Dad, open the door. I'll bring your mistress back for you.

"Sister, do you know where you were imprisoned before?" Shen Chuning asked softly.

Just as Sisi was about to answer, she heard a hurried knock on the door.

Xiao Tao hurried to open the door, and when she came back, she was followed by someone, who was Zhou Lin.

When Shen Chuning saw Zhou Lin, her heart tightened and she quietly hid behind Sisi, trying to reduce her presence.

When Sisi saw Zhou Lin coming, a hint of anticipation flashed in her eyes, and she asked anxiously, "Why is Mr. Zhou here today? What news does he have?"

Zhou Lin's expression dimmed, and he whispered, "Not yet."

Sisi's eyes dimmed instantly, as if they had lost all their luster.

However, she noticed that Zhou Lin had been staring at Shen Chuning, and she couldn't help but feel puzzled and asked, "Do you... know each other?"

Zhou Lin nodded and said calmly, "Miss Shen, please."

After he finished speaking, he turned sideways and motioned Shen Chuning to follow him out.

Upon hearing this, Shen Chuning hesitated for a moment and slowly walked to Zhou Lin's side.

Sisi suddenly asked, "Miss Shen? Isn't your name Yunjiu?"

Shen Chuning's face showed guilt, and she stammered, "Sister Sisi, I'm sorry."

"Sorry? So everything is fake? Everything you said to me was a lie?" Sisi's eyes were empty, as if she had lost her soul, and her body was shaking, as if she had suffered a huge blow.

Shen Chuning murmured, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... But what I said about catching the mastermind and taking revenge was true!"

However, Sisi had already fallen into despair, her voice filled with sadness and determination. "It doesn't matter anymore, Miss Shen, please leave my yard."

Sisi turned around, her back to Shen Chuning, unwilling to look at her again.

Shen Chuning looked at Sisi's back and felt very sad, but she knew that she couldn't make things worse at this time.

"Miss Sisi, you should have a good rest." After Zhou Lin said that, he pulled Shen Chuning's arm and walked out.

Shen Chuning was pulled by Zhou Lin, looking back from time to time, her eyes always fixed on Sisi.

She was filled with guilt and self-blame, and she also wanted to ask Sisi about the specific location of the farm.

However, seeing Sisi's current state, she realized that she couldn't ask anything.

When they reached the door, Sisi's voice suddenly came, breaking the silence.

"Although I don't know the exact location of that manor, I remember it was backed by a mountain, and there was a spring on the mountain flowing into the courtyard. Also, her name was Nian Nian."

There was a hint of sadness and helplessness in Sisi's voice.

When Shen Chuning heard this information, a glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes.

She broke free from Zhou Lin's hand, turned around, and bowed deeply to Sisi. "Thank you, Miss Sisi. Actually, my name is Shen Chuning. I'm sorry for hiding something from you before. But I promise I will help you find Nian Nian." Her voice was firm and sincere.

After leaving the courtyard, Shen Chuning didn't even look at Zhou Lin, and walked straight out of the alley.

Zhou Lin grabbed her arm again.

Shen Chuning fiercely shook off his hand and said coldly, "Master Zhou, is there anything else you need me to do?"

Zhou Lin's face darkened as he sternly asked, "Shen Chuning, did I ever warn you not to interfere in this matter?"

Shen Chuning sneered and responded disdainfully: "Oh, if you don't want to help, then that's fine. I won't force you, but where I go is my freedom, you have no right to interfere!"

Zhou Lin frowned and asked in a serious tone, "What connection does this have with you that is worth your trouble to investigate?"

Shen Chuning naturally couldn't confess to Zhou Lin that her real target was actually Xiao Yuanlang.

So, she refuted bluntly, "The Crown Prince is Princess Jiahe's biological brother, and Princess Jiahe and I have a close friendship. Concubine Hui is especially caring towards me. It is precisely because I have a conscience that I am determined to find the culprit who murdered His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Is there anything wrong with that?"

Zhou Lin looked at Shen Chuning with suspicion and said in a deep voice, "No matter what your true intentions are, I hope this matter will end here. Please don't bother Miss Sisi anymore."

Shen Chuning huffed unhappily, "I won't go in again. Mr. Zhou, can you please let me go?"

Zhou Lin calmed himself down, looked at Shen Chuning's skirt and said, "You're injured. I've already arranged for someone to drive a carriage. It will be here soon."

After Zhou Lin's reminder, Shen Chuning suddenly felt the pain in her knee and her eyes instantly turned red.

Zhou Lin panicked when he saw Shen Chuning's appearance. He frantically picked up Shen Chuning and walked out of the alley. "Does it hurt? I'll take you to the clinic."

……

After Shen Chuning returned home, she immediately found the map of the capital.

She carefully studied the mountains and rivers on the map, looking for places where springs might exist.

There are many mountains near the capital, and Shen Chuning knows that there are many springs on the mountains.

The most famous of these is Fengming Mountain, where the spring water flows into the Shen family's farm.

Shen Chuning and her brothers often went there. The environment there was quiet and the scenery was beautiful, but it was also a place they were familiar with. It was absolutely impossible for Xiao Yuanlang to use it to imprison people.

Shen Chuning sent people to carefully inspect the remaining manors.

However, at least on the surface, there was no sign that anyone had been detained there.

Finally, there is only one villa with a spring left, which is the villa of the late King Rui. Now only King Rui's biological mother, Concubine Duan Jing, lives there.

This place is remote and has relatively little contact with the outside world. If Xiao Yuanlang really hides someone here, it would be difficult to detect.

If Sisi is telling the truth, then the most likely place is this villa.

But the problem is that this is King Rui’s villa, and ordinary people cannot enter.

After Prince Rui passed away, the then Concubine Duanjing left the palace and moved into this manor.

Since then, she has lived in seclusion here and rarely has contact with the outside world.

Before the late emperor passed away, he even issued a decree allowing Concubine Duanjing to offer sacrifices on her own in the manor without having to return to the palace.

King Rui's villa is even more heavily guarded and is guarded by his former subordinates. These people are extremely loyal to King Rui and will never let anyone in easily. Even if they get a little close, they will be driven away immediately.

Shen Chuning tried to find the empress dowager to inquire about the situation of Concubine Duanjing. After all, they were both concubines in the harem before and should be familiar with each other.

But the Queen Mother kept her mouth shut, as if she didn't want to talk more.

Concubine Duan Jing left the palace early, and the concubines in the palace had no idea what had happened.

Shen Chuning had no choice but to find Old Madam Shen.