"There's nothing we can do about it, but I guess she can't go very far with just two legs. I'll send people to inquire around slowly, and they should be able to get some clues." Yu Zhu said helplessly, this is all she can do now.

In the end, she couldn't help but persuade: "...You have done your best for Shuanghong. You have helped her so much. The debt you owe her mother has been paid off long ago. There is no need to strain yourself like this anymore. Don't you still

Can you take care of her for the rest of your life?"

She had said these words to Ning Qiu more than once, but the effect was always not ideal. Yu Zhu wondered if she should do something...

After being out for too long, Yu Zhu was also thinking about Brother Xi, so he stood up and left without further delay.

Ning Qiu sent her to the door until the carriage disappeared around the corner of the street, then turned around sadly.

The little maid named Zao'er who had just replied hurriedly came over, her little head hanging down with a pitiful look.

"I'm not angry." Ning Qiu smiled and put her arm around Zao'er's shoulders, "It was all my fault in the past that caused you to suffer so much grievance."

Zaoer shook his head quickly and argued: "It's none of your business..."

"Okay, how is Mrs. Wu doing now? Let's go check on her." Ning Qiu touched Zao'er's head to prevent her from talking any more.

It's my own fault, I was indeed negligent in the past.

"Yes." Zao'er nodded vigorously. As long as Miss Shuanghong was under supervision, their worries would be put down.

At this time, there was a sudden rush of footsteps ahead.

Then Liu Ma ran over panting. As soon as she stood still, she covered her chest and said: "Miss Ning, go quickly... go and see, Miss Shuanghong has a rope to hang herself. The slaves are stopping her."

Can't stop it."

Ning Qiu and Zaoer looked at each other helplessly and hurriedly followed...

When Yu Zhu returned to Cheng Guogong's mansion, he was greeted by Yu Bian as soon as he entered Qingfu Courtyard.

"Madam, you are back!" Although she was a little anxious, she still did not forget to bow to Yuzhu and salute, "The eldest lady and Miss Jiu are here, talking to the old man... Sister Wenyue who is next to the eldest sister has just arrived.

Yes, please come over when you come back."

"Old lady?" Yu Zhu raised an eyebrow, what is she doing here?

While muttering, he went back to the inner room and changed his clothes, "...how is my husband doing? Is there any improvement today?"

It's better to stay warm and rest in bed when the wind is cold, but don't work too hard for too long.

Yubian replied: "I'm feeling much better now. I heard I can get out of bed now."

Yu Zhu nodded, and then asked anxiously about Brother Xi's situation. When he learned that everything was fine, he led the maid and the mother-in-law out.

The old lady has been quiet for a few days since Cheng Xunxun took action last time, and has never come to her door. Today, the sun has risen from the latrine.

But one thing that is certain is that she will definitely go to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing, and she doesn't blame herself for thinking the worst of people's hearts. She is really in this position, and it is impossible not to be more evil-minded.

Thinking about it this way, it is really inappropriate for Ning Qiu to marry Ma Yingjie now. Ma Yingjie has already entered the officialdom and is now valued by the emperor. In the future, the official may not be big, but the power will definitely not be too small. Madam Diplomacy

It is even more indispensable.

Ning Qiu has a straightforward temper and a kind heart. She does not like and does not like those things that involve overt or covert speculation and calculation. If they were forced to get together, they would definitely not be as compatible as before.

It seems that Ning Qiu is simple and self-aware... If the talent of Guirong is really as good as what he heard about, it will be a good destination for her!

The moment of thought had arrived, Hua Ruo reminded her to pay attention to the stone steps under her feet, and a little maid stepped forward to open the door curtain with Hunan-colored engraved silk threads and flowers.

The charcoal fire was burning brightly in the room, and there was a faint smell of medicine. The old man looked much better, and was no longer as pale and haggard as before... He was wearing a thick cyan plate-collared wide-sleeved robe, sitting

On the Arhat bed, which was covered with a pale leather mattress, he was talking to the old lady, while Mrs. Ji led the maids to wait on her.

Standing next to her was a bright girl with almond-shaped eyes and peach cheeks. She was wearing a long coat embroidered with autumn-scented green flowers and long branches. She had a thin face and slim waist, and a slim figure, but she had a charming look about her. She was the adopted daughter of the eldest lady, Haitang.

Seeing Yuzhu come in, everyone standing there hurriedly saluted.

After greeting each other, Yu Zhu smiled and said: "I came back late, aunt, please don't blame me for being negligent."

After not seeing each other for a few days, the old lady became a little more old-fashioned. When Yu Zhu said this, her eyes were compassionate and she said softly: "It doesn't matter, there's nothing urgent."

Yu Zhu smiled and walked to Ji's side without saying anything.

"Sister-in-law, don't worry. Although I can't reach that long, I'm not useless. Brother Ming, just do your job well, and I will always keep an eye out for him." There was a trace of sincerity on the old man's face.

Smiling, it is obvious that she still respects this sister-in-law.

The eldest lady nodded excitedly and said with tears in her eyes: "Sister-in-law, I know I'm right about you... Your eldest brother is also cruel, and he just gave up on him, but what's wrong with calling us orphans and widowed mothers...

It's a good thing that my second brother cares about brotherhood, otherwise none of the younger generations would be promising, and I wouldn't be able to see the master even if I were underground..."

Haitang hurriedly and carefully approached her, holding a handkerchief to help the eldest lady wipe away her tears. Her eye circles were also red, adding to her delicate appearance.

The old man also sighed deeply and advised: "Don't worry, I won't wrong you. Although the ancestral rules are that we can't live together after we separate, but the eldest brother has gone, and I, the younger brother, can't watch you suffer."

