Duan Yunlang's eyes suddenly widened.
What does this person want to do?
"Is Miss Kou coming out of Zhou's house?" He Qingxiao looked at Xin You and asked.
Xin You lowered her eyes: "I heard that my friend's father passed away, so I came to visit."
"That's quite a coincidence. Miss Kou, walk slowly." After He Qingxiao finished speaking, he strode towards Zhou's house.
Xinyou walked onto the street without looking back.
"Cousin, do you want to buy some snacks?" Duan Yunlang saw that Xin You was in a bad mood and asked tentatively.
Xin You smiled: "Buy it, it's all over here."
"That's right, it's here now."
The two bought a lot of snacks and returned to Shaoqing's mansion.
In the Ruyi Hall, several grandchildren were chatting with the old lady. When the maid reported that the second young master and his cousin had arrived, they all looked at the door.
"Grandma, I'm back." Duan Yunlang walked in front and lifted the pastries he was carrying, "My cousin and I bought the pastries for you."
Xin You fell behind a little and bowed to the old lady: "Grandma."
The old lady looked at the two of them and said in a gentle tone: "You two came back late. Did you just go buy snacks?"
"Yes, my cousin said this snack is sweet and soft and suitable for you to eat."
Looking at Duan Yunlang with a hearty smile, Duan Yunchen frowned slightly.
Are the second brother and cousin Qing getting too close?
Xin You noticed a gaze that was firmly fixed on her, glanced over, and clearly saw the sharpness in Duan Yunhua's eyes.
It seems that during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the old lady lifted Duan Yunhua's ban.
The grandchildren in the house had their own thoughts, but the old lady seemed completely unaware and looked at the two cousins with a look of relief on their faces.
After having lunch at Ruyi Hall, Xinyou returned to Wanqingju and asked Xiaolian to prepare some things.
The time she made an appointment with Zhou's mother was tonight.
Not long after, the third girl Duan Yunling came.
"You're not disturbing Cousin Qing's rest, are you?"
"Cousin Ling, take a seat. I've been homeless for a long time and don't have much to offer. Cousin, please don't think it's inappropriate to greet me."
After some pleasantries, Duan Yunling mentioned Duan Yunhua: "Second sister was only released yesterday, but she talks less than before."
Xin You came back only a few times a month and didn't care at all what Duan Yunhua was doing. He just smiled when he heard this.
"Also, it seems that grandma has plans to renew her father's marriage." This is what Duan Yunling wanted to say to Xin You.
Duan Yunling has been living a very relaxed life without the weight of her stepmother, but it is inevitable that she will feel uneasy when she thinks of a stepmother who does not know her temperament in the future.
This is also useful information for Xin You.
Unlike Duan Yunhua, being Duan Shaoqing's wife can affect many things. She promised Xiaolian to get back most of the family wealth for Kou Qingqing, so the fewer variables, the better. Fortunately, for a family like Shaoqing's Mansion, no matter how smooth the process of planning a marriage is, it will be next year.
"Cousin Ling, don't worry in advance, spend more time with grandma."
Among the four girls in the Shaoqing Mansion, the eldest girl Duan Yunwan was sent away, and the fourth girl Duan Yunyan is still young. The only thing the old lady needs to consider in the near future is the marriage between Duan Yunhua and Duan Yunling.
Although Duan Yunhua occupies the identity of the legitimate daughter, her reckless and willful behavior caught the eyes of the old lady. There is no harm in Duan Yunling getting closer to the old lady.
"Well, I understand."
After chatting with Xin You, Duan Yunling felt more at ease and left with ease.
He Qingxiao, who returned to the Yamen from Zhou's house, took a sip of tea and asked his subordinates: "My impression is that Zhou Baihu came to Beijing at the beginning of the year?"
The subordinates thought that He Qingxiao had not yet taken over Beizhen Fusi at that time, and answered carefully: "Yes, Zhou Baihu used to be stationed in Wanyang, and he was promoted to Baihu after entering Beijing at the beginning of the year..."
