General's Mansion
He Jinran leaned against the soft couch, seemingly preoccupied, but in reality, his mind was still focused on finding his younger sister.
Even when Qiu Yan entered the room, she didn't notice.
Until he heard that familiar call,
"Xiao Ran".
He Jinran sat up straight in one swift motion, looking somewhat embarrassed.
He thought his mother would scold him, but she didn't.
Qiu Yan simply sat down opposite him calmly.
"Weren't you going to your third uncle's place? Why are you back?"
"It was my father who brought me back." He didn't want to come back, but he didn't want to disobey his father.
"Where is your father?" Qiu Yan rushed to Xiao Ran's courtyard as soon as she heard the commotion.
"He just left. I thought he went back to his room to rest." He Jinran looked around but couldn't see his father. Instead, he saw Qiu Xu standing outside the house. Qiu Xu left in an instant, probably because he heard the commotion of his father's return.
"He's probably cleaning up your mess." Qiu Yan understood Gu Qian well.
"From now on, you must never do anything as reckless as you did today. Until the matter is cleared up, you must stay at home and not go out again. Otherwise, if something happens, none of us will have a good time."
Qiu Yan said coldly, and He Jinran was full of protest.
So, his mother's punishment was waiting for him here.
He Jinran: "Mother, Third Imperial Uncle's throwing knives are incredibly accurate and he wields them with unparalleled skill. Tell me, did he kidnap my sister?"
Qiu Yan pondered for a moment: "Don't make any wild guesses before the matter is thoroughly investigated."
After thinking for a moment, she asked, "Did you find anything else when you went to the Prince of Yi's residence?"
"I think my younger sister might be inside the manor." He Jinran recalled the pink-clad figure she had seen reflected in the lake that day.
However, I'm also afraid it might be my own hallucination.
"We'll find out in time," Qiu Yan said, then instructed the two guards Gu Qian had carefully arranged outside the courtyard not to let He Jinran leave even a step before she left.
The General's Mansion was right under her nose; she probably knew what was going on.
But she wasn't confident that she could go out and investigate the truth herself.
Gu Qian finally returned home late at night, around 1:00 AM.
Having not slept well for two days and two nights, he had just returned home when he first glanced at He Jinran, then went into the main house to wash up briefly before falling asleep.
The next morning, when Qiu Yan woke up, Gu Qianren had already gone to the palace for the morning court session.
"Madam." At this moment, two maids, who had been waiting for a long time, stood outside the bedroom door, ready to serve her.
Qiu Yan got up and opened the door. Instead of the maids from the main courtyard, she was greeted by two new personal maids that Gu Qian had bought for her: Feng Hua and Liu Sha.
"Madam, let me help you wash and change your clothes," Feng Hua said.
"No need." Qiu Yan had just woken up and was feeling a little drowsy. However, she wasn't used to being waited on.
"What would you like to eat for breakfast, Madam?" Liu Sha then asked.
"Bird's nest porridge, steamed buns," Qiu Yan said casually. Liu Sha accepted the order and went to instruct the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Qiu Yan.
Qiu Yan had a simple breakfast and then went to find Xiao Ran.
As for the splendor and quicksand that followed behind...
"You may all leave now."
"The general instructed us that since the lady is pregnant, we two servants must take good care of her and not slack off," Feng Hua said in a low voice.
Qiu Yan then let them follow.
Thinking that Xiao Ran should be back from her morning exercise by now, I went to Xiao Ran's room.
But when she arrived, there was no one there.
Qiu Yan was furious and searched the general's mansion.
The younger brother went to look for Zhou Zifang, leaving only the younger sister and Susu at home.
Upon hearing that Qiu Yan was looking for Xiao Ran, the two shook their heads.
I thought Xiao Ran would be more well-behaved as he grew up, but who knew he would become even more difficult to manage.
He Jinran, whom Qiu Yan and the others had been talking about, appeared once again at the Prince Yi's residence.
He Xuan stood coldly in the doorway, clearly indicating that he was not welcome.
"Third Imperial Uncle, look, I've already come all this way, how can I turn someone away?"
"Steward, present the list of losses suffered by the Prince's residence yesterday for His Highness the Crown Prince to review." As He Xuan spoke, the steward of the Prince's residence presented a sheet of Xuan paper with both hands.
"Please take a look, Your Highness."
He Jinran took it, his gaze freezing for a moment.
A thousand taels? It's just some damaged bricks and tiles, and some broken windows.
"Third Imperial Uncle, this is clearly extortion."
"Shouldn't Third Imperial Uncle settle this score with you?" He Xuan was determined not to let this plague god enter the Wing Prince's mansion again.
His heart won't be able to handle it.
He Jinran was turned away at the door.
Just as I was thinking of putting the search for my sister on hold for the time being, I heard a familiar voice.
"Your Highness, this expense really needs to be carefully calculated." The speaker was none other than Qiu Yan.
At this moment, accompanied by Qin Susu and Qiu Ling'er, she appeared in front of He Xuan.
Qin Susu had no connection with He Xuan whatsoever; even when they met from afar, the Prince Yi wouldn't recognize her. But now, seeing her up close, she couldn't help but think of Qin Feng.
Both were sickly, but Wing King was in much better condition than Qin Feng.
Qiu Ling'er glanced at the Wing King's legs and felt a pang of regret.
"So it's the General's wife." He Xuan really didn't expect Qiu Yan to come at this time.
"Since you're here, please have a cup of hot tea at my humble abode."
"In that case, I apologize for the inconvenience."
He Xuan's words were just polite remarks, but Qiu Yan took them seriously.
Qiu Yan was followed by Qin Susu and Qiu Ling'er as they entered the mansion.
Before entering the manor, she didn't forget to glance at He Jinran behind her.
He Jinran nodded with a smile, and at the same time, glanced at He Xuan with a smile.
Let He Xuan...this family, their spirits linger.
At the Wing King's residence, Qiu Yan walked slowly, following behind the Wing King.
He Xuan had no choice but to serve tea.
"General's wife, the general came yesterday, and you come today. You two are quite leisurely."
“Your Highness, what are you saying? Didn’t you say that His Highness the Crown Prince damaged your residence and demanded compensation? Let me see the bill.”
He Jinran: My mother is rich, so she can do whatever she wants.
He Xuan: Wouldn't you say he lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot?
"No need." The loss was only a hundred or so taels; he didn't want to be known as stingy.
They didn't even manage to get the person there, but they also gave the person a legitimate reason to enter the mansion.
Just as he was thinking this, He Jinran suddenly said:
"Third Imperial Uncle is playing favorites. Why should I have to accompany him... Yesterday's assassin was too arrogant. I'm sure Third Imperial Uncle suffered a lot of fright. My mother arrived just in time today and can help Third Imperial Uncle with a diagnosis to ensure his good health."
He Jinran's words almost made He Xuan lose his temper on the spot.
"I am fine, Your Highness, there is no need for you to worry!"
He Jinran glanced sideways at Qiu Yan, and seeing that she did not refute him, continued:
"Oh, Third Imperial Uncle, you're being too polite. I should still take a look. In that case, I can rest assured."
Qin Susu also stepped forward to strike up a conversation.
“Prince Yi, our lady once cured our general’s eye disease. Her medical skills should not be underestimated.”
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