Seeing Jiang Si’s unusual expression, Yu Jin leaned in and whispered, “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Si remained unresponsive for a while.
Yu Jin then took a closer look at the young woman.
One nose, two eyes, nothing special.
“Do you want to take her away?”
Jiang Si suddenly came to her senses, her gaze following the young woman’s silhouette as it disappeared through the doorway. She slowly shook her head, “No, let’s… leave first…”
Her body was lifted into the air, and when she regained her focus, they had landed in the alley. A large hand reached out, enveloping the young woman’s cold hand.
The warmth from his palm gave Jiang Si a sense of security amidst her confusion.
Jiang Si gathered her thoughts and solemnly said to Yu Jin, “I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Just say it. My people are at your disposal,” Yu Jin said with a slight smile, adding, “I’m at your disposal too.”
“Please keep a close watch on the person inside. Don’t let them out of your control.”
“Anything else?” This small matter, even if Asi hadn’t mentioned it, he would have ordered it done.
Now that Asi was willing to ask for his help, it meant she had already accepted him in her heart. Of course, he had to perform well to marry his wife home as soon as possible.
“That’s all. I need to go back now.”
Yu Jin held onto Jiang Si’s hand, not letting go: “Asi, what’s going on? Why were you so shaken after seeing that young woman?”
Jiang Si hesitated for a moment.
Although she had used Yu Qi’s people for her elder sister’s matter, she hadn’t wanted to involve him too deeply. But now it seemed that two heads were better than one.
Jiang Si quickly stopped wrestling with the dilemma and recounted in detail how she had rescued Qing’er on the way back from Baiyun Temple.
After listening, Yu Jin said, “If you can’t figure it out, just go to the Zhu family and see if that Qing’er is there or not.”
“What if she is?” Jiang Si asked reflexively.
Yu Jin raised his hand and gently ruffled her hair: “You’re too close to the situation to see clearly. If there’s a Qing’er in the Zhu family, it means the one in that courtyard just now isn’t Qing’er, but rather two people who look alike, most likely twin sisters.”
Jiang Si was stunned at first, but then it was as if an invisible hand had cleared away the fog before her eyes.
She had indeed been too close to see clearly. If there were two “Qing’er”s, then one of them must not be a “Qing’er”.
Perhaps… it was Yu’er?
This thought flashed through Jiang Si’s mind like a revelation.
Influenced by the information from the Yan Chun Troupe, she had a preconceived notion that Zhu Ziyu’s servant had ransomed Yu’er through some ruffians and sent her back to her brother. Then the gambling-addicted brother had changed his sister’s name and sold her again, leading to her elder sister’s chance encounter and rescue.
But now, if Qing’er was safely staying in the Zhu mansion, then perhaps they had been mistaken from the very beginning…
Jiang Si felt an urgent need to investigate the Zhu mansion. She bid farewell to Yu Jin.
Yu Jin held onto her, not letting go: “Why go to all that trouble? You can disguise yourself as my maid, and I’ll take you to the Zhu mansion. Wouldn’t that be quicker? Don’t forget, I’m still in charge of the case regarding your sister’s horse incident.”
“A prince bringing a maid to investigate the Zhu mansion, wouldn’t that invite criticism?”
Yu Jin smiled nonchalantly: “They wouldn’t dare criticize me to my face. As for gossip behind my back, I can’t hear it anyway, so who cares what they say? Moreover—”
“What?”
Yu Jin sighed: “Asi, have you forgotten? You just reported them to the authorities. Do you think they’d welcome you? If you don’t believe me, try it. Send your calling card, and the Zhu family will surely decline politely.”
Jiang Si had anticipated this situation when she dared to report them, but she had countermeasures. However, now that she was in a hurry to go to the Zhu family, any countermeasure would take too much time.
After much consideration, going with Yu Qi indeed seemed the most convenient option.