.”

After he made his guarantee, he asked again: "Brother Ming is out, can all the joints be dredged? Do you want me to do some more treatment?"

"Second brother, don't worry, everything is in order." The eldest lady had already calmed down, her brows were slightly relaxed, and she waved her hand: "I have been helping him pack his luggage recently, and training the servants who are going to be taken away... Yes

I got things done, and I felt a little relieved from my depression.”

"That's exactly what it should be." The old man agreed with his eyes, his face softened a little, and he smiled and invited the elder lady to have tea.

Ji thought that the tea was cold, so she went down to change the tea without using a maid.

Yu Zhu hurriedly followed him out.

As soon as they turned around, the smiles on both of their faces faded, and they were no longer too lazy to maintain it.

"Why are you so sincere..." Yu Zhu couldn't help but pull Ji, "You are busy taking care of your adopted brother every day, you must be very tired, you have to do such a small thing yourself?

"

Ever since she found out that Cheng Siyi was addicted to opium, she never let him go out again. He stayed in his room and took medicine every day. His addiction is not deep yet, and he can quit as long as he can get over it.

But to put it simply, it’s not that easy inside.

First of all, Cheng Siyi's temper became very bad - after he became addicted, he would go to Hongfu Tower like crazy. The Ji family would definitely not let him go, so he stirred a hornet's nest... At that time, Cheng Siyi's bad temper often made people angry.

He lost his mind and had no scruples about Ji anymore, to the point where he scolded her whenever he opened his mouth and hit her whenever he stretched out his hand.

Feeding him medicine every time is like a melee, unless Cheng Siyi occasionally recovers and becomes conscious...

She had to hide the truth from her husband and take care of Cheng Siyi and her children. It can be said that Ji was exhausted both physically and mentally.

In fact, according to Yu Zhu's thoughts, tying up Cheng Siyi would save a lot of inconvenience - tying him up with loose cloth strips would not hurt him and save a lot of effort.

But she must not say this, and Ji would not agree if she did. On the contrary, it would be inappropriate.

Ji took out the tea ball and put it into the cup, slowly poured hot water into it, and glanced at Yu Zhu gratefully, "Second Aunt, it's okay. Compared to my fault, what is this tiredness?"

Yu Zhu silently took the small tea tray carved from ebony wood and placed it on the table, sighing in her heart. Ji had always had the idea that if she hadn't persuaded Cheng Siyi to go out on errands, he wouldn't have met those bad friends, and he wouldn't have suffered like this.

A calamity...

"Look at you, why are you still saying such things now?" The tea had already been filled, but Yu Zhu held down Ji's hand, "Even if Brother Yi stays in the house all day, there may be other things.

If you come out, it may be more serious, and then you will regret it again."

When it comes to self-comfort, no one can compare to her.

Ji's eyes lit up and she didn't say anything. She just nodded to Yu Zhu and went in with the tea tray.

The eldest lady's temperament is much more restrained than before. She no longer has the arrogance and command when the eldest husband was alive and when Mr. Xie just passed away. The red lipstick that was too bright in the past has disappeared, and she is wearing a brown satin front.

Aoer, with a silver hairpin inlaid with beeswax droplets on his head, and a lot of gray hair on his temples, he vaguely looked like a kindly elder.

This kind of look made Yu Zhu quite unaccustomed to it, so he just stood quietly and listened to the two of them doing their daily routine.

After seeing the old lady off, Yu Zhu personally served the cooked medicine and said with a smile: "...Brother Ming is going to be released. This is the first good news this year and it is a good sign."

The old man smiled and took the medicine bowl, drank it all in one gulp, and then took the warm cloth from the maid's hand to wipe the corners of his mouth, "That's it. Brother Ming knows how to make progress, and it's not unreasonable that your uncle loves him the most.

He is the eldest son, and he will have to take on the responsibilities of the whole family in the future."

He didn't quite agree with the Xie family's methods in the past. After all, they were all descendants of the Cheng family. It was nothing special to help, so why bother letting the eldest brother suffer all the time?

Of course he knew the difference between concubines and concubines, but the Cheng family's direct descendants were so powerful, why should they suppress concubines so harshly...

Thinking of the Xie family, he couldn't help but think of the Zhuyi princess. After all, she was not a married woman, and the status of the Duke's palace was always ranked behind her...

As soon as his thoughts changed, Xie's cold and solemn face appeared in front of him again, and he heard her call him softly: "Master..."

Yu Zhu looked at her husband with his eyes slightly closed, as if he was lost in some kind of thought. He quickly pulled Ji's hand, and the two of them retreated lightly.

After Cheng Xunxun came back in the evening, Yu Zhu took him to Cheng Siyi's yard.

Cheng Xun Gong was not in the house, so there were some things that no one except Cheng Xun Xun dared to do, such as tying up Cheng Siyi.

"Except when you are asleep and awake, you are not allowed to untie it at any other time." Cheng Xunxun ordered. The prescriptions prescribed by Dr. Gu added a lot of soothing herbs, which could make him fall asleep for most of the day.

Looking at Cheng Siyi who was tightly tied up on the bed, Ji felt heartbroken and hated the few people who had seduced her husband into Hongyun Tower to the core of his heart.

"Old Doctor Gu said that the reaction was only strong for the first half month, and then it became slightly uncomfortable... Gradually it will be under control, don't worry." Cheng Xunxun stood in front of Cheng Siyi's bed with his hands behind his back, and comforted Ji with a few words,

It's really hard for her that her adopted brother has become like this.

Mrs. Ji bowed to show that she had listened.

The maid brought the medicine, and she hurriedly went to take it, sat down in front of the bed, and went to feed it herself.
To be continued...