Chapter 9

After House Physician Liu Shouyi took the military defense map, Lin Jiaojiao sat in front of the dressing cabinet and quickly drew a few strokes on her face, body, and hands. After drawing, she lay back on the couch, facing the wall, pretending to be tired and resting.

At this time, Bai Zhi walked into the room with a medicine bag and a medicine stove, and said to Lin Jiaojiao on the bed, "Concubine Lin, Zhu Geer has fallen asleep, I'm here to boil medicine for you."

"Hmm." Lin Jiaojiao replied weakly.

Pretending to sleep, she was actually pricking up her ears, carefully distinguishing the movement outside.

The noisy sounds from the main hall and the hall were vaguely unusual.

Lin Jiaojiao secretly felt shocked in her heart: Could it be that the old witch over there has already started acting?

Soon, a chaotic sound of footsteps from far to near came from outside Jiaohua Garden. Lin Jiaojiao's heart suddenly jumped to her throat: It's coming, it's coming! The old witch brought people to deal with her!

With a cold wind blowing into the room, the door was opened from the outside.

Immediately following was the explanation that reached Lin Jiaojiao's ears, Pei Aosong's explanation, "Master Song, my concubine has never been out, how could she be a barbarian spy?"

"Hmph, someone reported today that there is a spy in the Pei Mansion. It concerns the safety of the country, and the Dali Temple must handle the case impartially!" The person walking next to Pei Aosong was the Dali Temple Junior Minister Song Shijie.

He was in his early twenties, over eight feet tall, wearing the black official uniform of the Dali Temple, with a lean and slender figure. Those sharp eagle eyes were looking at Lin Jiaojiao, as if he wanted to see through her.

Behind him, followed two rows of well-trained Dali Temple officers holding knives at their waists.

Bai Zhi had never seen so many people rushing into Jiaohua Garden aggressively, and her heart panicked. She hurriedly got up from the medicine stove to push Lin Jiaojiao: "Concubine, get up quickly, the Dali Temple officers are here."

When she heard the three words Dali Temple, Lin Jiaojiao couldn't help but tremble: Good guy! Why was even the Dali Temple dispatched!

But she still pretended to be weak and replied softly, "Hey~".

Bai Zhi could only help her off the couch to welcome the visitors.

"Husband." Lin Jiaojiao covered half of her face with her sleeves and bowed softly to Pei Aosong, asking coquettishly, "Why are there so many people in my Jiaohua Garden today—"

Pei Aosong supported her and comforted her: "Don't be afraid, this is Dali Temple Junior Minister Master Song. Master Song, this is my concubine Lin Jiaojiao."

"Is this your concubine?" Master Song asked Pei Aosong in an undeniable tone.

Before Pei Aosong could answer, the sound of a cane forcefully tapping the ground came from behind them.

Lin Jiaojiao didn't even need to think to know that the culprit had also come to watch the show.

"Son, why don't you quickly clear your relationship with the spy and divorce her." The Old Madam coughed heavily, signaling the old nanny to go over and hold Lin Jiaojiao.

"Mother, this matter has not been investigated and concluded, so we cannot define her as a Southern Frontier spy for no reason." Pei Aosong protected her. He prided himself on seeing Lin Jiaojiao every day. If she were really a spy, how could he not know?

Moreover, he was clear about his father's affairs ten years ago, and his mother had a hand in it.

And today's matter was probably his mother's doing.

Thinking of this, Pei Aosong felt a few degrees colder toward his mother in his heart.

The Old Madam was angry at her son for turning his elbows out. She tapped the ground hard with her cane and then pointed to the room, angrily: "Isn't the evidence in this room?"

Dali Temple Junior Minister Master Song was annoyed by these inner house affairs. He waved his hand and ordered, "Search!"

The two rows of people behind him then filed in, rummaging through boxes and cabinets in the room, and even kicked over and smashed the medicine jar, using knives to rake the medicine dregs to check for evidence.

Bai Zhi, who was standing on the side, let out a low cry of heartache, "The concubine's medicine!", but was finally locked by the Old Madam's murderous gaze and dared not make a sound again.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the room had become a mess.

The wardrobe was opened, clothes were scattered on the ground, quilts and pillows were turned over, the mattress was torn, and the cotton was pulled out just to see if there was any secret information hidden inside, not to mention that the tables and chairs were touched carefully.

Lin Jiaojiao still lowered her head, holding her wide sleeves to cover her face. During the search, she watched with the corner of her eye as the Dali Temple people turned the room upside down, biting her lip to keep herself from laughing out loud.

Finally, someone came to report: "Chief, nothing was found."

Pei Aosong's originally nervous heart relaxed. He saw Lin Jiaojiao's shoulders twitching and thought she was crying in fright.

He held Lin Jiaojiao's hand and comforted her: "It's okay, Jiaojiao."

But the Old Madam's face became darker and darker, "Did you search carefully?"

Master Song slanted his eyes: "Are you questioning the Dali Temple's ability to handle affairs?"

This majesty with murderous aura made the Old Madam dare not say more.

Pei Aosong stepped forward and asked righteously: "Master Song, you see that no evidence was found in my concubine's side, can you withdraw the accusation that she is a spy?"

Master Song was upright: "This matter is not over. Someone, take her back to the Dali Temple for careful investigation."

Pei Aosong was full of surprise: "The search is over, and it is determined that there is no evidence, why do you still—?"

"Master Pei, since someone reported it, and it concerns the country, the Dali Temple must handle the case impartially. After the investigation, if it is determined that this concubine is not a spy, the Dali Temple will naturally release her back to the mansion in five days."

Master Song's words made Lin Jiaojiao feel cold in her heart.

Pei Aosong was full of disbelief, but the Old Madam had a happy face.

"Husband—" Lin Jiaojiao raised her face miserably, trying hard to brew tears in her eyes, "I was wronged—"

"Concubine, what's wrong with your face?!" Bai Zhi was the first to discover the abnormality. She pointed to the many red dots on Lin Jiaojiao's fair face, "Concubine, you have so many rashes!"

Everyone turned to look, and saw her face like a smallpox, and even their bodies leaned back, fearing that she had some infectious disease.

Even Pei Aosong let go of the hand that was originally supporting her and stepped back two steps, "Jiaojiao, what's wrong with your face?"

Lin Jiaojiao pretended to be puzzled: "My face—? Husband, my face is so itchy! I won't have smallpox, right?"

Smallpox! Someone gasped, and they scattered one after another.

Even the Dali Temple officers who killed people like hemp moved back quietly, fearing that they would be infected if they were close.

Everyone knows that smallpox is a life-threatening disease! It's hard to cure, and it will infect others!

Lin Jiaojiao took two steps as one, and before everyone could react, she directly faced the Old Madam and opened the big move: "Old Madam, what's wrong with my face? Did you give me some medicine, why is it so itchy?"