Chapter 32 The Marquis suspects that I am in cahoots with the bandits.

Jie Ge'an's carriage was more than twice the size of the Song family's, and it was furnished with a small tea table and a soft couch where people could rest.

The clothes Si Niannian changed into were bought on short notice because she was taller than the average girl, and the sleeves were a bit too short.

Jie Ge'an handed her a hand warmer: "It's new, no one has used it."

Si Niannian accepted it without hesitation, and thanked him with a smile: "Thank you, Lord Marquis."

She now thinks that Jie Ge'an is actually not bad.

Jie Ge'an seemed to want to avoid looking at her, but thinking of that subtle, strange feeling in his heart, he couldn't help but ask, "The scar on your forehead seems to have faded quite a bit?"

He wondered if it was just his imagination, but he felt that things had become much less intense than when they had met before.

Scars?

The ugly scars that others avoid mentioning, or even despise, were described with great care by Jie Ge'an.

Si Niannian lingered on the two solemn words, pretending to be unaware, and reached out to touch them, then chuckled and said, "Really?"

“I can’t actually see,” Si Niannian paused, then shrugged, “but I’m used to it, and I don’t really care.”

"By the way, there's something I'd like to tell you, Lord Marquis."

Jie Ge'an raised his hand, indicating that she could speak freely.

Si Niannian leaned against the carriage wall, holding a hand warmer, and smiled with her eyes closed: "The old lady gave me that apprenticeship certificate yesterday. Thank you for your kindness, Lord Marquis."

Jie Ge'an thought of what Madam Song had said to him today, and pursed his lips meaningfully.

The Song family was unaware of the apprenticeship agreement.

Si Niannian didn't tell them, so he made an excuse today to prevent Madam Song from speaking.

Si Niannian said to herself, "But actually, I don't really like repaying evil with good."

"The scene of Song Mo trying to force me to jump into the water is still vivid in my mind. I really can't bear to see him step on me to achieve his bright future."

Si Niannian opened her eyes, looked at Jie Ge'an, and smiled, "So it's not necessary."

She won't let Song Mo have his way!

Jie Ge'an glanced at Si Niannian with a half-smile, and said playfully, "You can just throw it away."

The invitation wasn't sent directly to the Song family; instead, it was given to Si Niannian so that she could make her own choice.

With Si Niannian's words today, even if Song Mo obtains the apprenticeship certificate through other channels, he will have no chance of entering Qingyang Academy.

Si Niannian blinked gratefully, but Jie Ge'an suddenly changed the subject: "To my shame, I went to Canglang Mountain a few days ago."

Si Niannian's fingers curled slightly as she held the hand warmer.

Jie Ge'an said unhurriedly, "I'm a little curious about how the girl met my mother and the others that night."

The Canglang Mountain has a unique terrain, with only one winding mountain road besides the high cliffs.

Below is the abyss.

The guards of the Duke's mansion had surveyed the terrain half a day in advance and cleared any possible obstacles along the way.

Logically speaking, it's impossible that Si Niannian wouldn't have been discovered.

Si Niannian appeared out of thin air and happened to save the old lady and the others.

Jie Ge'an investigated Si Niannian's background thoroughly, including all her actions after returning to Yujing, but found no clues.

But once doubts arise, they are difficult to dispel until the truth is revealed.

Jie Ge'an placed the perfectly warm tea beside Si Niannian, his gentle voice carrying a subtle pressure: "Could you please enlighten me, young lady?"

Si Niannian raised an eyebrow at him: "Does the Marquis suspect that I'm in cahoots with the bandits?"

“No,” Jie Ge’an said lazily, “I just have a habit of figuring things out.”

“I can only say that I was just passing by,” Si Niannian knew that making excuses would only arouse his greater suspicion, so she simply said lightly, “I really was just passing by.”

She wouldn't stoop so low as to associate with bandits.

They wouldn't stoop to that level.

Si Niannian didn't expect Jie Ge'an to believe her after she said that, but to her surprise, Jie Ge'an actually laughed!

Jie Ge'an chuckled and said, "Since you're just passing by, I don't need to ask any more questions."

"The Song family will be here soon."

Jie Ge'an got off the carriage and rode a horse. Through the carriage window, he said, "Young lady, please tidy up a bit and get ready to get off the carriage."

Si Niannian hummed in agreement and chuckled softly, as if she was genuinely looking forward to going home.

However, at this moment, the Song family was shrouded in an invisible gloom.

Lord Song was both anxious and angry: "How could we have lost Si Niannian?!"

How could someone you took out in good health just get lost like that!

Madam Song embraced Song Qinghan, whose face was still filled with lingering fear, and wiped away tears with a handkerchief, her face still showing lingering shock: "Even the adults don't know what happened back then!"

"The bandits were fierce and attacked directly. We were almost killed! How could we have thought about whether someone was missing!"

Song Wen's face was pale and ashen. He dared not recall Si Niannian's shouts when he fled on horseback. He forced himself to remain calm and explained, "Yes, the situation was too chaotic at the time. I don't know..."

"The matter hasn't been settled yet!" Lord Song said angrily. "We haven't collected the favors owed to the Duke's mansion! And we haven't fulfilled the two conditions that Jie Ge'an promised!"

The person who promised to help Jie Ge'an is Si Niannian!

He also said that he would only do things that Si Niannian asked him to do!

Now that Si Niannian has been lost, or even possibly dead, the Song family can no longer use the favors bestowed upon a dead person!

Upon hearing this, Song Qinghan lowered her head, concealing the coldness on her face with a sorrowful expression, and weakly said, "Father, my sister is a lucky person, she will be alright."

Qiu Shuang failed to outmaneuver Si Niannian, but Si Niannian herself was unlucky enough to be left there.

She's just unlucky; she can't blame anyone else!

Song Wen breathed a sigh of relief without showing any emotion, then forced a smile and said, "Father, it might not really be that bad."

"Although we left, the Marquis still led men to cover our retreat!"

Madam Song also hurriedly tried to salvage the situation: "That's right, the Marquis is a fierce general who fought his way up from the battlefield, and the city guards will be here soon. Maybe Si Niannian will be rescued?"

Lord Song remained silent with a gloomy face.

Madam Song was still saying, "What if she's still alive? Then wouldn't that be..."

How do you think she'll survive?

Lord Song suddenly said, "Which of these two types—vagrants and bandits—is easy to deal with?!"

"If she hadn't been rescued and instead fell into the hands of either side, wouldn't that have ruined the Song family's reputation?!"

A person whose appearance was already ruined has now ruined their reputation as well!

How can someone so tainted be a daughter of the Song family!

The relief on Madam Song's face vanished completely, replaced by unspeakable fear: "Impossible!"

If Si Niannian's reputation is ruined, it could very well implicate the innocent Song Qinghan!

If that's the case, she might as well be dead!

Madam Song's expression suddenly changed drastically. She stood up and said, "Fourth Prince, gather all the guards in the manor right now and head out of the city to search!"

We must find Si Niannian before her reputation is ruined!

Lord Song added, "It must be done in complete secrecy! No one can know! If she dies, bring her body back. If..."

"If she's still alive, but has already fallen into these people's hands..." Lord Song gritted his teeth and said, "Tomorrow, announce to the public that the eldest daughter of the Song family is dead!"

We must not allow Si Niannian to tarnish the family's reputation!

Song Wen staggered toward someone, but before he could run out, the gatekeeper rushed in anxiously, saying, "Sir! Madam!"

"The young lady is back!"