Chapter 11: Infiltrating the Residence of the Deputy Prime Minister

Xiao Jingyuan whispered a few words into Qin Luoli’s ear. Her eyes brightened, but a hint of worry quickly returned. “Will this really work?”

Xiao Jingyuan was confident. “Don’t worry. I’ve got everything under control.”

As night fell, an unremarkable vegetable cart slowly made its way toward the Prime Minister’s residence.

Inside the cart, two “servants” spoke in low voices—it was actually Xiao Jingyuan and Qin Luoli disguised.

Following their plan, they had bribed the vegetable delivery team and smoothly infiltrated the heavily guarded kitchen at the back of the Prime Minister’s mansion.

Inside the kitchen, the noise was deafening, bustling with activity.

The mingling aromas of various dishes created a thick haze of cooking fumes.

Qin Luoli suppressed her discomfort and, following Xiao Jingyuan’s instructions, began delivering the dishes to the designated spots.

Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out, “Well, if it isn’t Lady Xiao. How did you end up doing such menial work?”

Qin Luoli looked up to see Su Youning standing before her, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

Dressed in lavish robes and wearing exquisite makeup, Su Youning looked completely out of place in the grimy kitchen.

“Su Youning,” Qin Luoli replied calmly, though she remained on guard inside.

Su Youning sized her up from head to toe. She had long disliked Qin Luoli, and seeing her in such a fallen state only filled her with glee.

“Don’t want to work? Then get out of the Prime Minister’s residence!” Su Youning said arrogantly.

Qin Luoli took a deep breath, restraining her anger. “I’m just following orders. Please don’t make things difficult for me.”

“Make things difficult? That’s exactly what I intend to do!” Su Youning sneered. “Someone, throw all these dishes away! Let Lady Xiao start over!”

The surrounding servants exchanged glances, unwilling to defy Su Youning’s command.

Qin Luoli’s expression darkened. She was about to respond but was stopped by Xiao Jingyuan.

“Luoli, patience brings calm,” he whispered.

Biting her lip, Qin Luoli chose to endure.

She returned to the stove, preparing new dishes.

Su Youning watched coldly nearby, occasionally hurling sarcastic remarks.

Time ticked by, and Qin Luoli finally finished all the dishes.

She carried them over and said quietly, “Miss Su, please have a look.”

Su Youning glanced at the food carelessly, then sneered, “This? You think you can fool me with this?”

“Someone, throw these dishes—”

Before she could finish, a flustered servant rushed in and whispered something into Su Youning’s ear.

Her face paled instantly. She sprang to her feet, eyes fixed fiercely on Qin Luoli. “You…”

Her expression turned ashen, as if she had swallowed a fly, pointing at Qin Luoli but unable to utter a word.

A maid cautiously supported her, fearing she might faint from the shock.

Seizing the moment, Qin Luoli’s lips curved into a barely perceptible smile.

“Oh dear, this kitchen floor is so slippery.”

She deliberately exclaimed, tipping the wooden basin holding the hot soup. Scalding liquid spilled everywhere.

Chaos erupted; the already greasy floor became treacherous, and the kitchen descended into pandemonium.

Su Youning was drenched in the oily soup, her exquisite makeup ruined. She looked like a bedraggled stray cat crawling out of a mud pit.

The sudden commotion stunned everyone, including Su Youning, who momentarily forgot her earlier threats.

Qin Luoli feigned helplessness, apologizing profusely, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

Though seeming flustered, she moved swiftly, grabbing Xiao Jingyuan’s hand and slipping out of the kitchen amidst the confusion, leaving behind dumbfounded servants and an infuriated Su Youning.

“Luoli, your ‘chaos to counter chaos’ was brilliant!” Xiao Jingyuan whispered in admiration.

“Just a little luck—call it ‘a stray willow unexpectedly growing into shade,’” Qin Luoli said proudly, winking. “Let’s get back to business.”

They avoided the disordered crowd and slipped deeper into the Prime Minister’s mansion, but the atmosphere had shifted. Guards were more numerous and patrols more frequent.

Qin Luoli and Xiao Jingyuan had to tread carefully, sneaking past patrol squads like walking on thin ice.

“Looks like the old fox has sensed something’s wrong,” Xiao Jingyuan said gravely. “We must find the evidence quickly, or we’ll be exposed.”

Qin Luoli nodded, sensing the tension thick in the air, as if danger lurked just around the corner.

She was about to speak when she spotted several guards approaching.

They hurriedly hid behind an artificial rock, holding their breath, afraid to make a sound.

“Increase patrols tonight. Search the entire residence thoroughly,” a deep voice ordered, making Qin Luoli’s heart skip.

“Yes, sir,” the guards replied in unison, their footsteps drawing closer.

