Four days passed unnoticed. After Su Yuxi's death, no further news about Gu Qianying and her reached the palace.
Su Xiu'er, after sending people to inquire, couldn't uncover anything conclusive.
"Miss Su, my abilities are limited. I can only gather whispers among the palace maids. However, Aunt Wang has been quite diligent in this area these past few days. Why don't you try asking Aunt Wang?"
The palace maid, having accepted the silver, dared not shirk her duty, but her capabilities truly ended here.
Su Xiu'er pouted.
If only she could investigate herself, but when the elder sister was taken away by Aunt Wang, the latter had given her a stern warning with a ferocious expression.
If she were to seek trouble again at this moment, she might very well lose her life.
Wringing her hands, she paced back and forth helplessly. Glancing over, she saw Gu Qianying's little follower sitting idly, looking extremely bored.
Su Xiu'er's mind began to spin, and a plan formed in her heart.
"Alright, I understand. You may go now."
After dismissing the palace maid, Su Xiu'er crept stealthily towards Xiao Yihao.
"Little follower, my sister and your mother have been gone for a long time. Aren't you worried?"
She was testing Xiao Yihao's thoughts, hoping the boy could help her inquire about her elder sister's situation.
Xiao Yihao fidgeted with his fingers. It had indeed been nearly ten days. But remembering his mother's instructions not to act rashly under any circumstances, his heart ached with longing, yet he could only wait obediently.
"Mm, I know Mother will be safe, so I'm not worried."
This little fellow was truly carefree.
Su Xiu'er pursed her lips, then put on a sorrowful face and sighed.
"Alas, although I know Elder Sister and Miss Gu are in the palace for a competition and won't be in any danger, I still feel uneasy. Where are they? Are they eating well, sleeping soundly, are they sick, are they being bullied?"
As a string of questions poured out, she found herself shedding tears involuntarily.
Seeing the woman's state, Xiao Yihao was genuinely moved.
He was naturally kind and simple. Although this Su Xiu'er often opposed his mother and bullied Brother Su, she was still a girl, after all.
His mother had always told him since he was young that girls were to be protected.
With that thought, he reached out his small hand and tugged at Su Xiu'er's skirt.
"If you are truly worried, why don't we ask that Auntie?"
Xiao Yihao had practiced internal energy with his mother since childhood. Although he couldn't martial arts yet, his hearing had been trained to an excellent state.
Therefore, he had clearly heard the conversation between the palace maid and Su Xiu'er at the door.
"You, you thought of Aunt Wang too."
Unsure if the boy was clever or had overheard something, Su Xiu'er grinned, her expression a little unnatural.
Xiao Yihao didn't think much of it. He knew Aunt Wang didn't favor Su Xiu'er, so he proactively patted his chest.
"I know it's difficult for you. Let me go and ask."
Hearing him offer so readily, Su Xiu'er almost jumped for joy. But despite her excitement, her face was filled with concern.
"Oh, that Aunt Wang is a stern person. Sister isn't afraid of her, but as women, there's often some jealousy. And she's a servant, naturally wary of young ladies from noble families like me. You're so cute, she'll surely speak to you."
Su Xiu'er wasn't completely foolish. She knew that flattering a child at this moment would make him happily do her bidding.
However, Xiao Yihao didn't care much for flattery. He truly missed his mother, and could endure it when no one mentioned her.
But after Su Xiu'er's tearful plea, he was naturally affected.
Indeed, at lunchtime, Xiao Yihao saw Aunt Wang and ran over.
"Esteemed Auntie, I am the medicinal boy by Gu Qianying's side. Do you remember me?"
He blinked his eyes and blocked Aunt Wang's path.
Aunt Wang had served in the palace since she was young. Upon reaching adulthood, she was directly assigned to the Grand Tutor's manor as the head governess. She had rarely seen young boys, and seeing Xiao Yihao suddenly, she was truly captivated by his cuteness for a moment.
"I know you. Is there something you need?"
She bent down and pinched Xiao Yihao's cheek.
Seeing the aunt's natural expression, Xiao Yihao pouted with a wronged look.
"Auntie, Master and Miss Su have been gone for a long time. We haven't heard any news about them during this period. May I know how they are doing?"
Upon hearing the little fellow inquiring about Gu Qianying, Aunt Wang's expression remained unchanged, but a sense of wariness arose in her heart.
"Oh, they are doing very well. The final competition is quite challenging, and the two are evenly matched, so the competition has taken longer."
For a child like this, a few perfunctory words would suffice.
But this little medicinal boy was not easily dismissed.
"Is that so? But I heard that Master and the others are no longer in the palace. Auntie, could you be merciful and allow me and the third young lady of the Su family to see them?"
Seeing the boy becoming increasingly presumptuous, a hint of killing intent flashed in Aunt Wang's eyes, but it vanished in an instant.
"The two of them are crucial to the competition, so naturally, things are strictly managed. However, I find you adorable. If you wish to see them, shall I secretly take you there?"
Although Aunt Wang's demeanor towards him hadn't been bad earlier, this sudden attentiveness made Xiao Yihao feel a trace of unease.
He tried to pull his hand away, but found Aunt Wang tightening her grip on his palm.
His instincts told him that his words had offended this aunt, and he sensed something was wrong. He immediately looked up and said,
"Really, Auntie? Then please wait for me. I prepared some clean clothes for Master. I'll go get them now."
With that, he forcefully broke free from Aunt Wang's grasp and ran towards the garden.
Seeing the little medicinal boy's swift movement, Aunt Wang felt a sense of foreboding.
"What are you standing there for? Go and catch her for me! Remember, alive or dead, bring her here."
Her eyes gleamed with ferocity. Since this medicinal boy had discovered something, his life could no longer be spared.
The sounds of pursuit followed closely behind. Xiao Yihao's legs were short, and he naturally couldn't outrun adults.
He looked around. This was a garden. Although he was short, hiding among the flowers would easily lead to him being discovered.
As the palace servants were about to catch up to him, Xiao Yihao could only rely on fate, squinting his eyes and running forward with all his might.
However, as he rounded the corner of the pavilion, a pair of hands suddenly reached out from the side.
"Mmph!"
Those hands covered his mouth and nose, preventing him from making a sound.
Xiao Yihao struggled, thinking he was finished this time, but the voice that followed immediately put him at ease.
"Don't be afraid, I am Su Cheng."