The sickly son died young? After the marriage exchange, I will bring prosperity to his entire clan f

"That's good, that's good." Madam Wen's face was full of joy. "The maids who served you before were not very thoughtful. Besides, you only have one close servant. If there is an emergency and you have no one else to use, keep these two. If you don't like them, you can sell them off."

Wen Shiyan quickly chimed in, "Sister, we're going out to see the third-ranked scholar parade through the streets, such an important event, and your maid hasn't prepared anything. We have to go and buy things on the spot, and she hasn't returned yet. It's clear she's not very clever."

Seeing how hard they were trying to get people to stay by her side, Du Mingxian almost laughed. "Then thank you very much, Madam."

They say they're giving someone away, but they've given them a contract of indenture along with everything else. They're not giving anything else, just someone to serve them. What kind of "giving someone away" is that? It's clearly an attempt to plant people in the courtyard.

“It was my oversight. I should have arranged someone to be by your side after you came back, otherwise you wouldn’t have been lost outside for so long today.”

Du Mingxian: "..." Suddenly I don't understand what these two want to do.

“Sister, I’ll take you out more often lately so you can get used to the way. There aren’t many young ladies in the capital who can get lost. People will laugh at you if word gets out.”

"Shut up, your sister just got back. She's not familiar with the area, so it's normal for her to get lost."

"Oh," Wen Shiyan replied reluctantly.

Du Mingxian just watched the mother and daughter like that. They were trying to humiliate her, weren't they? Look at them, one of them was so outspoken, and the other had to wait until the other had finished speaking before she could start lecturing them. Tsk tsk tsk, who do they think they are?

Madam Wen then looked at Du Mingxian and said, "You've just returned, let these two serve you. We've already sent someone to look for your maid."

"Okay." Du Mingxian agreed. Since they were going to leave her there anyway, she couldn't refuse, so she stayed.

"Then I'll take Shiyan back first."

Wen Shiyan didn't want to leave. "Mother, I want to talk to my sister. I also want to ask her how she managed to hit the target so accurately today. Did she learn martial arts?"

"Nonsense, your sister grew up in the clan, I've never heard of her knowing martial arts."

Du Mingxian rolled her eyes discreetly. "Shiyan is overthinking it. Didn't you tell me I absolutely had to hit it, or you'd come after me? I was so flustered at the time, I don't even know how I managed to throw it. It hit. Maybe it was fate?"

"Haha, yes, yes, it must be destiny." Wen Shiyan blushed after saying that, then looked at Du Mingxian gratefully, "Sister, thank you, from now on you are my sister."

"Huh? Aren't I your older sister now?"

"Yes, yes, you've always been my older sister."

Madam Wen couldn't stand her daughter's silly look, so she reached out and said, "Let's go. Your sister just got back and must be exhausted. Let her eat and rest."

"Okay, okay." Wen Shiyan looked at Du Mingxian with a smile. "Sister, pack your things carefully. I'll come see you again tomorrow."

"it is good."

Watching the two leave, Du Mingxian realized something was wrong as she walked inside. Even if Chun Tao went to find her master, she couldn't possibly be so inconsiderate. It was getting dark, and she still hadn't returned.

Something must have happened.

She had a fever. On the day she had the fever, Wen Shiyan came over and spoke to her while she was delirious. She might have been delirious from the fever and not heard, but Chun Tao was fully conscious at the time.

Madam Wen made her move.

Today, Wen Shiyan asked people to go out.

Thinking of this, Du Mingxian became a little anxious and said to the two maids beside her, "Let's go, you two come with me out of the mansion to look for Chun Tao and see where she went."

When Du Mingxian walked to the front yard, she thought of Wen Yicheng and was about to go look for him when she saw Butler Wen.

Seeing that Du Mingxian looked anxious and had already reached the front yard, Butler Wen hurried forward to ask, "Is Miss going out?"

"Uncle Wen, Chun Tao, the maid who came back to the manor with me, went out with me today, but we got separated because of some things, and she hasn't come back yet. I'm worried. Could you ask the servants in the manor to help me look for her?"

"Young Miss, please don't worry. This old servant will send someone to look for her right away. It's probably because Miss Chun Tao is new to the capital and not familiar with the city, so she hasn't returned home yet."

"Alright, Uncle Wen, please send some people out to search. I also want to take Ke'er and Lian'er with me to search."

Butler Wen initially wanted to stop her, but seeing Du Mingxian's expression, he realized he couldn't. In the end, he could only say to Du Mingxian, "Miss, I'll send two more guards to accompany you. It's getting dark, and I'm worried about your safety."

"Okay." There's no difference between bringing two or four, so let's bring them all. Going out to find people is just for show.

The people who had been summoned back to the Wen residence were quickly dispatched again to search for Chun Tao.

In Madam Wen's courtyard, Xiao Lan rushed in. After entering the room, she found several maids still there. She calmed herself down and went over to them. "You may all leave. I will take care of Madam here."

Although Xiaolan was a confidante of Madam Wen, she rarely made such decisions for Madam Wen. Usually, she would speak like this because there was an urgent matter. Madam Wen saw that she seemed a little anxious, so she did not blame her. After everyone had left, Xiaolan hurriedly stepped forward and whispered, "Madam, the eldest young lady has taken people out of the mansion to find that maid."

Madam Wen, who had been leaning against something, sat up abruptly. "Is everything arranged?"

"The arrangements have been made, but the person in charge hasn't sent any messages back yet. Moreover... the steward has also sent people out to look for them. I'm afraid the master will find out about this."

"Go out and keep an eye on things. Regardless of whether the matter is accomplished or not, once the people from the manor have gone looking for us, our people should withdraw first. We absolutely cannot be discovered."

"Yes, slave, go right away."

Du Mingxian led her people to start searching, but they were really just wandering around aimlessly. They were pretending to look for someone, but their real purpose was to listen to gossip. As it got dark, the curfew time was getting closer and closer.

Ke'er and Lian'er exchanged a glance, both of them looking anxious. They had only just arrived at the young lady's side, and the young lady herself was unwilling to accept them. They had finally managed to stay, but... they had no way to persuade their mistress.

Finally, one of the guards who was walking at the back stepped forward and said, "Young Miss, let's go back first. Curfew is coming soon. Let's think of another way when we get back."

"Huh? Oh." Du Mingxian hadn't finished shopping yet. "I wonder where Chuntao went."

As the group walked back, Du Mingxian sensed something was wrong. Suddenly, she turned around and saw Chun Tao rushing over, her clothes stained with blood and her face pale. "Miss, Miss, help me!"

Du Mingxian understood immediately; her guess was right. She remained calm inside, but appeared anxious on the surface, saying, "Chuntao, my dear Chuntao, are you alright? You worried me to death."