At that moment, Xiao Jingyuan gripped Qin Luoli’s hand. The cool touch sent a shiver through her.

He said nothing but signaled her silently to stay close.

The warmth from his palm seeped through her thin sleeve, making her heart skip wildly, like a startled fawn racing in her chest.

The sensation was subtle, dangerous, yet tinged with an undefinable thrill.

She stole a glance at Xiao Jingyuan. His sharp profile was even more defined under the moonlight. His focused gaze was like a lion guarding its cubs, inexplicably comforting her.

This man, usually cold and distant, was surprisingly dependable when it mattered most.

They held their breath as the guards’ footsteps faded, finally exhaling slowly.

Xiao Jingyuan released her hand, leaving a faint, intimate tension in the air.

Qin Luoli’s cheeks flushed slightly. She quickly diverted her attention, knowing now was not the time for distractions.

“Let’s try a different approach,” she whispered. She wasn’t the naive type who only played by the rules.

“Most would suspect the study holds the evidence, but the old fox is too cunning to keep anything so obvious.”

Instead of heading to the study, she stealthily began tailing the Prime Minister’s steward.

The steward hurried along, noticeably faster than usual, as if urgent business awaited.

Qin Luoli and Xiao Jingyuan followed carefully, like two cats stalking prey.

Eventually, the steward reached an artificial rock. After cautiously scanning the surroundings, he pushed open a concealed door beside it and slipped inside.

The door closed silently, as if nothing had happened.

“Well, well, there’s a basement here?” Qin Luoli raised an eyebrow, excitement flickering in her eyes. It felt like discovering a secret level in an escape room.

She exchanged a meaningful look with Xiao Jingyuan. Both saw the unwavering resolve reflected in each other’s eyes.

“Let’s go down and see,” Qin Luoli smiled confidently.

Her “detective instincts” were blaring alarms—the adventure would not end empty-handed.

Xiao Jingyuan nodded in silence, his gaze steadfast as stone.

He led the way, gently pushing open the door. A cold, damp, musty air greeted them, causing both to frown.

Without hesitation, they entered the darkness, one after the other.

“Do you hear something?” Qin Luoli suddenly stopped, focusing on faint sounds in the dark.

“Sounds like… someone talking?”

Xiao Jingyuan frowned, his ears twitching. The murmurs seemed to come from deep within the basement, whispering right beside them.

The dank smell mixed with a faint hint of ink, confirming to Qin Luoli that some unspeakable secret was hidden here.

Using the weak moonlight, they groped forward over cold stone slabs, the oppressive atmosphere pressing down on them.

“Found it!” Xiao Jingyuan’s voice held excitement as he pointed to an unassuming wooden box in the corner.

Qin Luoli approached and saw dust thick on the box—clearly untouched for a long time.

She carefully opened it, revealing a stack of thick letters and ledgers.

As she skimmed through, her frown deepened.

The letters were scathing, detailing the Prime Minister Wang’s plot to frame the Xiao family. The ledgers clearly documented his embezzlement and bribery—irrefutable evidence!

“This old fox is truly a master of time management, so methodical in his wicked deeds,” Qin Luoli murmured, marveling as she carefully stored the evidence away like priceless treasures.

“Now, let’s see how he can still twist the truth!” Xiao Jingyuan’s voice simmered with repressed fury. He clenched his fists, itching to confront Prime Minister Wang and make him pay.

“Patience. A gentleman’s revenge is never too late. Our priority now is to retreat,” Qin Luoli said, tapping Xiao Jingyuan’s shoulder to calm him. “The best strategy is to run away. Once we have the evidence, there’ll be plenty of chances to deal with him.”

They agreed and prepared to leave the gloomy basement.

Just as they stepped out, a shrill alarm shattered the night’s silence.

“Trap!” Xiao Jingyuan’s expression changed instantly. He grabbed Qin Luoli’s hand, and they vanished behind a rock formation.

“This old fox really is sly, setting traps even here!” Qin Luoli cursed inwardly. The Prime Minister’s residence was not so easy to infiltrate.

“Run!” Xiao Jingyuan shouted. The atmosphere turned tense as countless footsteps approached rapidly.

Qin Luoli didn’t hesitate. Together, they darted through the mansion like agile leopards, evading wave after wave of pursuers.

They soon found themselves cornered in a small courtyard. Guards multiplied around them, forming an impenetrable net that slowly tightened.

Back to back, Qin Luoli and Xiao Jingyuan felt each other’s breath, sharing an unshakable resolve.

“Looks like tonight will be a deadly duel,” Qin Luoli sneered, her palms sweating as she gripped a dagger tightly.

Xiao Jingyuan said nothing, subtly positioning himself to shield her, his cold eyes sharp as blades, fiercely guarding his most precious treasure.