Jiang Segu wandered aimlessly in the backyard. The cool breeze on her face made her more aware of Jiang Chuhui's always expressionless face and her deep, unfathomable eyes.

She had always thought that her older sister was born with a cold and aloof personality, never imagining that her older sister would encounter such an appalling thing.

Unbeknownst to them, Jiang Segu arrived at Jiang Chuhui's courtyard.

She wanted to go in and see her older sister, but what good would it do?

Should I try to comfort my older sister with those pale and powerless words, or should I hug her and cry my heart out?

Jiang Segu felt a suffocating sensation in his chest, as if someone were strangling him with a rope; it was extremely uncomfortable.

Just then, raindrops fell on her face, one drop at a time, as if hitting her heart.

"Miss, it's raining, and you haven't had lunch yet. Why don't you go in and chat with the young lady, and have some tea and snacks?"

Jiang Segu shook her head, glanced deeply into the east room of the main house through the courtyard gate, her face filled with a sorrow beyond her years, and then turned and left.

She had only taken a few steps when she was bumped into by Mu Ying, who was rushing over.

Mu Ying was surprised to see Jiang Segu at this hour, and a look of panic flashed across her face. However, she quickly calmed down and curtsied to Jiang Segu, saying, "Greetings to Sixth Miss! This servant has been rude and offended Sixth Miss. Please punish me!"

Mu Ying was the eldest sister's personal maid. She was always steady and composed, even more so than Qiao Lian, who was by her side.

Why am I in such a rush today? I didn't even pay attention to what's in front of me while I was walking.

"What's wrong?"

"This servant just returned from the old lady's place and was only thinking about going back to serve our young lady her meal. That's why I didn't notice the sixth young lady for a moment. Please punish me, sixth young lady!"

What are you doing at the old lady's place?

"In response to Sixth Miss, the eldest mistress wants all the young ladies in the manor to learn some etiquette from the two palace maids, but due to her status, she is not comfortable mentioning this matter in front of the maids, so the madam went to ask the old lady for help."

Therefore, the old lady summoned two maids to Zhaotai Courtyard for lunch, and I was just there to see them off!

"Is that so? Then you should hurry back and serve your eldest sister her meal!"

Mu Ying breathed a sigh of relief, curtsied again, and prepared to enter the courtyard.

But before they even reached the courtyard gate, Jiang Segu stopped them again.

"Muying!"

Suppressing her panic, Mu Ying turned around and asked, "Sixth Miss, is there anything else you need from me?"

"Big sister...is she alright?"

Thinking of the hardships her daughter had endured over the past few years, Mu Ying was overcome with grief and couldn't hold back her tears.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Mu Ying replied, "Our girl is doing very well!"

Jiang Segu could tell that she was not being sincere, and impulsively said, "If eldest sister is unwilling, I will help eldest sister find a way!"

Mu Ying's eyes lit up instantly, but when she thought that the Emperor had taken a liking to their girl this time, and considering the old lady's admonition earlier, that light quickly disappeared.

"Thank you for your concern, Sixth Miss. This opportunity to be favored by the Emperor is something others would kill for, and our young lady cherishes it greatly. If you have nothing else to say, Sixth Miss, I will go and attend to our young lady now!"

Watching Mu Ying turn and go inside, Jiang Segu stood there, overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

"Girl, the rain is getting heavier, let's go back!"

"Um!"

As Jiang Segu and his servant disappeared around the corner, a series of porcelain pieces fell to the ground from the east room of Jiang Chuhui's Huilan Courtyard...

***

Back in the courtyard, Jiang Segu, persuaded by Qiaolian, first wiped himself down, changed his clothes, and drank half a bowl of fish porridge.

After she finished her meal, Qiaolian said, "Seventh Miss is currently resting on the chaise longue in the west room, but since Seventh Miss is going to move into the courtyard, it wouldn't be right to let her sleep on the chaise longue. Does Miss have any plans? Should we have someone clean up the east wing or the west wing?"

"Whatever, let's see where she likes to stay!"

"Should we send someone to Seventh Miss's courtyard to collect her clothes?"

Jiang Segu thought for a moment before saying, "Let her take people to clean up after she wakes up!"

Qiaolian agreed and then fell silent.

Jiang Segu rested his chin on his hand, looking at the butterfly flowers being mercilessly battered by the rain outside. He suddenly thought of Jiang Chuhui's fate and fell into endless sorrow.

After some time, the rain outside gradually stopped, and Qiaohe returned, her clothes still damp.

She didn't have time to go back to her room to change her clothes, so she told Jiang Segu the information she had found out.

“Miss, I learned from Aunt Zilan that Zilan has a twin sister who was sold just like Zilan…”

Jiang Segu suddenly sat up straight and asked urgently, "Was she sold to our household too? In whose courtyard does she work?"

"Zilan and her sister were sold to a passing human trafficker, but Zilan was sick at the time, so the trafficker didn't take her and only took Zilan's sister with him!"

A human slave trader passing by?

That's something to investigate!

However, she doesn't necessarily need to find out where the human traffickers are. Right now, Zilan's sister is in the Marquis's mansion, so she can just look for her there!

But how could she find all the servants in the Marquis's mansion?

She had to check them all one by one, leaving no one out!

Jiang Segu frowned, and soon an idea came to mind!

She told Qiaohe to go downstairs and change her clothes first, and then took Qiaolian to the storeroom where precious jewelry was kept, and picked out two sets of valuable jewelry.

Qiaolian was puzzled. "Miss, what are you doing?"

"My eldest sister is going to the palace! This is a great joy for our Marquis's mansion, so of course I must send a gift to congratulate her!"

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