Gu Songhan could tell that Jiang Segu was in a bad mood, and in his heart he blamed Qingying and Qinghong, but he replied to Jiang Segu's words crisply.
"Zhou Yuan is a tough nut to crack. We interrogated him all afternoon but couldn't get anything out of him. He even nearly bit his tongue and committed suicide!"
Who exactly is behind this, that Zhou Yuan would risk his life to protect?
Jiang Segu went through everyone in the Hou family in his mind and ultimately suspected that the eldest son's family was the most likely to be involved.
Although men are often said to be fickle, there are always exceptions.
With so many daughters in the eldest son's wife, it shouldn't be difficult to find one to seduce Zhou Yuan!
It wasn't that she thought badly of the first wife; it was simply that Changping's previous speculations made it impossible for her to use normal thinking to speculate about the first wife.
But then she thought, if that's the case, then Madam Xiao won't do anything for the eldest son's family!
Moreover, she had some suspicions about her second aunt regarding the false pregnancy of the peony, since her second aunt had followed her father around to practice medicine.
But Seventh Sister is only nine years old!
Seeing Jiang Segu frown, Gu Songhan knew she must have some guesses, so he said, "If you've thought of anything, why don't you say it!"
Jiang Segu shared his guess.
Gu Songhan paused for a moment before saying, "Have someone investigate Zhou Yuan and see if he has been in contact with any of the young ladies in the household! It would be best to also ask those in the household who are on good terms with Zhou Yuan and see if he has any conflicts with anyone! Also, how much do you know about the Zhou family?"
Jiang Segu glanced at Qiaohe, who was standing to the side, and Qiaohe understood and began to talk about the Zhou family.
"Zhou Mama's husband, Zhou Chang, was originally an ordinary servant in the Marquis's mansion. Later, Zhou Mama followed the old lady into the mansion. Zhou Chang saved Zhou Mama's life several times. Grateful for his life-saving grace, Zhou Mama asked the old lady to arrange for her to be betrothed to Zhou Chang..."
Upon hearing this, Gu Songhan gave Jiang Segu a meaningful look.
That implies that he has no way to repay the life-saving grace, so he can only offer himself in gratitude!
Jiang Segu, however, did not understand his meaning and blinked blankly.
"Later, perhaps because Zhou's mother was the old lady's steward and Zhou Chang's status was low, the Marquis transferred Zhou Chang to his side as a steward on the second day after their marriage!"
Many people envied Manager Zhou's good fortune, and many gossiped and spoke ill of him behind his back. However, Manager Zhou and his mother were not petty people, and they laughed off those mean words and evil people, so they never made any enemies!
On the contrary, because the two were kind and gentle, those who had gossiped about them before not only stopped talking about them behind their backs, but also sided with Steward Zhou and his mother when others were talking about them!
It's a pity that good people don't live long; Steward Zhou was killed by a petty thief who came to steal from the Marquis's mansion..."
Qiaohe tilted her head again, pulling Zhou Yuan's thoughts out of her mind.
“Zhou Yuan’s temperament is not as easygoing as Steward Zhou’s. My brother said that he often keeps to himself and does not joke with the other servants. Although he has a bad temper, he does not deliberately provoke anyone…”
If you have no enemies, you have no need for power!
Gu Songhan's eyes flickered slightly.
He had initially thought that Zhou Yuan had a grudge against someone, and that someone had promised him the position of steward of the Marquis's mansion to help him turn his life around. Now it seemed that his guess was wrong!
Is it really because of love?
Jiang Segu was thinking about what Aunt Lan had said.
"Didn't you ever consider that Zhou's mother might be involved in all of these things?"
But why did Zhou's mother do that?
She and her mother never harmed the Zhou family. When Zhou's mother's daughter got married, she and her mother did a lot to help with the dowry!
Perhaps she was too focused on her thoughts, because Gu Songhan called her name several times, but she didn't hear him.
It was only when Qiaohe nudged Jiang Segu's shoulder that she snapped out of her daze.
"Have you thought of something?"
Jiang Segu stared at Gu Songhan, unsure whether to reveal Zhou's mother's matter.
Just then, Zhou's mother's voice rang out from outside.
"Sixth Miss, are you ready to rest?"
Qiaolian lifted the curtain and went out. "Miss is reading. Is there something you need, Mother Zhou, who is so late?"
Zhou's mother glanced at Qingying and Qinghong kneeling in the courtyard and asked with a hint of doubt, "These two are unfamiliar faces. Are they people that the young lady brought back from outside?"
Qiaolian replied with a smile, "It was when the young lady went out of the manor this afternoon that she found them starving and brought them back!"
"The young lady is kind-hearted, but you must also keep a close eye on her and prevent those with impure intentions from infiltrating the manor!"
“Aunt Zhou is right!”
Why are they kneeling here?
"They're trying to beg the girls to let them stay and serve them!"
"When the girl brought them back, didn't she think about keeping them?"
"The girl said that since we don't know her background, keeping her around might cause trouble, and besides, we have enough people in the courtyard now!"
Qiaolian explained, then asked again, "Mother Zhou, did the old lady have any instructions for you to come so late?"
Then Zhou's mother sighed heavily and said, "It's that one from the other courtyard, causing trouble again!" Her face showed annoyance as she spoke.
"When Zhou Mama came to our young lady's courtyard, did she implicate our young lady? Our young lady hasn't been to Zhaotai Courtyard even once recently. Even if she's not feeling well, it shouldn't involve our young lady!"
Just then, Jiang Segu came out.
Madam Zhou bowed to her. "Miss, Shaoyao has had another miscarriage. She insists that there is something wrong with the medicine. Unfortunately, Doctor Li was recommended by you, Miss. The Marquis is furious. The Old Madam had no choice but to send this old servant to invite you to Zhaotai Courtyard!"
This was exactly what Jiang Segu had expected, which is why she went with Zhou's mother.
As they passed Qingying and Qinghong, Jiang Segu said, "Qinghong, you and Qiaolian come with me! Qingying, you and Qiaohe guard the courtyard!"
Qinghong and Qingying exchanged a glance, stood up, and were about to agree when Jiang Segu interrupted, "Alright, stop dawdling! Aunt Zhou, let's go!"
Qingying and Qinghong felt somewhat uncomfortable after hearing her words.
However, the two were unaware that this was the reason Jiang Segu was covering for them.
The two of them had been in the military camp the whole time, and their every move reflected the military camp. Even Ying Shi was full of energy. How could two people like them faint from hunger?
Zhou's mother is a meticulous person; we mustn't let her suspect anything!
Qiaolian stepped forward and pulled Qinghong, gesturing for Qinghong to follow her.
Qinghong hung her head, her face full of resentment, but thinking of Gu Songhan inside the house, she followed him in a sullen voice.
However, after taking only two steps, Qiaolian grabbed him again, saying, "Look how I walk!"
Qinghong then realized that her walking posture was inappropriate, so she followed behind Qiaolian and imitated her light and graceful walking posture.
She had only walked halfway when Qinghong was already sweating profusely from the awkwardness. Fortunately, the place she was walking in was dimly lit, so she stretched her body.
At the same time, something suddenly appeared in her hand.
"Wait a minute, watch my eyes! If I wink at you twice, you take the opportunity to hide the thing!"
Qinghong used her sleeve to hide the palm-sized object...
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