The shopkeeper, pale with fright, rushed out and bowed respectfully, saying, "Sir, what has happened?"
"Yesterday, the Princess's husband died of poisoning after returning home! Those who accompanied him confirmed that she was poisoned after having a meal in your main hall." The official finished speaking menacingly, then waved his hand, "Surround them! Don't let a single fly escape!"
"No, no, no..." Upon hearing that the prince consort was dead, the shopkeeper was so frightened that he almost collapsed to the ground.
Another waiter ran over, also terrified, and pleaded, "Sir, please talk this out! We have many guests staying upstairs!"
"Call them all out! Check them all first, and only those without suspicion can leave through this gate!" the official said gruffly.
The waiter bowed and scraped, "Yes, yes, sir, you've all had a long journey. Please come in and have a seat and some cool tea..."
The official shoved him aside, showing no respect whatsoever. "What are you drinking for? Hurry up and call everyone out! I still have a case to investigate!"
The waiter had no choice but to go upstairs, knock on each door, bow and apologize, and tell them the truth.
Xiao Youran and her brother had already witnessed this scene, so they quickly went back to their room and told Zhao's mother and Suyue to pack their things.
Jiang Youchen was filled with anxiety. They had to change inns for no reason. What if Shen Zhangyu couldn't find them when he turned around?
Xiao Youran, however, knew what was going on; she was afraid this was another masterpiece from that little notebook...
Who told that damned shopkeeper to dare curse her mother?
The entire inn was thrown into chaos.
After Su had eaten something and rested for a while, Jiang Youchen was not in a hurry. He let Zhao Mama, Lao Feng, and Su Yue slowly pack up their things before he and his sister helped their mother downstairs.
The hotel guests had formed a long queue, and one by one they were questioned by the officials; the queue moved very slowly.
Xiao Youran peeked out and recognized the officer in the lead.
This person's surname is Lu, and he will be promoted to Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture in a few years.
Judging from his attire, he is probably the commander of the Five Cities Garrison.
Moreover... she remembered that he was the one who led the troops to raid the Yun family's residence before.
So she let go of her mother's hand, and ran up to Lord Lu, calling out sweetly, "Uncle Lu!"
Looking at the bright smile of the four-year-old girl in front of him, Lu Ning couldn't help but smile back at her. "Little girl, do you recognize me?"
“I recognize him.” Xiao Youran tilted her head. “That day, my mother, brother, and I saw Uncle Lu when we came out of the Yun residence.”
"The Yun family?" Lu Ning asked in surprise. "You're from the Yun family?"
He remembered the maids in the Yun family, but he didn't recall having such a beautiful and delicate little girl.
Xiao Youran said with a grin, "The old lady of the Yun family is my great-aunt. My mother, brother, and I came all the way from Dingzhou to celebrate her birthday, but a few days ago they said the Yun family mansion was no longer habitable, so we had to move out. My mother has been sick until yesterday, and she only got a little better. Just now the waiter said we still have to move, right? We have nowhere to stay..."
In the end, she looked at Lu Ning pitifully.
Lu Ning's heart softened. He had heard that a cousin from Dingzhou had lived in the Yun family before. It seemed that her husband's family was surnamed Jiang, and she had two children with her. It turned out that it was the three of them, mother and children.
He glanced at the long queue, then whispered to Xiao Youran, "Do you have somewhere to go? Uncle Lu can arrange for someone to give you a ride."
Xiao Youran leaned closer and asked, "My eldest cousin's wife originally told us to go back to Dingzhou. But my brother said that if we just left like that, it would seem too cold-blooded. We were planning to go back to them the next day, but Mother has been sick for several days now and is only just starting to get better. Uncle Lu, can you tell us where my great-aunt and eldest cousin's wife are living now?"
Lu Ning's heart skipped a beat, and he said hesitantly, "They've already left the capital..."
Xiao Youran naturally knew that they should have already settled in that Three Sheep Village, but she pretended to be very surprised, "What? They've already left the capital?"
A complex emotion welled up in Lu Ning's heart.
They were completely unaware that the Yun family had left the capital, which shows how much effort the brother and sister had put into caring for their sick mother these past few days.
Moreover... even the closest relatives by marriage of the Yun family avoid anything related to the Yun family like the plague.
The three women, including Jiang, were actually aware that they couldn't just leave and prepared to go back to find them.
Lu Ning's impression of the Jiang mother and her two children improved considerably, but he felt it was unreliable to discuss such an important matter with a four-year-old girl. He called over his subordinate and said, "Go and have Madam Jiang and her entourage come over first."
"Yes." A soldier immediately ran over and brought the Su family and others to Lu Ning.
Quite by chance, the soldier had encountered the brother and sister adorned with gold and jade at the Yun residence that day. Seeing them dressed simply now, he was slightly surprised, but then he thought that it was normal for the mother and her two children to keep a low profile while they were out.
Lu Ning led the group out of the inn first, then whispered to Madam Su, "Madam Jiang, I didn't expect you to stay at the Xilai Inn. Something terrible has happened here, so you can't stay here any longer. I just heard from the maid that you were originally planning to go back to find Old Madam Yun's family? They're no longer in the capital. Madam Jiang, you should find a proper inn to stay in and recover first."
He had heard that Madam Jiang was in poor health and had been recuperating at the Yun family's residence.
Moreover, according to the young girl, Madam Jiang has been ill ever since she left the Yun residence.
It's probably been five or six days, right?
That's why he advised Madam Jiang to find an inn to stay in first and recover her health.
Upon hearing this, Madam Su swayed as if about to collapse again. "My aunt and the others are no longer in the capital? Where have they gone?"
Lu Ning quickly reassured her, "They are heading to Sanyang Village in Wufeng County, Taizhou. It's not too far from the capital; the carriage will arrive in about half a month. Don't worry, the old lady and the others all traveled by carriage."
Madam Su was relieved. She thought to herself that her son and daughter had brought so much stuff for them before, so they shouldn't have suffered any hardship on the way. She then curtsied to Lu Ning and thanked him, "Thank you for informing me, Lord Lu."
Lu Ning sighed and pointed to the soldier who had led them out earlier, saying, "Go and take them to the Fuyue Inn on West Street. Tell the innkeeper to treat them well and not to neglect them."
Su bowed again, saying, "Thank you, Lord Lu."
Since she was an orphan and a widow, she would not refuse the support of an officer.
I just don't know how my daughter came to know this Lord Lu?
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