Few people were unaware of Jiang Xinrui's ambiguous feelings for Shen Muzhi, and Qianqiu Wandai, as a maid in the General's Mansion, had naturally heard some rumors as well.
When they heard Yan Xiao suddenly ask about Jiang Xinrui's address, they all assumed that Yan Xiao had heard some rumors and was planning to cause trouble for Jiang Xinrui.
However, this was their master's own business, and they dared not interfere too much, so they could only reply obediently:
“Madam, Doctor Jiang does have a residence in the city, but she usually lives in the military camp and rarely returns to her residence. We are not sure if she is here at the moment.”
"She should be here. She just got off the ship with me yesterday. She must be exhausted from the journey and needs to rest. She won't be back at the barracks anytime soon."
Yan Xiao checked the time. It was still early, and since she had nothing else to do, she decided to go for a stroll and check if Jiang Xinrui was at her place.
"Miss Jiang's residence shouldn't be far from the General's Mansion, right? Please take me there."
"yes."
"I dare not refuse for a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations," he said, and hurriedly followed Yan Xiao out the door.
Having received the news, Zhao Qian was already waiting at the main gate of the General's Mansion after learning that Yan Xiao was going out.
Yan Xiao, who had arrived at the door, glanced at the carriage and Zhao Qian parked there, raised an eyebrow slightly, and said with an ambiguous expression:
"Guard Zhao must have quite a few eyes and ears in the General's Mansion, right?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Qian immediately lowered his head and told the truth:
"Although Jiangbei is relatively peaceful now, we still have to be on guard. I am under your command to protect the safety of Madam and Miss, and I dare not be negligent in the slightest."
Yan Xiao had already sensed it. After she arrived at the General's Mansion, there was a lot of mysterious aura in the shadows overnight, and even the aura of some of the guards had changed.
She guessed that this was arranged by Shen Muzhi. In the past, it was fine that the General's Mansion didn't have any proper masters, but now that she and Shen Qiyue were two people who could be considered Shen Muzhi's weaknesses, Shen Muzhi had to be on guard.
She valued her life and had no objection to these arrangements, but she didn't want the people lurking in the shadows to get too close to her.
After all, she is a person with secrets, and the line between protection and surveillance is sometimes difficult to draw.
As she was pondering what to say, Zhao Qian, as if guessing what she was thinking, quickly continued:
"Don't worry, Madam. You and Miss are both women. The people in the shadows are only responsible for ensuring your safety on the outside. They certainly won't dare to get too close to you."
Yan Xiao was satisfied with these words, nodded slightly, and then got into the carriage with Qianqiu Wandai.
With a car readily available, she wouldn't deliberately make things difficult by walking.
Just as Yan Xiao had guessed, Jiang Xinrui's residence was not far from the General's Mansion.
Not long after, she heard Zhao Qian say that they had arrived.
Upon hearing this, Yan Xiao lifted the curtain and looked outside.
Jiang Xinrui's residence was a simple little courtyard. According to Qian Qiuwandai, in addition to Jiang Xinrui and a few young maids, there were also a few young medicine boys living there.
Most of these people were teenagers taken in by Jiang Xinrui and were specifically responsible for processing medicinal herbs for her.
Qianqiu got out of the car first and knocked on the door. Soon after, footsteps came from inside, and then a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old came out.
Upon seeing the person emerge, Qianqiu quickly inquired:
"Hello, is Dr. Jiang here?"
The boy assumed Qianqiu had come to Jiang Xinrui for treatment, and his attitude was relatively friendly.
"I'm sorry, Sister Jiang went out after lunch and hasn't come back yet."
"ah?"
Qianqiu glanced back at the direction of the carriage with some difficulty, then quickly continued to ask:
"Then do you know where Doctor Jiang went?"
The boy shook his head. "Sister Jiang didn't say. Please come back another day."
The boy nodded apologetically, then went inside and closed the door.
Having no other option, Qianqiu had to return to the carriage and tell the truth.
Yan Xiao had overheard their conversation, and she sighed in disappointment.
"Never mind, since it's not there, let's come another day. It's not far anyway."
She casually glanced at the street and saw a group of people walking in threes and fives in one direction, talking as they walked, and they all looked quite serious.
This unusual situation caught Yan Xiao's attention, and she quickly gestured for Zhao Qian to go and ask.
Seeing this scene, Zhao Qian instinctively felt something was amiss. Upon receiving orders, he quickly pulled aside a passerby to ask, and the person replied:
"You didn't know that? Today, there was a disturbance outside the city caused by refugees who tried to force their way into the city. They're currently at a standoff at the city gate. We're worried they might actually get in, so we all want to go and see what happens."
"Displaced people causing trouble?"
Zhao Qian didn't take the news seriously, because it was not uncommon for refugees to try to sneak into the city.
He said, somewhat puzzled:
"It's just a group of refugees causing trouble, it's not the first time, why are you all so nervous?"
The man rolled his eyes upon hearing this: "Do you think it's the same as before? This time it's different. This time it's a mass riot. I heard that several of the officials guarding the city gate were injured."
Zhao Qian hadn't expected it to be this serious, and his brows immediately furrowed: "This is Jiangbei, how dare they?"
"Why wouldn't they dare? They wouldn't dare when there were fewer people, but for some reason, thousands of refugees have suddenly gathered. Now that there are so many people and some people are inciting them, what wouldn't they dare to do in order to survive?"
After saying that, the man didn't want to continue talking to Zhao Qian. As he walked away, he said:
"This matter is unlikely to end well. We can't let these starving ghosts in..."
Zhao Qian stood there, staring blankly at the man's retreating figure for a moment, then seemed to snap out of his daze. He immediately went to the carriage and told Yan Xiao the news, then advised her:
"Madam, this situation is quite urgent. I will take you back first. We need to inform the General immediately."
Yan Xiao rolled her eyes at Zhao Qian without saying a word:
"What's the panic? Such a big thing, do you need to inform Shen Muzhi to find out? If that's the case, then it wouldn't be a shame if Jiangbei fell."
Zhao Qian:......
After being teased and ridiculed, Zhao Qian calmed down and realized that it was indeed true; he had been too concerned and made a mistake.
He steadied himself, trying to remain calm, and then asked Yan Xiao about her plans:
"Madam, are you going back to the manor now? It's probably not safe outside."
Yan Xiao showed no intention of going back; on the contrary, she seemed quite interested.
"Why go back? Let's go see what's going on."
"But~"
"No buts! I am the master, and what I say goes!"
After Yan Xiao finished speaking, seeing Zhao Qian's worried face, he couldn't help but laugh:
"Don't look at me like that. Don't you want to go and see? If you're worried about me, there's really no need for that. I came from a refugee camp, so why would I be afraid of refugees?"
Besides, this is Jiangbei. If we let refugees easily invade, it only shows that Shen Muzhi is too useless, don't you think?"
Zhao Qian dares to say it? He wouldn't dare even if he had ten times the courage!
Even if you asked Yanxiao to risk his life at the city gate, he wouldn't dare. He almost wanted to cry.
Yan Xiao had lost her patience and urged, "Hurry up!"
Knowing that Yan Xiao had made up her mind, Zhao Qian dared not say anything more and immediately got into the carriage and headed towards the city gate.
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