"I..." The woman opened her mouth, looking at Zhu Jiayu warily, but ultimately said nothing.
She just felt it was all too strange; the man was strange, and the young lady was strange too.
Zhu Jiayu took a sip of tea: "No rush, take your time. Why don't you tell me your name and where you're from first?"
The woman looked young, with clear and shy eyes. She wore a dress that was about 70% new and had creases, which suggested that she came from a poor family and had not seen much of the world. She probably wasn't very brave either, otherwise she would be more composed now, instead of having tears welling up in her eyes but not daring to utter a single cry.
Zhu Jiayu slowly put down his teacup: "Little girl, don't cry. Answer my questions honestly, and I will let you go. Otherwise... have you heard of the Dali Temple in Yujing? It has the cruelest punishments and the most inhumane officials in the world. Or do you want to go there and see the world?"
The woman held the bundle to her chest and finally spoke in a soft voice, "My name is A-Xiu, and I come from Weibei."
"Good girl, what is your relationship with Liu Heng?"
“I have no relation to Young Master Liu. I just have an older sister who used to be a maidservant to his wife. She used to send us a letter and some things every year, but... it's been six years since she last sent a letter. I... I just wanted to come to Yujing to see her.”
“They all say that my sister married a good man in Yujing and is living a good life, and that she doesn’t want me anymore, but I don’t believe it…”
Ah Xiu said softly.
Thinking of what Young Master Liu had said, she became even more sorrowful.
"What did Liu Heng say?" Zhu Jiayu asked her again.
Ah Xiu raised her head and said sadly, "Young Master Liu said that my sister fell ill six years ago and died."
"Do you... have any other questions? If not, may you let me go?"
Seeing the imposing woman in the hall fall silent, and after a long while still not hearing her speak, Ah Xiu finally mustered up the courage to ask.
Zhu Jiayu then smiled sweetly at her:
"No rush, I'll ask around for you later. I know Liu Heng too. If he's mistaken, I can ask him to help you find your sister, so you two sisters can be reunited. Wouldn't that be a happy ending for everyone?"
She had a new suspicion about Ning Qian's death, but it needed to be confirmed.
"If he remembers correctly, it will only take up a few days of your time. You can stay at my residence during this period, and you don't need to worry about food and lodging, okay?"
“Mama Liu,” Zhu Jiayu called out loudly to the maidservant in the courtyard, “Arrange a guest room for this Miss Axiu; she will be staying with us for a few days.”
Mother Liu responded softly, then looked at Ah Xiu and smiled, "Please come with me, young lady."
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