I bid farewell to my second sister the next day and returned home.

Young Master Wang is so cautious. There must be something fishy about this.

I recalled the conversation between my father and Mr. Wang that day. Could it be a bribery case?

I shook my head. If it were a bribery case, why would Young Master Wang ask me to investigate? He needs me because he can't enter or it's inconvenient for him.

Regardless, I must prepare thoroughly.

Five days passed in the blink of an eye, and early in the morning, I disguised myself as a peddler woman and waited near the Wang residence with Shi Qin.

It was a road that the Wang residence must pass through, except for the small path paved with bluestones used last time to secretly transport a corpse.

I bet someone like Mr. Wang would never set foot in a place like that.

Today is a day of rest, so there's no need for an early morning court audience. He's bound to pass through this road.

Sure enough, in less than half an hour, amidst the increasing clamor of vendors, the gates of the Wang residence slowly opened.

I quietly followed, instructing Shi Qin to keep an eye on the residence.

The carriage used by the Wang residence this time was different from usual. Carriages used by officials in the court are regulated in terms of size, not too big nor too small.

Although Mr. Wang had a reputation for being clean, he only had fewer embellishments on his carriage.

But today's carriage was unexpectedly ordinary and inconspicuous.

The number of pedestrians on the road gradually increased, providing just enough cover for my movements.

The carriage wasn't moving fast, but it still required considerable effort to keep up.

I ran intermittently, following the carriage as it headed west until it finally stopped in front of a building.

I hid in a corner, leaned against the wall, and caught my breath. When I looked up, I froze in place.

Baolianxuan.

These three words appeared before my eyes.

Mr. Wang had already alighted from the carriage, and the door of Baolianxuan was only half-open. The coachman and a servant were moving the empty carriage elsewhere.

I stood in the corner, staring blankly at the signboard of Baolianxuan in the distance, countless thoughts racing through my mind.

Suddenly, the incident with my second sister from last time flashed into my mind.

A guess was about to emerge in my mind—

Could it be that Young Master Wang actually followed Mr. Wang and coincidentally overheard my conversation with my second sister?

It's still early, and Baolianxuan hasn't officially opened yet. But Mr. Wang can freely come and go, indicating that Baolianxuan must be involved in Mr. Wang's plan as well.

Baolianxuan has always been known for its elegance, and with the nearby Zifen Pavilion and clothing stores, it's a favorite place for noble ladies and wives in the capital. Occasionally, scholars and literati also visit. Officials like Mr. Wang have always looked down upon such places.

There's still half an hour before Baolianxuan opens. After thinking for a moment, I turned and entered a ready-to-wear clothing store.