Chapter 587 384: Shadows

Just at that moment, a maid suddenly raced over from the other end of the corridor. Seeing many people in the garden, she whispered something to Guan Kui.

Guan Kui's expression changed, and he immediately grabbed a lantern and ran towards the other end of the corridor.

Tang Wanhong watched Guan Kui and the maid's hastily departing figures. With narrowed eyes, he already guessed what happened.

He glared at the guards still gathered in the garden and yelled coldly, "What are you all standing around for? Guard your posts and get back to your duties!"

The guards, sensing Tang Wanhong's implicit anger, immediately dispersed, concealing themselves in the dark.

The man with the felt hat also intended to leave, but Tang Wanhong suddenly called him, "Xiong Yi, don't go. Wait for me in my room. I'll be over shortly."

After all, the person who sneaked into Shen Garden tonight had fought with Xiong Yi. He had to find out the situation clearly.

"Yes, Mr. Tang," Xiong Yi replied in a low voice and turned to walk towards Tang Wanhong's room.

After instructing Xiong Yi, Tang Wanhong quickly walked towards the other end of the corridor, a bit worried that Guan Kui might not handle things well.

Sure enough, just as he reached the end of the corridor, Guan Kui burst out carrying a lantern. He saw Tang Wanhong walking quickly and hesitated for a moment, then said, "Shopkeeper, the two County Magistrates are clamoring to leave."

Tang Wanhong's face hardened. "You handle your part. Pack up the room as needed."

Guan Kui stepped aside, slightly bowed his head, and said, "Yes."

Tang Wanhong hurried past Guan Kui and pushed open the door to a nearby room.

As he entered, his initially hard face was immediately filled with a reserved smile.

Inside the room, the two County Magistrates were already dressed, one sitting at the table drinking water continuously, the other pacing back and forth near the table.

Both had expressions that were somewhat flustered.

The moment Tang Wanhong entered, the gaze of the two immediately locked onto him.

The man pacing stopped and looked at him, saying, "Mr. Tang, what happened just now? Didn't you say this place was very safe?"

The man sipping tea at the table spat out a piece of tea leaf. "Yes! Who broke in just now? Have we been exposed?"

Tang Wanhong smiled and said, "Both of you, please calm down. It was just a petty thief, frightened away by the guards. No need to panic."

"Frightened away?"

The two County Magistrates exchanged a glance, then the one standing by the table turned to ask, "Wasn't he captured?"

Tang Wanhong said, "No, he wasn't captured."

"Mr. Tang, quick! Arrange for someone to send us away!"

Tang Wanhong said, "Yes, I'll arrange it immediately."

Tang Wanhong also thought it best to send these two away as soon as possible, so he could focus on investigating tonight's incident. He had an uneasy feeling; tonight's affair was far from simple.

Duan Rong, carrying that long wooden box containing the "Autumn Clearing," walked alone along the dark path back to the room they had previously dined in.

He slowly stepped into the room.

Inside, Shen Mizi had already returned and was chatting idly with Xiao Yu at the dining table.

She had already changed out of her night clothes and back into her original green water skirt.

Duan Rong glanced at Shen Mizi and then sat down at the dining table, without revealing any emotion.

Duan Rong noticed that the sweat on Shen Mizi's forehead had just been wiped, bright and shiny. Moreover, there was a small piece of lingering fine sweat on her right temple, evidently missed due to haste.

As Duan Rong looked over, Shen Mizi's eyes clearly averted.

Xiao Yu turned to Duan Rong and said, "Why did it take you so long?"

Duan Rong replied, "I had a few words with an old friend."

As he spoke, he handed the long wooden box to Xiao Yu, saying, "Keep this safe."

Xiao Yu accepted it and asked, "What is it?"

"A painting," Duan Rong said, "Keep it well, it might come in handy later."

"Is that so?" Xiao Yu only thought Duan Rong was speaking casually and placed the box behind her indifferently.

After Duan Rong returned, she placed a plate of stir-fried beef in front of him and said, "You didn't eat much earlier. This beef is good, have some more."

Duan Rong nodded and picked up a few slices of beef, putting them in his mouth. Indeed, it was delicious, very flavorful. Should have been braised before stir-frying.

While Duan Rong was eating, Shen Mizi and Xiao Yu resumed their idle chat.

Though Shen Mizi smiled faintly, Duan Rong could see the shadow and deeply hidden resentment from her smile.

Shen Mizi was actually a tragedy.

Duan Rong remembered a term he often heard in his previous life, called "original family."

On the surface, her life seemed more privileged than Xiao Yu's.

However, the father-daughter relationship between Xiao Yu and Xiao Zongting was good. In their hearts, they highly recognized each other's existence.

This made them true family, a bond closely connecting them, allowing Xiao Yu to truly experience warmth and happiness.

This experience filled her life, giving her an inner vitality.

But Shen Mizi was the opposite. Although Shen Yanliu was already honored as Inspector General, Shen Mizi grew up in a lonely environment.

Emotionally, she didn't recognize her father.

It's like a thorn in her heart, based on a paranoid, cold life experience, making it difficult for her to recognize the world.

In the Inner Garden, Tang Wanhong's room.

The two were already seated, Xiong Yi seemed a bit uneasy.

The bright lights in the room illuminated Xiong Yi's face, with deep-set eyes and a straight nose.