Chapter 273: Fugitive Official Su Family

The Su family?

Is it that fugitive official Su family mentioned in the original work?

Jiang Xiaoxiao asked hesitantly, "May I ask what the Lady's given name is?"

"Wanwan." Su Wanwan wiped away a tear and choked out the two words, "You can just call me Wanwan."

So her name was Su Wanwan...

Jiang Xiaoxiao suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

So it wasn't the Su family mentioned in the original work.

She remembered that in the original work, the fugitive official Su family had only one daughter, named Su Xiangzhu, not Su Wanwan.

That was a terrifying figure whom everyone in the capital turned pale at the mention of, a legendary demoness who brought disaster to the country and the people.

She alone managed to keep the entire imperial family in turmoil, causing the Su family—the Cabinet Grand Secretary and a dignified Second Rank official—to fall as fugitive officials of the imperial court.

As long as it wasn't Su Xiangzhu, it was fine. Her family had already suffered such a disaster because of one Shen Que; she didn't want to get involved with such a person again.

Jiang Xiaoxiao revealed a smile once more: "Wan Wan Jie, do you know who sent the group of people who kidnapped you?"

Su Wanwan shook her head in silence.

Jiang Xiaoxiao took a step forward and lowered her voice: "Then do you know if there is... an inner ghost among those around you?"

Su Wanwan paused, then lowered her head, still not speaking.

Jiang Wei glanced at her, set down her tea cup, and said, "I see you've recovered quite a bit. I'll send you back, so your maids and matrons don't worry."

"No, don't! I don't want to go back, I want to stay here!" Su Wanwan shrank into the corner, like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring, terrified beyond control.

It seemed she was truly frightened by tonight's events.

Jiang Xiaoxiao looked helplessly at her mother: "Mother, don't scare her. Let her stay here tonight."

Jiang Wei curled her lip, having nothing to say.

Seeing this, Su Wanwan cautiously crept behind Jiang Xiaoxiao, her hands pitifully clutching the corner of her clothes, as if afraid of being driven out.

Jiang Xiaoxiao was caught between laughter and tears. She glanced at Su Wanwan's wrists, which were covered in blue and purple marks left by the ropes.

She subconsciously took a box of ointment from the pouch at her waist to apply it for her, saying as she did, "Don't be afraid, Wan Wan Jie. My mother was just joking. You'll stay with us tonight; no one will dare come to harm you. You can just disembark with us tomorrow."

Su Wanwan pursed her lips and said nothing.

She lowered her head to watch Jiang Xiaoxiao apply the medicine to her wrists and suddenly blurted out, apropos of nothing: "When I was little, I was bullied by the family servants, and my elder sister would apply medicine for me just like this..."

"Ah?" Jiang Xiaoxiao was stunned, suddenly having a bad premonition, "Who is your elder sister?"

"My elder sister died in childbirth..." Su Wanwan buried her head even lower, her voice choked with sobs, "She died many years ago... she died right in front of me."

Jiang Xiaoxiao choked.

Alright, it was her overthinking again.

"Wan Wan Jie, the dead cannot return to life; please grieve in moderation."

"Xiaoxiao, you know it was someone around me who wanted to harm me, right?" Su Wanwan suddenly said.

"Ah, er, yes." Jiang Xiaoxiao was caught off guard by Su Wanwan's sudden change of topic, "Wan Wan Jie, do you know who it is?"

"I know who it is." Su Wanwan nodded gently. There wasn't a hint of anger on her face, only deep despair and loss, "She was my dowry maid... I originally thought she only had small thoughts about the Prince; I didn't expect she would actually want my life..."

As she spoke, she suddenly covered her face and began to cry again: "It must have been the Su family who sent her to kill me, it must be... The Su family hates me to the bone; they want me dead..."

"That..." Jiang Xiaoxiao didn't dare to jump to conclusions easily, so she could only say: "Wan Wan Jie, before things are clarified, please don't jump to conclusions. Perhaps it's just... a misunderstanding?"

Su Wanwan sobbed: "Then what should I do? Xiaoxiao, what should I do..."

Jiang Xiaoxiao patted her hand, soothing her: "We will soon know the reason why that maid wanted to kill you. But—"

She narrowed her eyes and suddenly looked at a sneaky figure in front of the room door not far away.

"You need to cooperate with us to act out a play."

The sky was gradually brightening, and the sea breeze that had blown all night gradually calmed down.

Yu Ying'er paced back and forth in the room anxiously.

Just as Jiang Xiaoxiao had anticipated, she had already sent a message to Yu Batou, telling him to use the excuse of delivering water to the group of bandits to drug them and deal with them.

At the very least, make them unable to speak.

But Yu Batou had yet to return.

She was burning with anxiety; could something have gone wrong?

While she was anxious, Yu'er and the other maids and matrons were also so worried they hadn't slept all night.

Therefore, Yu Ying'er's anxiety and unease did not appear particularly noticeable.

She looked at the sky outside, which was gradually brightening; the sea surface not far away was stirred into a light blue by the churning oars.

This meant the merchant ship had already sailed into the shallow sea area and would be docking before long.

Once it docked, she would be finished!

No!

She absolutely could not let such a thing happen!

Yu Ying'er bit her lip hard, turned around, and left the room.

Yu'er hurriedly called out to stop her: "Sister Ying'er, where are you going?"

Yu Ying'er turned back, forcing a stiff smile on her face: "I'm a bit hungry, I'm going to the back kitchen to get something to eat."

"I still have some pastries here that the Lady rewarded me with. If you're hungry, eat some to pad your stomach first." Yu'er said as she stepped forward, grabbing Yu Ying'er's hand to stop her from leaving, "We have to wait here for the Lady to return; it's best if we don't go anywhere."

Yu Ying'er tried to struggle twice but couldn't break free; she didn't know where this little girl Yu'er got such strength.

"Yu'er, let go of me first; I won't go, alright?" She could only say.

Yu'er didn't let go, but instead gave a wink to the matron beside her. The matron understood and immediately stepped forward to lock the door tight.

"Before the Lady returns, none of us are allowed to go out, lest the Lady return and find no one."

Yu Ying'er looked at the tightly closed door and the matron stuffing the key into her waist pouch, her eyes full of despair.

At the same time.

The door to the room where the few bandits were held was surrounded by people.

Yu Batou knelt on the deck, his head knocking heavily against the ground: "I did all of this. It was my greed for money; I hired people to rob. If you want to arrest someone, arrest me."

He wore a look of determination to die on his face.

Jiang Xiaoxiao stood beside her mother and said, feigning anger: "Good, so it was you who hired them! Do you know that the Lady you drugged is pregnant? She has already been affected by the fetal movement and is on the verge of two deaths in one!"

Yu Batou's face turned pale instantly: "How is that possible?! That medicine, I... I clearly swapped it..."

So it was he who had swapped the medicine.

Jiang Xiaoxiao suddenly realized; no wonder Su Wanwan hadn't passed out.

But she still deliberately put on an angry look: "Bold! You committed such a despicable act, and you still dare to quibble!"

Mr. Bai beside them was also full of anger: "Do not quibble. Once the ship docks, I will personally go and send you and the few bandits to the Yamen together!" ===== CHAPTER 274 =====