"Uncle Qi, do you have any news about Shida?"
Qi Xin sighed and shook his head.
Xiao Liyan lowered her head, remained silent for a moment, and then continued, "I'll have to trouble Uncle Qi to keep an eye out for any news about Shida."
"Master, someone is looking for Miss, so I left her at Yuansheng Hall."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Liyan looked directly at Lu Qing and asked, "Looking for me?"
"Yes, miss."
"Yan, go and see if this is the person you're looking for."
Xiao Liyan nodded and followed behind Lu Qing.
Xiao Liyan had just stepped out of the mansion gate when Qin Jue walked out behind her. Qin Jue frowned as he looked at the figure in front of him, but didn't dwell on it too much.
Upon arriving at Yuansheng Hall and seeing the people inside, Xiao Liyan called out and ran to the man, "Uncle Hong!"
"Miss, you're really here?"
"Are you alright? Where is the young master?"
Xiao Liyan felt dejected again after hearing Hongwu's words.
"I got separated from Manman. I thought Manman would definitely come back to Yuansheng Hall, so I came here first. But Uncle Qi sent people to look for Manman and they couldn't find her at all."
"Miss, don't worry, the young master will be alright. Please take me to see Master Qi first."
Afterwards, Xiao Liyan took Hongwu to the Qi residence to see Qi Xin. Just as Xiao Liyan and Hongwu entered the main hall...
Hearing the sound, Qin Jue turned around and saw Xiao Liyan. Although he found it unbelievable, he remained expressionless.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Qi Xin explained to Qin Jue that Xiao Liyan would be a young lady from now on.
"Master Qi," Hongwu greeted him with a fist and palm salute. Qi Xin then dismissed Qin Jue and Xiao Liyan and spoke with Hongwu.
Qin Jue and Xiao Liyan, who came out, stared at each other wide-eyed.
"Brother Qin, what are you doing here? Didn't you go home?"
No, what are you doing here?
"Are you in trouble?" Qin Jue asked, then quickly added, "When I was on a mission a few days ago, I thought I saw you guys hiding from someone."
"I've run into some trouble, and I'll probably be staying with Uncle Qi from now on."
"Hmm..." Qin Jue didn't know what to say, so she clenched her fists and stood next to Xiao Liyan.
Qin Jue moved to the outside, shielding Xiao Liyan from some of the wind and snow.
——————
"Miss, a month has passed, and there is still no news of the young master. I wish to go find him alone."
Upon hearing Hong Wu's words, Xiao Liyan lowered her eyes and hesitated, "Uncle Hong, they've all met you before."
"I'll stay here, but they'll find me eventually. Perhaps I should go out and look for the young master. That way, the young lady will be safer than before."
As Xiao Liyan recalled Xiao Shida's appearance before they separated, her eyes slowly reddened.
“Miss, I know you've been thinking about the young master, but you can't leave. Staying here ensures your safety, and also keeps the young master safe from their misunderstandings.”
"When do we leave?" Xiao Liyan was stunned for a while, then composed herself, her voice slightly hoarse.
"Your subordinate is preparing to depart this afternoon."
"Alright, I'll see Uncle Hong off at the city gate then," Xiao Liyan said, and left the house.
Xiao Liyan saw Qin Jue after walking only a few steps, and rubbed her nose.
Are you alright?
Upon hearing Qin Jue's words, Xiao Liyan couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears.
"Brother Qin, do you think Manman will be alright?"
It's been over a month, and there's still no news from Manman.
"I shouldn't have come to Yuanshengtang first; I should have looked for Manman nearby."
What if something happens to Manman?
I will never forgive myself.
Looking at Xiao Liyan crying, Qin Jue's own mood also plummeted; a sense of inexplicable melancholy washed over him.
Qin Jue awkwardly reached out and patted Xiao Liyan's back, then tore a piece of cloth from his sleeve and carefully wiped away Xiao Liyan's tears.
She whispered, "He'll be alright, he's so lively and cheerful."
"You did the right thing. Xiao Shida will definitely live, after all, you are the very, very good older sister he spoke of."
As soon as Xiao Liyan finished writing, she burst into tears. Qin Jue patiently wiped away her tears and silently stayed by her side the whole time.
In the afternoon, Qin Jue accompanied Xiao Liyan to the city gate to see Hongwu off as he left the city.
The two then slowly walked through the city towards the mansion.
Uncle Qi wants to adopt me as his goddaughter.
"Hmm," Qin Jue responded calmly, showing little expression.
"Uncle Qi is a very good person, but I'm worried that I might be a burden to him."
He is more capable than I thought.
Xiao Liyan lowered her head and began to think. From somewhere in the street, intermittent sounds of crying and whipping could be heard.
"I'm telling you to perform better, but you don't. Who's going to buy you then?"
What bad luck!
The man whipped the girl as he spoke, and the girl, clutching her legs, couldn't help but cry out.
The whip continued to fall on the girl's body. "If I had known you were such a slut, I would never have bought you from your mother. Now we can't even sell you."
The man grew angrier and angrier, kicking the girl to the ground. "If you can't be sold again, I'll sell you to a brothel. Your face is barely decent."
Qin Jue watched as Xiao Liyan walked towards the source of the sound, and followed behind her.
"How did he get beaten up like this?"
Xiao Liyan looked at the girl lying on the ground in thin clothes and spoke with sympathy.
"Her mother sold her to a human trafficker, and now that the trafficker can't sell anyone else, they're taking it out on her."
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