Chapter 178
Xiao Xi was perfectly fine yesterday, so how come she's sick today?
Granny Chen looked at Xiao Yanqing's face, her eyes becoming increasingly inquisitive.
Finally, she said, "Then I'll be going. Young master, you should also go home early."
After saying that, she turned to leave, but Xiao Yanqing called out to her, "Grandma, I want to ask what disease Xiao Xi has contracted. Can I go and see her?"
As a close friend, he felt he should go and see Xiao Xi.
"No need. If you go to visit, young master, you might catch the illness. Once my young lady recovers, she will come to the inn to find you," Granny Chen said and left in a hurry, not giving Xiao Yanqing a chance to speak.
Xiao Yanqing looked disappointed.
He had wanted to ask if Xiaoxi would be able to come out for the Flower Festival in a few days, but the old woman left too quickly...
As for Granny Chen, she returned with a frown. The young master she had just met looked remarkably like Master Shen; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were mother and son.
She should discuss this matter with Master Shen and his wife.
Thinking this, Granny Chen hurried toward the school where Shen Qingnian was teaching. It was not yet time for the end of the school term, so Master Shen should still be teaching.
She and Granny Zhao were bought by Master Shen three years ago. After working for the Shen family for three years, she could sense that Master Shen and his family were hiding from something.
Master Shen was exceptionally handsome, as was Madam Liu. In particular, Master Shen's overall demeanor bore a striking resemblance to the young master from earlier, not to mention their strikingly similar appearances.
The moment the thought crossed Granny Chen's mind, she was startled and quickened her pace toward the school...
On the other side.
When Shen Qingnian was teaching halfway through the afternoon, she overheard an old teacher who lived in the same alley as Zhou An chatting. He said that Zhou An's elder brother, Zhou Shiyu, seemed to have received news of his younger brother's disappearance and had specially rushed back from the border this morning.
Upon hearing this, she immediately asked for leave and rushed to Zhou An's house.
Just as the old scholar had said, she had only reached the entrance of Zhou An's alley when she heard the neighbors talking about Zhou Shiyu's return.
She deliberately avoided people and went around to the back door, arriving at Zhou An's door.
Zhou An had told her that Jiang Zhenghe's men were staking out his door, but she hadn't found anything unusual when she checked last time. It must be that those men dispersed when they couldn't find Zhou An.
Shen Qingnian carefully walked in and found Zhou Shiyu cleaning inside. Zhou Shiyu looked similar to Zhou An and was easily distinguishable.
She quickly told Zhou Shiyu what had happened and then handed Zhou An's jade pendant over to show him.
Zhou Shiyu recognized that it was indeed his younger brother's jade pendant, and his expression changed from doubt to seriousness.
Shen Qingnian said directly, "After it gets dark, drive the oxcart to my house to pick up Zhou An. My house is the sixth courtyard in Yangliu Lane. Go through the back door and remember to bring two hundred taels of silver."
Having said that, she didn't give Zhou Shiyu a chance to react and hurriedly left the Zhou family, as it was not a good place to stay.
When Shen Qingnian returned home, Granny Chen was not there. She said that she had been called by Xiao Shenxi to look for that young master and should be back soon.
She didn't pay any attention and walked towards the woodshed.
As dusk settled outside, Zhou Shiyu would come to pick up Zhou An once it was completely dark. She needed to ask Zhou An about this matter first...
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Inside the inn.
A man in black knelt before Song Xuan; he was one of the bodyguards he had brought with him.
The guard's face showed a hint of trepidation: "Your Majesty, I found no trace of Zhou An, but while investigating the school, I discovered a woman who looks remarkably like the Empress..."
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