"Yes!" Xiqiu nodded honestly. "You never told me, and I didn’t dare to ask you carefully. Besides, Second Master Qin is missing, so I dared not ask more."

Ruan Jingliu gave Xiqiu a sideways glance, smiling wryly: "Only you care about this matter." Afterward, she said lightly: "I have no feelings for him, just normal friends, so don’t overthink."

Xiqiu continued to scrutinize her. Ruan Jingliu felt unnatural under her gaze, waving her hand: "Don’t look at me like this, I’ve told you the truth."

"Not right!" Xiqiu knew Ruan Jingliu too well. If it’s not someone or something she cares about, she wouldn’t even mention it, let alone be concerned. Her attention to Qin Yuanfeng far exceeded her average level, making Xiqiu curious to get to the bottom of it: "I don’t think you’re being truthful; instead, it feels like you’re saying things against your heart."

Ruan Jingliu looked at Xiqiu with a ’how do you know better than me’ look and questioned: "Then tell me, how am I being insincere?"

"Ever since Second Master Qin disappeared, you’ve spoken less and less. You used to go out traveling frequently, but in the past two years, you haven’t left the Capital and even started believing in Buddhism, discussing Zen with the Master. This isn’t the Ruan Jingliu I know." Xiqiu paused, then continued: "You never cared about irrelevant people and things; even hearing about them you found boring and annoying. But with Second Master Qin, it’s different. You not only asked people to inquire about the Qin family’s internal affairs but also about his whereabouts..."

Ruan Jingliu’s expression remained unchanged as she replied: "Just friends."

"Sister Jingliu." Xiqiu shifted from joking to serious as she looked at her: "There aren’t many people you recognize as friends!"

Ruan Jingliu’s eyes flickered slightly, revealing a trace of confusion, as if questioning what Xiqiu had just said. After thinking for a while, she said: "Let’s not talk about these things. He and I will not intersect again. Besides, considering the age difference, he could call me Auntie!"

"I never thought the always free-spirited Ruan Jingliu would care about these things." Xiqiu had said all she wanted to say, feeling more certain about Ruan Jingliu’s feelings, so she changed the topic: "Fourth Master already knows the whereabouts of Second Master Qin."

Ruan Jingliu was naturally startled, her eyes revealing surprise, but then she quickly composed herself and asked, "Where is he?"

Xiqiu didn’t concern herself with Ruan Jingliu’s inner thoughts, and repeated what Fourth Master Xiao had told her to Ruan Jingliu, who gradually fell silent as she listened.

After leaving the Governor Mansion, she wandered around two medical clinics for half a day, and didn’t return to Four Symbols Alley until dusk, when Wan’er, heavily pregnant, was waiting for her at the door. Ruan Jingliu saw her and said, "Be careful not to slip, it’s frozen outside!"

"I’m fine." Wan’er came over to support her, but Ruan Jingliu instead took her hand, and as they entered the door she asked, "Has Tiancheng not returned yet?"

"He said he’d be late." Wan’er poured tea for Ruan Jingliu and stood before her, saying, "Master, someone sent a letter today." Then she retrieved a cowhide envelope from the treasure cabinet and handed it to Ruan Jingliu: "There’s no name on it, take a look."

Ruan Jingliu calmly accepted the letter and opened it in front of Wan’er. Two letters and a piece of paper with a red seal fell out. Ruan Jingliu picked up the paper with the seal first and saw it was a property contract clearly detailing a house on East Long Street. Wan’er curiously peered at it and exclaimed, "Master, isn’t this the house half a street away from the Governor Mansion? It’s said to be an old residence of a Prince, left vacant since the Emperor’s ascension—is it that one?" Then she was shocked to see Ruan Jingliu’s name on it: "Why is your name on the property contract?" She had never heard Ruan Jingliu mention buying property.

Moreover, houses in that area are hard to buy even with money. It’s said the Marquis couldn’t manage to buy it last year, and the matter was dropped without resolution.

Ruan Jingliu showed no reaction and casually tossed the land contract aside, then opened the letter, which read: "It’s been two years since we last met, how have you been, Jingliu..."

As Ruan Jingliu read on, her expression grew darker. Wan’er noticed and, afraid to ask, quietly questioned: "Master, who wrote the letter?"

Without answering, Ruan Jingliu suddenly stood up, clutching the letter, and headed to her bedroom, shutting the door with a bang.

Wan’er looked at her master’s angry face, then at the inexplicably arrived property deed on the table, puzzled!

"Master, you haven’t eaten yet." Wan’er carefully knocked on the door but heard no response from inside after a long wait. She sighed and instructed the maid to keep the food warm.

All night, there was no noise from the room, only the light stayed on the entire night. The next morning when Wan’er came over, she found Ruan Jingliu eating breakfast quietly, as usual, before taking a carriage to the medical clinic.

However, the property contract on the table was gone.

This scene repeated itself for over half a month, with Ruan Jingliu continuing her routine in a straight line while gradually losing weight.

Wan’er expressed her concern to Tiancheng: "Can you go to the Governor Mansion tomorrow, and see if Fourth Madam could come by?"

Tiancheng noticed Ruan Jingliu’s state as well and agreed. Upon returning to the Governor Mansion, he told Xiqiu everything. Xiqiu pondered over it and said, "I understand, I’ll find some time this afternoon to visit the clinic."

"Thank you, Madam." Tiancheng smiled and said, "Wan’er is always worried about Nurse Zhang, especially since she’s pregnant. I was truly afraid... so we came to trouble you."

Xiqiu smiled: "It’s natural to be concerned for Wan’er, don’t overthink it, go about your work!"

Tiancheng smiled, thanked her, and left.

That afternoon, Xiqiu went to the clinic, but Jingliu was not there. Chunyan replied, "Nurse Zhang left at noon without saying anything!"

Xiqiu then took a carriage to Four Symbols Alley, but Jingliu still hadn’t returned. After two trips back and forth, Xiqiu felt tired and advised Wan’er before returning to the Governor Mansion herself.

Late at night, she started having stomach pains and nudged Fourth Master Xiao awake: "Fourth Master, my stomach hurts."

Fourth Master Xiao, a light sleeper, woke up instantly at Xiqiu’s nudge and, seeing her pale face, stammered: "Where does it hurt?"

"My stomach!" Xiqiu clutched her stomach. "Quickly, go get Sister Jingliu."

Without asking questions, Fourth Master Xiao hurriedly grabbed a coat from the bedside and threw it on: "Wait for me!" He turned and pushed the door open, calling in Nanny Cen, Chunliu, and Bihuai immediately. In no time, the whole Governor Mansion was lit up, while he quickly went to the stables, mounted a horse, and rode swiftly to Four Symbols Alley.

Without explaining the reason to Ruan Jingliu, he pulled her directly into the carriage and drove back to the Governor Mansion himself.