Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 54: Find a new master
Realizing that the young master might have found a new clue, Badan replied cautiously, "She's the eldest lady of the Shentu Mansion. I don't know her exact background, but I do know that she married the eldest son of the Shentu family, who died in battle. She's a widow now, and she's started a small business."

Aisha's suspicions grew. "According to Tan Anfu, this lady is a concubine's daughter raised in the countryside by her family. Her biological mother is a Mohe. She married into the Shentu Mansion two months ago..."

"Young Master, do you suspect that the lady is the Princess?"

"No matter what, I want to meet the new widow of the Shentu family."

"Young Master, are you going to pay a direct visit?" Badan asked. "The Shentu Mansion is different from the Tan family. It was once a family of officials. Even in its decline, it is still considered a powerful and influential place here. Young Master, it is not appropriate to expose yourself now. It is better for me to investigate first."

"No, there's no need to go to such trouble." Aisha said, "Hasn't the Zhong brothers and sisters gone to another wise leader? Let me, their savior, go and talk to them again."

As to whether they stumbled upon it by accident or discovered some clues and went to seek refuge, we will know by calling them out and asking them.

However, disappointment came faster than Aisha expected.

As they turned their attention from the Tan family to the Shentu Mansion, many blocked areas quickly became unblocked. Before they could connect with Zhong Ming and Zhong Yun, they first encountered Tan Huaike, who was out inspecting the store.

The neighbors around here all know her and can easily find out about her.

How she carried the tablet during her wedding and performed the Qinglu ceremony with her husband's coffin; how she was disliked by her husband's mother-in-law and didn't get a penny of her husband's property, only five acres of land; how she lived as a widow in her husband's private courtyard, was bullied by the servants, had to eat separately, and didn't interact with the main house; how her parents' dowry consisted of two shops that were about to close, and it was only thanks to her hard work that things gradually improved...

There were so many rumors about her that Aisha's heart sank as she listened.

These are not like Alan's temperament and behavior. If it were really Alan, when she had the opportunity to go out like this, she would definitely find a way to contact him.

All his worries, fears and suspicions were finally settled when he saw Tan Huaike with his own eyes.

——Not her.

——She is not his sister Alan.

Across the wide street, Aisha sat in the teahouse and watched the figure walk out of the side door of the courtyard. There was indeed a hint of a Mohe woman in her eyes and eyebrows, but she was definitely not his sister.

What was going on? Had the clues been lost again?
Badan carefully observed his expression and asked, "Young Master, have we made a mistake again? Do we still need to ask that kid Zhong Ming?"

Aisha pondered for a long time and said, "Call him over and see if there is anything hidden."
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Zhong Ming was learning to identify various medicinal herbs in the herbal medicine shop when he suddenly saw Badan walk in.

The pharmacist came forward and asked, "What medicine do you need? Do you have a prescription?"

Badan walked straight in front of them and pointed at himself: "No need for prescriptions, I have several blisters in my mouth, and it hurts when I eat and drink. Just give me some medicine to treat it."

The doctor wasn't in, and since it wasn't a serious illness, the waiter got busy himself: "Then I'll get you some herbs to clear away heat and reduce internal heat. You can boil them up and drink them, or stew them in soup."

"Okay, catch it."

"Are four doses of medicine enough?"

"It's not something very expensive. Give me more, eight pairs."

"okay."

"I have something important to do later. After you catch him, have this guy take him to Qinlu Teahouse. I'll wait for him there." Badan pointed at Zhong Ming who was huddled beside the medicine cabinet and said indifferently.

"Well... delivering the medicine to your door will cost an extra two cents as a running fee," said the waiter.

"You won't be left without any help." Badan readily put down the money and left, leaving Zhong Ming feeling uneasy, unsure how to face his savior. Carrying eight prescriptions, Zhong Ming arrived at the Qinlu Teahouse.

This teahouse was just on the corner of the street diagonally opposite the Shentu Mansion. He felt inexplicably nervous. After seeing Aisha, he glanced at the side courtyard not far away from time to time.

Aisha asked him, "What are you looking at?"

Zhong Ming shook his head and hurriedly handed the medicine bag to Badan: "No, nothing..."

"I heard you've found a new boss, so I wanted to ask how you're doing. It seems like things are going well for you right now. You've been learning a trade and working as a laborer. Is your new boss treating you and your sister well?"

"The lady... is a very good person."

"Really? I think they're a good match. So tell me in detail, was it just a coincidence that you met this great boss, or did she approach you on her own initiative?"

Zhong Ming was grateful to him, but also afraid of him. Tan Huaike seemed to have anticipated this and told them not to hide anything if "that brother" came in person to ask.

So he told her everything: "I was running errands for Zhiyun Cloth Shop and delivering goods when the lady came to see me. Her original intention was just to find a safe place for Xiaoyun and me to stay, but later... she found out that Wu Chou had brought us here. She was very concerned and came to inquire about the matter."

"Why does she care?"

"Because she was also brought into the customs by that trafficker." Zhong Ming confessed everything Tan Huaike had said. "Then she was sold to the Tan family's Fu Niangzi, impersonating the family's daughter raised in the countryside and marrying a dead man."

"She is indeed from the Western Territory. What is her identity and what does she want to do in the Western Territory?"

"I don't know. When we heard her say that, we thought she was the sister you were looking for." Zhong Ming raised his eyes and said, "We even told her that you had been looking for her for a long time."

"What did she say?"

"The lady says you are not her brother. But if you ask, let me tell you all this."

"...I understand." Aisha closed his eyes and had a vague guess in his mind.

Tan Huaike is not her sister, but she intends to let Zhong Ming reveal the news to him. It can be seen that she must know something about Princess Alan and the marriage team. She can only tell him after confirming his identity.

But the news brought about through such great effort is most likely not good.

Zhong Ming asked tentatively: "Is she really not your sister? Then your sister..."

Aisha suppressed the confusion in her heart, took a deep breath and said, "It's inconvenient for me to show up. Go to Shentu Mansion and tell her that I will wait for her at Huji Restaurant at noon tomorrow."

When Zhong Ming went to deliver the message, Shentu Zhuo was also there.

He looked at the second young master who often came to the boss's house to eat and seemed to be doing nothing, and was hesitant to speak.

Tan Huaike had already anticipated what he was going to say, and said softly, "It's okay, he's my uncle, there's no need to hide it from him."

Shentu Zhuo: "..."

Zhong Ming then said, "That noble Mo He invited you to meet at Hu Ji Restaurant at noon tomorrow."

Tan Huaike asked Pei'er to wrap two freshly baked Hu pancakes in oil paper, patted his head and said, "Okay, I understand. Thank you for helping us pass on the message. Take these Hu pancakes back with you and Xiaoyun and eat them while they're hot."

After Zhong Ming left, Shen Tu Zhuo snorted coldly: "Mo He nobles are so great, I will go with you tomorrow."
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　Next chapter: My sister-in-law is the innocent victim!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)