Did Miss become a nun today?

Before she had even taken two steps, Zhao Mingyue's loud voice rang out from afar, "Yun Chu, I'm here!"

Her shout drew the attention of all four people. Xie Yun Chu closed her eyes briefly; her arrival had come at just the right time.

She took a deep breath, forced a smile, and hurried to meet her, pinching her arm tightly. Her voice was laced with a barely suppressed grumble, "Where have you been? Why are you only just getting back?"

She was weak, and when she pinched Zhao Mingyue, she didn't even flinch.

Zhao Mingyue said with a grin, "There was an urgent matter at the military camp, so I rushed back as fast as I could. But you..."

Her gaze passed over Xie Yun Chu and landed on the four people. She raised an eyebrow. "Wow, so many people?"

Xie Yun Chu pouted angrily and said in a low voice, "You still dare to say that?"

Zhao Mingyue chuckled, then cleared her throat and waved to the four people on the other side. "Everyone, Yun Chu is the one I brought. I'm taking her away now. It's rather cold outside, so don't stand around standing there. Go home, everyone, that's all."

After saying that, without paying attention to the expressions of the four people, he pulled her away.

Meanwhile, Guan Yun, standing behind Pei Changyu, kept staring at the two walking away, wanting to say something, but dared not speak because there were too many people around.

After the person left, the group looked at each other, wisely deciding not to chase after them, and stood in the courtyard with different expressions.

The tense argument just now has become unbearable once Zhao Mingyue arrives; even if they fight tooth and nail, they won't come out on top.

"Now that everyone's gone, shouldn't you all leave too?" Wei Zhao said irritably.

A perfectly good meal and a pleasant atmosphere were ruined by these people. Now all he wants to do is go to the training ground to spar with someone and vent his anger.

Wei Lin and Pei Changfeng looked embarrassed. Although they were unconvinced, given the relationship between the two of them, they still obediently left.

When Pei Changyu returned to the Marquis's residence, Guanyun followed closely behind, saying, "Young Master, I have made a discovery today."

"explain."

"Today at the military camp, I saw someone who looked like the one I picked up the letter at the teahouse in the west of the city last time."

Pei Changyu paused, turned around, and asked, "Did you see clearly?"

"I saw it clearly. I felt that the person's figure looked familiar at the time, but I thought I was seeing things. So I followed to take a look, and it was him, there's no mistake."

Pei Changyu took off his cloak. "Did you see where that person went?"

Guan Yun stepped forward and took the cloak, bowing his head as he truthfully replied, "I saw... that man went to find Miss Zhao, and the two chatted for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

"Zhao Mingyue?"

"Indeed, that man was very respectful to Miss Zhao. He didn't seem like someone she met outside; he seemed more like one of Zhao's own servants."

Pei Changyu pondered for a moment, then gently tapped his fingers on the table.

Guan Yun hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help asking, "How did Miss's mother get involved with the Zhao family?"

"It may not be related to the Zhao family, but perhaps it is related to Zhao Mingyue."

Zhao Mingyue had been living away from home since childhood and was only brought back a few years ago. The Zhao family may not know everything about where she went or who she met during those years.

It makes sense that she has old friends outside.

Pei Changyu seemed to be deep in thought. "I remember, Zhao Mingyue grew up in the north."

"That's right. When Master Zhao was serving in Huai Shuo in the north, he was transferred back to the capital. Miss Zhao went missing and was only found a few years ago."

"Huai Shuo..." He stared at the folded paper in front of him, "Do you hear any accent in her everyday speech?"

Guan Yun was stumped by his question. She tilted her head and thought for a long time, then scratched the back of her head. "Does Miss Zhao have an accent?"

"I didn't pay attention, but it seemed... it seemed to be just ordinary Mandarin, not much different from what people in the capital speak?"

Pei Changyu looked up. "Not too far off, just a little off." He said, "People who grow up in Huai Shuo will inevitably have a bit of an accent from there, but in the years she's been back, have I ever heard her say a single word with a northern accent?"

Guan Yun immediately understood, his expression turning serious. "I understand, I'll send someone to investigate right away."

Meanwhile, Zhao Mingyue sent Xie Yunchu back and then headed home.

As soon as he stepped across the threshold, a maidservant rushed up to him, clutching a letter in her hand.

"Miss, it was brought in from outside."

Zhao Mingyue took the envelope, opened it, glanced at the few lines of text, smiled, and then threw the envelope and the letter into the brazier at her feet.

"Miss, did Madam say anything?" the maid asked, leaning closer.

Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "I just talked about some recent things I've seen and heard, and gave some instructions about Yun Chu."

"Would you like to reply, Miss?"

"No, Mother's whereabouts are uncertain, and even if we write, it won't reach her. We just need to know that she's safe and sound."

The maidservant had accompanied her all the way back from Jiangnan, so she naturally knew her background.

Miss went missing when she was a child and suffered a lot outside. If it weren't for Madam, she would probably be dead by now.

She sighed, "I wonder when Madam will be able to return."

Zhao Mingyue watched as the letter in the brazier burned completely. "Mother loves freedom, so naturally she doesn't like a place like the capital where rules are everything."

She had asked before why she didn't go back to Beijing, since her biological daughter was there.

Mother said there are some annoying people in the capital who she doesn't want to come back to, because once she does, trouble is inevitable.

But not wanting her daughter to be taken away, and thinking that the most dangerous place was the safest place, she sent Xie Yun Chu back.

The maid asked again, "When can we go back to Jiangnan? This capital city is no good at all."

"You're talking nonsense again. I grew up in the north, what are you talking about going back to Jiangnan?"

Understanding the meaning behind her words, the maid smiled and nodded, "Yes, I misspoke."

"By the way, what's been happening at home while I was away?"

"Nothing special, still dull and boring. The eldest young master reads books all day long, the second young lady never leaves the house, the second madam grows a few pots of new chrysanthemums, and the third young master was punished by the master to kneel in the ancestral hall for shouting at home."

"As usual, the kitchen couldn't come up with anything new. It was still the same few dishes over and over again. The First Madam did go to the temple twice, but that's about it."

Zhao Mingyue pouted and leaned back. "This Zhao family is so boring. How can I possibly move into the Pei family's place?"