"Although your mother and I were very close friends, we were both busy after we got married and didn't see each other very often."
Amidst the rising steam from the water heater, Ning spoke of the past with a wistful expression.
“After you were born, the person she was closest to was Yao Shi.”
Xiao Qingyin raised an eyebrow. This was the first time she had heard of this matter; even Madam Han had never mentioned it.
“Madam Yao often visited your mother at the Xiao residence. Even when your maternal grandfather’s family had trouble, she never broke off her relationship with your mother.”
After your mother died in childbirth, the maids and servants who served her were immediately sold off.
Then, less than a month later, your father married Yao. Yao gave birth to a daughter less than six months after entering the family.
Ning sighed and continued, "I suspect that Yao was with your father before your mother passed away."
"I had guessed that long ago too."
Xiao Qingyin nodded.
Now that you've said this, I'm starting to have some doubts about the cause of my mother's death.
In this era, childbirth was like passing through the gates of hell for women, and death in childbirth was very common, but the original owner's mother died at just the right time.
Not long after the Yun family's incident, she died in childbirth. Xiao Shengyuan easily severed ties with the Yun family without affecting his career in the slightest.
Given Xiao Shengyuan and Yao's character, Xiao Qingyin didn't believe there wasn't a hint of something fishy going on.
The fact that the Xiao family hastily sold off the people around the Yun family is enough to tell you something.
It's just that no one investigated it before.
Now… Xiao Qingyin curled her lips. She and Madam Yao had several scores to settle, so she might as well start from the beginning.
"Thank you for keeping this in mind, Aunt Ning. I will have someone investigate."
Ning felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders.
He cautioned, "You need to be careful; the other party may be on guard."
"Yes, I understand."
Xiao Qingyin agreed, and began to consider who she should ask to do this.
Suddenly, Yi Shuihan asked, "Do you need my help?"
Xiao Qingyin suddenly looked up and blinked.
Is there really such a good thing?
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Your Highness."
There was not the slightest intention to refuse.
A smile flickered across Yi Shuihan's eyes. This woman really didn't know the meaning of the word "politeness."
"It was just a small favor."
Let's consider this as repayment for her saving my mother's life.
After Wei Yan composed himself and returned, the four of them went their separate ways.
Xiao Qingyin returned to Baibaozhai to continue supervising the work until dusk fell and the lanterns of the shops along the street lit up. Only then did she close the shop doors and return home with light steps.
It takes 25 minutes to walk from the main street to the residence, but only 15 minutes to walk through the alley.
Xiao Qingyin has been taking shortcuts these past few days, and today is no exception.
But today seems a bit unusual.
When she turned into the last alley, Xiao Qingyin felt that the alley was unusually quiet. She couldn't even hear the chirping of autumn insects, as if some dangerous beast was lurking in the shadows.
She couldn't help but pull back the step she had taken, and turned to run.
The sound of wind breaking suddenly rang out, and Xiao Qingyin bent over abruptly, using her hands to push herself up and somersaulted.
Three feathered arrows swept through the air and embedded themselves in the brick wall behind them.
A dozen or so masked men in black descended from the rooftops like ghosts, blocking Xiao Qingyin in the middle of the alley.
Xiao Qingyin looked at these mysterious people who were completely covered up except for their eyes, and her face turned very ugly.
These people were clearly prepared, giving her no chance to poison him.
Xiao Qingyin hesitated for a second before making a decision.
She always believed in fighting if she could win, running if she couldn't, and if she couldn't run away... she would just admit defeat.
So he clasped his hands together and performed the greeting of a martial arts practitioner.
"Gentlemen, I don't know where I have offended you. Please tell me."
Unfortunately, the "heroes" didn't buy into it and attacked without saying a word.
Damn it!
No martial ethics!
Xiao Qingyin quickly swallowed an antidote, and then scattered poison into the air like a celestial maiden scattering flowers.
The men in black at the front immediately covered their eyes and howled in pain.
Seeing this, the others pulled out blindfolds from their pockets to cover the last bit of weakness and rushed over relentlessly.
Xiao Qingyin: "..."
She stood motionless, as if she had resigned herself to her fate.
But after the man in black rushed over, he used a grappling technique, grabbed the man by the belt, and threw him toward the others.
Several more collapsed immediately.
Because the alley was so narrow, Xiao Qingyin had a commanding presence, as if she were the only one who could hold off ten thousand.
After knocking most of the men in black to the ground, before Xiao Qingyin could even feel proud, a calm voice rang out from the rooftop: "Surrender."
She looked up and saw that the rooftops on both sides were now filled with men in black, each holding a bow and arrow with the arrowheads pointed directly at her.
Xiao Qingyin: "!!!"
What merit does she possess to be worthy of this!
It's surprising that the other side has to mobilize such a large force.
Where are the Imperial City Guards? Are they blind? Didn't they see so many illegal elements around?
When you're caught in a net of arrows, you have no choice but to bow your head.
Xiao Qingyin slowly raised her hands in surrender.
The few remaining men in black in the alleyway swung out ropes, bound her up, and put a burlap sack over her head.
Just as Xiao Qingyin thought she was about to experience rooftop parkour again, several whooshing sounds came from the air.
A heavy thud was heard, as if the men in black had fallen from the roof.
The battle ended quickly.
Before long, all the sounds disappeared.
A familiar set of footsteps approached Xiao Qingyin.
The burlap sack above her head was ripped off, and Xiao Qingyin revealed an extremely gentle smile: "Thank you, Shi..."
The word "zi" was swallowed back before it could be uttered.
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