Chapter 254: Chapter 254 - I Really Admire You
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 what’s happening with the Gu Insect inside the beautiful older sister’s brother."
"You should take a nap first, and we’ll 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 Xiuxiu’s words, Ji Youran was greatly surprised.
"A Symbiotic Gu Insect?"
Zhu Xiuxiu nodded. "That’s 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 can’t cultivate them. These Gu Insects are usually used on couples. According to what you said, it’s been used on a father and son. That’s quite strange."
"How could a Gu Insect that’s used on couples end up on Xie Wulang and his son?"
Zhu Xiuxiu didn’t understand the situation with Gu Insects, so she asked Ji Youran, but his only response was to shake his head again.
"I’ll go take a look. It’s extremely troublesome to draw out this kind of Gu Insect."
If it were another poison, or a simple Gu Insect, Ji Youran wouldn’t have bothered to intervene.
Just like with the Li Family’s second son’s legs; if he didn’t want to help, he truly wouldn’t.
"I’ll 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 Xiuxiu’s words, Liu Neng was greatly alarmed. As a Steward, knowing the Master’s 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 don’t 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 doesn’t 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 doesn’t 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."
"That’s 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 Pan’Er’s family. She didn’t know what would happen next at the Xie Family, but what she had seen and knew, upon a moment’s 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 dog’s paw? Just looking at them makes me lose my appetite!"
Ji Youcheng’s mouth, hidden behind the veil, twitched slightly.
"To think you’d associate Pastries with a dog’s paw... I’m truly impressed by you!"