Qi Qingzhu asked the guard at the gate somewhat awkwardly.
“Excuse me, may I know if this is Heir Pei’s attached mansion?”
“You have some business?” asked one of the guards coldly.
Although Qi Qingzhu worked for the Jiang family, she had never been in regular contact with the gatekeepers of the Jiang residence—she worked mostly in the miss’s courtyard. So, she was quite frightened to be face to face with the tall and expressionless guard. She shrunk herself and said somewhat nervously, “It’s like this. I know that the Lord Heir knows Qi Qingyao. I’m Qi Qingyao’s sister and I came here hoping to ask the Lord Heir where my younger sister is currently staying.”
The guard heard her explanation and could not help replying harshly, “Another one asking about Qi Qingyao. It’s still early in the morning and eight other people have already come asking about Qi Qingyao. One of them also said that she was her sister! The rest claimed they were her brother. Couldn’t you have found another excuse, girl?”
Qi Qingzhu was stunned to the spot. “Ah!”
The guard looked at the woman’s old-fashioned getup; she was wearing what looked like the Jiang family’s maid uniform and was behaving a little uneasy. “Hurry up and leave, don’t make me start chasing you away.”
Qi Qingzhu hurriedly explained, “I really am Qi Qingyao’s elder sister, I’m Qi Qingzhu.”
The guard knew Qi Qingyao. When they heard this, they replied in annoyance, “Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? You, her elder sister? We have seen Ms. Qi before and though she came from poor beginnings, she looks like an angel. Come on! Not even bothering to prepare a script before lying! Hurry up and move aside. ”
“Sir!” Qi Qingzhu still wanted to defend herself.
The guard held the spear in front of him and pointed it at Qi Qingzhu. “Don’t cause any more trouble. Everyone says that they are her sister, yet they can’t even provide evidence! Everyone says that they live in Linquan Village! Don’t tell me you’re going to say that you live in Linquan Village too? Hurry up! Leave!”
“…”
This…
Qi Qingzhu was stunned.
What was going on?
Why would there be groups of people trying to be recognized as her family? Why?
Her sister should only be acquainted with a handful of people in Qingzhou City!
Qi Qingzhu left somewhat helplessly.
Given that so many people had come forward asking about Qi Qingyao early in the morning, Li Qing waited for Pei Fengtang to wake up before going forth to report to him.
“Lord Heir, someone has deliberately spread news about Qi Qingyao to the masses, causing many people to come and ask about Qi Qingyao’s whereabouts.”
Heir Pei got up and responded as he put on his clothes, “The fact that they asked where Qi Qingyao was meant that they are only small fry and do not know that she had won the Lu family’s mansion. They also have no idea where she is living now.”
“So, what should we do now?” Should they let the masses know where Qi Qingyao was staying? Li Qing was not sure what the Lord Heir was thinking.
Heir Pei said indifferently, “This has nothing to do with us, we’ll just keep to ourselves and watch the matter unfold itself.”
“I suspect it’s because Qi Qingyao offended the Jiang family. The Jiang family has ties with the Yulong Gang and they could have purposefully gotten someone to spread the news about her, saying that she has a connection to Su Hexiao! This would explain the many inexplicable people coming to our doorstep this morning asking about Qi Qingyao. Some even inquired about the Divine Physician Su Hexiao…” Li Qing theorized cautiously.
Pei Fengtang said nothing.
He was thinking that, based on how there were already people coming to cause trouble at his attached mansion, it was likely that… she would not have much peace at her new home.
…
Qi Qingyao did some needlework that morning. After the children woke up, the maid brought water for them to wash their faces. After they cleaned themselves up, they sat down together and had breakfast. The rest of the servants had started cleaning the snow in the courtyard.
Manager Zhang suddenly came forward to report something.
“Miss, there is someone here to see you.”
“Who is it?” To be looking for her this early in the morning… they must have some hidden agenda.
Manager Zhang wiped the fine sweat on his forehead. “It’s an old lady who came, she said she’s your grandmother.”
Qi Qingyao, “??”
What grandmother!