After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 94 Does she really still have any relatives in the world?
When Manager Lin heard Xiang Ning ask this question, he tilted his head slightly and pondered for a moment.

She gently stroked her chin with her slender fingers, then slowly replied, "This thing isn't hard to get if you have money."

His voice was slightly hoarse, yet it also conveyed a sense of composure born of experience.

"I know someone in the water town who can get you one."

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning's tense nerves relaxed slightly.

"You still need an identity, right?"

Before Xiang Ning could finish speaking, Manager Lin, as if he had expected it, turned his head and looked up, revealing a knowing smile.

"You already know, so there's nothing I can say."

Xiang Ning blushed, the blush spreading rapidly like the sunset, reaching all the way to her ears.

She hadn't expected Manager Lin to be so shrewd; she had only just begun, yet he had already guessed most of what would happen next.

"It's not something that's difficult to do. Money makes the world go round."

Manager Lin shrugged nonchalantly, believing that with enough money, all the world's problems could be solved.

With a travel permit and identity, Xiang Ning was able to leave the water town.

By then, even if Pei Yanzhi discovers any clues, she will be able to leave no trace thanks to these preparations.

The two chatted casually and gradually became acquainted.

As night fell, darkness enveloped the surroundings, with only a few lanterns casting a faint glow in the wind.

Standing in the middle of the group, the forest steward cleared his throat and shouted, "Everyone, set up camp here and rest for the night before leaving."

Upon hearing this, everyone busied themselves with their tasks.

Some were moving supplies, some were leveling the ground, and others were setting up tent frames.

In an instant, figures moved about, and the sounds of footsteps and objects clattering together mingled together.

Xiang Ning sat in the carriage, the surrounding noise isolated by the carriage.

She slowly picked up the water pouch beside her, gently squeezed out a few drops of water, wet her fingertips, and wrote her name stroke by stroke on the small table in the carriage.

The water stains shimmered faintly under the light, as if carrying her endless thoughts.

In fact, after talking with Lu Jiang yesterday, Xiang Ning's heart was filled with ripples.

She could clearly feel that she had unconsciously become somewhat close to Lu Jiang.

This sense of closeness was quite peculiar; even though she had never met Lu Jiang before, the feeling of closeness seemed innate.

Especially when he said his aunt's name was Lu Hualan, Xiang Ning's heart felt like it was being gripped by an invisible hand.

In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through her mind, and her heart was filled with anticipation.

She longed to get more information about her family from Lu Jiang, but reality stood like a cold wall, ruthlessly blocking her way.

The clues and evidence they had were all completely different, like two parallel lines that could never intersect, no matter how hard they tried.

"Auntie..."

Xiang Ning lay on the table, muttering to herself.

Her mother's face appeared before her eyes, and she remembered her mother's words. She felt as if a ball of cotton was stuck in her heart, making her feel heavy and uncomfortable.

Does she really have any relatives left in this world?

Or perhaps, was her mother really not lying to her?
But why, after inquiring everywhere for so long, is there still no news?

Each search was like a stone sinking into the sea, failing to stir up even a ripple of hope, leaving only exhaustion and disappointment.

Xiang Ning even thought that it would be better to just leave it at that and stop looking. She could live a good life on her own in this world.

But that was her mother's last wish, and Xiangning had to do it.
-
At this moment, in a quiet courtyard in Ling'an, night had fallen and all was silent.

Suddenly, a candle slowly lit up, its dim yellow flame illuminating the scene inside. Pei Yanzhi sat quietly in the room, his posture upright, his expression cold and stern, his gaze piercing as he looked at the man opposite him.

"My lord, your men have asked me many times who put the stuff in this gold bracelet. I really don't know."

Shi Hao looked helpless, shaking his head as he spoke urgently, trying to convince Pei Yanzhi of his abilities.

Think it through before you reply.

Pei Yanzhi's voice was steady and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority.

After he finished speaking, he said no more and just sat there quietly, watching Shi Hao.

His gaze was deep and sharp, and under this pressure, Shi Hao's heart gradually became uneasy.

"I...I really don't know. This bracelet, he, he didn't make it."

After being interrogated by Pei Yanzhi's men for so long, Shi Hao finally couldn't withstand the pressure and blurted out those words.

His voice trembled slightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Mingxiang was immediately startled: "You didn't do it?"

His eyes widened, his face full of disbelief.

Shi Hao lowered his head helplessly: "The business of Zhenyufang was good in previous years, and the young master was generous with his money. In order to earn more money, I took on a lot of work, but I only have two hands and I definitely can't finish it all, so I asked my cousin from my hometown to help me."

Shi Hao's tone was full of helplessness and regret.

"He made this gold bracelet."

After saying that, Shi Hao sighed: "I didn't want to say it because I was afraid that if the young master found out about this, I would be out of work. My whole family depends on my little bit of money to live."

Shi Hao's voice was low and hoarse, and his eyes were filled with worry and helplessness.

This is why Shi Hao has always been unwilling to talk about it.

Lu Jiang dislikes people like them who lack ability but take on so much work on their own.

Where is your cousin?

Pei Yanzhi's face was cold and stern, and his eyes were full of intimidation as he looked at Shi Hao.

His voice was icy, as if it could send chills down your spine.

Upon hearing this, Shi Hao replied, "He died of tuberculosis two months ago."

Shi Hao's voice was filled with sadness and helplessness, and his eyes revealed a trace of sorrow.

“He has had tuberculosis for many years. He helped me make jewelry before in order to get some money to treat his illness, but once the disease flares up, there is no way he can survive.”

"If a person gets sick and there's no cure, what can they do but wait to die?"

Pei Yanzhi looked at Shi Hao, and after a short while, he stood up and said only one sentence: "Let him go."

Mingxiang was still somewhat unwilling. They had finally managed to find the clues and had paid a heavy price to save Shi Hao.

Now that things have come to an end here, Mingxiang truly feels a sense of suffocation.

"Sir, are we just going to let it go like this?"

"After you release Shi Hao, you will wait here in person."

Upon hearing this, Mingxiang looked up at Pei Yanzhi: "What does Your Excellency mean..."

"Walls have ears."

After saying that, Pei Yanzhi walked out of the small courtyard. He came to Ling'an to see this Shi Hao.

Mingxiang had been with him for two years, and there was nothing he couldn't get out of his mouth. But Shi Hao didn't say anything, yet he opened his mouth just when Mingxiang asked him.

However, Pei Yanzhi's decision to stay in Ling'an is for the sake of that Miss Zhao who appeared out of nowhere.

(End of this chapter)