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Lian Hua sat quietly by the side, letting her look to her heart’s content.

After making a round, Lin Yuejuan was utterly convinced; her clan niece seemed to be doing indeed well. Even with her poor eyesight, she could tell that the furnishings here were extremely luxurious and beyond the means of ordinary households.

The rock that had been weighing on her heart had loosened. She would now have something to report back to the old man.

Lian Hua led her to the living room, had her drink tea and eat pastries, and started asking about how Clan Uncle and Clan Sister were doing.

Demonstrating great concern in her words and knowing they were all fine, Lian Hua was very happy. This was, after all, the first time she had heard news of her relatives since entering the palace. How could she not be thrilled?

She said, "Clan Aunt, knowing that you all are well, I am at ease. Please tell Clan Uncle that I am well in the palace and that he should take care of his health. There will be opportunities to meet in the future."

"Xiao Hua, knowing that you are doing well gives us peace of mind," Lin Yuejuan said sentimentally, feeling much relieved. She could feel Lian Hua’s sincerity.

The group chatted casually for a while longer, and Lian Hua asked with concern how Lin Yuejuan’s waist was doing and if it had gotten any better.

Lin Yuejuan sighed, admitting that her bad back was a result of overexertion in her youth and that it would sometimes ache, particularly during rainy weather. It was incurable.

Upon hearing this, Lian Hua gave Xiao Jizi a meaningful glance.

Understanding, Xiao Jizi immediately went out to summon the Imperial Physician.

While waiting, Lian Hua felt a touch of the fear that comes with approaching one’s hometown and hesitated before asking, "Clan Aunt, I want to inquire about what exactly happened to my parents and brother? I was young back then and didn’t understand anything.

I entered the palace in a daze, wanting to help my family but unable to.

Fortunately, His Majesty has agreed to help me find them.

Could you tell me what happened back then?

It would give me some direction in searching for them. "

A jolt went through Lin Yuejuan’s heart. The old man had been right; Xiao Hua had indeed asked about this.

Her expression turned unnatural, and she avoided Lian Hua’s gaze, gripping her hands tightly together: "Back then, after your parents entrusted you to someone to bring you here, they only said through word of mouth, something about business... doing business or something like that..."

Lin Yuejuan stumbled over her words when she mentioned business, and as she caught Lian Hua’s gaze, she looked away again.

"Oh dear." She clasped her hands together, turning aside with self-reproach, "Look at my memory, it’s getting worse.

How could I have forgotten whether it was about doing business or something else.

.. In any case, your parents incurred a huge debt and had no choice but to leave their home and earn money to pay it back. "

Lian Hua watched Lin Yuejuan intently, not blinking. This story was indeed consistent with what she knew, but she felt a strange sensation in her heart.

She suppressed that odd feeling and asked urgently, "Then what?"

Though Lin Yuejuan dared not meet her gaze, she became much more natural as she spoke, her story flowing more smoothly: "Back then, you were still young. Your parents didn’t want you to suffer, so they didn’t take you with them.

They also worried that the debt collectors might come and sell you off, so they had no choice but to send you far away to seek refuge with your Clan Uncle.

But ultimately, we were unable, and it seemed that the debt collectors came to the door.

We feared we couldn’t protect you and were compelled.

.. Ah, your Clan Uncle was so worried he couldn’t even sleep well, ah. .."

Towards the end, Lin Yuejuan lamented with heartfelt distress, her expression one of deep emotion, tinged with guilt and self-reproach.

These latter statements were almost entirely true; they had really been out of options. Otherwise, who could have the heart to send a lonely girl, who had traveled miles to seek refuge, into the depths of the palace to serve as a maid?

Lian Hua, not bothering to comfort Lin Yuejuan, pressed on: "Where did they go? Are they living a hard life?"

Why else would they not take her with them?

Lin Yuejuan’s expression faltered, for this question had also been addressed by her husband.

"Xiao Hua," she began, "about this matter..."

She was about to fabricate a story based on her husband’s invention, telling Xiao Hua that Brother Changhe and the others had sent another message saying they had gone far away and were well settled.

The message didn’t reveal their specific location, fearing that their debt collectors would find out, and it seemed their life could be decent.

However, as she turned and caught sight of Lian Hua’s anxious and hopeful eyes, the words she was about to utter suddenly caught in her throat. Her heart was filled with guilt, and she couldn’t bear to lie to her any longer.

Lian Hua watched as Lin Yuejuan wavered, gripping her sleeve tightly, her eyes unwaveringly fixed on her with stubbornness and nervousness, hoping to hear some news from her.

Lin Yuejuan’s mouth opened slightly, several times she seemed about to speak, but in the end, all she could do was let out a weary sigh and shake her head.

Before coming, her husband had warned her over and over again not to speak of it, saying that if Xiao Hua knew, she might be too distressed, and it might not be good for her.

She also didn’t want to lie to Xiao Hua anymore.

Caught between saying nothing and the truth, she simply sighed heavily, her expression both despondent and sad.

"Does Clan Aunt not know either?" Lian Hua’s eyes, filled with hope, dimmed as despair settled in, and her whole demeanor became gloomy.

After so many years without a word, how could Clan Aunt suddenly know? She had hoped too much...

Lin Yuejuan steeled her heart and slowly shook her head again.

Avoiding Lian Hua’s gaze, Lin Yuejuan thought of the girl’s appearance in those days and remembered Brother Changhe’s happy family with Su Ran. Her eyes began to moisten, and her hand trembled as she reached for a handkerchief to wipe her eyes.

Lian Hua looked down sadly, her nose tingling with the onset of tears swirling in her eyes, and she lowered her head in silence.

Lin Yuejuan felt a tightness in her chest. This girl, once doted on immensely, had lost her family and become an orphan, and now she had forgotten everything, kept in the dark, unwitting. Yet Lin Yuejuan could not speak of it and reveal the truth.

Her husband had gone south years before, bringing back more bad news than good, and for all these years, there had been no word from Brother Changhe’s family. Most likely, alas...

This was truly too cruel, it made her feel a pressure in her chest and a uncomfortable lump in her throat.

She resented her husband for caring more for someone else’s daughter than his own, but now she finally understood him. This girl had only them as her family now. If they didn’t show her compassion, who else would?

She knew she should say something comforting, but she just couldn’t bring herself to speak. She feared saying the wrong thing, and she felt that any attempt at consolation would be just another cruelty in its pale insufficiency.

Xiao Jizi had just finished making arrangements outside and, stepping into the hall, sensed that something was wrong. His master exhibited a sadness he hadn’t seen before.

Anxious in his heart, he didn’t know what the two had discussed during his absence to make his master so sad.

Approaching Xiao Linzi, he touched him to get his attention. Xiao Linzi, too, was affected by the atmosphere in the hall, feeling very uncomfortable, and whispered to Xiao Jizi that the master’s parents were gone, the master couldn’t find them, and was sorrowful.

After a moment’s thought, Xiao Jizi seemed to understand, and he looked worriedly at Lian Hua, softly calling, "Master..."

Lian Hua looked up, her eyes misty, tears brimming but not yet falling, as fragile as a glass vase, her gaze filled with confusion and helplessness, like a homeless wanderer. It was a look that made one’s heart ache.