Hua Manchun asked Ru Yu, "Where did these three paintings come from?"
Ru Yu knelt on the ground with a thud, "I'm blind and mistaken my master again. I'm so wrong, please punish me, master."
Dozens of maids also knelt down. They didn't know if they had really made a mistake or if their master was deliberately testing them. In any case, it's been strange these past two days; the master denies things he did himself.
Hua Manchun said to Ru Yu, "I won't punish you. Just answer my questions carefully. When did you see me come back?"
"You returned at noon, had lunch, and said you wanted to paint. I quickly arranged for you, Yu Ping, Yu Jun, Yu Wan, all chosen by you personally. The things they held were personally instructed by you."
Hua Manchun looked at the ink painting for a long time without speaking.
Someone impersonated Hua Manchun and entered Flower Fairy Mansion twice in succession.
The first time conveyed a message that the person could accurately impersonate Hua Manchun, including appearance, physique, speech, and behavior, able to deceive Hua Manchun's closest maid.
The second time conveyed another message; the impersonator was also familiar with the people around Hua Manchun, knew who were favored by Hua Manchun, and was aware of their specialties.
Facing such a situation, it was unnatural to say he wasn't afraid, but Hua Manchun didn't lose his composure.
He called someone and then beat Ru Yu severely, and it seemed there was no better way to respond.
For the next three days, Hua Manchun didn't go out but stayed at home.
During these three days, no impersonation appeared.
On the fourth day, Hua Manchun went out again, saying he needed to manage business.
Ru Yu dared not inquire, thinking to herself, why go out at a time like this; is the master really that short of money?
Hua Manchun really was short of money; he needed it urgently.
Before leaving, Hua Manchun instructed Ru Yu, "If you see me come back, first ask if the business made money?
If I tell you it made money, enough to buy two Golden Mountains, that's proof I'm really back.
If the answer isn't this, that proves the person is fake."
Hua Manchun returned to the mountain but came back before noon.
As he reached the mansion entrance, Ru Yu's legs gave way, and she sat directly on the ground.
A maid beside her cried out, "How come another master has arrived?"
In the residence was a "master," drinking tea in the study, who had returned before Hua Manchun and had been asked by Ru Yu, "Did the business make money?"
The person replied, "It made enough for two Golden Mountains."
The answer was exactly as Hua Manchun instructed.
This secret code was individually instructed by Hua Manchun to Ru Yu; if even this code was leaked, Hua Manchun didn't have any secrets left.
Having stumbled and fought for years, Hua Manchun had never faced such a situation, yet he remained calm, directly entering the study and looking at the other "Hua Manchun" behind the desk.
"My friend, I don't know how I've offended you; let me apologize here first," Hua Manchun offered a ceremonial bow.
The fake "Hua Manchun" stood up and returned the gesture, "Elder, you mustn't do this; it truly puts He Jiaqing to shame. He Jiaqing indeed offended you, and I am here waiting today to apologize to you."
The person revealed their surname as He. Hua Manchun speculated, "Are you He Family's eldest son, He Jiaqing?"
He Jiaqing clasped his hands, "That's me."
Hua Manchun was startled; he didn't expect He Jiaqing to have such skillful methods.
But he showed no emotion on his face, as if reasoning with a friend, "Young Master He, I have no grievances with you; why do you toy with me like this?"
He Jiaqing laughed, "Mr. Hua, indeed you have no grudge against me personally, but you have a deep conflict with my friend Chu Yaoxian.
My elder sister is straightforward in conduct and has often clashed with you in the past. I hope you can be magnanimous and spare my sister in He Jiaqing's name."
His words were humble, yet his methods were firm; He Jiaqing had entered Flower Fairy Mansion three times, exercising force before kindness, proving his strength, and requiring Hua Manchun to reconsider his bargaining power in negotiations.
Hua Manchun indeed made concessions, "I don't have any serious grudge with Miss Chu. As neighbors, we occasionally have minor conflicts, and some small matters from the past have been blown out of proportion; if we talk things over, there's really no need to call it 'conflict.'"
While speaking, Hua Manchun took out a dressing box and handed it to He Jiaqing, "This is a treasure Miss Chu lost and which Hua found, intending to return to her.
Since she's Young Master He's sister, I'll trouble you to hand over this box to Miss Chu."
He Jiaqing accepted the box, and Hua Manchun continued, "Young Master He is a rising star; I'd like to be friends with you. However, there are rules at Flower Fairy Mansion: men can't come and go freely. I hope Young Master He will respect local customs and not make it difficult for me."
"Of course," He Jiaqing apologized again, "From now on, if visiting you, I will find another way. I bid you farewell."
At Chu Yaoxian's place, He Jiaqing brought out the dressing box.
Chu Yaoxian was delighted, "This box is my Magical Treasure. The last time I faced Hua Manchun, he snatched it away. Big Brother He, how did you get it back?"
He Jiaqing laughed, "It seemed like cunning on the surface, but in reality, it was skill. Sister, you don't need to fear Hua Manchun anymore; he learned a lesson this time, and won't dare trouble you in the future."
Chu Yaoxian called him Big Brother, and He Jiaqing called her Sister, and they got along very well.