Chapter Thirty-Two: Why Not Go In?
Early that morning, after washing up, Shen Qingnian and Ling'er arrived at the entrance of the Marquis's residence.
She went to her aunt yesterday to arrange a carriage for her, and today she wants to go shopping.
Shen Qingnian gave Ling'er a few instructions, then put on her veil and boarded the carriage.
Ling'er then slowly walked into the mansion.
Just as Shen Qingnian's carriage left, a figure emerged from behind the gate and followed.
The carriage slowly made its way to Taihe Tower.
However, after stopping at the entrance of Taihe Building, Shen Qingnian did not get out of the car. She simply lifted a corner of the curtain, glanced inside, and then looked up at the second floor.
Then he said to the coachman, "Let's go back to the manor."
The coachman was also puzzled. Since they were already here, why didn't they go inside?
However, servants cannot guess what their masters are thinking; they can only obey their masters' orders.
The figures following behind were also somewhat surprised to see the carriage turn back. They didn't know what the people inside were planning, so they could only follow and watch as the carriage returned to the Jingnan Marquis's residence.
Inside the Jingnan Marquis's residence.
The guard who had gone out with him in the morning returned and reported to Xie Yanzhi: "Your Highness, Miss Shen went to Taihe Tower, but did not go in."
Xie Yanzhi squinted: "Why doesn't she go in?"
The guard replied, "I don't know. But it seems that Miss Shen's leg is a little uncomfortable."
"Is her leg uncomfortable?" Xie Yanzhi pondered this question.
"Yes, when Miss Shen came this morning, it looked like she was having some difficulty using her right leg. Her maid helped her over."
The pen in Xie Yanzhi's hand broke in two.
Ling'er sprained her right ankle!
She's probably already seen Xiao Huaiyi.
Shen Qingnian, she's so wary of him just to see him!
At that moment, a maid with her hair in two buns appeared in front of Zuifeng Tower. She raised her head, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face; it was Shen Qingnian in disguise.
It turned out that when Ling'er went back that day, she ran into the two clumsy maids from the kitchen who had chatted with her before, Yinzhu and Jinzhu.
This time, instead of carrying food boxes, the two men each carried a large bag of radishes and strode forward, while the servant behind them was panting heavily.
Ling'er was somewhat surprised by the strength of the two women, so she greeted them, "Jinzhu! Yinzhu!"
The two maids recognized her as the little girl who had given them pine nuts that day, so they put down the bag and said with smiles, "Ling'er! It's been so long since we've seen you."
Ling'er asked, "Why are you carrying radishes?"
Jinzhu patted her chest and said, "Because we sisters are strong, the kitchen manager lets us go out to buy ingredients every day."
"We no longer deliver meals to the masters in the mansion."
Ling'er was very envious after hearing this: "Then you can go out of the manor every day? That's wonderful."
She's so bored staying in this mansion every day.
Suddenly, Ling'er seemed to have a good idea: "Jinzhu, Yinzhu, can you take me out of the manor?"
"I've sprained my ankle for several days now, and it's still not getting better. I'm thinking of going out to see a doctor."
If a maid is injured, her master usually won't call a doctor for her. Jinzhu and Yinzhu looked at each other and then agreed.
Yinzhu said, "Then come to the back gate tomorrow, and we'll take an oxcart."
Today, Shen Qingnian and Ling'er swapped clothes. After Shen Qingnian helped Ling'er into the carriage, they went to the back door.
Tell Jinzhu and Yinzhu that Ling'er's foot is in serious condition and that she will go to buy medicine for her.
Jinzhu and Yinzhu have gone shopping. She came to Zuifenglou alone.
Shen Qingnian walked into Taihe Building and looked around, but did not find Xiao Huaiyi.
Jin Zhu and Yin Zhu specifically instructed that the time must not be missed. Shen Qingnian's forehead was already covered in fine beads of sweat from anxiety.
She had to find Young Master Xiao quickly and explain everything to him.
But where exactly is Xiao Huaiyi?
Just as she was about to turn around, she suddenly saw a man on the stairs about to go up to the second floor.
Shen Qingnian was overjoyed and ran up to the man, patting him on the back: "Young Master Xiao!"
