CHAPTER 376: CHAPTER 378: EXPOSED (PART 5)

Housekeeper Hu finished speaking, and Xiao Yanting’s gaze trembled, shrinking back slightly.

The Grand Dowager’s face was full of anger. She pointed at the disheveled woman on the ground and asked, "Who is this person, and why is she being brought into the mansion together with the others?"

Housekeeper Hu looked troubled and pointed at the woman, saying, "Vice Commander Liu said that this woman was with the Fifth Young Master at the time... They seem to know each other... From her appearance, she seems to be someone frequently seen in the mansion, well-known in the west of the city, Zhou Dao Po." After saying this, he glanced at the Fifth Madam!

The Grand Dowager’s eyes, sharp like arrows, directed at the Fifth Madam, filled with incredible anger. Of course, she recognized Zhou Dao Po!

The Fifth Madam’s shoulders shrunk at the Grand Dowager’s look, lowering her head, too afraid to speak.

Seeing that although everyone seemed shocked, no one appeared injured, the Grand Dowager instructed, "Say whatever you have later, first help the Fifth Young Master inside to change his clothes." Housekeeper Hu then found a servant to take Zhou Dao Po downstairs to wash up, while the Fifth Madam also went to help Xiao Yanting to the Grand Dowager’s room to freshen up.

After changing clothes and being stimulated by the cold water, both of them immediately sobered up, especially Xiao Yanting, who turned pale and screamed, hiding in the corner of the washroom, shouting, "Don’t... don’t kill me, don’t kill me!"

The Fifth Madam, unable to keep her composure, immediately ran over to embrace Xiao Yanting: "Fifth Young Master, Fifth Young Master, what’s wrong with you?"

"What’s wrong?" The Grand Dowager sat on the heated brick bed in the Warm Pavilion, her face looking bad, hearing the dramatic cries from the washroom, she looked at Ziwei and said: "You go and see what’s going on."

Ziwei then went inside, and in the blink of an eye, she and the Fifth Madam supported Xiao Yanting and helped him out.

After freshening up and changing clothes, he appeared much more alert, yet still frightened, repeatedly muttering, "Don’t kill me, don’t kill me..."

Meanwhile, Zhou Dao Po was dragged in by someone; upon entering, she curled up on the ground, holding her head, muttering as if her wits were not entirely intact: "I said... I’ll tell everything... my son Dashan..." she repeated the phrase endlessly.

The more the Grand Dowager listened, the more her eyebrows furrowed, and her face gradually darkened. The Second Madam said, "Mother, it seems like we should call the Imperial Physician."

The Grand Dowager looked at Xiao Yanting with disappointment, saying nothing.

The Second Madam then instructed someone to invite the Imperial Physician. The First Madam and Xiao Yanzheng supported the Grand Dowager from either side. Xiqiu stood quietly on one side, and the Second Madam busied herself having some pastries prepared.

Soon, the Imperial Physician arrived, took the pulse of both individuals, and confirmed that Xiao Yanting was disoriented due to shock. After acupuncture, he drifted off to sleep. Meanwhile, Zhou Dao Po remained somewhat unclear-headed; even when given medicine, she knocked it over, so the maids were busy all afternoon, barely managing to calm her down.

When Xiao Yanyi and Fourth Master Xiao returned from the government office, they saw Xiao Yanting lying on the bed. There was no surprise in their eyes, indicating they already knew. Xiao Yanyi asked, "What exactly happened?"

The Fifth Madam sat crying on the side, while the Grand Dowager, upset inside, didn’t respond. So, the Second Madam stood up and replied, "Housekeeper Hu brought the people back, and after taking medicine, they’ve been asleep since."

This implies that they still hadn’t figured out the cause of the matter.

"Isn’t there also that Zhou Dao Po, where is she?" Fourth Master Xiao stood with his arms crossed, walked to Xiqiu’s side, and asked calmly.

