Then, to avoid suspicion, she deliberately sat to one side and pretended to pick up the *Art of War* on the table and read it.
Xue Lianyu entered to find the place in a peaceful state.
Noticing the white bandage on Helian Duo's shoulder, his expression showed an unusual look of concern. He quickly stepped forward to check, but Helian Duo kept dodging him.
"Come on, it seems the injury is quite serious..." Xue Lianyu forcefully turned Helian Duo around to face him and continued, "It shouldn't be. Are you doing this on purpose? Otherwise, how could those lackeys be a match for you?"
Cheng Xiran slowly put down the teacup she had just picked up.
Helian Duo gave her a meaningful look, then said nonchalantly, "I just wasn't paying attention for a moment. It's just a minor scratch. It just looks more serious because of the thick bandage she put on."
Mentioning "her", Xue Lianyu looked at Cheng Xiran in shock. Seeing that there was no extra expression on her face, he walked towards her rather annoyedly, scolding as he walked, "Xiran, it's not that I'm being picky, but don't you understand the principle of avoiding suspicion between the genders? If grandmother finds out about this, won't she misunderstand you?"
He rambled on, but Cheng Xiran didn't really listen. She just gave a perfunctory response.
Seeing this, Xue Lianyu started talking about the rumors he had heard on his way here. "I heard that the fight between the two sides wasn't just about the newspaper. It was because of a female spy in your mansion... But when did you have a female spy in your mansion?"
Hearing this, Cheng Xiran felt even more ashamed and quickly raised the book to cover her face.
Helian Duo pursed his thin lips slightly. A hint of ridicule flashed in his eyes. He tilted his head slightly, motioning for Xue Lianyu to look at Cheng Xiran, and said with interest, "This female spy in my mansion took a great risk to investigate the matter of the newspaper for me just to get my attention. Then, after her identity was exposed, somehow they all banded together and wanted to kill me."
From Helian Duo's gesture, Xue Lianyu could tell that the female spy the passers - by were talking about was also played by Cheng Xiran. He couldn't help but praise, "Xiran, you're really something. You can play two roles without being discovered and infiltrate the enemy. You're truly smart."
For some reason, even though she was really praised by Xue Lianyu, Cheng Xiran couldn't be happy. After all, Helian Duo's injury was related to her.
"Forget it. Stop teasing me. I'd better go to the yamen to check."
She made an excuse to leave, but was stopped by Xue Lianyu. "Don't worry. My men have already gone to find out the situation and will be back soon. You're tired. You might as well go to the front hall to rest. There's no need to stay here with this blockhead."
Cheng Xiran left rather sheepishly. Then she went to the front hall and asked the shopkeeper. The crowd that had been gathered at the door had gradually dispersed a moment ago. But according to him, there were quite a few commoners who usually liked to read *Capital Anecdotes* gathered outside.
"Miss, you may not know. They all came to ask about that spy. They also said they wanted to tell you everything that happened today in detail and hoped that you would write it into the newspaper."
She was there at the time. Why would she need to listen?
But since this was a good way to divert their attention, she had to listen even if she didn't want to.
So she got up quickly, picked up the just - boiled teapot on the table, went upstairs, and ordered, "Come and tell me one by one."