The man in front of him turned around and was taken aback when he saw a beautiful maid calling him.
Upon seeing this person, Shen Qingnian realized it wasn't Xiao Huaiyi and immediately said, "I'm sorry, I've mistaken you for someone else."
Before the man could say anything more, Shen Qingnian had already gone downstairs.
She checked the first floor but didn't see Xiao Huaiyi. The second floor was all private rooms, and she couldn't possibly knock on each door one by one.
Just then, she saw the waiter bringing in a customer, took out some silver coins and handed them to him: "Brother, did Young Master Xiao Huaiyi come to the restaurant today?"
If what Yuan Qing said is true, and Xiao Huaiyi is a regular customer here, then the waiter must recognize him.
The waiter tucked the silver ingot into his pocket and said, "Miss, you've come at an inopportune time. Young Master Xiao didn't come today."
The waiter added, "Young Master Xiao hasn't come for many days."
She hasn't come for many days? Where will she find Xiao Huaiyi now?
Seeing Shen Qingnian looking lost in thought, the waiter leaned closer and said, "I heard that something happened at the Xiao family's residence, and Master Xiao took several young masters out of the city."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingnian felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Xiao Huaiyi had left the city; when would he be back?
Shen Qingnian left Taihe Tower looking utterly dejected.
Pedestrians hurried by on the roadside, but she seemed to have no strength left to stand, swaying precariously in the crowd.
A few raindrops fell on her face, and she could no longer distinguish between the rain and her tears.
After Shen Qingnian left, the waiter went to a private room on the second floor.
Xiao Huaiyi sat upright inside, and whispered in Xiao Huaiyi's ear what had just happened.
Xiao Huaiyi had already made arrangements so that if anyone came looking for him, he would be told that he was not here.
But Xiao Huaiyi didn't expect it to be a maid who came to find him, and he vaguely felt that something was wrong.
Just as the waiter was about to leave, he asked again, "What does that maid look like?"
"Her hair was tied in two buns, her skin was as smooth as cream, her lips were red and her teeth were white, she was very beautiful."
Xiao Huaiyi couldn't recall any maidservant who was particularly beautiful. He only thought his Miss Shen was exceptionally beautiful.
After the waiter respectfully withdrew, another person entered through the door, carrying a fan and dressed in black.
That person was none other than Xiao Jingyi, the young master whom Shen Qingnian had just mistaken for someone else.
At this moment, Xiao Huaiyi had changed to a nonchalant attitude, with his clothes open, holding a wine pot to his mouth, the wine spilling out and running down his clothes.
Xiao Huaiyi looked at Xiao Jingyi and said, "Oh, Second Brother is here."
Seeing Xiao Huaiyi's drunken state and smelling the strong odor of alcohol in the room, Xiao Jingyi covered his nose with a fan and said with disgust, "Hurry up and leave. Father ordered us to leave immediately. There must be no delays."
Xiao Huaiyi staggered to his feet, "What? You're even bringing along a good-for-nothing like me?"
Xiao Jingyi pouted: "You're useful for me, of course.
Xiao Huaiyi knew that it was his older brother Xiao Hongyi who had caused trouble again.
He was probably chosen specifically to clean up the mess and take the blame.
Xiao Huaiyi gave Ping An a look, and Ping An quickly picked up the bundle on the table.
Inside was the purple sweet potato cake he bought for Shen Qingnian today.
Taihelou's purple sweet potato cake is very famous. It is sweet, soft and glutinous, and most importantly, it is a specialty food of Jiangnan.
And Miss Shen is from Jiangnan, he thought she would definitely like her.
It's just that I can't personally deliver it to Miss Shen now.
Xiao Huaiyi and his entourage rode past the drunken group on horseback, heading towards the city gate.
At this moment, Shen Qingnian was already sitting on the oxcart carrying the purchased ingredients, silently watching over them, while Jinzhu and Yinzhu sat on the other side, carefully protecting the purchased ingredients.
Suddenly a commotion arose ahead, as a group of soldiers escorted a prison cart through the streets in a grand procession.
The road became congested on both sides, and Shen Qingnian's oxcart was blocked on this side. Suddenly, Shen Qingnian felt a pain in her arm, and something fell into her arms.
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