It's terrifying to think about.

Could it be that Aunt Ning did not die?

To confirm this, Lu Qiqi turned her attention to Xiangling.

Her tone was slightly urgent, "Xiangling, is what you said true? Is Aunt Ning's red mole behind her ear on the left or the right?"

Xiangling thought carefully for a moment and said, "The left side. Every time Aunt Ning teases Miss, I can see the red mole behind her left ear."

Upon hearing this, Lu Qiqi fell into deep thought.

If what Xiangling said is true, then the real Aunt Ning has a red mole behind her ear.

The two female corpses carried into the commander's tent last night did not have the red mole that Xiangling had mentioned.

Therefore, there is only one possibility.

That seemingly insane Aunt Ning is not dead!

The body was brought back from outside the city by the Shadow Guards, so there was no chance of it being switched.

So where exactly did things go wrong?

This allowed Aunt Ning to escape the Shadow Guards' sight.

With numerous clues coming together, Lu Qiqi has many speculations based on a red mole.

To defeat them one by one, we need to tell Song Yanqing and ask him to send the Shadow Guards to investigate.

Seeing that Lu Qiqi remained silent for a long time, Xiangling felt a little scared, but she didn't dare to interrupt Lu Qiqi's thoughts. So she turned to look at Lu Xiangxiang, wanting to find out what Lu Xiangxiang meant.

Upon hearing Lu Qiqi's question, Lu Xiangxiang guessed that Aunt Ning might not be dead.

At this moment, she was completely absorbed in the news that Aunt Ning's life or death was unknown. She glanced down at her sleeping daughter and made up her mind that she would protect her child even if it cost her her life.

We must not let Aunt Ning take the child away from her.

Otherwise.

This would be worse than letting her die.

After a moment, Lu Qiqi regained her composure and said softly, "Auntie, you should rest here and recuperate. There are Shadow Guards outside. As long as you don't easily step out of this courtyard, no one will be able to harm you."

Upon hearing this, the two women, mistress and servant, felt reassured. They looked into Lu Qiqi's bright eyes and nodded emphatically.

However, Lu Qiqi did not linger. She left a makeup box, handed it to Xiangling, and then left.

After Lu Qiqi left, Xiangling handed the makeup box to Lu Xiangxiang.

Lu Xiangxiang opened the makeup box and saw that it was filled with gold and silver jewelry, as well as some loose silver.

She leaned against the bed, holding a makeup box in her arms, her face turned to the side but her eyes were fixed on the closed door.

On the contrary, Xiangling found the jewelry in the dressing box very familiar. After she realized it, she exclaimed in surprise, "Auntie, aren't these the jewelry you kept when you were in the Wu family?"

The village head actually brought them all out for you!

"That's great! We don't have to worry about living a life of cold and hunger anymore!"

Xiangling looked at the jewelry filling the box, and her smiling eyes brightened considerably. She was genuinely happy for the future life of the three of them, master and servant.

Xiangling was a child from a poor family, and she knew all too well how difficult it was to endure days of cold and hunger.

Lu Xiangxiang also knew about her background. When she was a child, she was sold to the Wu family as a slave because she was starving.

By chance, I spent several years with her.

Lu Xiangxiang would never forget this bond between master and servant.

Therefore, she immediately made a promise to Xiangling, "As long as I have food to eat, you will not be lacking. If you find a good husband one day, I will let you marry."

Upon hearing this, Xiangling eagerly expressed her loyalty, "Auntie, I will not go anywhere. I will take care of you and Miss for the rest of my life."

Wherever you go, I will follow.

This servant is not afraid of hardship or toil; I only wish to follow my mistress and serve her well.

Lu Xiangxiang thought for a moment and then stopped trying to persuade her. After all, there was still a long way to go, and it would be too late to say anything more that would make Xiangling leave.

I'm afraid this girl is overthinking things, thinking that once she leaves the Wu residence, I don't want her to stay by my side.

She knew all too well the feeling of being afraid of being abandoned by others.

The two adults and one child were finally settled in the small courtyard in the border town.

Meanwhile, Lu Qiqi also hurried back to the military camp.

She wanted to inform Song Yanqing of the news Xiangling had told her as soon as possible.

When she returned to the main battle, she saw An Shi standing in front of Song Yanqing reporting.

Song Yanqing never hid Wu Guangping's betrayal from Lu Qiqi.

After several reminders from An Yi, An Jiu had already come to regard Lu Qi Qi as the future Crown Prince's consort.

Therefore, when Lu Qiqi entered the tent, neither of them concealed their expressions or kept silent.

An Jiu continued to report, "Last night, after Wu Guangping was escorted back to the manor, he went to Madam Wu's courtyard and hasn't left the courtyard since."

Upon hearing the news, both Lu Qiqi and Song Yanqing understood why Wu Guangping had done this.

After returning to the mansion, Wu Guangping went to the First Madam's courtyard immediately. He did not go to Concubine Ning's courtyard or the study where the secret passage was being built, in order to avoid suspicion.

It was also to proclaim to the world that Wu Guangping was upright and fearless, unafraid of authority, and utterly unafraid even when the Prince of Libei sent people to search his residence.

If Song Yanqing fails to find valid evidence of Wu Guangping's treason this time...

What awaited Song Yanqing was a lawsuit filed with the imperial court.

With just the charge of framing a loyal official, Song Yanqing would be nailed to the pillar of shame and despised by all.

Of the three people present, only Lu Qiqi knew why Wu Guangping dared to be so arrogant. It was because the two female corpses that died yesterday did not contain Aunt Ning.

The secret passage in the study was not built overnight; when it was constructed, the Wu residence was still the site of General Chen's old mansion.

At that time, Wu Guangping had not yet become a general; he was merely a deputy general under General Feng.

Wu Guangping's plan was so meticulous that even if Song Yanqing ordered the Shadow Guards to dig up the Wu residence from top to bottom, they would still find it difficult to find evidence of Wu Guangping's treason.

Thinking of this, a surge of anger welled up in Lu Qiqi's heart, and she wanted to curse the emperor to death again.

Throughout history, many loyal and virtuous people have been framed without cause, and there have been tragic instances of entire clans being wiped out.

With just the emperor's suspicion and the machinations of treacherous officials, a loyal minister could be killed.

In contrast, Song Yanqing is now the object of the Jin emperor's suspicion. The traitor is right in front of him, yet he cannot be arrested and imprisoned.

Evidence must be found within a limited time; otherwise, even if Song Yanqing temporarily assumes the position of commander-in-chief, he cannot keep Wu Guangping confined in the mansion indefinitely, preventing him from entering or leaving.

Just thinking about it makes me feel suffocated!

After An Jiu finished reporting, Lu Qiqi told Song Yanqing about the red mole behind Ning Yiniang's ear and asked him to send the Shadow Guards to find out the truth.

But to her surprise, the two people in front of her did not show any surprise when she finished speaking, as if they already knew about it.

Instead, it made her look puzzled.

At Song Yanqing's prompting, An Jiu explained, "Reporting to the village head, the young master discovered two female corpses last night, neither of whom was Concubine Ning from the General's Mansion."