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Liu Zhoucheng had been thinking about Tan Xiaomei and the others, so after exchanging a few pleasantries with Ning Qingyuan, he quickly excused himself. After offering his respects, he turned and led the group toward the back courtyard of the Cao residence.
As they walked, everyone was silent, each absorbed in thoughts about the unexpected visit from the top scholar.
Only Miao Shi, with her sharp tongue, couldn’t help but break the silence. “Liu Shiye, was that really the new top scholar? What is he doing here in our little Pingyang County?”
Wan Chunmei and Tan Xiaomei were momentarily stunned, but they too turned to look at Liu Zhoucheng with curiosity in their eyes.
Liu Zhoucheng chuckled lightly as he walked and replied, “It’s not anything major. He’s just here looking for someone.”
“Looking for someone?” The group asked in unison.
Even Little Qiyue, who was resting on Tan Xiaomei’s shoulder, blinked her eyes in curiosity.
“Yes, looking for someone,” Liu Zhoucheng confirmed with a smile.
Wan Chunmei, emboldened by the conversation, whispered, “Liu Shiye, who is he looking for? Could there really be someone from the capital in this small place?”
Liu Zhoucheng didn’t try to hide it. He took a deep breath and said slowly, “A few years ago, the Empress’s consort, while pregnant with the Emperor’s child, was on a journey to visit family when she was ambushed by bandits in Pingyang County and lost her life. Recently, there have been reports that before her death, she gave birth to a child, who was left to wander in our county. So, the Emperor has sent the new top scholar to investigate.”
Previously, when the Emperor had sent Eunuch Chen on a secret mission to search for the child, it had been a covert matter. But now, with Ning Qingyuan’s official visit, Liu Zhoucheng could speak more freely about it.
Wan Chunmei and Tan Xiaomei, who lived in a remote village and were preoccupied with daily survival, weren’t particularly interested in such distant events. After hearing Liu Zhoucheng’s explanation about the new top scholar’s mission, they quickly returned to discussing the Cao County Magistrate.
“Liu Shiye, by the way, who is the new wife of the Cao County Magistrate?” Wan Chunmei asked, glancing at the busy maids and servants around them.
Liu Zhoucheng thought for a moment before answering, “I believe she is just the daughter of an ordinary family here in Pingyang County, her surname is You.”
Wan Chunmei couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, “This Cao County Magistrate, always causing trouble for young girls.”
Liu Zhoucheng pretended not to hear and simply smiled as he continued leading them.
After passing through two small corridors, the group arrived at the back courtyard.
There, a woman who was hanging laundry noticed them approaching and was startled. She immediately ran over to Miao Shi, calling out loudly, “Old Fifth! What are you doing here?”
Miao Shi was the fifth in her family, so her mother always referred to her as “Old Fifth.”
“Mother!” Miao Shi’s face lit up as she hurried toward her mother. All the pent-up frustration she had been feeling suddenly poured out, and the two of them exchanged a warm greeting.
Wan Chunmei and Tan Xiaomei watched quietly as they walked ahead to the embroidery room, where five or six embroiderers were already working. With Wan Chunmei and Tan Xiaomei joining in, they now had a total of eight people.
As soon as they entered, work began immediately.
Wan Chunmei managed to get Tan Liujin to sleep in a corner, but Little Qiyue couldn’t seem to fall asleep. She kept her large round eyes open, looking around at everything curiously.
Since Wan Chunmei and Tan Xiaomei were both busy, they didn’t have time to attend to her.
Noticing this, Liu Zhoucheng, who hadn’t yet left, bent down and asked Tan Xiaomei, “How about I take care of her for a while? I can bring her back after you finish your work.”
Tan Xiaomei hesitated, looking at Little Qiyue. “Liu Shiye, do you think you can handle it?”
Liu Zhoucheng smiled. “She’s such a good child, she won’t cry or fuss. Don’t worry, the County Magistrate holds me in high regard; he won’t mind if I walk around the estate with a child.”
Tan Xiaomei was still unsure, but before she could make a decision, Little Qiyue reached out her small hand toward him.