "You may leave now. I'll look into this matter personally." "Ninth Brother, what about the theft in the kitchen?" his elder sister pressed. Mo Jiuye replied helplessly, "Eldest Sister, it's for the best that the items were stolen. We can't take them with us anyway, and it's better for them to enrich our enemy's treasury than a petty thief." Eldest Sister seemed to approve of Mo Jiuye's words as she nodded seriously. "Ninth Brother has a point. In that case, Second Sister and I will attend to other matters." As the two sisters left, Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran were left alone in the room. Mo Jiuye's profound gaze never wavered from He Zhiran.

He Zhiran met his piercing gaze without showing the slightest hint of fear.

After a long moment, Mo Jiuye asked in a deep voice, "Are all these matters related to you?"

The question might have been phrased as a query, but it carried an underlying tone of certainty.

Despite her practiced composure from her previous life, He Zhiran was momentarily at a loss under Mo Jiuye's questioning.

For one thing, she could clearly deduce from his tone that he had already firmly concluded that she was responsible.

How was she supposed to handle a situation like this?

For the moment, He Zhiran truly didn't know how to explain herself.

While historical records portrayed Mo Jiuye as an upright individual, they were still far from being close. She certainly couldn't reveal to him that she possessed a space, could she?