The group chattered and laughed jovially as they headed towards the entrance of Qixia Temple.
From a distance, Old Mrs. Li saw Old Mrs. Ji stumble and almost fall.
The Li Family maids who were following them quickly supported her and asked softly, "Old Madame, what’s wrong?"
Old Mrs. Li hurriedly patted her chest. Her mind was flooded with the memory of that dark night, at Ling Village’s chaotic burial mound, where she and her daughter-in-law, Zhao Chunxiang, were buried alive with only their heads exposed.
Cold sweat broke out all over her body.
"Grandma! What’s wrong?" Li Yanyan, feeling Old Mrs. Li’s trembling, quickly asked.
Old Mrs. Li struggled to stand straight, stabilized her mind, and looked back along the mountain road. Not seeing Old Mrs. Ji’s lame son and eldest daughter-in-law, she finally managed to calm her frantic heart.
"Who are those people in that group? Do you know them?" Old Mrs. Li asked the maid assisting her, pointing towards Old Mrs. Ji and her group, her voice and hands trembling uncontrollably.
The Li Family maid craned her neck to look in the direction of the Ji Family members, looking perplexed.
"They seem to be wearing the Ji Family’s servant attire, but those people aren’t from the Ji Family!"
This maid wasn’t aware that there were two Ji Families: one that had the national pillar, and the other an ordinary official family in the Capital City.
The Ji Family they were familiar with was the official Ji Family from the Capital City, so this maid didn’t recognize Old Mrs. Ji and her group.
"Not from the Ji Family! Whose family do they belong to then?" Old Mrs. Li quickly asked. Could it be that these people just resembled that Old Mrs. Ji?
Old Mrs. Li thought. It wasn’t impossible. The Ji Family was from Lower Ling Village, the poorest place imaginable. Their family had no one of any standing; how could they possibly have shown up in the Capital City? And with so many Maids and maids attending them!
Upon these thoughts, Old Mrs. Li said nothing further and started to leave, pulling Li Yanyan along.
However, Li Yanyan’s voice reached her ears, "Grandma! Why does that old lady look like Suisui’s maternal grandmother?"
Li Yanyan had met Old Mrs. Ji before, since Old Mrs. Ji would often visit the Li Family to see Xiaosuisui, always accompanied by Wang Dongxue.
Zhu Xiuxiu rarely visited. Huo Xing’Er, preoccupied with farm work, also hadn’t encountered Li Yanyan much during her own visits. It wasn’t surprising, then, that Li Yanyan didn’t recognize them, especially considering Li Yanyan’s own youth.
"You... you noticed as well?" Old Mrs. Li stammered. "That old crone looks like that jinx’s maternal grandmother?"
Li Yanyan nodded vigorously. Then, as if remembering something, she strained to look towards Xiaosuisui, who was being held by Huo Xing’Er. Thanks to the National Master’s teachings, she had indeed learned a few things; even from a distance, she could clearly see the scar on Xiaosuisui’s face! But then she remembered! In Yang City, there was a young girl wearing a veil whose voice sounded just like Xiaosuisui’s! And the woman holding the veiled Xiaosuisui... she looked just like the young woman beside Old Mrs. Ji!
"I remember now!" Li Yanyan exclaimed, her eyes wide. "That woman, she... she was holding Suisui..."
"You... What did you say?" Old Mrs. Li demanded, her voice dropping. "Sui... Suisui? Who was holding..." She trailed off, abruptly clapping a hand over her own mouth, then quickly pulled Li Yanyan aside.
Their quick pace and anxious expressions would have immediately alerted any keen observer that something was amiss!
The Li Family’s maid watched for a while, then leisurely followed.
Unexpectedly, Old Mrs. Li stated directly, "Don’t follow us. My granddaughter and I have private matters to discuss!"
The Li Family maid’s lips twitched upon hearing this. Hmph, peasants are truly beyond helping. Did they really think I wanted to follow them?