Lady Miao and Jiang Huaiyi wished they could have gagged them.
Seeing their reaction, Su Chang understood somewhat.
This Second Uncle's household was probably… not as harmonious and benevolent as the rumors outside suggested.
Seeing this situation, Jiang Huaiyi and Lady Miao both broke out in a cold sweat on their foreheads.
Lady Miao hurriedly stepped forward, bowing as she said, "Sir, this… after all, it involves the Jiang family's inner household… if word spreads, I'm afraid it will affect the Jiang family's reputation. Sir, could you do the Jiang family a favor and let us handle it ourselves?"
Su Chang looked at her coldly: "How dare you! Matters of life and death cannot be privately adjudicated! If they are innocent, they will naturally be sent back after questioning. If you obstruct further, it will be considered harboring criminals!"
Lady Miao was publicly rebuked, her face instantly flushing red: "This humble woman… this humble woman only…"
Jiang Huaiyi quickly tugged at Lady Miao, signaling her to shut up: "Sir, my wife is ignorant, please do not take it to heart."
Su Chang looked at the husband and wife, his expression indifferent.
He did not pay them any mind, turning instead to walk toward Jiang Yu.
Seeing him approach, Jiang Yu straightened up and performed a bow: "Sir."
Su Chang nodded slightly, looking at her pale face, his voice softening a bit: "Young Lady Jiang, this official will certainly restore justice to you and your maid."
Jiang Yu bowed gracefully: "Thank you, sir."
Su Chang nodded, his gaze falling on Jiang Yu's almond-shaped eyes brimming with tears, and he couldn't help but become somewhat lost in thought.
Jiang Yu's eyes were very similar to his younger sister's.
His sister also cried easily like this; when she felt wronged or frightened, her eyes would redden, looking pitiful and delicate.
Whenever her eyes reddened and she called him "brother," then no matter what she wanted, he would give it to her.
From behind came the shout of a yamen runner: "Sir, the inventory is complete."
Su Chang seemed to snap back to reality: "My apologies."
He turned and left.
Jiang Yu watched as Su Chang led his men away, with Second Uncle and Second Aunt following anxiously in a fluster.
The fragile, sorrowful expression on her face turned indifferent.
Su Chang had a younger sister who was harmed by someone at the age of five and died young.
Therefore, he deeply despised the underhanded schemes of inner households.
Moreover, this man was upright and incorruptible. Two years later, he uncovered the truth about his sister's early death, which also exposed the unsavory, hidden affairs within the Su family's inner household.
But disregarding the Su family's reputation, he insisted on apprehending the murderer and punishing them according to the law, ultimately leading to a break with the Su family and establishing his own household.
Such a person was the most suitable candidate to handle this matter.
By now, the sky was gradually darkening. After such a long ordeal, Jiang Yu's face also showed signs of fatigue.
Nanny Gui held her hand, saying gently, "Young Lady, it's getting dark, let's go back."
Jiang Yu nodded.
Nanny Gui helped Jiang Yu back to her room. The room had been turned somewhat messy from the search, so Nanny Gui could only tidy up the bed first.
Looking at the white hair at Nanny Gui's temples, Jiang Yu felt nothing but heartache.
She said softly, "Nanny, tomorrow go to the servant market and buy a few rough work maids."
Nanny Gui was taken aback for a moment, then replied, "Yes, I will go tomorrow."
However, the doubts in her heart grew even stronger.
She had mentioned before that the people sent by the Second Uncle's household were not trustworthy, but the Eldest Young Lady was close to the Second Uncle's household and always said she was overthinking it.
She could only watch carefully in secret, but she never expected that Lan Xiang would betray the Young Lady.
If the Young Lady hadn't secretly instructed her to search Lan Xiang's bedroom after returning,
she wouldn't have known that Lan Xiang had been colluding with the Second Uncle's household for years, poisoning the Young Lady.
Since the Young Lady returned, she had so cleanly and decisively cleared out the people in the courtyard, her methods resolute, and she no longer seemed as close to the Second Uncle's household as before.
