Liang Zhe hadn’t told Qin Shuying in advance where he was taking her today.

When they entered an escort agency, Qin Shuying was extremely surprised.

She wasn’t unfamiliar with escort agencies.

In her previous life, as her business grew larger with extensive goods transportation, she had to use escort services for some items. In this life, the Luo couple now managed an increasingly large operation and frequently dealt with escort agencies.

Wait, Wwei Escort Agency?

Wasn’t this the very agency that Luo frequently collaborated with?

With doubt and curiosity, Qin Shuying followed behind Liang Zhe and entered, while Ziteng remained with the carriage.

Shu Qi was a friend Liang Zhe had made while at the frontier, who had recently come to the capital and was staying in Chongde District, occasionally meeting with Liang Zhe. Qinzhou was a northwestern prefecture with extremely vast territory.

Besides Qin Shuying, following behind Liang Zhe were also Liang Yanjun, as well as An Yi and An Er.

An Yi was called Zhao Jiyuan, An Er was called Zhao Lin, and Liang Yanjun often called them “Old One” and “Old Two.” Qin Shuying naturally couldn’t call them that way, only addressing them as “Big Zhao” and “Little Zhao.”

In the escort agency, people came and went—business seemed quite good.

A middle-aged man approached, immediately recognizing that Liang Zhe was the leader among their group. “Sir, this way please.”

He could even tell that Liang Zhe was an official?

Liang Zhe gave an “mm” and followed the man to the back courtyard.

The square courtyard had the shopfront they’d just passed through on one side. The courtyard was spacious, filled with various equipment, with buildings on three sides—some storing weapons, others for receiving guests.

They entered a guest reception room. The man wiped down the table, had someone bring tea, and asked with a beaming smile: “Sir, what can we do for you?”

“I have history with your proprietor. Please trouble yourself to fetch him.”

The man became even more courteous. “Please wait a moment, sir. I’ll go immediately.”

Soon, the man brought the proprietor over.

Upon entering, the Wuwei Escort Agency’s proprietor was clearly startled, though he maintained composure and said to the man: “You may go. I can handle things here.”

The man withdrew. The proprietor closed the door and respectfully bowed. “Sir!”

“No need for excessive courtesy, proprietor! We’re all our own people—please sit and talk.”

The proprietor was about thirty-something years old, sturdily built, clearly a shrewd and capable person.

He didn’t stand on ceremony, sitting in the chair opposite Liang Zhe and personally pouring tea for him. “Sir, regarding the matter you entrusted to me, I’ve investigated thoroughly. It’s of great importance, so I sent word requesting to speak with you personally.”

Qin Shuying, Liang Yanjun and the others stood behind Liang Zhe.

Upon hearing this, An Yi and An Er consciously opened the door and went out to stand guard.

The proprietor privately wondered who that scholarly-looking young man behind Liang Zhe was, to be trusted like Liang Yanjun and allowed to hear such secret matters, but he didn’t ask aloud.

Liang Zhe said: “Please speak.”

The proprietor lowered his voice. “Sir, too much time has passed. I investigated for a long time before finding a lead. Forty years ago in February, it was colder than usual. In early February, the marquis manor had two young masters born—one was the current marquis, and the other was reportedly born to a concubine of the old marquis called Concubine Guan. She gave birth a day earlier, right on the second day of February—also a young master.”

Only then did Qin Shuying understand. Previously, she had mentioned that Nanny Luo knew Liang Yunshan’s true identity, and perhaps others knew as well, suggesting Liang Zhe investigate.

So Liang Zhe had entrusted this proprietor to investigate.

It seemed this proprietor was someone Liang Zhe trusted.

“After Concubine Guan gave birth, she was initially fine. But somehow, on the very night the marquis was born, she fell ill and died, along with her newborn child who had only lived two days.”

Qin Shuying keenly caught the flaw in the proprietor’s words—how would he know that Concubine Guan was “initially fine”?

Sure enough, the proprietor continued: “Sir, I tracked down one of the people who served Concubine Guan back then. She was a young maid at the time and is now over fifty. Back then, she was a third-class maid in Concubine Guan’s courtyard—not allowed close attendance, but managed Concubine Guan’s clothing changes. According to her, Concubine Guan was well during childbirth, and her clothes were also clean and tidy. After Concubine Guan died, some personal maids and matrons were either sold away or beaten to death on charges of inadequate service. Only a few maids who weren’t allowed close attendance survived by chance, continuing to work in the marquis manor until they were released at proper age.”

“After I found her, I quietly approached her son. Her son is now thirty-something, working on an estate. I recommended him for easier work, and through frequent contact we became familiar. I often visited his home, drinking and chatting together. That old woman Zhao loves drinking, and when drunk, she can’t control her tongue. Plus at her age now, her mind isn’t as sharp, and the caution of earlier years has been thrown to the winds. After I led her into conversation several times, she told everything. Though after sobering up, she would repeatedly warn me not to spread it around.”

“Old woman Zhao said that Concubine Guan’s child didn’t actually die, but rather…”

The proprietor stopped speaking and looked at Liang Zhe.

This topic was truly too shocking—the proprietor didn’t dare continue.

Who knew that Liang Zhe would pick up the thread: “But rather was taken away by someone, and the dead child was brought from elsewhere.”

The proprietor suppressed his inner shock and nodded: “Sir’s insight is keen.”

“Did old woman Zhao say that Concubine Guan’s child who was taken away is the Pingxi Marquis?”

Looking at Liang Zhe’s unperturbed expression, the proprietor broke out in cold sweat. The Pingxi Marquis is your father!

Your father isn’t Old Madam Liang’s biological child, meaning your father isn’t the legitimate heir.

Of course, after so many years, whether he was legitimate or not didn’t matter much. But this was still a secret affair, and a scandalous one at that.

“Sir’s perception is remarkable—that’s exactly what old woman Zhao said. Sir, I originally thought old woman Zhao was just boasting about her years in a great mansion, deliberately making up stories. However, after seeing something she produced, I thought perhaps old woman Zhao’s words weren’t fabricated, so I sent word to meet with you. Please look, sir.”

The proprietor drew a yellowed handkerchief from his sleeve and slowly unfolded it, revealing mottled writing in blood.

The proprietor spread the handkerchief on the table. Written crookedly upon it was: “She who killed me and stole my child—Luo Yanyan. Written in tears by Guan Fangniang.”

Luo Yanyan was Old Madam Liang’s name, and Guan Fangniang was probably Concubine Guan’s name.

“Old woman Zhao said that Concubine Guan wrote this handkerchief before dying, which old woman Zhao obtained by chance. She dared neither turn it in nor destroy it, so she kept it hidden in stone crevices. Later, when she had the opportunity to leave the manor, she took it with her. She said that after so many years, the old madam no longer manages affairs, and even if the Pingxi Marquis learned he wasn’t Old Madam Liang’s biological child, probably nothing would come of it. So she couldn’t control her tongue and showed me this handkerchief.”