Jiang Shuxiu had made up her mind. Regardless of her haggard look, she immediately asked Rui'er and Zhou Mama to prepare the car and set off for Zhenbaozhai.
She had an inexplicable obsession in her heart and wanted to see with her own eyes the servant that Xue Yuanchu brought to Zhenbaozhai.
Unlike yesterday's departure from the house, Jiang Shuxiu didn't want to make a big fuss and attract attention.
Rui'er and Zhou Mama, as her confidants brought with her as a dowry, are naturally loyal and reliable. They can keep the secret and will not disclose what happened today.
Therefore, Jiang Shuxiu took only the two of them and went to Zhenbaozhai in a small group.
It was early morning in the West Market and there were not many people on the street.
Several people took the carriage of the Marquis' Mansion and soon arrived at the door of Zhenbaozhai.
After getting off the car, Jiang Shuxiu looked up at the sign in front of the door. At this moment, the shop had half of its door panels removed. Although it was not open for business, there were waiters wiping the counter. It was completely different from the scene of the closed door and deserted scene yesterday.
Mother Zhou was the first to step into the store, followed closely by Ruier, who walked in supporting Jiang Shuxiu.
The two waiters had the honor of seeing Jiang Shuxiu visit Zhenbaozhai before, and they recognized her at a glance, so they immediately bowed and greeted her cleverly.
Jiang Shuxiu nodded slightly as a response to the waiters' greetings, then she looked around, secretly searching for the figure of the servant brought by Xue Yuanchu.
However, she didn't see any unfamiliar faces. Jiang Shuxiu couldn't help but feel disappointed, but she didn't give up. Instead, she turned to the shop assistant and asked, "Do you have a boy around ten years old here?"
Upon hearing this, the two guys looked at each other, then shook their heads timidly to indicate that they didn't know.
Seeing this, Jiang Shuxiu became even more confused.
She had clearly heard Zhao Bai say that Xue Yuanchu had brought a servant to Zhenbaozhai, so how could he not have done that?
Mother Zhou's sharp eyes caught the veiled glances exchanged between the two men, and her voice immediately rose several degrees as she sternly rebuked, "The young lady is asking this, and you dare to wink at me? How disrespectful!"
"Don't think that just because this isn't the Marquis' Mansion, you can disobey its rules."
Upon hearing this, the two waiters hurriedly ran out from behind the counter and stood in front of Jiang Shuxiu in fear and trepidation to apologize.
"Mom, please calm down. We are just odd jobs in the store and know very little about what goes on in the backyard. Manager Zhou has repeatedly warned us that if we say too much, we will be fired." The guys explained with bitter faces.
When Jiang Shuxiu heard the name of Shopkeeper Zhou, her eyes involuntarily turned to the side door behind the counter and asked curiously, "Is Shopkeeper Zhou not in the store?"
One of the shop assistants quickly replied, "Madam, Manager Zhou has been busy out lately. He said the prince has other instructions and has assigned him to other errands. The shop hasn't been open for the past few days. Only yesterday did Manager Zhou tell us to come in and clean up. If any regular customers come, tell them they're preparing new stock and ask them to come back in a few days."
Jiang Shuxiu sensed something unusual about these words, and Mother Zhou suggested, "Young Madam, why don't I go to the backyard and take a look? If there's nothing unusual, it won't be too late for us to return home."
Jiang Shuxiu nodded slightly, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.
It seems that her expectations are likely to be dashed. In this case, she can only do as Mother Zhou said.
She sighed softly: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Mom."
Mother Zhou nodded, turned around and walked towards the backyard.
The two guys felt uneasy when they saw this.
They exchanged glances, and one of them mustered up the courage to whisper to Jiang Shuxiu, "Young Madam, actually... we do know there's a servant, but..."
Before he could finish his words, another waiter interrupted him: "What nonsense are you talking about! We know nothing!"
Jiang Shuxiu raised her eyebrows when she heard this. She could see that there seemed to be some hidden secret between the two guys.
So she said gently, "You don't have to be afraid. Just tell me the truth and I won't make things difficult for you."
After hearing this, the clerk who had spoken earlier gritted his teeth and said, as if he had made up his mind, "Young Madam, a while ago, a servant was indeed brought into the store. But Manager Zhou specifically instructed us not to say anything. The servant was placed in a side room in the backyard."
Jiang Shuxiu's heart moved, and he asked hurriedly: "Is he still there now?"
Before the two guys could answer, Mother Zhou hurried back from the backyard with an unconcealable look of anxiety on her face.
She walked up to Jiang Shuxiu and whispered, "Young Madam, I saw him in the backyard..."
Jiang Shuxiu's heart skipped a beat. She stared at Mother Zhou and asked anxiously, "Mom, have you seen that boy? Take me to see him!"
Mother Zhou nodded, turned around and led the way: "Young Madam, please follow me."
Jiang Shuxiu immediately followed Mother Zhou through the shop and into the backyard.
Mother Zhou pointed to one of the side rooms and said, "Young Madam, this is it."
Jiang Shuxiu walked to the door of the side room, pushed it gently, and the door opened.
She walked into the house and saw the mess inside at a glance.
Clothes were scattered all over the floor and packages were thrown randomly aside. It was obvious that someone was packing up in a hurry.
She looked around and suddenly found a small figure hiding in the corner.
She looked closely and saw that it was a thin but handsome servant.
It must be him!
At this moment, Guan Yan's face was full of panic and anxiety.
He obviously did not expect someone to break in suddenly, and was at a loss for a moment.
Jiang Shuxiu frowned. She found some valuable items thrown on the ground casually, and some things had been packed. She immediately understood.
She looked at the servant in front of her, an inexplicable emotion welling up in her heart, and whispered tentatively: "Are you going to escape?"
Guan Yan lowered his head and remained silent.
Although Xue Yuanchu did not do anything excessive to him last night, he had already made up his mind and did not want to stay in this suffocating place any longer.
Even if he escaped and became a beggar, begging for a living, he never wanted to suffer this humiliation again.
He raised his head and looked at Jiang Shuxiu.
The woman in front of him showed kindness and gentleness between her eyebrows, which made him trust her involuntarily.
Having lost his parents at a young age and been alone, he intuitively felt that the person in front of him might be someone he could rely on.
Jiang Shuxiu stared at him, her tone becoming gentler: "This Zhenbaozhai is my husband's property. If you have any difficulties, please tell me."
Guan Yan felt flustered when he heard this.
It turned out that she was Xue Yuanchu's wife, which made him hesitate in his original intention of seeking help. He could only stand there at a loss, with many contradictions in his heart.
At this moment, he rushed out the door on impulse and almost knocked Jiang Shuxiu down.
Rui'er was quick-witted and rushed forward to support her, thus avoiding an accident.
"Catch him quickly!" Mother Zhou shouted urgently, and at the same time signaled the two guys who followed to chase after him quickly.
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