Although Yun Yuan was without its mistress, the servants who remained dared not slack off.
When Ji Zizhao entered the courtyard, the servants were cleaning it. Upon seeing the eldest young lady arrive, they rushed to put down their tools and kneel to pay their respects.
Ji Zizhao had intended to come in and sit for a while. She waved her hand, signaling for the servants to continue their work, and then walked towards the steps with Shui Ling.
Shui Ling, eager to thank Xin Lan, quietly said, "This servant wishes to find Xin Lan and have a chat."
Ji Zizhao knew that when Shui Ling first came to the Ji family, Xin Lan had always taken good care of her. She was happy that this girl remembered the kindness shown to her.
Furthermore, although Xin Lan had left Zhao Yuan, she shared a bond with Ji Zizhao from growing up together.
Ji Zizhao took a silver pouch from her sleeve and handed it over. "Go, take this to Xin Lan as well."
With her mother gone, the servants in Yun Yuan no longer received rewards.
Although the estate provided food and lodging, one could not truly live well without some money in hand.
"I knew Young Miss was the kindest. Sister Xin Lan will surely be overjoyed to know that Young Miss still thinks of her." Shui Ling smiled like a flower and ran off with the silver pouch.
Ji Zizhao shook her head silently, lifted the curtain, and stepped over the threshold.
A few silver charcoal embers were still burning in the room, making the entire space warm and cozy.
Everything here was the same as when her mother was alive: the hot tea on the table, the fresh flowers on the windowsill, it was as if her mother were still living.
Ji Zizhao walked to the window and looked at the slightly withered flowers, her mind turning to Xin Lan.
Back in Zhao Yuan, no matter the time, Xin Lan would always pick fresh flowers and place them in a vase, saying that the room felt more alive with the scent of fresh flowers.
Therefore, even without asking, Ji Zizhao knew that Xin Lan must have done this.
Perhaps only Xin Lan was so meticulous.
What had passed was in the past, and Ji Zizhao had never held a grudge against Xin Lan.
She was, however, well aware of the difficulties ahead and that Xin Lan's disposition was not suited to staying by her side.
Ji Zizhao sat down on the soft couch by the window. Considering Xin Lan had long passed the age for her coming-of-age ceremony, and although servants in noble households were typically only permitted to marry after the age of twenty-five, in this era, finding a good match at twenty-five would be impossible.
After the Duanwu Festival, once things in the estate stabilized, Ji Zizhao planned to ask Nanny He to help Xin Lan find a suitable family. Whether she stayed or married out would be acceptable.
She imagined that if her mother were still here, she would also have helped Xin Lan find a good home.
The thought of her mother caused Ji Zizhao's heart to ache intensely.
Fortunately, she could now face the fact of her mother's absence head-on.
After sitting in the room for a while longer, Ji Zizhao stood up.
Just then, Shui Ling entered, lifting the curtain.
Seeing the silver pouch in Shui Ling's hand, Ji Zizhao asked softly, "Why did you bring it back?"
Shui Ling replied glumly, "This servant searched the entire courtyard but could not find Sister Xin Lan."
Ji Zizhao knew Xin Lan's temperament.
Back in Zhao Yuan, she had never seen her go out on her own.
"Go and call the nanny of Yun Yuan. Tell her I have something to ask her."
Shui Ling nodded and ran out.
Ji Zizhao sat back down on the soft couch, poured herself a cup of tea, and drank it in silence.
The nanny from Yun Yuan arrived quickly and bowed upon seeing the eldest young lady, "This old servant greets the eldest young lady."
Ji Zizhao waved her hand. "Do you know where Xin Lan has gone, nanny?"
The nanny from Yun Yuan's eyes flickered for a moment before she whispered, "Replying to the eldest young lady, Xin Lan said she missed her family and therefore went out this morning to visit relatives."
The Ji family was unlike other estates; they were never harsh towards their servants.
Servants with relatives outside the estate were permitted to visit them once a month.
If this were about someone else, Ji Zizhao might have been deceived.
But Xin Lan had grown up with her. From the time she was old enough to remember, she had been sold to the Ji family by her father, who wanted to remarry. She had no relatives outside to speak of, so why would she go to visit them?
"Nanny, you might not be aware, but Xin Lan has no relatives outside." Ji Zizhao placed her teacup on the carved rosewood wooden table with a gentle click. Her dark eyes glinted sharply.
The nanny from Yun Yuan trembled and quickly knelt on the ground, saying, "Eldest young lady, please investigate. Xin Lan truly said she was going to visit relatives, but this old servant does not know where she went."
Without proof, Ji Zizhao would not trouble a servant.
However, one thing the nanny of Yun Yuan said was true: Ji Zizhao was indeed going to investigate.
"Shui Ling, go and call Uncle Ji over."
The comings and goings of personnel in the various estates within the imperial city were recorded by the gatekeepers. The Ji family was no exception.
Not to mention the movements of servants, the gatekeepers meticulously recorded the comings and goings of the masters every day.
Zhang Ji, who was observing the changing of the guards, heard that the eldest young lady was looking for him to inquire about a servant leaving the estate. He brought the day's entry and exit records with him when he came.
Upon seeing the eldest young lady, Zhang Ji handed over the record book. "This is today's entry and exit record. If the eldest young lady wishes to check anything else, I will have someone bring the records from the past few months."
Ji Zizhao shook her head. Seeing that Xin Lan's name was not on the list, she directly threw the book at the nanny of Yun Yuan. "If the nanny has anything else to say, now is the time."
Even without looking at the book, the nanny of Yun Yuan knew that Xin Lan's name was not on it.
But Xin Lan's matter was a task assigned by Nanny Xu. If she revealed it, not only her own life would be at stake, but her family would also perish!
Shui Ling watched as the nanny from Yun Yuan remained silent, her mind full of questions.
Where did this person go? They should just say it directly; why conceal it?
Ji Zizhao's gaze towards the nanny of Yun Yuan gradually turned cold.
If Xin Lan had truly left the estate, the nanny of Yun Yuan should have immediately looked at the record book to find proof of Xin Lan's departure when questioned. But the nanny of Yun Yuan did not even glance at the book.
Was this not a sign of guilt?
Ji Zizhao did not know what had happened, but since the nanny of Yun Yuan was being so evasive, this matter would not be brushed aside in front of her.
"Please trouble Uncle Ji to find some guards and prepare the planks and benches."
Zhang Ji, though unaware of what had transpired, never questioned the eldest young lady's instructions. He immediately went out and called over several guards who were changing shifts.
When Ji Zizhao, along with Shui Ling and the nanny from Yun Yuan, exited the room, a long bench had already been set up in the courtyard, and guards holding planks stood ready.