"Miss, there's a carriage following behind, it looks like Xie Jinyao."
Inside the carriage, Wanxing lowered the curtain and spoke to Ye Zhen.
Ye Zhen closed his eyes to rest, not at all surprised. "What shops do the noble ladies of the capital like to go to lately?"
Xie Jinyao had always regarded her as a thorn in her side, and now that the Marquis of Zhongyong was much more amiable towards her, Xie Jinyao felt threatened and naturally wanted to find fault with her.
It's normal for her to follow her after she goes out; Xie Jinyao has always been someone who can't stand being offended.
Wanxing said, "Jinluzhai has recently expanded its shops, adding headdresses, jewelry, rouge and face powder, and I heard that business is booming, with distinguished customers gathering every day."
Ye Zhen laughed, "Then let's go join in the fun."
Xie Jinyao is a person who cares a lot about her reputation, and she will not easily show her face until Xie Yunzhou's matter has been resolved.
Even if they couldn't resist following them in, they didn't dare to make a scene, which gave them a chance to escape.
Inside the carriage behind, Xie Jinyao saw Ye Zhen and her servant enter Jinluzhai, and her brows furrowed with anger.
"She really is a country bumpkin. Her father only gave her some money, and she's already obsessed with vanity."
With her humble origins from the countryside, how could she possibly deserve fine clothes? Even if she wore gold-embroidered robes, it wouldn't hide her poor and lowly nature..."
Jinluzhai has been incredibly popular lately, and there must be many of her acquaintances there, but she doesn't want to run into them for the time being.
He could only wait in the carriage, but the more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he couldn't help but vent his anger with harsh words.
On the second floor, by the window, Ye Zhen glanced at the carriage downstairs and led Wanxing out through the back door of Jinluzhai.
Years ago, her adoptive parents forced her to marry into the Marquis's mansion by threatening suicide. On the day she put on her wedding dress, she thought that if Xie Yunzhou was a good man, she would be like countless other women in the world, content to stay in the inner quarters, supporting her husband and raising her children.
If the Marquis's mansion is not a place for her to stay for long, she will do her best to be the young mistress of the Marquis's mansion for five years to repay her parents' kindness in giving her life.
After that, there was no more Ye Zhen in the Ye family.
After the marriage, Xie Yunzhou found various reasons not to consummate the marriage, and the Lady Hou was a wolf in sheep's clothing. She knew that her future did not lie in the Hou family.
In order to leave smoothly, she paid close attention to the people and things around Lady Hou.
Thus, they learned that the Lady Hou's coachman was named Wu Da, who had pretended to be an orphan and sold himself into the Hou family to survive, and in reality, he had younger siblings living in the commoner district of the west city.
After leaving Jinluzhai, the two used their lightness skills to head straight for Wu Dajia.
It was a small courtyard, but it was neat and clean, with a white cloth hanging on the gate inside.
After searching the neighborhood, Wanxing knocked on the door.
A girl of about eleven or twelve opened the door a crack, eyeing the two people warily. "Who are you looking for?"
“We had received help from Wu Da before, and when we learned of his accident, we wanted to come and pay our respects.”
This is how Wanxing said it.
The young woman hesitated for a moment, then decided to close the door. "I appreciate your kind intentions, but my elder brother has already been buried. Please leave."
Ye Zhen held the door shut, pushed it open, and slipped inside with Wanxing before closing the door behind them. "I heard from Wu Da that you and your sister had a very good relationship. His death was mysterious. Don't you plan to avenge him?"
She and Wanxing were bored staying at home, so they would occasionally go out for some fresh air at night. That day, they happened to see Wu Da washing his younger brother and sister-in-law's hair under the moonlight. The three of them were chatting and laughing, and it was a very harmonious and warm scene.
The girl was startled by their actions and quickly grabbed a broom from behind the door. "Who are you? What do you want?"
Ye Zhen said gently, "Although we are also from the Marquis's mansion, we are not bad people."
"Your brother's matter concerns the young lady; it's difficult for you and your sister to get justice for him on your own."
The girl's eyes grew even more wary. "My elder brother said that Marquis Zhongyong is a good person."
If he knew his elder brother was innocent, he would definitely seek justice for him.
Ye Zhen's eyes flickered slightly. It was just her guess that it concerned the young lady, but the girl did not deny it.
She guessed right.
"But he is also the eldest young lady's father. Your elder brother should have told you that the Marquis of Zhongyong dotes on the eldest young lady."
Besides, when Lady Hou dealt with your elder brother, she must have found a legitimate excuse. You have no reliable evidence, so even if you beg the Marquis, it will be useless.
The Marquis's mansion is deep and secluded; you may never even see the Loyal and Brave Marquis.
In her previous life, not long after her accident, another boy was imprisoned in the village, but he escaped. The old women guarding her were called to help search for him.
Ye Zhen vaguely heard them say that if the boy escaped, it would damage the young lady's reputation, and the madam would not forgive them.
She remembered that the boy was eventually captured, along with a little girl. The two were buried alive by the Lady of the Marquis's order.
Upon returning home and learning that Wu Da had died, Ye Zhen guessed that the two children who had been buried alive must have been Wu Da's younger brother and sister-in-law.
"I can help you. Could you please bring your second brother here?"
The girl is too young; the one in charge of the household now must be the boy from the previous life.
Xie Jinyao was still keeping watch at the entrance of Jinluzhai; Ye Zhen couldn't afford to waste any more time.
The girl gripped the broom tightly and remained still.
Although there was nothing of value in the house, she still dared not leave two outsiders at home.
Now that her eldest brother is gone, she and her second brother are struggling to make ends meet. Losing any one thing in the house would be a significant loss for them.
Guessing the girl's hesitation, Ye Zhen took out a silver ingot and handed it to her, saying, "I'll wait in your courtyard; I won't come inside."
The girl thought for a moment, took the money, opened the door, and ran outside.
This is ten taels of silver, and all the things in their house combined aren't worth that much, so she no longer worries about her house being robbed.
Ye Zhen waited for about an incense stick's time before a boy and girl of about thirteen or fourteen years old returned together.
Having likely already heard about the situation from his sister on the way, the boy, Wu Er, asked Ye Zhen directly, "Why are you helping us?"
Ye Zhen didn't hide it from him, "Because I hate the Lady Hou and the eldest daughter just as much."
"You're not a servant of the Marquis's household?"
My elder brother once mentioned that the Lady of the Marquis was very strict in managing the household, and the servants never dared to complain.
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