Ning Yue went to the kitchen and was about to ask Madam He something when she saw Madam He looking distracted. She did not even feel that her hand was bleeding.
Ning Yue did not dare to talk to Madam He directly, afraid that she would be shocked and cut herself deeper.
At the thought of this, Ning Yue simply went forward and took the knife from Madam He’s hand.
“Mother, what’s wrong?” Ning Yue asked.
Madam He sighed and wanted to say something, but she didn’t know where to start. She could only shake her head. “Nothing.”
“How can it be nothing? Mother, when Cousin came just now, you asked him directly if he liked braised eggplants. This is the first time you’ve seen him. How would you know what he likes to eat?” Ning Yue asked with a frown.
“Sigh.” Madam He sighed heavily. “I don’t know what to tell you either.”
“I don’t know my background. I don’t have any memories of what happened when I was young. As long as I can remember, I was sold to a rich family to be a maidservant before I married your father.”
“I didn’t think I’d remember anything from the past, but after just seeing your cousin, I remembered the image of a child about your cousin’s age eating braised eggplant at home.”
Hearing Madam He’s words, Ning Yue suddenly remembered that the original owner had once asked Madam He if she had grandparents. Every time, Madam He said that her grandparents were far away.
“Mother, do you remember anything else?” Ning Yue asked.
Hearing Ning Yue’s question, Madam He tried her best to recall. “I only remember that I was bought as a maidservant in Xinzhou in the past. I followed someone called Auntie Hong. I don’t remember anything else.”
“Mother, I’ll try my best to help you find the truth. If you can remember anything else these days, tell me as much as possible.”
She was already in her teens now. According to her calculations, it had been more than 20 years since Madam He had been sold as a maidservant. Just based on Xinzhou, Auntie Hong, and a wealthy family, she might not be able to find anything.
Moreover, there had been a recent drought, and everyone who could escape had fled. Xinzhou was also a place they had passed when escaping. It was hard to say if Auntie Hong was in Xinzhou.
“Okay, let’s cook first. Your cousin likes braised eggplants, so we’ll make more tonight.” With that, Madam He went to wash the eggplants.
Liu Xuan ate especially well tonight.
Ever since his father passed away, he had not eaten so peacefully.
His father had always hoped that he could study and become the top scholar, but he was not a scholarly type. In recent years, it had not been easy for the emperor to set up a martial arts examination and award the title of a top scholar. Only then did he plan to enter the capital.
He did not expect to meet his cousin here and eat such delicious food. The more he ate, the more he wanted to cry. It took him a lot of effort to hold back his tears.
After dinner, Ning Yue looked for Jiang Ying.
“I want you to help me investigate something,” Ning Yue said.
“What is it?” Jiang Ying asked her.
“It’s about my mother.” Ning Yue told Jiang Ying everything she had talked to Madam He about in the kitchen.
“That’s why I want you to help me investigate my mother’s background.”
Jiang Ying nodded. “No problem, but it’s been 20 years since this incident. We might not be able to find out. You have to be mentally prepared,” Jiang Ying said.
“I know. It’s precisely because a long time has passed that I asked you for help,” Ning Yue said apologetically.
If it had only been a year or two, she might have been able to ask anyone. There was no need to trouble Jiang Ying.
“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely send someone to investigate. However, Xinzhou doesn’t belong to my father’s fief, so the investigation will take some time,” Jiang Ying said.
“It’s fine. It’s already very good that you agreed to help me investigate,” Ning Yue said with a smile.
“By the way, how are the seeds I gave you?”
It had been a few months since she had given Jiang Ying the seeds. It was hard to say about the barley, but the sweet potatoes should have sprouted.
“Yes, the barley only grew sprouts. I don’t know what the future will be like, but the sweet potatoes grow very quickly,” Jiang Ying said with a smile.
“Actually, the seedlings of sweet potatoes are edible, but if you want to harvest sweet potatoes, eat less of them,” Ning Yue said.
“How can sweet potato seedlings be eaten?” Jiang Ying asked.
Someone from the Prince Jin’s Residence had reported to him that the sweet potatoes had started growing. They were very long and green, so much so that the entire ground was almost covered.
If the sweet potato seedlings were edible, then the sweet potato was really a gem!