Xiangzhou Arc: Transmigration of the Soul to Another World Chapter 28: A Classic Case of Anti-Theft Measures!

As the wooden boards were slowly moved aside, a black hole about a meter deep appeared before them, exuding a scent of decay and antiquity.

"Miss, what should we do now?" Hanxiang asked, looking at the dark void with a sense of unease.

Ye Qiaoqiao’s lips curled into a slight smile. With this hole, creating a series of trapdoors would likely take only a single night to complete. She addressed Hanxiang and Uncle Zhang with solemnity: "Do not speak of this to anyone. You two are to turn this floor into a series of pivot-trapdoors. Place some sharp, pointed objects inside, and once it is set up, that will be enough."

"Very well, but will such a mechanism really work?" Hanxiang asked, still somewhat skeptical.

"It will," Ye Qiaoqiao replied with unwavering confidence. She then looked at Uncle Zhang with eyes full of trust and said softly, "Uncle Zhang, I am counting on you."

"Rest assured, Miss. Whatever you command, I shall see it done," Uncle Zhang replied, his expression resolute.

Hanxiang remained deeply puzzled, unable to fathom the purpose of these trapdoors. Her mistress had become increasingly mysterious lately, her actions peculiar and unheard of, leaving her unable to guess what was in her mind. Driven by curiosity, Hanxiang turned into an inquisitive child once more and asked, "Miss, why must we build this contraption?"

"Hush. You will know by tomorrow night," Ye Qiaoqiao said, a mysterious smile playing on her lips, her mouth sealed tight.

Though Hanxiang did not understand the riddle, she trusted her mistress’s word and followed Uncle Zhang to begin the work. Uncle Zhang led her to the carpentry workshop, which was filled with various timbers and tools. Once inside, he selected several pieces of sturdy wood, cut them with a saw, and used a chisel and hammer to carve out grooves. Following his instructions, Hanxiang placed sharp metal spikes at the bottom of the pit. Meanwhile, Uncle Zhang inserted pivots into the grooves, secured them with wooden wedges, and connected the boards in sequence to form the trap mechanism.

After several hours of hard work, the trap was finally complete. Looking at the finished trapdoors, Uncle Zhang felt a flicker of excitement. From the outside, the floor looked no different than ordinary wood, but it harbored a hidden danger within. Should a thief attempt to steal the gold and silver notes, stepping onto these boards would cause them to lose their footing and plummet to the bottom, where they would be met by the sharp metal spikes. It was a classic anti-theft defense.

Uncle Zhang carefully inspected every detail of the mechanism, and once satisfied, he brought Hanxiang to Ye Qiaoqiao. He bowed slightly and reported respectfully, "Miss, the mechanism is complete."

Ye Qiaoqiao was secretly impressed by Uncle Zhang’s skill; that he could finish such a task in a mere ten hours was truly remarkable. Smiling, she picked up a cup of warm tea from the table and handed it to him. "You’ve worked hard, Uncle Zhang. Drink some tea and rest."

"Thank you, Miss," Uncle Zhang said, taking the cup with a touch of fluster. He wanted to say it was no trouble at all. A warmth spread through his heart; recently, his mistress had become much more affectionate toward them.

Once he had finished his tea, Ye Qiaoqiao said, "Tomorrow, I will take Hanxiang to visit the Magistrate. Uncle Zhang, you are to remain at the Shenji Miaosuan Pavilion to keep watch. I believe that because we have kept the lights bright today, the thieves may be hesitant and dare not act. However, it is hard to say what might happen in the dead of night tomorrow."

Uncle Zhang was surprised. By her tone, she seemed certain someone would attempt to steal their hard-earned gold and silver. He could not help but ask, "How did you know, Miss?"

"I calculated it. I am not the person I once was," Ye Qiaoqiao said, her tone cold yet filled with undeniable confidence.

Hanxiang understood her meaning. Ever since her mistress had returned from the gates of death, she seemed to have received true teachings from the King of Hell himself, becoming proficient in fortune-telling and divination! Could the lines she had drawn on the paper today be charms taught to her by the King of Hell? Or was it divination? Having seemingly discovered a profound secret, Hanxiang exclaimed excitedly, "Miss, you are truly amazing!"

"Do not be impatient; all will be revealed tomorrow," Ye Qiaoqiao replied with a smirk.

Though Uncle Zhang was still confused, he roughly understood her intent. He straightened his back and replied, "Rest assured, Miss, I will keep a close watch."

"No," Ye Qiaoqiao said, shaking her head gently, her gaze profound. "At the pavilion, you must act as if nothing is amiss. You must appear to let your guard down so that the fish may be lured into the net."

Uncle Zhang nodded in realization. "Understood, Miss."

"Go and sleep. It is too late; you must rest," she instructed them.

Feeling guilty that they were so exhausted from following her all day, Ye Qiaoqiao watched them go. Hanxiang and Uncle Zhang exchanged a look, bid her goodnight, and left the main quarters.

The next morning, as the first rays of dawn broke, soft light filtered through the window lattice and fell upon the bed. Ye Qiaoqiao woke up after a short while. Thinking of her visit to the Magistrate, she rose from the warm covers and freshened up. Hanxiang, who had also risen early, entered to help her mistress with her hair and makeup.

Dressed in a water-blue gown and looking exquisite, Ye Qiaoqiao left the Shenji Miaosuan Pavilion with Hanxiang, boarded the waiting carriage, and set off toward the Magistrate's residence.

The carriage moved slowly, and by midday, they arrived at Dong Feiguang’s estate. Ye Qiaoqiao lifted the curtain and saw that the pillars in the courtyard had been cleared away, leaving the space empty and tidy. Seeing this, she could not help but smile; no wonder Dong Feiguang had so readily given her fifty taels of gold—the yard was clear, and his heart was no longer aching.

With this thought, she stepped out of the carriage. A servant approached her with a beaming, welcoming smile. "Miss Ye, please, this way."

Ye Qiaoqiao was satisfied by the address. Everyone now knew she had separated from her husband, and the title had changed accordingly. It was far better than the piercing label of "abandoned wife."

"Let’s go, Hanxiang," she said softly.

As the two stepped into the courtyard, Ye Qiaoqiao’s gaze was immediately drawn to a man standing in a white brocade robe. He stood with his hands behind his back, his posture straight, yet he exuded a profound sense of loneliness. He stood quietly in the courtyard, making everything around him seem like a mere backdrop.

Ye Qiaoqiao was secretly startled: Is this not His Highness the Crown Prince?