Her heart immensely anticipated an answer.
Had Yi Zixing truly returned to the marquis's residence for some matter?
Had he not believed her, but instead believed Yun Shu?
The person who emerged from the residence was the gatekeeper.
Yi Zixing was not behind him.
"The young lord is exceedingly busy and cannot come out to see Miss Qian. If Miss Qian has matters to attend to, please inform this servant," the gatekeeper said to Qian Leer.
Upon hearing this, Qian Leer's face drastically changed.
Regardless of the matter or how busy he was, he should know she was waiting. Now that she had come to his doorstep, he was avoiding her!
Seeing Qian Leer's suddenly grim and displeased expression, Xiao Ju whispered to her, "Madam, perhaps the young lord is with the marquis, and the marquis forbade the young lord from seeing you. Please do not overthink it."
Hearing this, Qian Leer made up her mind and headed towards the slightly ajar mansion gate, "Today, I must see the young lord."
The gatekeeper never expected Qian Leer to attempt to force her way in without permission.
He hurried over, "Wait! The marquis's residence is not a place you can just barge into! Do you know the penalty for trespassing into a marquis's residence?"
Qian Leer would not have been so reckless before, but now she couldn't care less!
"I have something to say to the young lord, and you know perfectly well who I am. The young lord has promised to give me a status. We will see each other every day from now on, so why make things so difficult? I will leave immediately after seeing the young lord! Or, you can ask the young lord to come out and see me. As long as he comes out, I will not step foot inside!" Qian Leer said through gritted teeth, her voice filled with anger.
These servants, they had no foresight!
Did they truly believe she wouldn't be able to enter the marquis's residence in the future?
Seeing Qian Leer's unreasonable outburst and the commotion she was causing, the gatekeeper had no choice but to return inside, "This servant will go in and report to the young lord now. Please wait here patiently."
A moment later.
The grand gate of the marquis's residence opened once more.
This time, it was not just the gatekeeper.
Someone followed him out.
Yi Zixing walked out.
Seeing the anxious Qian Leer, his eyes held a hint of scrutiny. "Leer, go back and wait for me. I will come to see you in a few days."
Qian Leer quickly stepped forward, tears welling up in her eyes, "Young lord..."
"I indeed have some matters to attend to, and I cannot speak with you for the moment. Go back and wait with peace of mind," Yi Zixing's tone remained gentle and considerate.
Qian Leer's heart settled slightly. She bit her lip, revealing a trace of unease and reluctance. "Alright, young lord, take care of yourself. I will wait for you."
After speaking, she could only watch as Yi Zixing walked back inside.
From the moment he entered until the gate closed, he never once looked back.
If it were in the past, it would never have been like this.
Qian Leer began to feel uneasy.
Even when she was seated in the carriage, her heart was still filled with apprehension.
Someone had once said that unusual events foreshadow trouble.
"Madam, Madam?"
Xiao Ju saw that Qian Leer was lost in thought, her face as pale as if she were frightened, and quickly called out.
Qian Leer immediately snapped back to attention, frowning as she looked at Xiao Ju, "What is it?"
"The jewelry shop is just ahead. Madam, would you like to take a look?" Xiao Ju knew Qian Leer well. After arriving in the capital, whether Qian Leer was happy or unhappy, she always liked to visit jewelry shops. Buying a pile of things could turn a bad mood into a good one.
Qian Leer was now on high alert and had no mood to visit the jewelry shop. "No need, let's go back first."
She might need to find that person!
...
A few days later.
Old Master Qin was buried.
When everyone had dispersed.
Yun Shu, accompanied by Zhan Tianye, stood guard by Old Master Qin's tombstone.
Around them, only the sound of the wind could be heard.
Yun Changfeng stood with the three little ones nearby. They did not speak, all remaining quiet.
Yun Changfeng sighed in his heart, alas!
Life is unpredictable!
These past two days, he had been dreaming of Old Master Qin from time to time. He always felt that the number of people he could talk to and drink with joyfully was dwindling. It seemed that many of the people who had shared laughter and tears with them had already departed.
Old Master Qin was an elder worthy of respect.
Despite not having known him for long, they had already become sworn friends.
Yun Shu pursed her lips slightly.
Some news had been uncovered about the assassins. They originated from the Western Xia Kingdom.
Upon learning that these assassins were from the Western Xia Kingdom, she was very surprised. Why would assassins from the Western Xia Kingdom come to the Eastern Ning Kingdom?
"Once the capital is stabilized, I will go to the Eastern Ning Kingdom. Grandfather, I will make them pay for their blood debt," Zhan Tianye said in a deep voice.
Yun Shu had heard Old Master Qin mention that he had some businesses in the Western Xia Kingdom, which was why Old Master Qin would occasionally travel there every two or three years.
Of course, blood must be repaid with blood!
However, the mastermind behind the assassination attempts on her and Old Master Qin in the capital must be within the capital.
But this assassin organization needed to be uprooted.
Beside them, Zhan Xiaoli, who had been quietly watching Yun Shu and Zhan Tianye,
Suddenly clutched his head and squatted on the ground.
A multitude of voices surged into his head.
In an instant, his small forehead was covered in sweat.
"Xiaoli, what's wrong?" Yun Xiaojing also squatted down. Seeing Zhan Xiaoli's pale little face, he was so frightened that he quickly said to his maternal grandfather, "Maternal grandfather! Xiaoli seems to be sick!"
"Let me see!" Zhan Xiaofeng was very calm and collected. He squatted down and asked calmly, "Xiaoli, where do you feel uncomfortable?"
"Xiaoli, what's wrong?" Yun Changfeng came to his senses and looked at Zhan Xiaoli with great anxiety.
Zhan Xiaoli covered his ears, overwhelmed by the multitude of voices in his head, he couldn't hear Yun Changfeng's questions.
He squeezed his eyes shut tightly. Even with his hands over his ears, the voices were like the wind, desperately drilling into his ears.
One voice said, "Later, we'll dig up Old Master Qin's coffin. The burial site has too good fortune, which is too advantageous for Prince Ye."
"Why haven't they left yet?"
"Wait, we'll make our move when it gets dark!"
"Master said to let the old man buried in the coffin never find peace, for he had offended Master."
"Don't worry, I can grind him into ashes."
"..."
Yun Shu and Zhan Tianye also noticed Zhan Xiaoli's abnormality and immediately walked towards them.
Beneath the shade of the tree, Zhan Xiaoli's face was even paler than before.
Sweat dripped down.
"Xiaoli." Yun Shu immediately squatted down and pulled Xiaoli into her embrace.
Zhan Xiaofeng quickly said to Yun Shu, "Mother, Xiaoli seems to be frightened!"
"Frightened? We are all here, and Xiaoli has always been brave. It doesn't seem like he would be frightened so easily," Yun Changfeng looked around. The surroundings were silent, not a single sound could be heard. Xiaoli was not the type of child to be suddenly startled.
Yun Shu sensed something was amiss and carefully wiped the sweat from Xiaoli's forehead and face.
Then, she gently said to Xiaoli, "Mother, Father, and Maternal Grandfather, our family is all here, Xiaoli."
The chaotic voices in Xiaoli's mind disappeared. All that remained was his mother's gentle voice, saying their family was all here.
He looked at the tombstone of his great-grandfather and pointed with his finger, his voice calm and not panicked, "Someone wants to dig up great-grandfather's coffin and grind him into ashes. I heard it all. They are not far away, and they said great-grandfather offended their master."