Being a second wife is difficult: I'm busy raising children in the Earl's mansion.

A cold wind swept across my clothes in the corridor, and my chaotic thoughts instantly subsided.

Jiang Wan's thoughts sank slightly, but her face showed no sign of surprise.

She raised her hand to suppress the surging thoughts in her heart and looked at Qinghe standing outside the courtyard.

"Please let her in."

Qinghe acknowledged and withdrew, and soon led Aunt Zhou into the East Hall courtyard.

Today, Aunt Zhou was dressed in a plain blue satin jacket and skirt, her hair was neatly styled, and she only had a small silver flower pinned to her temple. She looked calm and gentle.

He walked slowly and deliberately, showing no sign of anxiety or urgency, only a hint of melancholy in his eyes.

Upon entering, one should greet others according to proper etiquette, maintaining a respectful and measured demeanor.

Jiang Wan raised her hand to signal her to stand up and pointed to the seat next to her.

"Please sit down, Auntie."

After Aunt Zhou took her seat, a maid served freshly brewed hot tea, and the room fell silent.

Jiang Wan did not speak first, but waited quietly for the other party to speak.

Aunt Zhou was usually very tactful in her dealings with people, always wearing a perfectly appropriate smile. Jiang Wan had never seen her with such a furrowed brow before.

Aunt Zhou held a warm teacup, her fingertips gently touching the porcelain wall. After a moment of silence, she slowly raised her eyes.

"Madam, I recently heard that the manor is working on renovating the former residence of the late Madam. When I passed by, I took a few more glances and was moved by the scene. Suddenly, I remembered many trivial old stories that I had not been able to figure out before."

She spoke softly and slowly explained the reason for her visit.

"These details have been weighing on my mind for a long time. When I talked to my wife about Lianxin before, there were still many fragments that I couldn't sort out."

"Recently, seeing these things has brought back memories, and after thinking about them carefully, I felt that these fragmented past events might come in handy. After much deliberation, I decided to tell them all to my wife."

Jiang Wan's gaze hardened slightly, her face still maintaining its usual gentle and composed demeanor as she looked at Aunt Zhou.

"In our casual conversations in the past, you would occasionally mention things about my late wife. Why did you specifically seek me out today to recount these old, trivial matters?"

Aunt Zhou knew perfectly well that this question was a test.

Having navigated the Marquis's mansion for many years, she was adept at discerning the hidden thoughts beneath words. Her fingertips curled slightly, but her face maintained a peaceful smile.

She put down her teacup.

"I previously thought it was a trivial matter and didn't pay it any mind."

"But now that the old house is under renovation, I can't help but wonder if Madam is investigating the old days. These seemingly insignificant details might be able to piece together clues, which is why she came here so rashly."

Jiang Wan pondered to herself.

As expected, Aunt Zhou was very perceptive. Having been immersed in the household for many years, her ability to assess situations far surpassed that of ordinary people.

Based solely on the fact that the mansion was being renovated, he could infer that he had probably obtained new clues to the old case of the Gu family, and thus he took the initiative to come and share what he had seen and heard, inquiring about the news.

Aunt Zhou's frank and open demeanor made Jiang Wan's previous speculations seem unfounded.

She had initially suspected that the other party's visit might be at someone's behest, or that information had been leaked and they had come specifically to find out the inside story.

Looking at Aunt Zhou's calm and composed demeanor now, it seems that I had been overthinking things, being too tense, and making a mountain out of a molehill.

Thinking of this, her brows relaxed slightly, a faint smile returned to her lips, and her tone carried a hint of approval.

"Auntie, please speak frankly. I am still investigating this matter in secret and cannot make it public. There are very few people who know the inside story."

"When I saw my aunt suddenly arrive, I couldn't help but have some suspicions. But upon closer reflection, my aunt has lived in the Earl's mansion for a long time and has experienced many things, so her thoughts are much more thorough than mine."

Aunt Zhou noticed that Jiang Wan's tone had relaxed, and immediately a perfectly timed smile appeared on her lips as she calmly responded.

"Madam has always been cautious and meticulous in her actions. It is only natural for a person to have doubts and test the waters when someone suddenly comes to the door and brings up sensitive old matters. I understand this in my heart and mind, so Madam need not take it to heart."

