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On the evening of the fifth day, Xiao Cha hurried back, her eyes filled with excitement. "Sister, I found something! Zhang Lu leaves the residence every night at the third watch, carrying a small box, heading to a courtyard in the south of the city. There are hidden guards at the gate, which seems unusual."
"Did you see what was inside that box?" Nangong Shuang asked.
Xiao Cha shook her head. "I couldn't see it up close, but from his cautious demeanor, it must be something important."
Nangong Shuang pondered for a moment and suddenly thought of a possibility. "Could it be the accounts from the household? If he is indeed embezzling, those accounts would be solid evidence."
"That makes sense!" Xiao Cha's eyes lit up. "Should I sneak into his room tonight to investigate?"
Nangong Shuang considered it carefully and shook her head. "That's too dangerous. I have a better plan." She took out several herbs from her medicine box and began grinding them together. "This is Qi Xin Xiang; it can make a person unknowingly speak their true thoughts. If we can find an opportunity to let Zhang Lu smell this fragrance and then gently prompt him, his secrets will come out without him realizing it."
Xiao Cha watched Nangong Shuang skillfully prepare the fragrance, filled with admiration. "Sister, your medical skills are truly remarkable; this method is unheard of."
Nangong Shuang smiled slightly. "This is a family secret; it's not known to ordinary people. We need to find a suitable opportunity for Zhang Lu to come into contact with this scent when he is completely unguarded."
Just as they were deep in thought, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from outside, followed by a servant's announcement: "Nangong Shuang, the young lady requests your presence; she says it's urgent."
Nangong Shuang and Xiao Cha exchanged glances, both puzzled by the unexpected summons. What could Guan Chunyi want at this hour?
"Put these away for now; I'll be right back," Nangong Shuang instructed Xiao Cha as she tidied her clothes and followed the servant to Guan Chunyi's chamber.
Guan Chunyi was pacing anxiously when she saw Nangong Shuang enter and quickly approached her. "Sister, you're just in time! My mother’s birthday is in three days, and I want to surprise her with some gifts, but I don’t know how to arrange them."
Nangong Shuang sighed in relief; it turned out to be about such trivial matters. She smiled and asked, "What gifts have you prepared?"
Guan Chunyi pulled Nangong Shuang into the inner room and pointed to several items laid out on the bed. "This is a sachet I embroidered myself, this is incense from the Western Regions that was gifted to us, and this golden hairpin—these are all things Mother likes. I want you to help me figure out how to arrange them so that Mother will be happy."
Just as Nangong Shuang was about to respond, they heard a commotion outside, as if the servants were arguing about something. Guan Chunyi frowned and stood up. "What’s that noise?"
Before Nangong Shuang could answer, the door was pushed open forcefully by Zhang Lu, accompanied by several servants who looked furious, holding Xiao Cha tightly.
"Forgive me, young lady! This girl was acting suspiciously; she sneaked into my room and is suspected of being a thief!" Zhang Lu said coldly as he shoved Xiao Cha forward. She stumbled back a few steps, nearly falling.
Guan Chunyi was taken aback. "Zhang Butler, this is Sister Shuang's maid Xiao Cha! How could she be a thief?"
"Hmph! On the surface she appears to be a maid, but her intentions are sinister!" Zhang Lu sneered as he pulled out an exquisite golden hairpin from his robe. "I noticed her wandering around suspiciously and grew suspicious myself; I followed her secretly. Sure enough, I caught her rummaging through my belongings! Moreover, we found this golden hairpin on her—clearly an item from Madam's chamber that must have been stolen!"
Nangong Shuang's heart sank as she realized Xiao Cha had gone to investigate Zhang Lu according to her plan but had been caught red-handed instead. To make matters worse, that golden hairpin resembled very closely what Guan Chunyi had prepared for her mother; if it truly belonged to Madam and had been stolen, things would become serious.
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