Hearing the word "Wanyang", He Qingxiao's eyes darkened, and he immediately thought of his chance encounter with Xin You on the way to Zhou's house.
It’s Wanyang again.
It's probably not a coincidence that Miss Kou became friends with Zhou Tong's daughter who came from Wanyang.
So is there another story behind Zhou Tong's death?
He Qingxiao thought of the merciless arrow that flew from the darkness that evening, and new doubts arose: If it was Miss Kou who did it, was Zhou Tong's wife unaware of it, or was she actively cooperating?
"Let's find out who Zhou Tong got close to after coming to Beijing, and the origins of Zhou Tong and his wife."
The reunion banquet was held in Ruyi Hall. Xinyou looked at her nose and heart. She answered the old lady's questions and ate quietly when no one asked her.
Duan Shaoqing was as talkative as Xinyou, so much so that the old lady couldn't help but glance at her son several times, thinking that her son had encountered some trouble.
After receiving the old mother's gaze, Duan Shaoqing silently took a mouthful of rice.
It's not that he talks less, but that if he talks too much in front of his niece, he will easily fall into a trap and waste money.
After dinner, Xinyou declined the moon-viewing activity and returned to Wanqing Residence.
"Girl, are you going out?" Xiaolian asked with experience as soon as she saw Xin You changing her clothes and binding her hair.
"Yes, go out to do some errands and guard Wanqingju for me."
"But this place is no better than a bookstore. You don't have the key."
Xin You smiled: "I'll think of another way."
Xiaolian hesitated for a moment and whispered: "My servant knows a place where I can go out, but I am afraid that you will dislike it——"
"Where can I go out?"
"It's a dog hole. My servant accidentally discovered it."
This kind of high-end mansion has high walls, so it would be better not to climb over the walls. Xinyou got through the dog hole without hesitation and came to the street smoothly.
The jade plate is in the sky, the moonlight is bright, and the Mid-Autumn Festival night is brighter and busier than usual. As Xinyou walked along, chatter and laughter floated into his ears from time to time.
It wasn't until we entered the alley where Zhou's family lived that the joy of the festival was replaced by a stark whiteness of gloom.
Xin You stepped forward and meowed three times as agreed.
According to the funeral rites, it was necessary to keep vigil for the deceased all night long. Zhou Tong only had one daughter, and Ji Cailan's two brothers helped to keep the vigil last night. The reason why Xin You didn't knock on the door directly was because she was afraid that Zhou's mother could not send the Ji family away, and it would be difficult for the Ji family to explain if they saw her coming to the door at night.
Not long after, the door quietly opened a crack. Zhou's mother looked over and saw Xin You, and hurriedly opened the door to let her in.
Walking beside Xin You, Zhou's mother lowered her voice and said, "My disciple is sleeping very deeply. Chun Ya is in the west wing with Yue'er watching over me, but there is no one else."
The Ji family was here during the day. They originally wanted to leave someone to help with the wake at night, but Zhou's mother refused on the grounds of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The cook and the maid who did menial work canceled their vacation because something happened to the Zhou family, but at night Will go home and sleep.
This is also the reason why we choose to do things on the Mid-Autumn Festival night.
The mourning hall was lit with everlasting lamps and was filled with the strong smell of burning paper and incense candles. The dark coffin stood quietly in the middle, which frightened the faint of heart.
Fortunately, Xinyou and Zhou's mother are not timid people. The two worked together to remove the coffin lid, revealing the person lying inside.
Mother Zhou watched as Xin You took out the bottle of brushes that he brought with him and started using them. The horrific wound left by the dagger was filled bit by bit, and gradually became no longer different from the surrounding skin color.
"Auntie, please be careful not to let anyone touch this place."
Mother Zhou nodded vigorously.
She is still confident that she can do this. Even if her eldest aunt is suspicious, she can at most lift her clothes and take a look, but she will never touch her.
"Now is not the time to talk deeply. I hope to hear the secret when the storm passes."
After seeing the ability and courage of the girl in front of her, Zhou's mother gave up all luck. She said hello in a low voice and sent Xin You to the gate.
(End of chapter)