She lowered her eyes slightly, her thoughts drifting back to many years ago.

"Ever since Lianxin was transferred to the inner courtyard by the late Madam to serve her closely, she has never had a regular job."

Aunt Zhou lowered her voice and slowly recounted the old stories she had personally experienced back then.

"The ordinary maids in the mansion, regardless of the importance of their duties, all have their own responsibilities, such as combing hair and tidying up makeup, or making tea and cleaning. They have their own tasks every day."

"She was idle all day long, so the late Madam specifically instructed that she should not have to do any tedious work and should stay by her side all day to be ready to serve her."

"I have served the late Madam for many years and know the rules of the household best. Servants have always had their own duties and responsibilities, and no one has ever enjoyed such treatment. Yet the late Madam kept Lianxin by her side every day and never left her side."

"Many maids in the mansion longed to serve their masters but could not get the job. At that time, everyone in the courtyard was talking about how lucky Lianxin was. She was favored by the late Madam and was able to receive such kindness and favor that others could only dream of."

Jiang Wan lightly touched the edge of the table with her fingertips, listening quietly as she recounted the past, and asked softly, "Such exceptional treatment is truly rare in this secluded mansion. Didn't anyone suspect anything amiss back then?"

Aunt Zhou shook her head gently and sighed softly, "Everyone just thinks that the master has taken a liking to a maid for a moment, but who would think deeper? There is something else that I have always kept in mind."

"The late Madam was always very proper and disciplined in her daily life and meals. Even when she was alone in her room, she never behaved casually. But when it came to Lianxin, she repeatedly broke the boundaries she had set for herself."

"After Lianxin arrived, she often dismissed all the servants in the house, leaving only Lianxin to keep her company. During meals, she allowed Lianxin to stand aside and chat, and when there was no one else around, she even allowed Lianxin to sit down and eat with her."

"I happened to see it a few times back then, and I had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but I couldn't find the reason at the time, so I only dared to keep it to myself and didn't dare to mention it to anyone."

Aunt Zhou's gaze darkened slightly as she recalled the various strange occurrences she had witnessed in the past, and her tone became increasingly solemn.

"There is another scene that I witnessed with my own eyes. In her spare time, my late wife was willing to personally teach Lianxin to read and write, and even taught her to check and organize accounts."

"When I saw it back then, I thought that such careful cultivation of her was far beyond the affection that a master would show to a maid. It was really too indulgent."

After a slight pause, Aunt Zhou looked up at Jiang Wan, a deep sense of melancholy in her eyes.

"But in the two weeks before my late wife passed away, everything quietly changed."

"Outsiders could not detect anything unusual. The late Madam was still as gentle and composed as ever, and her attitude towards Lianxin was the same as always, showing no sign of aloofness or coldness."

"But I spent many years with my late wife, and I am most familiar with her every word, action and subtle expression."

"During that period, the late Madam continued to keep Lianxin by her side as before, but in reality, she had already closed her heart to her and would not reveal a single word of her thoughts. She deliberately avoided Lianxin in everything and kept all her thoughts hidden in her heart."

Aunt Zhou's voice carried a hint of shame, and her fingertips clenched her sleeves slightly.

"That's not all. During that time, whenever Lianxin left the courtyard for even a moment, the late Madam would secretly summon me to her side. Each time, she would dismiss all the servants in the courtyard, leaving only me to speak with her."

"She never mentioned the family feuds or clan disputes, but only chatted with me about old, trivial matters."

"At the time, I just thought that my late wife was weak from a long illness and depressed. People with weak bodies are the most nostalgic and always like to talk to their closest old friends to relieve their boredom, so I never thought much of it."

"Looking back now, I realize that there were strange things everywhere. I was too stupid back then and failed to notice anything amiss."

Jiang Wan looked at the self-blame and dejection in her eyes and gently comforted her.

"It's only human nature; when you're in the thick of things, no one can predict what will happen next. Aunt, there's no need to worry about it."

After being comforted by Jiang Wan's gentle words, Aunt Zhou suppressed her guilt, composed herself, and continued to answer truthfully.

Jiang Wan pressed on, her tone nonchalant.

What did she talk to you about?

"These are all old stories from before my late wife got married and was still taking care of the family."