felt somewhat cold to the touch. The top was adorned with a carved, lifelike lotus flower, followed by intricate patterns that snaked along the wand all the way to the end, which had also been shaped..."Miss, even if you're sad, you need to rest. When the butler returns today, things will be easier for you."

Luo Ying, the original owner's closest maid, was supposed to have died last night. Now, she was fussing over her young mistress while skillfully combing Luo Yin's hair, dressing her in an inner robe, and then a coarse outer garment, tying a mourning sash around her waist.

Luo Ying skillfully tidied up her young master, and her mouth didn't stop:

"Miss, I asked Luo Huai to cook some porridge for you. Please have some first to fill your stomach."

"Well, I guess I slept for a while. I'm kind of hungry now. Could you make me another vegetarian dish and boil an egg"

The ripples instructed in a leisurely manner.

"As soon as Ripples said she was hungry, Luo Ying also let out a sigh of relief and immediately said:

"

"I'll go tell the kitchen right away. Miss, please wait here."

He handed Ripple a cup of warm honey water he had just prepared.

Wu Youcai appears to be only a small wealthy person in the eyes of outsiders, but Ripples enjoys the best things. He's just very low-key. For example, he has top-grade wild honey every morning that ordinary families can't afford.

Liàn Yī drank honey water and then went to the restroom again. Luò Yīng and Luò Huái had already set out breakfast in the dining room.

"Miss, you ate too little yesterday. I'm afraid your stomach might be uncomfortable, so I specially cooked some millet porridge, stir-fried some celery and lily, and also a small dish of pickled radish."

"You don't have to stay with me, go down for breakfast too. Let everyone at home take turns eating breakfast. No one should leave the door unattended."

The ripples had already scooped a spoonful of porridge into her mouth and instructed her two maids to prepare some as well.

Yes, Miss!

This time, the two of them didn't hesitate and withdrew to make arrangements. They left two elderly women to wait at the door.

Ripples, having already eaten an early meal, went to the spirit hall and waited for guests who came to offer condolences.

Yesterday it was neighbors, today Wu Youcai's business partners should be coming. I just hope the housekeeper returns soon, she is a girl who hasn't reached her sixteenth year, she wouldn't know how to handle business matters.

Liàn Yī knelt for not long before the steward, Wú Zhōng, rushed into the courtyard with a grim face, his eyes sunken and black. His indigo robe was also stained with dust.

The first thing she did after entering the courtyard was to confirm that Ripples was still there. Only then did she let out a sigh of relief, and then walked over to Ripples' side and whispered:

"Miss, the old servant has something important to tell you."

Just then, no one came to offer condolences. Lian Yi nodded and, after being helped up by Luo Ying, went to the side hall.

"Butler Wu, thank you for rushing back all night! Has Father's business been taken care of as he instructed"

Ripples pressed her snow-white handkerchief against the corner of her eyes, and said in a low voice.

"Miss, please rest assured, everything is taken care of! After Master passes away, you can go to the Hot Spring Resort under the guise of mourning. I've had it all arranged in advance: plenty of staff and capable guards."

"Well, father told me to do as you say. After the wake is over, we'll set off."

"Miss, this is exactly what I wanted to tell you."

Wu Zhong said with a furrowed brow.

"You said so."

"Miss, the original plan at the manor was to observe seven days of mourning before sending my master off. However, some unforeseen circumstances have arisen. I feel that after three days of mourning, we should lay my master to rest. I fear that extending the mourning period could lead to further complications."

"How do you say that"

The Li family has arrived!

"Are they here to mourn"

"Yes, but no!"

"Wu, just get to the point!"

"Miss, after I arranged things at the mountain villa yesterday, I returned overnight. As soon as the city gate opened, I went in. Before my carriage reached our street corner, it was stopped. They said that fifteen or sixteen masked and hooded bandits had been killed on the front street."

I hurried back, and had the carriage move slowly in reverse. Wu An and I walked back. The officers had surrounded the street, and the coroner was examining the body. I only glanced at it quickly.

When he got to this point, Wu Zhong's voice lowered even further.

I saw a familiar face, who looked like the young master of Li's main house. I was afraid I was mistaken, so I took Wu An to act casually and approach him. After taking a closer look, it turned out to be Li Ji Zu, the young master of Li's main house. I left Wu An there to keep an eye on him while I went back first.

"Butler, are you sure that person is my cousin "

The ripples frowned and asked.

"Miss, I am sure of it. When I first moved to Jiangnan, I was the one who went to Beijing to deliver New Year's gifts. Once, that young master even met me personally, so I remember it very clearly."

"My cousin is so strange. My father passed away yesterday, and that night he came to mourn with us. Who notified him How could he have arrived at this time And you said they were all dressed in black, and died so close to us. This…"

Ripple feigned surprise, bringing out all the doubts and weaving them together into a string of statements.

As expected, the manager’s face quickly shifted from red to white then blue, his breathing became labored. He then looked up at his young mistress and said:

"Miss, I'm afraid the visitor is not well-intentioned. If the Li family finds out that young master died near our place, they will definitely blame you."

"Butler, don't be hasty. Let's first see what Wu An has learned. Then we can make a decision."

"Yes!"

Wu Zhong saw that his young mistress was in control, so he didn't say anything more.

At this time, Luo Huai reported outside the door:

"Miss, Wu requests an audience!"

"Let him in!"

The ripples nodded to the cherry blossoms around them.

Just now, the conversation between Lian Yi and Wu Guan didn't avoid Luo Ying. Luo Ying understood the danger in it, her legs felt weak, but she still took a few quick steps to open the door and let Wu An come in.

"Wu An has met Miss."

How did the constables determine what happened at the street corner

Wu Guan directly asked.

“The young man knew the local police chief and asked around. It was said that these people were all killed by two masters, with two kinds of wounds on their bodies. They seemed to be protecting someone from being hunted down, but they died here in the end. They didn't have anything on them that could prove their identity.”

Captain Sun suspected they were assassins raised by a powerful family, making their identities difficult to uncover. He could only send them to the yamen after an autopsy and post notices to see if anyone would claim the bodies.

He said the chances of being recognized were slim, the culprit couldn't be caught, and in the end, these corpses would be sent to the funeral home. It was now the hottest part of summer, and the government office didn't have enough ice to preserve so many bodies.

Though Wu An is only eleven years old, he speaks clearly and is quick-witted. In just a short time, he has managed to gather so much information.

"Luo Huai, An Zi did a good job with the task. Send him to the kitchen for breakfast and add two extra eggs for him."

"Excuse me, miss!"

Wu An happily went to the kitchen to eat.

This time, the door was ajar. Ripples took out her handkerchief and dabbed at the corner of her eyes as she spoke:

"Mr. Wu, our family is currently in mourning as my father passed away suddenly. We are short-handed and haven't had time to investigate the matter of the masked assailant. We only heard rumors about it. Is that correct"

Wu Zhong immediately had a jolt, understanding his young mistress's meaning. This was no intention at all to identify the corpse.

"Miss, rest assured, I know what to do. It's just..."

"From the capital to Jiangnan, a round trip would take more than a month. At that time, the capital city would reek with decay; who could tell who was who"r valuables, then rented another house near her original residence.Because ripples were fast and accurate, Li Gang was burned beyond recognition, leaving no fingerprints to be found. It took them some...