Qiu Mingyan, who arrived later, was stunned when she heard her sister's words.
She had no idea when her sister had become so assertive. Was this still the same taciturn and reserved sister she knew?
Ji Huanjin finally stopped speaking, or perhaps it was because she didn't know what else to say to avoid being at a disadvantage.
After waiting for a while and making sure she was behaving herself, Qiu Boyan turned around, intending to leave. Just then, she ran into Qiu Mingyan, who had rushed over because she was worried about her. She was stunned for a moment, and Qiu Mingyan had already stepped forward and taken her hand: "Sister, let's go, we should go back."
Qiu Boyan nodded, then asked her anxiously, "Just now..."
He was interrupted halfway through his sentence by Qiu Mingyan: "What happened just now? I didn't see anything, I don't know anything."
“…Okay.” Qiu Boyan shut her mouth and went to Chengyuan with her.
The banquet had ended, but Madam Ji invited the ladies and young women of various families to Changhuan Tower in the back to watch a play. Zhu Jiayu had no interest in watching plays or listening to music, so she sat in Chengyuan Garden and ate tea and snacks.
The three Qiu family girls didn't want to leave her sitting there all alone. After all, there would be plenty of time and opportunities to watch plays, so they all stayed.
However, when Qiu Boyan and the other person returned, Zhu Jiayu had already disappeared.
Qiu Mingyan looked around and asked Qiu Lingyan, "Where is my cousin Ayu?"
Qiu Lingyan chuckled: "I've never seen you care about her so much before. I thought you didn't appreciate the huge favor she did for saving you. Fortunately, it seems you still have some conscience."
At least when they see someone is missing, they know to ask.
Before Qiu Mingyan could be embarrassed for long, she mumbled through a melon seed, "She was asked to leave by a maid. I guess someone needs her."
"Then let's wait for her here." Qiu Boyan tugged at her sister's hand and sat down next to Qiu Lingyan.
The person who sent someone to invite Zhu Jiayu away was Gu Heguang.
She was impatient by nature. After hearing what Lüzheng wanted to see her about, she finished her work and couldn't wait any longer, so she ordered someone to drive her to the Ji residence.
The servant standing outside the gate saw the carriage bearing the royal insignia parked in front of the mansion and hurriedly stepped forward. Before he could speak, the coachman whipped him and blocked his way, preventing him from approaching.
The coachman said coldly, "My young lady is here to see Miss Zhu. It has nothing to do with today's banquet at the Ji residence. There's no need for her to come forward and serve you."
The servant was humiliated, but dared not retaliate. He could only be secretly angry in his heart, but on the surface he still had to force a smile and say yes, nodding and bowing as he returned to the gate of the mansion.
Not long after, Zhu Jiayu arrived. After the coachman spoke softly to Gu Heguang, Gu Heguang lifted the curtain, revealing a beautiful, cold face with a delicate and refined appearance. Even his voice sounded like it was covered in frost: "Zhu Jiayu, get in the carriage."
Zhu Jiayu went up to her as instructed and asked her why she had come.
Gu Heguang asked her with a cold face, "You said you wanted a beautiful, obedient, and clever woman. What do you want to do with her?"
She scrutinized Zhu Jiayu before her: "Among officials in Yujing, it is common to present beauties and fine horses as gifts in order to achieve cooperation or win people's hearts. Could it be that you are like those fat, bloated parasites, with no ability whatsoever, but whose scheming is a piece of cake?"
It's no wonder she's so angry. Her mother was forcibly taken by a powerful figure and given as a gift to Prince Jing. From the time she could remember, her gentle and kind mother always looked sad and melancholy. She had never seen her smile sincerely.
She loathed those who treated women as playthings or assets, to be given away casually when they were tired of them, or to be offered up to powerful officials.
Seeing her like this, Zhu Jiayu quickly remembered her background and understood why she was so angry. She couldn't help but laugh and say, "Is that how you see me?"
Gu Heguang naturally didn't want to consider her one of those people, so she came here to get an explanation from Zhu Jiayu. As long as she gave a legitimate reason, she would naturally find the person she wanted for her.
She looked at Zhu Jiayu in silence, waiting for her to speak.
Zhu Jiayu was unwilling to tell Song Jiangmei about her affairs, as it was Song Jiangmei's family matter and only she herself had the right to decide. Who else could know about such things?
She thought for a moment and said, "It's not what you think. It's just that I need someone to help me deal with someone. This person is treacherous and cunning, and has many tricks up his sleeve. If I want to deal with him without leaving a trace, I need someone to cooperate with me from the inside out in order to succeed."
"Besides, as I said, the only two things I want in a woman are good looks and being obedient and clever. You don't need to bother choosing from respectable women, A-Yu. I know that the Prince Jing's Mansion has some influence in the Heling County government. There are also wicked women who commit crimes in the county jail. Asking for someone shouldn't be a big deal."
If someone comes looking for me, then I'll consider it a favor I owe you.
Gu Heguang looked at her suspiciously. She was already 80% convinced by Zhu Jiayu's words, but she still felt there was something wrong: "Since you say this person is treacherous and cunning, and quite resourceful, how will you get the woman to trust him? And how can you guarantee she won't betray you?"
Zhu Jiayu smiled and said, "I have my own way, so you don't need to worry about that. Just tell me what this favor is, and I'll let you know whether you'll help or not."
Gu Heguang's eyelashes trembled slightly like butterfly wings: "If that's the case, I will naturally help you. I have things to do at the shop, so I'll go back first. I'll send the person you want tonight."
“No, no rush,” Zhu Jiayu said. “I have purchased a house in the west alley of Fangdong Street. I will have Lüzheng wait at the Gu residence. Once Ayu finds the person for me, I will hand him over to Lüzheng and have her take him to the house in the west alley. If I send him to the Qiu residence, I am afraid that someone with ulterior motives will discover something amiss and expose me.”
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