After the meal, the others still hadn't returned.
Gu Xin and Gu Si were exhausted after a long day; their eyelids were drooping.
Empress Dowager Jiang suggested that the two girls sleep in one room, while Bi Rong stayed on the other side. The three adults stayed at the old house to watch over the Zhang family of three and wait for the others to return.
Gu Xin and Gu Si didn't want to go to sleep. They didn't know if Renren had been found yet, but they were too tired today, so they fell asleep right there in their chairs.
Granny Gui and Bi Rong carried the two children back to the second room. Soon, Granny Gui came over.
Empress Dowager Jiang casually mentioned Lady Li to Cai Xiaolian.
"Xiao Lian, why is Luo's husband, with such a good wife, still seeking out other women? Is there some misunderstanding between them?" Empress Dowager Jiang tried her best to appear as if she was just gossiping.
“Aunt Jiang, I don’t know about that. Sister Luo rarely mentions Mu Yan’s father to me. I’ve only heard about him from others; I’ve never even met him. I did swear to Sister Luo once, but she said that what others say is the truth, and she doesn’t care; she’s used to it!” Cai Xiaolian said truthfully.
"How can you say she doesn't care or is used to it! She works herself to the bone every day running the Li family's business, and the man isn't ambitious at all. It's one thing to be unambitious, but he's also philandering. If it were me, I wouldn't want that," said Empress Dowager Jiang.
"Aunt Jiang, actually I think Sister Luo's mindset is quite good. Our Great Zhou is quite harsh on women. If a couple loses their feelings and wants a divorce, the law won't allow the woman to leave with the children unless the man agrees. Sister Luo can't bear to part with Mu Yan! She's not working herself to the bone for the Li family. First, she's looking for something to do so she won't overthink things. Second, it's for Mu Yan. In the end, everything in the Li family will belong to Mu Yan. As long as she, the legal wife, is still alive, even if Mu Yan's father's concubines have children, they won't have the ability to take Mu Yan's things away. The old lady of the Li family is Sister Luo's aunt!" Cai Xiaolian said with a smile.
"Aunt from her maternal home? Xiao Lian, do you know where this girl Luo's maternal home is? Does she have many brothers and sisters? Are her parents still alive?" Empress Dowager Jiang asked.
Cai Xiaolian looked at Empress Dowager Jiang with a troubled expression.
She considered Lady Li a close friend and knew that Lady Li was not a child of the Luo family. She also witnessed Empress Dowager Jiang's absent-mindedness during the day.
She didn't know how to answer Empress Dowager Jiang. If she spoke up, it might disturb her good friend's life, which would be a sin on her part.
The only way is to get Empress Dowager Jiang to reveal her purpose first. Otherwise, even if she is a member of the imperial family, Cai Xiaolian would not be willing to reveal her good friend's news to others without knowing anything about her.
Seeing Cai Xiaolian's expression, Empress Dowager Jiang smiled and didn't hide anything from her: "Xiaolian, let me tell you the truth. Years ago, my husband's family had a major incident. My brother and sister-in-law lost their youngest daughter because I protected our family. We felt very guilty about it, and after things were settled, we've been searching for my niece. We firmly believe she's still alive and would be about thirty-four by now. When I saw Luo Yatou during the day, I felt like I was seeing my sister-in-law when she was young, which is why I asked this question."
Cai Xiaolian had heard Gu Shouxin tell her about the royal family of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The Jiang family, the maternal family of the current Duke of Rong, was the family of the Empress Dowager. Of the four ducal families in the Great Zhou Dynasty, the other three were ennobled based on their military achievements, while the Duke of Rong was ennobled because they protected the late emperor's family from their fiefdom to the capital to ascend the throne, thus gaining the title of "following the dragon."
I wonder if Sister Luo is alright.
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