Chapter 84: Drinking at the Vanity House Again?

Chapter 84: Drinking at the Vanity House Again?

General Gao discovered the box was missing on the morning of the second day.

Thus, chaos erupted in the General's residence.

"I clearly brought that box back. How could it be missing?"

Compared to his anxiety, Lady Gao remained calm.

"Perhaps you placed it somewhere carelessly."

"But where? We've searched the entire house!"

The item was bestowed by the Emperor. If it were lost, it would not be easy to explain, and it might incur the Emperor's wrath.

"Take your time; it will turn up eventually. It's still within this residence, where else could it be?"

Lady Gao continued to reassure him.

Yesterday, the three siblings had studied the puzzle box late into the night but failed to open it.

Therefore, Gao Wenyan slept in today, only to find herself facing trouble upon waking up.

"Was it you?"

General Gao happened to pass by her courtyard and saw Gao Wenyan, immediately recalling her eager demeanor from that day.

Almost instantly, he guessed what had happened, but Gao Wenyan feigned ignorance.

"What do you mean, was it me?"

General Gao snorted coldly and entered her room, trying to find the puzzle box.

Gao Wenyan lazily yawned.

Meanwhile, Lady Gao, lagging behind, glanced at her.

"Don't play with it for too long. Remember to return it in a couple of days."

Her soft voice was audible only to Gao Wenyan.

Gao Wenyan was taken aback but saw Lady Gao catch up to General Gao and enter her room.

Gao Wenyan fell silent.

It seemed that in their family, only her father was rigid and meticulous.

Despite being a high-ranking general, he remained respectful and cautious towards the Emperor, never daring to be careless.

A cold smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

Yet, her father was accused of treason—could anything be more ironic?

General Gao did not conduct a thorough search of her room; he merely glanced around, opened two drawers, and then left.

Of course, he wouldn't find it. Gao Wenyan had anticipated this and had placed the box with Gao Wenting.

Gao Wenyan pretended to be aggrieved and asked, "What's going on?"

General Gao felt awkward and stood with his hands behind his back, saying nothing.

She wanted to say more but was subtly warned by Lady Gao's glance.

The message was clear: don't push it.

So, Gao Wenyan reined herself in and settled for asking for a prized horse she had been eyeing.

As soon as General Gao left, Gao Wenyan slipped over to Gao Wenting's courtyard and dragged him out.

"How is it?"

"What do you mean, how is it?"

Gao Wenting, still half-asleep, hadn't fully comprehended the situation.

"That thing."

"Oh, that thing."

He rubbed his eyes and said, "I spent another night working on it, but there's nothing inside."

"That's impossible; you have to open it first."

"It really can't be opened."

Gao Wenyan insisted, "That's impossible."

Now it was Gao Wenting's turn to be puzzled.

"Why are you so sure it can be opened?"

It looked like an ordinary box.

Gao Wenyan hesitated and mumbled, "I once saw someone open it."

Fortunately, Gao Wenting had only asked casually and let it go.

"You keep working on it. Eldest Brother said it's very important."

Saying this, Gao Wenyan was about to leave.

"Where are you going? To that Vanity House for another drink?"

This question made Gao Wenyan turn back.

She had forgotten.

She did not want to go to the Vanity House again, to ask Chu Xu for a cup of tea and listen to him talk about dear friends.

"I got the date wrong; I thought I had an appointment today."

Slumping down onto the table, she began aimlessly fiddling with the puzzle box.

She did not want to see Chu Xu again.