A Shocking Dream

The old lady smiled and shook her head. "Silly child, how could I blame you? I know you have your own things to do. As long as you are safe and sound, I will be relieved. You are such a pitiful child. You must have suffered a lot to make your way in this capital city alone."

Yuanyuan's eyes were slightly red. "Old Madam, you are so kind to me. It is my blessing to meet a kind person like you in this capital."

The old lady gently stroked Yuanyuan's hair and said, "Child, this is all fate. The first time I saw you, I felt that you were very kind. In the future, if you are free, please come to my house more often and talk to me. As an old woman, I like to have someone to talk to."

Yuanyuan nodded vigorously. "Okay, I'll definitely come to visit you often. Madam, how are you feeling lately?"

The old lady smiled and said, "I'm still pretty strong. It's just that I'm getting old, and sometimes I feel a little lonely. I'm so happy that you're here."

Yuanyuan held the old lady's hand tightly and said, "Old lady, I will come to accompany you more often in the future. If there is anything you want to eat or play with, just tell me and I will find it for you."

The old lady's eyes were filled with relief. "My dear child, I am satisfied with your words. You should also take good care of yourself and don't overwork yourself. In this capital, you must be careful and cautious in everything you do."

Yuanyuan listened carefully to the old lady's advice, her heart filled with warmth. "Old lady, I will remember your words. Don't worry, I will take good care of myself."

"You must be hungry! I've had food prepared for you." Old Madam Liu said as she had the food prepared. A warm smile graced her face, her eyes filled with concern.

Soon, the aroma of food filled the air. Yuanyuan was overwhelmed with emotion. In this unfamiliar capital, she could feel such warm care.

"Where are the others?" Yuanyuan asked, looking around with a hint of curiosity.

Madam Liu shook her head slightly. "They are all busy. It's just the two of us having dinner together today, so we can have a good chat."

Yuanyuan nodded and followed the old lady to the dining room. The table was filled with exquisite dishes, all delicious and beautiful.

"Come, child, don't be polite. Try these dishes and see if they suit your taste." The old lady greeted Yuanyuan warmly.

Yuanyuan sat down a little embarrassedly. "Old Madam, you are too polite. These dishes look delicious."

The old lady looked at Yuanyuan with a smile and said, "Eat more if you like. When you are here with me, just treat this place as your own home."

Yuanyuan picked up a piece of food and put it in her mouth. It tasted delicious and her heart was filled with warmth. "Madam, this dish is really delicious."

The old lady watched Yuanyuan happily eat, and her smile became even brighter. "If it tastes good, eat more. From now on, if you want to eat something, just tell the kitchen and they will make it for you."

In this warm atmosphere, Yuanyuan and Old Lady Liu ate and chatted. The old lady gently inquired about Yuanyuan's recent life, asking if she had encountered any difficulties. Yuanyuan also opened her heart, sharing some of her experiences and feelings with the old lady. She recounted her experiences and interesting people and events in the capital, which the old lady listened to with great interest. From time to time, the old lady gave Yuanyuan some advice and encouragement, making her feel a warm support in this unfamiliar city.

"My child, although the capital is big, it is also full of challenges. You must face everything bravely and don't be afraid of difficulties." The old lady said earnestly.

Yuanyuan nodded seriously, "Madam, I will. I will keep your words in mind."

They talked about the past, and the old lady recalled stories from her youth, those days filled with laughter and tears. Yuanyuan listened quietly, as if she could also feel the atmosphere of that era.

"Those days were hard, but we were all very united. Life is better now, but sometimes I feel like something is missing," the old lady said with emotion.

Yuanyuan held the old lady's hand and said, "Old lady, there are many wonderful things happening now. Look, we can sit together and eat and chat now. Isn't that a kind of happiness?"

The old lady smiled, her eyes twinkling. "Yes, child. You are right. With you around, even an old woman like me feels that life has become more interesting."

In the Liu Mansion, a warm atmosphere permeated every corner. The conversation between Yuanyuan and Old Madam Liu was like warm sunshine, radiating upon each other's hearts. This warmth would accompany them, leaving behind a beautiful memory in the capital.

The scroll is missing? Wu Nian was shocked when she heard the news. She stood in the room, her expression solemn, her eyes filled with confusion and shock. She had always kept the scroll safe, so how could it suddenly disappear?

She thought about everyone, but couldn't think of anyone who could move faster than she did. She frowned slightly and began to carefully recall everything that had happened recently. She thought about those who had come into contact with the scroll, those mysterious figures who had appeared around her.

She paced back and forth in her room, her mind racing with possibilities. Had a former enemy learned of the scroll's existence and come to seize it? Had someone on the inside betrayed her and stolen it? Or was there some unknown force at work?

She stopped, took a deep breath, and tried to calm herself down. Wu Nian knew that now was not the time to panic. She had to find the whereabouts of the scroll as soon as possible, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous.

Wu Nian fell into deep thought. She even wondered if the rumor about Qiu Luoshan and the person who stole the scroll were the same person. When Yun Shuang died, only members of the imperial palace were present. If they hadn't told anyone, the outside world would have known about the scroll. The person who stole the scroll knew it was at Hanmei Villa, so they must have a thorough understanding of everything in the capital, and even the imperial family.

Her eyes grew more serious as she paced slowly across the room, her suspicions growing. Could it be that the person who stole the painting was in the palace? Once this thought occurred to her, it took root and sprouted like a seed in her heart.

She began to recall everyone in the palace, those powerful ministers, mysterious eunuchs, and concubines with their own thoughts. Who on earth had the motive and ability to dare to steal the scroll?

Wu Nian thought about the power struggle within the palace. Perhaps someone was willing to take a risk in order to gain greater benefits. Or perhaps an external force had infiltrated the palace and was secretly manipulating everything.

She paused, closed her eyes slightly, and tried to organize her thoughts. Wu Nian knew that she had to find the clues quickly, otherwise if the scroll fell into the hands of someone with ulterior motives, the consequences would be disastrous.