The couple chatted as they went together to pay their respects to Madam Wen.
Following the Old Madam's wishes, they dined with Madam Wen that evening. Afterward, they visited the Old Madam together. Seeing that she was stable and had fallen asleep after drinking some congee, the two then returned to their own rooms to rest. Before parting, they agreed not to mention the matter to the Old Madam for the time being, so as not to worry her.
To their surprise, the Old Madam learned of it the very next day. It wasn't because their conversation the previous night had been overheard. Rather, the Duke's mansion paid close attention to affairs in the capital. The Duke was currently stationed in the northern territories, and the Heir and the Second Young Master were away on official business. Madam Wen had always managed only the household affairs; the Old Madam was the sole authority on external matters. Therefore, such affairs would naturally be reported to her, and it was impossible to keep them concealed.
She immediately instructed Granny Lin to summon the young couple staying at the mansion to inquire about the matter. Su Xiaoqi appeared flustered, not due to the event itself, but because she felt uneasy that their precautions had inadvertently disturbed the Old Madam. Shen Yun, on the other hand, was far more composed. Within a few breaths, he had regained his composure and stepped forward calmly, saying, "Old Madam, you worry too much. This matter has already been handled."
A flicker of surprise crossed the Old Madam's pale face, as if to ask, "It's handled?" "Oh, if that's the case, then it's good. However, as you are new here, do not overexert yourselves. If you require assistance from the Duke's mansion, please do not hesitate to tell me..." The Old Madam's surgery had been successful, but her age and the suffering she had endured meant that after only one day of recovery, her energy was already flagging from the worry.
Su Xiaoqi quickly held her hand, preventing her from worrying further. Seeing the concern on Su Xiaoqi's face, the Old Madam felt a surge of happiness. She felt that this child was devoted and loyal. Although their grandmother-grandchild relationship was only due to her eldest daughter, it was no less than that of a natural granddaughter in other families. She became even more pleased, stroking Su Xiaoqi's forehead and praising her as a very good and sensible child.
Su Xiaoqi was amused by the Old Madam's lighthearted tone but still insisted on her resting: "Your body is strong, but you must protect it well and not overuse it." Otherwise, with her strong constitution now, she could still persevere, but if she aged further and her bodily functions declined, it would not be easy. The Old Madam knew that, in fact, due to many hidden injuries over the years, her body was nothing like it used to be. However, not wanting Su Xiaoqi to worry, the Old Madam simply smiled, closed her eyes, and rested.
Su Xiaoqi checked her arm again and found that the wound had healed very well. Feeling confident, she left behind some potent healing medicines infused with spatial spiritual herbs, both oral and topical.
Upon returning to their residence in Mao'er Hutong, Su Xiaoqi heard Zhang Yu recount a strange incident that had occurred in Sanhua Street in the western part of the capital the previous night. As Zhang Yu spoke, her expression was somewhat peculiar, and she kept glancing around. Su Xiaoqi understood and alluded to it, saying, "Shen Yun is out. He's gone to study with Grand Scholar Fang, introduced by Mr. Gu." With nearly a month left until the general examination, Shen Yun, in addition to attending poetry gatherings hosted by his peers, frequently visited reclusive scholars recommended by Mr. Gu. These scholars might not be famous, but anyone favored by the esteemed Grand Scholar Gu was naturally talented. However, some possessed the unyielding spirit of scholars and were difficult to get along with. But none of this posed a problem for Shen Yun. If he decided to build a relationship with someone, he could manage it. Su Xiaoqi admired this trait of his.
Upon receiving the signal that her master was absent, Zhang Yu felt she could speak freely. "Last night, someone in Sanhua Street got drunk and collapsed at a street corner, and was then... had that done to them." Su Xiaoqi blinked, initially not understanding, and asked instinctively, "Had what done to them?" After asking, she realized. Ugh, sometimes, not all things needed to be asked so clearly. She felt a flush of embarrassment. She also recalled the incident in Mianzhou City when Su Jiamo, who had tried to bully her, was ridden by two vagrants. Tsk, she mused for a moment before quickly remembering something and asking, "Was that drunkard perhaps the Heir of Marquis Yong'an?"
Zhang Yu looked at her with admiration, "My mistress guesses so accurately." Su Xiaoqi whispered, "Is it your master's doing?" This time, Zhang Yu was even more astonished. Her eyes widened, and she nodded subconsciously, realizing her mistress was indeed intelligent. Su Xiaoqi twitched the corner of her mouth, thinking that Shen Yun was truly a man who would exact revenge. However, his methods were rather repetitive. He didn't seem to mind using them again, having employed them before. But she had to admit, though this tactic was old-fashioned and lacked novelty, it was highly effective. Consider Liu Yuanming, who constantly flaunted his status and acted as proud as a peacock. To have it discovered that he had been subjected to such an indignity while drunk would be enough to shatter all his dignity. Indeed, it was Shen Yun; he dealt with people without bloodshed, but always with the most devastating results. Su Xiaoqi felt that his methods were quite good when used on others. But if they were ever used on her, she suspected she would begin to question reality.
She pondered for a moment and asked, "Were there any loose ends left?" Zhang Yu shook her head, "It was Zhang Feng who led the people. He's always been the best at tracking and espionage, so he wouldn't have left any clues. Even if he did, they would certainly be misleading information." Zhang Yu's confidence made Su Xiaoqi hesitant. To be honest, she had only met two of the four, Feng, Yu, Lei, and Dian. One was Zhang Yu, who stayed by her side, and the other was Zhang Lei, who served as a personal attendant to Shen Yun. She had yet to meet Zhang Feng or Zhang Dian. However, Zhang Feng's name was constantly mentioned by Zhang Yu and Shen Yun. It seemed he was the kind of person who appeared and disappeared without a trace. She had no recollection of ever meeting Zhang Dian. She was very curious about how these people were trained. If possible, she would also like to train a group of people. Shen Yun had many ambitions; if she lacked capable individuals, she would be very passive in the future. Su Xiaoqi felt a headache coming on.
Zhang Yu had been by Su Xiaoqi's side for a long time, and their relationship had grown closer. Having witnessed Su Xiaoqi's intelligence and wisdom, she held her in high esteem. Thus, she proactively asked if anything was on her mind. Su Xiaoqi's thoughts stirred as she asked, "How long did it take you to become this capable?" Zhang Yu paused for a moment and then fell silent. She had received orders to stay by Su Xiaoqi's side, consider her as her master, and obey her commands. But now, she was asking about their origins. She didn't know whether to speak or not. Seeing her predicament, Su Xiaoqi generously waved her hand, saying, "It's fine, you don't have to say if you don't want to." She didn't absolutely need to know.