Lu Yun told her that he had mobilized the Zhou family's former secret forces and searched the area within ten miles around the valley where King Hui had said it was attacked by bandits, but he did not find any trace of his father and mother. However, he did find a purse embroidered with the general's seal in a cave, which seemed to be a relic of the general.
If this is true, then isn't there a chance that my parents might still be alive?
Jiang Mingzhi held the letter tightly in his hand, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses.
With ecstasy in her heart, she picked up the pen and wanted to write a letter back to Lu Yun. At this time, footsteps were heard outside the house, mixed with quite happy laughter. It seemed that Qingtang and the others had returned.
Jiang Mingzhi quickly lit the letter and threw it into the copper basin. Only when he saw it turn into ashes did he feel relieved.
"Miss, please try this chicken noodle soup made by Aunt Qingtang. It smells so good!"
On the tray in Ping'er's hand was a large white porcelain bowl. In the bowl were white noodles, snow-white soup, lush green vegetables, and two crispy fried eggs on top, which were steaming hot. She could smell the delicious aroma before it was even brought to her.
Even though Jiang Mingzhi was used to eating delicacies from land and sea, he couldn't help but sniff when he smelled this. Although it was just a simple bowl of noodles, it made him very hungry. Jiang Mingzhi took the chopsticks handed to him by Zan'er and was about to start eating, but Qingtang slapped the back of his hand and said, "You can't rush to eat when you are hungry. Drink a bowl of soup first to warm your stomach."
Jiang Mingzhi nodded, and obediently took the small celadon bowl with orchid pattern handed to him by Qingtang, and drank most of the bowl of fragrant and rich chicken soup.
In the warm yellow light, Qingtang watched her eat noodles with a smile, Ping'er and Zan'er were laughing and talking about interesting things in the mansion beside them. The wind lantern outside the house was spinning in the wind, but the house was full of warmth. Jiang Mingzhi suddenly found that she seemed to have never felt such a simple happiness.
In the past, she thought that the happiest days were those when she rode in the largest and most luxurious carriage, wore the most gorgeous and beautiful dress, lived in the largest and most luxurious house, and was surrounded by maids and servants. But she had already lived such days. Her days as Princess Jin were extremely glamorous, but she had never felt as warm and happy as she did now!
Her heart suddenly calmed down, and the restlessness and uneasiness just now disappeared. She drank the whole bowl of noodle soup and burped with satisfaction.
Qingtang looked at Jiang Mingzhi in surprise, then smiled and took the bowl. It was the first time Jiang Mingzhi had lost his composure like this, so he smiled a little embarrassedly and said, "It's because the noodles Qingtang made are so fragrant."
Then he asked, "Are you hungry? Why don't you eat something? Is there any noodles in the kitchen?"
Qingtang couldn't help but laugh, "They've all eaten. These two little greedy cats said they wanted to help Miss taste the saltiness, so I took out some in a bowl."
"Aunt Qingtang, you said you would keep it a secret for us, how come you sold me and Zan'er out in the blink of an eye!" Ping'er pouted as soon as she heard Qingtang's words, and complained in pretended anger.
Zan'er laughed and said, "Because Aunt Qingtang loves Miss the most! If you think Aunt will cover for you, you are making a wrong calculation!"
Jiang Mingzhi also started laughing, his eyes and eyebrows showing an unprecedented sense of ease and comfort, like a satisfied cat basking in the sun.
This was the first time since she recovered that the master and servant had been so happy together. Jiang Mingzhi was not a person who liked to put on airs. Such opportunities were actually rare. On weekdays, everyone did their duties and there were few such times.
Jiang Mingzhi was in a good mood. When she thought that her father and mother might still be alive, she felt a power in her body that made her want to go find them in person right now.
But she knew that what she should do now was to calm down and plan the next things well. With Lu Yun around, if her father was really still alive, she would surely find some clues about him. If she couldn't find him in one day, she would try two days. If she couldn't find him in two days, she would try three days. In short, she would have to find him alive or dead.
That night, she had a rare good sleep.
The next morning, Jiang Mingzhi got up at dawn.
She had a good sleep last night and was in particularly good spirits today. She yawned and stretched. The gilded animal-head incense burner was slowly emitting mist-like smoke, and the room was filled with a faint floral fragrance, which was the rose scent that Jiang Mingzhi liked.
But she still opened the window out of habit and took a deep breath of the cold air outside.
The cool air goes all the way to the lungs. The moist air that only exists in spring is mixed with the fragrance of flowers that has lingered all night. It is a rare fragrance in the world.
Ping'er walked forward with a smile to comb Jiang Mingzhi's hair. She was a little afraid of the eldest lady before, but after last night, she felt that the eldest lady didn't seem to be fierce. Although she didn't hang out with them, the servants, all day like before, she was not bad to them.
Thinking about how she had accidentally overheard the young lady's secret before, Ping'er felt a little embarrassed. She thought the young lady would be very wary of her. It seems that she was judging others by her own mean mind!
"Miss, you must be hungry. Zan'er is going to the kitchen to get breakfast."
Breakfast at the Jinyi Marquis' Mansion is prepared in a large kitchen, and everyone eats lunch in their own small kitchen. After all, the Marquis' Mansion is a noble family, so this expense is still affordable.
However, the Jinyi Marquis's Mansion is not large. Now, apart from the three young ladies, there is only one young master. There are only so many masters in total, so it doesn't cost much.
Hearing that Ping'er dared to talk and laugh with him now, Jiang Mingzhi laughed, "I'm not hungry, but you are hungry, right?"
Ping'er blushed slightly, smiled, and shook her head, "I dare not."
Jiang Mingzhi smiled and took out a snack box, opened it and handed it to Ping'er: "Eat it. At your age, it's time to enjoy eating and having fun."
She was a mother, and she couldn't help but act like an elder to a girl like Ping'er who was only thirteen or fourteen years old. However, she forgot that she was only eighteen years old, not much older than Ping'er!
Ping'er was flattered and stood there looking at Jiang Mingzhi, not knowing whether to accept it or not.
"Do you want me to raise my hands until they're sore?"
Upon hearing this, Ping'er hurriedly took the box and thanked him repeatedly.
Zan'er, who was supposed to come back soon, has not returned yet.
Qingtang glanced at the clepsydra and frowned, "It's been a while since he left. He should have returned long ago!"
At this time, Jiang Mingzhi had combed her hair and sat on the kang by the window. She had asked Qingtang to put the letter to Lu Yun in the agreed place in the morning. The round trip was much farther than going to the kitchen. Qingtang had returned, but Zan'er had not yet returned. It was indeed a bit strange.
At this moment, the maid from yesterday was sweeping the floor in the courtyard. The Jinyi Marquis's mansion was very quiet in the early morning, and the only sound in Mo Chun's courtyard was the rustling of the broom. Suddenly, the maid shouted in a deep voice, "Who are you? What are you doing sneaking around outside our courtyard?"
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