Seeing Jiang Si nod, Yu Jin hid a smile in his eyes and said righteously: “Call me ‘Young Master’ and let me hear how it sounds.”
Those smiling eyes made Jiang Si inexplicably unable to open her mouth.
This opportunistic scoundrel!
Composing herself, Jiang Si regained her calm: “Young Master, shall we go?”
Yu Jin was overjoyed.
In the future, he would have Asi call him “Seventh Brother”.
It wasn’t yet time for the government offices to close, so Young Master Zhu wasn’t at home. When Madam Zhu heard that Prince Yan had arrived, she immediately felt a pain in her chest.
But given his high status, no matter how uncomfortable she felt, she had to endure it.
Madam Zhu forced herself to meet Yu Jin. With a glance, she saw a maid standing behind the prince, and her heart sank even further.
This was completely improper!
“Prince Yan’s visit brings honor to our humble abode. May I ask what brings you here today?” No matter how much contempt she felt inside, Madam Zhu didn’t show it on her face, remaining polite and proper.
Yu Jin leaned back in his chair, holding a teacup with a lazy demeanor: “Has Madam Zhu forgotten? The case involving your household hasn’t been resolved yet.”
Madam Zhu wanted nothing more than to splash the tea on Yu Jin’s face.
Was Prince Yan so bored that he had nothing better to do than fixate on this small matter of theirs?
These days, the Zhu mansion has been far from peaceful as well.
The coachman had died, and Young Master Zhu had ordered a thorough investigation, but after extensive searching, they had come up empty-handed.
As a result, Young Master Zhu began to blame Madam Zhu for her ineffective management of the inner household.
Madam Zhu was a person who cared greatly about face. Although Young Master Zhu hadn’t said it directly, his implied meaning was enough to keep her awake at night.
Just when things seemed to be settling down a bit, this Prince Yan had shown up again!
“Could it be that the Prince has found some clues?” Madam Zhu asked deliberately.
If they couldn’t find anything themselves, it would be strange if Prince Yan could uncover anything.
Madam Zhu’s sarcasm meant nothing to Yu Jin. He put down his teacup and said with a smile: “It’s precisely because there are no clues that I’ve come again. Please trouble Madam Zhu to invite the First Young Madam out.”
Madam Zhu inwardly cursed his shamelessness but smiled faintly: “I’m truly sorry, but ever since that day when she was frightened, my eldest daughter-in-law Jiang has been feeling unwell. She’s not in a condition to see visitors at the moment.”
Aside from the fact that it was unpleasant to have her daughter-in-law meet with an outside man, Madam Zhu disliked Yu Jin from the bottom of her heart, seeing him as someone without rules or manners. Of course, she was unwilling to let him have his way.
When Jiang Si heard that Jiang Yi was ill, she gently pressed her lips together.
Madam Zhu elegantly picked up her teacup.
She didn’t believe that after saying this much, Prince Yan would still insist on seeing her daughter-in-law.
The smile on Yu Jin’s face didn’t diminish: “If the First Young Madam is unwell, then let it be. Madam Zhu, please call all the maids and servants attending to the First Young Madam.”
Madam Zhu was momentarily at a loss for words.
Yu Jin raised an eyebrow: “What’s the matter? Are even the maids and servants attending to the First Young Madam not available to be seen?”
“The Prince jests,” Madam Zhu was left speechless and ordered a maid to call for the people.
Soon, a group of maids and servants filled the courtyard.
The young man strode past each maid and servant, with the unremarkable-looking maid following closely behind him.
“Is everyone here?” Yu Jin slowed his pace, asking as if casually.
A familiar face came into view, but his footsteps didn’t pause for a moment. Jiang Si, after a glance, lowered her head swiftly, concealing the turbulent emotions in her eyes.
Qing’er was indeed here!
Qing’er, Yu’er…
Two young women with identical appearances—perhaps this was the real reason why Zhu Ziyu had gone to such lengths to insist on having Qing’er!