The Second Madam responded, "She is in the side room, mumbling nonsensical words." Fourth Master Xiao frowned slightly, saying nothing further.

Xiqiu glanced at Fourth Master Xiao, noticing his calm demeanor without much anger, and secretly let out a breath of relief.

After sleeping the entire afternoon, Xiao Yanting awoke, his eyes clearer than before. His gaze swept over everyone, finally lingering on the Fifth Madam.

Ordinarily the most bad-tempered, Fourth Master Xiao remained calm, yet Xiao Yanyi appeared displeased. He looked at Xiao Yanting and asked, "Fifth Brother, what is going on? How did you end up in the ruined temple outside the city? Do you recognize the people who kidnapped you?"

"I..." Xiao Yanting hesitated, then lowered his head and replied, "I don’t know."

Xiao Yanyi sighed, but the Grand Dowager slammed the table, asking, "You don’t know? You were fine in the mansion, how did you end up in a temple outside the city, and you don’t know?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yanting’s gaze shrank as he looked toward the Fifth Madam, who was full of unease and forced a laugh, saying, "Mother, the Fifth Young Master just woke up... Why don’t we let him rest for a while and ask tomorrow?"

The Grand Dowager clearly did not agree, Xiao Yanting is the Fifth Young Master of Xuanning Marquis Mansion; who doesn’t know him in the Capital? Yet these barbarian bandits dared to harm him, either openly defiant or incited by someone. You can’t clap with one hand, so surely Xiao Yanting must have caused some trouble outside that led foes to seek revenge.

"Shut up!" The Grand Dowager roared with anger, "Don’t tell me you’re unaware of this! How could you not know what your husband is up to outside? Also, how do you explain the fact that Zhou Dao Po, who often associates with you, ended up locked up in a ruined temple with the Fifth Young Master?"

The Fifth Madam was stunned and blurted out, "Mother, how could this matter be linked to me..."

The Grand Dowager narrowed her eyes, pointing angrily at Xiao Yanting and the Fifth Madam, speechless with anger. Xiao Yanyi stepped forward to console her, "Mother, please calm down. Fifth Brother was greatly frightened. Why not wait until tomorrow?" Then he looked at Fourth Master Xiao, saying, "Those ruffians, we need to send people to find them."

Fourth Master Xiao did not respond affirmatively, nor did he refuse.

The Second Madam also tried to soothe the Grand Dowager, "Mother, the Marquis is right. Fifth Brother is deeply shocked; let him calm his mind first. You can question him later. Moreover, since someone abducted Fifth Brother, we should send people to investigate those individuals thoroughly as well."

Xiqiu listened quietly, her gaze flickering, slowly sipping tea from her cup with her head down.

The First Madam watched her and showed a thoughtful expression.

"Hmph!" The Grand Dowager coldly snorted but refrained from further questioning.

Just then, Chunliu, who was attending the Fourth Madam, rushed in from outside the doorway, lifted the curtain, and whispered, "That Daoist woman has awakened and wishes to see the Grand Dowager!"

The Grand Dowager narrowed her eyes at the news, nodding, "Bring her up here." The Fifth Madam was full of trepidation, watching the door anxiously.

Ziwei and Chunliu each supported Zhou Dao Po and brought her forward. Compared to earlier, she was much calmer. She entered the room and knelt before the Grand Dowager, kowtowing, "Greetings to the Grand Dowager!" She then turned to pay respects to Xiao Yanyi, the Second Madam, and Fourth Master Xiao.

Looking at Zhou Dao Po, the Grand Dowager asked in a deep voice, "You wish to see me? For what reason?"

Zhou Dao Po found the Fifth Madam among the crowd with her eyes, while the Fifth Madam desperately signaled at her. Zhou Dao Po, however, seemed oblivious, suddenly raising her hand and pointed at the Fifth Madam, saying, "Grand Dowager, the matters within your honored mansion have nothing to do with a little person like me, it’s all because of the Fifth Madam; I beg the Grand Dowager for mercy!"