Si Ning watched the two people get off the carriage, and then Lu Zhiyuan led the woman who got off the carriage and walked to her.
The woman was wearing a pink jacket. She looked to be in her early thirties. She was not very beautiful, but she exuded a cold and glamorous look.
She was also looking at Si Ning, smiling and nodding.
"My surname is Zhang. You can call me Mrs. Zhang or Aunt Zhang."
Lu Zhiyuan also introduced the woman beside him to Si Ning, "Mrs. Zhang is the mistress of the Zhang family in Nancheng. The master of the Zhang family met a bandit and died in the first few years. Mrs. Zhang is taking care of the family's property."
It was an ancient custom for a woman to take her husband's surname. Even if her husband dies, a woman cannot change her surname for the rest of her life.
Si Ning was slightly moved. She turned out to be a widow, and a widow with real power.
"Mrs. Zhang." Si Ning called.
Mrs. Zhang smiled at Si Ning, her smile was meaningful.
Later in the evening, Lu Zhiyuan formally introduced Mrs. Zhang to everyone in the Ning'an Hou Mansion and announced something in public.
"I encountered an accident a few days ago. It was Mrs. Zhang who saved me. Mrs. Zhang is kind and pitiful. Master Zhang returned to the west, leaving her alone. I plan to invite her to my house as a guest."
He then warned the servants, "Mrs. Zhang is my distinguished guest, you must not neglect her."
He took Mrs. Zhang to see the old lady again. Ever since the old lady let Li Xutang go, Lu Hanxiao had moved her to another hospital on the grounds that she needed to rest.
The other courtyard was not far from Ning'an Hou's Mansion, so he didn't stop anyone from visiting. Lu Zhiyuan took Mrs. Zhang to see his mother. When she came back, Mrs. Zhang had an extra bracelet on her wrist.
The servants all saw it and whispered about Mrs. Zhang's identity.
This matter reached Si Ning's ears, and it was Qiu Ju who told her.
"That bracelet has always been on the old lady's hand. Even Li Xutang was not willing to give it to me. Madam, what do you mean by this?"
"The second master also arranged for someone to stay in the yard next to him. A maid saw Mrs. Zhang going to the second master's room and didn't come out for a long time."
As for what was done in the house, the servants did not dare to discuss it, but it was self-evident what would happen if a man and a woman were alone in a room.
The servants were all speculating that Mrs. Zhang might be the mistress of the second house in the future, but that was not what Si Ning was concerned about.
"Second brother has been away from home for a long time, and I don't even know about it?"
She was running between medical clinics and hot pot restaurants these days, so she didn't pay much attention to the affairs at home, and she didn't know that Lu Zhiyuan never returned home.
When Lu Hanxiao came back, Si Ning also mentioned this.
"Is the second brother at the Zhang family these days?"
"Yes, that Mrs. Zhang saved him."
Lu Hanxiao asked his subordinates to search for Li Xutang's whereabouts, but Li Xutang disappeared without a trace.
Li Xutang was not found, but the secret guard saw Lu Zhiyuan being thrown out of Hongluan Tower, and then fell on the street and was rescued by Mrs. Zhang.
After listening to Lu Hanxiao's words, Si Ning felt sad.
"Second brother's luck is very good."
Both Li Xutang and Wu Qianqian are very attracted to Lu Zhiyuan. Even people like Honglian are willing to follow Lu Zhiyuan, which shows that he has the ability to win over women.
"My second brother has known how to please people since he was a child. This is his ability."
Si Ning nodded in agreement, and Lu Hanxiao talked about the fruitless search for Li Xutang.
"You have to be careful these days. I will send someone to protect you. Li Xutang will not give up."
Si Ning was not afraid of Li Xutang seeking revenge, but he had always been curious about one thing.
"Why did mother send Li Xutang away?"
Lu Hanxiao frowned, "What did you guess?"
"The mother had the leverage in Li Xutang's hands, so she had to compromise."
The old lady had actually given up on Li Xutang a long time ago, otherwise she would not have allowed Wu Qianqian to enter the door and overpower Li Xutang.
The reason why Li Xutang was still in the house and was not divorced was entirely because she was from the Li family, so the old lady was lenient.
A few days ago, the old lady was hit so hard by Li Xutang that her head was bleeding. The doctors said she would survive for a few days. Li Xutang went to see someone, but the old lady not only did not blame her, but also protected her and sent her to her hospital. Her leaving can only mean that the old lady is afraid of the leverage in Li Xutang's hands.
But she was already dying, so what else could force her to compromise?
Si Ning always felt that this clue might be related to the death of the original owner, and maybe it was also inextricably linked to Lu Hanxiao's poisoning.
However, the matter was of great importance and had not been verified. Si Ning did not say it rashly, but just replied.
"I don't know, but I always feel like something isn't right."
"If you feel something is wrong, there must be a problem. I will send more people to find Li Xutang."
Si Ning shook his head, "You may not find her if she hides her intentionally."
In this era, there is no radar or Internet, so it is not easy to find someone.
It's really not worth sending out so much manpower and material resources just for one Li Xutang.
Lu Hanxiao is not a swinger with nothing to do, and those secret guards are not idle guards. There is no need to waste it on one person.
"She will come out sooner or later, no need to look for her."
Lu Hanxiao looked at her intently and said, "I understand, you have to be more careful."
Li Xutang will never give up. This is something everyone knows.
Lu Hanxiao was worried about Si Ning, but he couldn't always be by her side.
He sent secret guards to follow Si Ning, but he was also frightened.
He wanted Si Ning to stay in the house, but Si Ning was unwilling.
"Even if you stay at home, you may not fall into her trap. It's a blessing, not a curse."
Si Ning went to the hot pot restaurant again. The person she asked Si Yihan to find had been found, and she also asked him to start training the guys.
She was going to see the results, but as soon as she went out, she met Mrs. Zhang who was also planning to go out.
Mrs. Zhang looked at Si Ning and stepped forward with a smile.
"Where are you going, Third Young Mistress?"
"Go out and do some errands."
Si Ning replied, and then she was about to get on the carriage, but Mrs. Zhang stretched out her hand to stop her.
"I have just arrived in the capital. I am not familiar with the place and life here. I am very busy in Zhiyuan. I wonder if the third young lady is free to accompany me for a walk?"
She showed her kindness to Si Ning and extended an olive branch to her, but Si Ning did not take it.
"Sorry, Mrs. Zhang, you should have heard me just now. I have something to deal with, so I'm sorry."
After saying that, she got into the carriage. The driver waved his whip and the carriage moved forward slowly.
The little maid who was following Mrs. Zhang looked at the carriage going away and muttered disdainfully.
"It's really ungrateful."
"Shut up."
Mrs. Zhang changed her gentle attitude just now and swept her cold eyes over the people beside her.
The little maid was scolded by her and quickly lowered her head. Just then, another person appeared at the door.
Si Wan wore a pale pink long coat with a circle of fox fur around her neck, which made her look very noble.
She looked at Mrs. Zhang, who was also looking at her, and then asked with a smile.
"I don't know what to call Miss?"
