"Auntie's words are so perplexing that I must offer a rebuttal! Since this matter has nothing to do with you, why did you detain me?"

Madam Jiang's smile faded. "I am, after all, the wife of the heir of this Marquis's mansion, and I have been entrusted by the Old Madam to temporarily manage the affairs of the mansion's inner quarters. Tell me, can I detain these two servants who are spouting nonsense?"

“Azi has not forgotten that her aunt is now in charge of the inner quarters of the Marquis’s mansion. However, her aunt has many trivial matters to attend to, and she really dares not trouble her with such a small matter!”

Besides, the Peach Blossom Feast is only a few days away; I imagine Grandfather has been urging Aunt quite a bit!

Her eyes held a determined look, and her meaning was very clear.

Madam Jiang hesitated for a moment before speaking gently: "Azi is a considerate person. Your aunt is indeed jealous that your mother has a son, but as you said, your aunt comes from a scholarly family. Even if she is jealous, she would not collude with a courtesan!"

As for those two, you can take them if you want. But your aunt wants to remind you, you'd better not easily believe the words of those opportunistic servants!

"Then thank you very much, Auntie!"

With that, he led away with two servants who looked like quails...

Upon returning to Jiangse Valley's courtyard, the two first kowtowed to thank her for saving their lives, and then swore to the heavens that they could not have been mistaken.

"Zilan is the First Madam's confidante and often walks around the backyard. Even if we servants mistake the First Madam for Zilan, we would never mistake Zilan for Zilan!"

Jiang Segu ordered Mama Hou to check the records of people entering and leaving the Hou residence.

The record clearly states that Zilan took leave in mid-February to attend a funeral and has not returned since.

The two maids' faces grew increasingly grim, almost deathly pale.

They couldn't be mistaken, but how could Zilan not be in the manor?

Jiang Segu was thinking about something else.

Was the monk that my grandfather encountered someone sent by my aunt to find Zilan?

Dongzenji Temple...

Jiang Segu summoned Qiaolian, "Have Young Master Gu help investigate that monk at Dongchan Temple."

She then instructed Madam Hou and two servants to settle in her courtyard temporarily, and also told the two servants to be vigilant and not to be harmed by anyone.

All three of them retreated with a tremor in their hearts...

The time spent waiting always seems to pass very slowly.

In the past, when I would flip through a storybook, an hour would have passed before I looked up again.

Now, she has walked back and forth countless times in the pitch-black courtyard, yet only a quarter of an hour has passed.

Seeing this, Qiaolian took a cloak and stepped forward. "Miss, the temperature difference between day and night is huge right now. Investigating people is not something that can be done in an hour or two. It's nighttime now, so let's go back inside!"

"I just can't sleep, so I want to take a walk to clear my head. By the way, you said earlier that you heard the servant in the front yard say that Grandfather met someone before he went to the Hidden Flower Pavilion. Who was that person?"

Qiaolian shook her head, "This servant doesn't know, and those two servants didn't say who they were!"

Jiang Segu paused for a moment, then said, "Don't stay with me, go back to sleep! There might be other things to do tomorrow!"

Qiaolian tied the cloak around Jiang Segu's neck. "If you're not sleeping, how can I, your maid, go to sleep first? You didn't eat lunch today, and you didn't eat much for dinner either. How about I make you a bowl of noodles with minced meat sauce?"

As soon as she finished speaking, a scent of lotus leaves mixed with the aroma of meat wafted into her nose on the night breeze.

Without even guessing, Jiang Segu knew that Gu Songhan had arrived.

Qiaolian tactfully withdrew, not glancing at Gu Songhan at all.

"What are you doing standing in the yard so late!"

As night fell, Jiang Segu watched Gu Songhan walk straight out of the darkness, the light from the lanterns under the eaves flickering on his face.

Tonight, he wasn't wearing black clothes, but a white casual outfit. His eyes were bright, filled with obvious concern and kindness, like starlight in the night, carrying hope and bringing inexplicable peace and joy.

"It's late and the dew is heavy. Standing here will only hurt you! Hurry back inside!"

His voice was deep and mellow, carrying a gentle warmth that warmed Jiang Segu's chilled heart from the inside out.

Jiang Segu's brow twitched slightly, and Furong smiled as she obediently followed Gu Songhan into the house.

As soon as the two entered the house, a figure flashed past in the courtyard.

Upon entering the house, Gu Songhan placed the lotus leaf rice flour meat and red bean cake on the table, and then untied a long bamboo tube from his waist, which was about the thickness of a man's arm.

Gu Songhan opened the stopper, and instantly the room was filled with the delicious aroma of beef and glutinous rice.

"I know you probably don't have much of an appetite today, but it's not worth ruining your health for some insignificant people!"

As she spoke, she unfolded the lotus leaf and handed the chopsticks the shopkeeper had given her to Jiang Segu. "Right now, you need to eat your fill before you can deal with those demons and monsters. While others are hiding in the shadows, enjoying a life of luxury, you're standing in the courtyard starving!"

Jiang Segu took the chopsticks and said stubbornly, "It's not that I can't eat because of those people. It's just that you fed me so much recently that my clothes are a bit tight, so I'm taking this opportunity to eat less! Who knew you would provoke me again!"

Jiang Segu picked up a piece of steamed pork wrapped in lotus leaves. The pork was tender and soft, not greasy at all, and the fragrance of lotus leaves made Jiang Segu's appetite soar.

After eating several pieces, Gu Songhan handed over a bamboo tube containing beef and glutinous rice porridge.

Jiang Segu took a sip and exclaimed, "Where did you buy this porridge? It tastes so delicious! The beef is tender and smooth, and the glutinous rice is sticky and fragrant. It must have taken some effort to make this porridge!"

Seeing that Jiang Segu liked it, Gu Songhan smiled like ripples on water, flowing to the corners of his eyes and brows. "I'm glad you like it. If you like it, I'll cook it for you again next time!"

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!