In the afternoon, Jiangse Valley felt as if each day was an eternity.

She felt a heavy weight pressing on her heart, making it hard to breathe, and could only try to ease her anxiety by pacing back and forth.

Seeing that she was distracted, Qiaolian lowered her head and asked respectfully, "Miss, it's almost time for dinner. Shall I go to the main kitchen to get some food to take to Aunt Lan?"

"Go ahead, go to Balixiang and buy some more pastries to take with you!"

Qiaolian went to the main kitchen and carefully selected several dishes, then went to Balixiang to choose some signature snacks, before returning to Yulan Lane, where the Changping Marquis's residence was located.

However, she did not return to the Changping Marquis's residence, nor did she take the front alley. Instead, she took the back alley and arrived at the back gate of the courtyard next to the Changping Marquis's residence.

She knocked on the door hesitantly.

A moment later, the door opened.

A solemn-looking guard emerged from inside.

Qiaolian panicked; she hadn't expected that the person guarding the back door wasn't the old woman!

She fiddled with the hairpin she had intended to use as a bribe, but for a moment she didn't know how to start the conversation.

Instead, the guards looked her over and then spoke up, "Are you a maid from the Marquis of Changping's residence?"

Qiaolian nodded subconsciously.

"The general has given instructions that if the young lady arrives, we men will lead the way!"

Upon hearing this, Qiaolian was surprised, but also felt a strange mix of emotions, like the sweet taste of canna lily honey she had as a child.

Young Master Gu is so young, yet he's already a general!

No wonder he looked so imposing and dignified, so different from the spoiled young masters of the capital.

Led by the guard, Qiaolian quickly arrived at the study in the front yard.

At this moment, Wen Xia was reporting the progress of the search to Gu Songhan.

"There are eighteen alleys in the west of the city. My men have searched ten of them so far, but we haven't found the person the general is looking for yet!"

"Send more manpower, and let Wen Dong join you!"

"yes!"

Wen Xia retreated without glancing to the side, showing no curiosity or surprise at the sudden appearance of a woman in a courtyard full of men.

Seeing Qiaolian arrive, Gu Songhan's serious expression softened. "We haven't found her yet. As for your young lady..."

"General Gu, rest assured, I have appeased my young lady as you instructed, and she has not suspected anything for the time being."

As she spoke, she carefully placed the food box in her hand on the tea table beside her. "General Gu is busy looking for someone for my young lady, and I feel bad about it, so I brought some food over and also bought some pastries from Balixiang. Please have a taste, General Gu!"

Eight-mile fragrance?

That's the little girl's favorite pastry shop!

Gu Songhan had some reservations, but upon hearing the name "Eight Mile Fragrance," he didn't dwell on it.

Qiaolian was a meticulous person who was very good at reading people. Seeing that Gu Songhan's expression did not change, but his eyes brightened slightly, she became bolder and asked, "Where does the general usually dine? This servant will set the table for the general's meals and pastries!"

"No need, just leave the pastries! Take the rest back with you!"

Just pastries?

Qiaolian was puzzled, but dared not ask any more questions, for fear of displeasing Gu Songhan.

After taking out the pastries, Qiaolian wanted to say a few more words to Gu Songhan, but to her surprise, Gu Songhan took out a silver ingot from his waist and handed it to her, saying, "I've never been to Balixiang, so I don't know if this silver is enough!"

"General, you are making me feel terrible! You first sought out General Rongding for me, and then you wanted to find Aunt Lan. It is only right that I buy you some pastries to express my gratitude. How could I accept your money!"

Gu Songhan felt an even stronger sense of unease!

When he was in the Northwest, it wasn't that no women showed interest in him!

Although Qiaolian's current state is not as obvious as that of women from the Northwest, there is something wrong with what she is saying!

Therefore, Gu Songhan resumed his cold and stern expression from when he was in the army.

"Take the pastries with you! This general doesn't like sweets!"

His change of expression was so quick that Qiaolian was stunned on the spot!

However, she quickly regained her composure and deftly put away the pastries. "It is inconvenient for me to leave the manor at night. If the General has any news about Aunt Lan, how will he send a message to me?"

"Since it's inconvenient at night, why don't you come again tomorrow morning?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of joy flashed across Qiaolian's eyes, which had initially shown some disappointment.

General Gu still asked her to come, does that mean he's not angry with her?

Qiaolian returned to the Marquis's residence with a joyful expression, but seeing Jiang Segu's angry face, she quickly suppressed her smile. She quietly asked Qiaohe, "What's wrong, Miss?"

Qiaohe shook her head, indicating that she didn't know either. "After you left, the old lady called you over and said she wanted you to ask Third Master Yin to come and treat Young Master Liang's eyes!"

Everyone knows that the old lady dotes on Young Master Liang, so it's only natural that she would make such a request. Why is the young lady angry about it?

Besides, it's a good thing that my third maternal uncle is coming! The girl can take this opportunity to have him take her pulse.

But Qiaolian forgot that Liang Shaojie had been blind for several days, and it was a bit strange that he only thought of asking for help now!

Therefore, Jiang Segu sent Qiaohe to the front yard to inquire whether any outsiders had come to the mansion today.

Sure enough, Qiaohe learned from the gatekeeper that someone had come to visit Liang Shaojie.

It was still a stranger's face.

Liang Shaojie was blind for several days. Apart from the first two days when students from the Imperial Academy came to visit, no one else came after that!

He had no relatives in the capital...

In the morning, someone came to visit him in the hospital. In the afternoon, Liang Shaojie went to Zhaotai Hospital. Afterward, his grandmother asked him to invite his third uncle over.

Jiang Segu would never believe that his grandmother was invited by Liang Shaojie instead of his third uncle!

Therefore, Jiang Segu naturally did not want to invite his third uncle!

Furthermore, in her previous life, her third uncle had come to treat Liang Shaojie at her invitation, and afterwards he was never able to leave the capital again!

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