Something must have gone wrong during the trip to Lingquan Temple.
Nanny Gui's eyes held a hint of concern. "Did something happen during your days at Lingquan Temple, Young Lady?"
Jiang Yu did not answer but instead asked, "Nanny, if one day my reputation is ruined and I find myself in dire straits, would you come to save me?"
Nanny Gui did not know why she would ask such a thing, but her reply was resolute. "Yes, Young Lady. You are my life. As long as I am alive, I will protect you."
Jiang Yu lowered her eyes slightly and whispered, "Nanny, you would only leave if you were truly disappointed in me, wouldn't you?"
Nanny Gui looked at Jiang Yu tenderly. "No, I will never leave you, Young Lady. I will never be disappointed in you. If one day I do leave, it will only be to help you."
Jiang Yu was taken aback. "Yes."
In her previous life, just before she married Gu Yanchuan as a concubine, Nanny Gui suddenly resigned and left the Jiang residence.
She must have foreseen the outcome by then.
Fortunately, she left early, which allowed her to bribe the guards and servants of the Marquis's residence to send Jiang Yu some supplies while she was imprisoned.
Without Nanny Gui, Jiang Yu might have died long ago in that secluded courtyard, with no chance for revenge.
But Nanny Gui never lived to see their vengeance fulfilled.
In her previous life, Lan Xiang discovered Nanny Gui delivering items to the guards and reported it to Jiang Wei, who had already become the Madam of the Marquis's residence.
Nanny Gui was captured and brought into the residence, beaten to death right before Jiang Yu's eyes.
The image of Jiang Wei laughing heartily in front of her and Nanny Gui's bloodied, mangled form—she could never forget it.
Now, it was time for the second branch of the family to repay what they owed.
Jiang Yu closed her eyes briefly. "Nanny, I feel terrible that my younger sister was injured in my courtyard today. Go to the storeroom, take two bottles of Jade Beauty Ointment, and send her the newly made Peaceful Sleep incense."
Nanny Gui was startled and looked at Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu's eyes were firm and clear, the corners slightly reddened, inexplicably revealing a hint of ruthless madness.
She motioned for Nanny Gui to come closer, leaned in, and whispered something in her ear.
Nanny Gui's eyes widened slightly, and a smile appeared on her face. "Yes, I will go right away."
When Nanny Gui arrived at the Serene Orchid Courtyard, the Doctor had just left, and the room was filled with the scent of medicinal herbs.
Jiang Wei frowned, the burning pain in her arm causing beads of sweat to form on her forehead.
The Doctor had said the wound was somewhat deep and might leave a scar.
Just as she was feeling agitated, she saw Nanny Gui arrive with the medicine.
She immediately frowned and said sarcastically, "The Doctor didn't even say the scar was certain, and my elder sister sends a bottle of scar-removing ointment already—is she cursing me?"
Nanny Gui quickly replied, "Second Young Lady, my Eldest Young Lady absolutely did not mean that."
She looked at Jiang Wei's heavily bandaged wound. "My Young Lady was worried that Second Young Lady's wound would cause pain and make it difficult for you to sleep at night, so she sent Spirit-Calming Incense and Jade Beauty Ointment, which can relieve pain."
Jiang Wei's wound was already throbbing painfully, and hearing this made her expression even darker.
Jiang Wei glanced at the medicine bottle, suppressing her irritation. "Then thank my elder sister. Mei Xiang, take it and see Nanny Gui out properly."
Mei Xiang glanced cautiously at Jiang Wei, took the items, placed them on the table, and said to Nanny Gui, "Please, Nanny Gui."
As the two walked outside, Nanny Gui glanced back into the room and said to Mei Xiang with a concerned expression, "There's no need to see me off, Miss Mei Xiang. Seeing Second Young Lady in such a poor mood… she probably shouldn't be left alone."
Hearing this, Mei Xiang's eyes flickered slightly. "Yes."
Jiang Wei was skilled at playing the guqin, and her hands were naturally slender and beautiful, meticulously cared for in daily life.
Now that her hands were injured, her temper had grown much more irritable.