Fate seemed to suddenly speed up at this moment.

From the day Shen Yuyao returned to the Duke's Mansion to today, only three days have passed.

She has experienced so much, and the changes are so great that Shen Yuyao almost feels a little confused.

Shen Yuyao lowered her eyes and sighed, "Lu Lian, bring the servant who is imprisoned in the woodshed to the front hall. I have something to ask him."

She looked up at the servants in the room and said, "As for the rest of you, please go about your own business and disperse."

The servants in the Duke's Mansion all felt that Miss Shen Yuyao had handled this matter a little too lightly.

But since the master has already spoken, as servants, they can only obey orders.

Shen Yuyao walked into the front hall and just sat down on the soft chair in the middle when Lu Lian led a handsome boy with childish eyes into the room.

The person who entered the house just before the two of them was Uncle Ren, the old butler of the Duke's Mansion. Uncle Ren walked with a slight limp.

He is now the most senior person in the entire Duke's Mansion.

He used to be the study companion of Duke Shen Ao, and was talented in both literature and martial arts.

Unfortunately, during a battle with the Duke of Shen, he was shot in the knee by an arrow from an enemy general in order to protect him. Due to the lack of timely medical treatment, he became disabled and walked with a limp.

Duke Shen was grateful for Uncle Ren's loyalty and bravery, so he specially supported him in the Duke's Mansion and nominally gave him the position of chief steward, but in fact he basically didn't need to do much.

Uncle Ren also knew this, so he followed Duke Shen's wishes and became an idle butler in the Duke's Mansion.

Until the Duke passed away, the loyal old servants in the mansion were assigned by Mrs. Shen to the homes of her children to help.

Therefore, Uncle Ren actually became the housekeeper of the mansion at this time.

Every day he worked tirelessly, personally taking care of all the affairs in the mansion.

Today, as usual, he went to the farm in the mansion. Every month he would collect some rent, which he would then use to maintain the expenses of the mansion.

"Miss, I have just been away from the mansion for half a day. I never thought that such a big thing would happen in the mansion." Uncle Ren raised his hand to wipe the fine beads of sweat on his forehead, bowed his body, and saluted Shen Yuyao.

"Well, it's not too bad, Uncle Ren, please sit down and rest for a while." Shen Yuyao saw that Uncle Ren was walking to the front hall in a hurry.

His face was flushed red at this time, he was breathing heavily, and his injured leg was trembling slightly.

"Thank you, Miss." Uncle Ren walked to the chair with some difficulty and sat down slowly.

Shen Yuyao nodded slightly.

She turned her head to look at Lu Lian and the servant he brought with him. Suddenly, a barely perceptible smile flashed across Shen Yuyao's face.

"It was you who offended Ling Xiao today and destroyed the cakes given by the palace." Shen Yuyao looked straight at the servant, as if trying to see through him. "Oh, by the way, what's your name?"

"My humble name is Xiao Qi, nice to meet you, Miss."

Xiao Qi bowed, his childish face full of stubbornness.

The servants in the palace still followed the old custom and called Shen Yuyao "Miss".

"Xiao Qi? Lu Lian?"

Shen Yuyao repeated the two people's names in a low voice, her eyes scanning back and forth between their faces.

"Yes!" the two men answered in unison, "What do you want, Miss?"

The smile in Shen Yuyao's eyes grew even brighter. "Your master is so thoughtful!"

When these words were spoken, the other three people present were all shocked.

Uncle Ren's butt hadn't even warmed up when he was startled and stood up shakily.

Shen Yuyao waved to Uncle Ren, motioning him to sit down.

Lu Lian glanced around and saw nothing unusual. A subtle hint of relief flashed across his eyes. "Since I have sold myself to the Duke's Mansion, the young lady is now my master."

Shen Yuyao smiled slightly, said nothing, and looked at Xiao Qi again.

Xiao Qi raised his head slightly, "Today, I was indeed careless and bumped into Sister Ling Xiao. As a result, all the cakes and pastries that the palace sent to the mansion were shattered into pieces."

"If you wish to punish me, then do so. I will not hesitate."

What a look of being ready to die.

Shen Yuyao raised her eyebrows slightly and said in a deep voice: "If all the people in the East Factory were as forbearing as you, I'm afraid the East Factory would have ceased to exist long ago."

Lu Lian gently shook his head at Xiao Qi. He took a step forward and sighed, "Since the young lady already knows our identities, we will leave it to her to decide. We have no complaints."

Shen Yuyao suddenly seemed to think of something, and she turned around to look at Uncle Ren.

I saw Uncle Ren had already fallen into the soft chair, he was stunned and at a loss.

Seeing Shen Yuyao looking at him, Uncle Ren hurriedly said, "Miss, I've never heard of the East Factory or the West Factory."

"Although I bought both of them from the human traffickers, I really didn't know that!"

Uncle Ren was anxious, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Shen Yuyao thought for a moment and said, "Uncle Ren, I believe you. If they can't even deceive an old man like you, how could they be selected to join the East Factory?"

Seeing that Shen Yuyao had already determined that they were from the Eastern Depot, Lu Lian seemed to have been prepared for this.

He turned to Shen Yuyao and said helplessly: "Since the eldest lady has seen through our identities today, I will no longer hide it."

"I will tell you everything I know."

Lu Lian paused briefly, then looked at Xiao Qi and said, "Miss, please consider that Xiao Qi's offense against Ling Xiao prevented the poisoned cakes from harming anyone in the mansion. Xiao Qi has also made a contribution to the Duke's Mansion."

"Please, Miss, give Xiao Qi a chance to live. I will bear all the responsibility for this matter."

Lu Lian's words were quite powerful.

However, Xiao Qi looked no more than fourteen or fifteen years old. Shen Yuyao was puzzled as to why Xu Yunxuan would recruit such a young person to join the East Factory?

Are all the people in her East Factory like this?

Shen Yuyao felt a little disappointed. She looked at Lu Lian and said, "You are a man of integrity and righteousness."

Turning around, she instructed Uncle Ren, "Uncle Ren, I now roughly understand the reason for this matter. You don't have to panic too much. This matter really is not your fault."

"However, I still need you to take care of the aftermath of the incident. Soothe the servants and warn everyone present today not to spread the news of what happened in the mansion."

Shen Yuyao's eyes turned cold.

"Once you find out, you'll blame me for being ruthless and kick him out of the Duke's Mansion!"