rs to me. Besides, I never sought his love from the beginning. Who he gives his heart to is none of my concern."Qingqiu and Ningdong listened in silence. Their mistress was very perceptive, but also p...As soon as Meng Jiny Yao finished speaking, the young girl froze. Surprised and bewildered, she seemed to not understand how serving her master had turned into being seen as ungrateful in the eyes of this lady.

The young girl turned her gaze to the handsome and elegant young master standing beside her. Seeing his eyes fixed on this beautiful madam, she understood the importance of this madam in the young master's heart. Nervously, she asked, "Madam, do you think I am not serving you well I can wash clothes, cook, chop firewood, carry water, and do any household chores.

Meng Jinyao shook her head slightly and said softly, "It's not that I think you're not good. It's just that I really don't need another maidservant by my side. Girl, your aunt isn't wrong either. Why become a slave and sell yourself as a maidservant when you could be a respectable commoner It's understandable to be forced into it, but now I'm giving you your freedom back. Isn't that a good thing"

The young girl hesitated for a moment before replying, "Thank you for saving me just now, Madam. I am willing to do anything to repay your kindness. Please be merciful and allow me..."

She spoke earnestly and looked serious.

However, Meng Jinyao remained unmoved: “It’s unnecessary to be so dramatic. I merely said a few words to you just now, nothing to mention. If you truly want to repay me, then return to the capital and live a good life. Don't be deceived again; that would be the greatest repayment.”

Gu Jingxi agreed, "My wife is right. It's just a matter of moving one's lips, miss, you don't have to be so concerned. I wonder where your uncle and aunt disembarked"

The girl replied, "Uncle and aunt, I'll disembark at the next pier."

Gu Jingxi made his decision final, leaving no room for refusal: "That girl will disembark at the next pier and then take a boat back to Beijing. We'll keep an eye on your aunt and uncle, making sure they don't have a chance to go with you off the boat. That way, you won't be dragged back halfway. Once you return to Beijing, with neighbors helping you, they won't dare make any more moves. If all else fails, you can even report them to the authorities."

Upon seeing this, the young girl no longer insisted and knelt down before them, kowtowing: "The little woman thanks the master and madam for their great kindness."

Then Meng Jinyao had the girl go to the next-door guest room, so she could be with Chan'er and Qingqiu. This way, Chan'er could keep an eye on her until they reached the next dock, when she would disembark.

After making the arrangements, Meng Jin Yao returned to her room and sat beside Gu Jing Xi. She took the teacup he offered and sipped it.

Gu Jingxi said softly, "Ayao, I thought you would stay with her just now."

Meng Jin Yao was slightly taken aback, then shook her head. "No, before I spoke up for her, I also used my eyes to consult your opinion. You didn't object so I helped her. But I could help her, I wouldn't keep her."

Gu Jingxi asked, "Why"

Meng Jiny Yao explained, "People of unknown origins, who knows if they will become a scourge when they stay And your trip to Huizhou Prefecture is not just about ancestor worship, there are other things you need to do. Who knows if she was sent by someone to approach us intentionally Of course, if I'm overthinking it, then helping her is doing good deeds, accumulating virtue."

Gu Jingxi was slightly surprised upon hearing this. He hadn't expected Ayao to have thought things through so thoroughly. He had initially assumed that the young girl was kind-hearted and soft, easily moved by sympathy and would take in the other person.

Seeing that he remained silent, Meng Jin Yao questioned, "Husband, is there something wrong with what I did" As she spoke, she lowered her head, her emotions suddenly becoming a little downcast. "Perhaps my upbringing has led to this sensitive and suspicious personality of mine. It's hard for me to trust anyone, and when I meet someone, I become suspicious."

Gu Jingxi shook his head slightly, pulled the person into his arms, and touched her head, praising without stinginess: "No problem, Ayao did a good job. Keep it up in the future. Don't have the heart to harm others, but don't be naive either. Before you understand the bottom line, don't easily trust others, and keep your guard up against those with unknown backgrounds.

Upon hearing this, Meng Jin Yao's slightly tense face relaxed. She leaned into his arms and looked up at him, her eyes sparkling as she smiled and asked, "Husband, if I hadn't thought so much and had kept her here, what would you have done"

Gu Jingxi smiled faintly, "If you want to keep her, then I'll respect your wishes. Let her stay as a maidservant. Even if she has problems, it doesn't matter. Someone else will send an informant anyway. If we don't accept this one, they'll just send another. Since that's the case, it might as well be someone we have under our control."

Upon hearing this, Meng Jin Yao realized that he didn't care about the girl at all. Even if it was someone else's suggestion, it wouldn't matter to him. She then asked, "What does your husband think Does she seem problematic"

Gu Jingxi replied, "Currently, I don't see any problems. But it doesn't matter, whether she stays or leaves, it won't make much difference to us."

The next day, upon arriving at the next pier, Meng Jin Yao gave the young girl some money, enough for her to return to Beijing by boat and still have enough left over for several months of food and lodging. She allowed the girl to disembark and then set sail back to Beijing herself. The girl did not refuse, took the money, thanked her repeatedly and then left.

In the late afternoon, Yu Chuan came to find Gu Jingxi and bowed to both Gu Jingxi and Meng Jin Yao. Then he said something vague: "My lord, they really have a problem."

Gu Jingxi asked, "What's the problem"

"The little one overheard that middle-aged man saying that the young lady was incompetent, and even that couldn't make Madam keep her. Yuchuan stopped speaking and immediately asked, "Master Hou, do you need the little one to bring the person here for interrogation, to see who sent him"

Gu Jingxi pondered for a moment, then said, "No need. We don't want to alert the suspects. Just pretend nothing happened. All we need to know is that perhaps some people can't hold their nerve. If they can't hold their nerve, it proves there's definitely something fishy about this case."

Yuchuan nodded: “Lord Hou is wise.”

Gu Jingxi said softly, "This is none of your concern. Just step aside. That couple is still on the boat. Keep an eye on them."

Yu Chuan responded and stepped back.

When Meng Jin Yao heard Yu Chuan's words, she immediately imagined the young girl and the middle-aged couple, her heart churning with shock. She couldn't believe that the three of them had been arranged to put on a performance in front of her and her husband.

Gu Jingxi saw that his young wife's brows were furrowed and her expression was solemn. He reached out to touch her brow, trying to smooth the wrinkles between her brows, and asked softly, "Ayao, are you scared"

Upon hearing this, Meng Jin Yao hurriedly shook her head and looked up at him: “No, I just didn't expect them to actually have a problem. That girl's goal was to get close to us.”

Gu Jingxi said: "If this plan fails, the mastermind behind it should not repeat the same trick."

Meng Jinyu pondered for a moment, then curiously asked, "My husband, is the case you're investigating related to people in the capital We just left, and it's impossible for Huizhou Prefecture to receive news so quickly. Even if someone wanted to insert an informant, they would be from the capital."

Gu Jingxi replied, "There's a connection on the interpersonal relationship front. As for how much their connection to the case is, we need to see what evidence we find. The other party likely sent an informant over to probe our intentions for this trip."

He stopped talking and changed the subject: "Ayayo, is it dinner time Are you hungry"

Meng Jin Yao originally didn't feel anything, but hearing this, she truly felt hungry and nodded: "I'm a bit hungry. Let's eat first."know, you would think they were mother and daughter instead of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.Looking at Sun's spiritless appearance, he looked at least ten years older than his peers. Everything m...