Upon returning to the Ji Mansion, Zhu Xiuxiu had a maid draw water for Suisui to wash up and take a nap.
Xiaosuisui was unwilling. "Third Aunt, Suisui wants to go with Second Uncle to see whatâs happening with the Gu Insect inside the beautiful older sisterâs brother."
"You should take a nap first, and weâll talk after you wake up. Your Third Aunt will go find your Second Uncle first!"
Zhu Xiuxiu coaxed her, then instructed the maid, "Light a stick of calming incense for the Princess!"
The maid complied, lit the calming incense, and then went to find Ji Youran.
Hearing Zhu Xiuxiuâs words, Ji Youran was greatly surprised.
"A Symbiotic Gu Insect?"
Zhu Xiuxiu nodded. "Thatâs what Second Sister-in-law said. Second Brother, these Gu Insects... only people from Nanjiang know how to cultivate them. How would the Lin Family know this?"
Ji Youran shook his head. "How would I know? Even in Nanjiang, ordinary people canât cultivate them. These Gu Insects are usually used on couples. According to what you said, itâs been used on a father and son. Thatâs quite strange."
"How could a Gu Insect thatâs used on couples end up on Xie Wulang and his son?"
Zhu Xiuxiu didnât understand the situation with Gu Insects, so she asked Ji Youran, but his only response was to shake his head again.
"Iâll go take a look. Itâs extremely troublesome to draw out this kind of Gu Insect."
If it were another poison, or a simple Gu Insect, Ji Youran wouldnât have bothered to intervene.
Just like with the Li Familyâs second sonâs legs; if he didnât want to help, he truly wouldnât.
"Iâll arrange for a carriage right away to take you, Second Brother, to the Xie Family!"
Zhu Xiuxiu summoned Liu Neng, instructing him to prepare a carriage to take Ji Youran to the Xie Family.
Liu Neng asked in confusion, "Why is the Second Young Master also going to the Xie Family?"
"Also? You seem to have quite the network of eyes and ears! You even know we went to the Xie Family!"
Hearing Zhu Xiuxiuâs words, Liu Neng was greatly alarmed. As a Steward, knowing the Masterâs whereabouts was to be expected, at least their official movements. But if he knew about whereabouts the Master deliberately concealed, then the family would begin to doubt his intentions.
"Third Mistress, please donât misunderstand. This old servant was referring to the Old Madam. Just before you returned, the Old Madam suddenly ordered this old servant to prepare a carriage, saying she was going to the Xie Family!"
"Mother went to the Xie Family as well?"
"Yes!"
"What did Mother go to the Xie Family for?"
"This old servant doesnât know why the Old Madam went! But she said she was going to visit the Old Madam of the Xie Family."
"Visit the Old Madam of the Xie Family? Does Mother have an acquaintance with her?" Zhu Xiuxiu asked Liu Neng, puzzled.
"Ah! This old servant truly doesnât know. The Old Madam has been away from the capital for over ten years. This old servant has nearly forgotten all about her social connections."
"Thatâs true. Alright, quickly go and prepare a carriage to take the Second Young Master to the Xie Family."
Zhu Xiuxiu sat in the Pavilion, gazing at the distant rockery, pondering the matters of Xie PanâErâs family.
She didnât know what would happen next at the Xie Family, but what she had seen and knew, upon a momentâs reflection, sent a chill all over her body!
She sighed lightly and shook her head, trying to dismiss the matter from her mind, when someone asked in a low voice, "What are you thinking about, sitting here all alone?"
Turning around, Zhu Xiuxiu saw Ji Youcheng, who was wearing a veil and carrying a tray. He placed a plate of Dim Sum on the stone table. "Try them," he said. "Xiu Zhu just developed a new flavor."
Zhu Xiuxiu glanced at the plate of Dim Sum and first commented on their shape. "Is this supposed to be a plum blossom shape? Or a dogâs paw? Just looking at them makes me lose my appetite!"
Ji Youchengâs mouth, hidden behind the veil, twitched slightly.
"To think youâd associate Pastries with a dogâs paw... Iâm truly impressed by you!"