Song Yihuan was extremely touched.
She knew that as long as she mentioned leaving the capital to Qi Lei, he would surely do his best to help her.
However, this was not the right time to leave.
"Uncle Qi, I do plan to leave, but not now. I haven't found out the cause of my mother's death yet, nor have I avenged her. My mother suffered so many years in the Marquis Mansion. She gave her life to give birth to Xuan'er and died so miserably. Even after her death, they insulted her with such words. How could we just let them off so easily?"
Mentioning Concubine Rou, Qi Lei felt as if he had been splashed with a basin of ice - cold water, and he completely calmed down.
"That's right. We haven't avenged your mother yet. We can't let her die in vain."
Song Yihuan took a step forward and lowered her voice. "Uncle Qi, actually I came today because I have something to ask you to investigate for me."
Qi Lei glanced at the kitchen door, led her further inside, and his expression became solemn. "Miss Huan, just tell me. As long as I can do it, I will surely work hard for you."
"On the fifteenth of March this year, my elder sister went to the Changyue Nunnery with some young ladies from the capital and stayed there for a few days. Uncle Qi, I want you to find out who else was in the nunnery during those days besides my elder sister."
Qi Lei nodded. "Don't worry. I'll look into it for you."
"Also, some time ago, the Princess of Ningqin invited a royal physician to her mansion for a pulse - taking. I specially asked him to examine Xuan'er."
Qi Lei said anxiously, "How about it? Can Xuan'er's illness be cured?"
Song Yihuan shook her head, and Qi Lei looked disappointed. But the next moment, Song Yihuan's words gave him hope again.
"That royal physician couldn't cure Xuan'er, but he pointed out a way for me. He said that there is a 'Carefree Divine Doctor' in the folk. His medical skills are extremely excellent and can bring the dying back to life. If we can find him, Xuan'er's heart disease may be curable."
Song Yihuan said seriously, "Uncle Qi, after all, Xuan'er is a concubine - born son of the Marquis Mansion. Even though he has a heart disease, he is still of the Marquis Mansion's bloodline. If I take him away from the capital, the Marquis Mansion will surely send pursuers. If he is still in this state, I'm afraid we won't be able to run far before we are caught."
Qi Lei clenched his fists. "I understand. Leave this to me."
After reaching a consensus, the two stopped talking about such topics and continued to prepare lunch.
Besides the roast chicken brought by Song Yihuan, Qi Lei cooked two more side dishes and four bowls of plain noodles. Then he and Song Yihuan carried them out one by one.
"Gentlemen, lunch is served!"
The dishes were placed on the table one by one. The four of them sat around a small table in the yard.
Qi Lei was a very good cook. The soup of his plain noodles was clear, the noodles were as thin as dragon's whiskers, and there were dots of scallions scattered on the noodle soup. The golden - fried poached eggs were lying on the noodles, making people's mouths water at the smell.
Ji Lingchuan was tall and straight. Sitting on the small wooden stool, he couldn't stretch out his hands and feet properly. He looked rather comical.
Song Yihuan had never seen him in such an embarrassed state. She lowered her eyelashes to hide the smile in her eyes.
Who would have thought that the noble heir of the Prince of Ningqin would be troubled by a small wooden stool? This was probably the first time.
Gu Yunzheng had been paying attention to Song Yihuan's expression. He noticed that her eyes were always on Ji Lingchuan, and he secretly gritted his teeth.
He picked up the bowl in his hand, took a mouthful of the noodles cooked by Qi Lei, and immediately looked up in surprise. "Warrior Qi, your noodles are so delicious!"
Qi Lei smiled. "Thank you, Lord Gu, for your compliment. If you like it, eat more. There's plenty here."
Gu Yunzheng took a piece of roast chicken and smiled at Song Yihuan. "Miss Rou, the roast chicken you brought is also excellent. I wonder which restaurant you bought it from?"
Gu Yunzheng's activeness made Song Yihuan feel a bit uncomfortable. Just as she was about to answer, Ji Lingchuan's cold voice came from the side.
"Lord Gu, don't talk while eating."
Gu Yunzheng tightened his chopsticks and replied with an unyielding smile. "Lord Ling is truly solemn and polite. Even in a commoner's home, he still adheres to the rules so strictly. In my opinion, since we are having lunch with Warrior Qi today, it means we've become friends. As friends, there's no need to be so cautious."
Seeing the undercurrent among the three, Qi Lei smiled meaningfully. "Lord Gu is right. In my place, there's no need to be so cautious. We commoners don't care about this. Or does Lord Ling find the food unappetizing?"
Ji Lingchuan tightened his face. "No, it tastes great."
Whether it was the plain noodles, the roast chicken, or the other two side dishes, they all tasted great, flavors he had never experienced before. He just thought Gu Yunzheng was too noisy and annoying.
But he just couldn't bring himself to talk like Gu Yunzheng.
Even when he was leading troops to fight on the border before, the soldiers under his command were strictly disciplined and rarely chatted like this.
However, after this little episode, the lunch became much quieter. Gu Yunzheng stopped deliberately making small talk, which also relieved Song Yihuan.
The scene of the three of them together really made her feel uncomfortable. But for the reward after solving the case, she had to endure it for the time being.
After lunch, Song Yihuan took the initiative to offer to help Qi Lei clean up the dishes and quickly escaped from the yard, leaving Qi Lei, Ji Lingchuan, and Gu Yunzheng alone.
After the meal, the three seemed to be closer than before. Gu Yunzheng also changed his address for Qi Lei from "Warrior Qi" to "Uncle Qi".
"Uncle Qi, last time I saw you making a dressing case. Could it be..."
Qi Lei said, "Naturally, it's for Miss Huan. It's the dowry I prepared for her in advance."
Ji Lingchuan stood beside with his hands behind his back, looking down at the woods in the corner with a calm expression.
So these were all the dowry for her.
Qi Lei was really caring. No wonder she was so close to him.
Gu Yunzheng also increasingly felt that the relationship between Qi Lei and Song Yihuan was extraordinary. He probed,
"Uncle Qi, I heard from the magistrate that you've been living alone in the capital. Where are your relatives?"
Qi Lei smiled casually. "I'm from Quzhou. My family died in a famine twenty years ago. I've been alone since I was a child and I'm used to it."
"No wonder Uncle Qi is skilled in many crafts. It turns out it's because of the hardships of life."
Gu Yunzheng asked again, "Then haven't you thought about getting married? You can't just live alone like this forever, right?"
The question Gu Yunzheng asked was also what Ji Lingchuan was wondering. But more than that, he wanted to know why Song Yihuan, a concubine - born daughter of the Marquis Mansion, would recognize Qi Lei as her adoptive father.
Qi Lei's gaze shifted to a string of pendants hanging under the eaves, swaying in the wind. He seemed to be looking at an old acquaintance through them, and his expression was extremely gentle.
"I once had a wife, but she passed away before me. After her death, I vowed never to marry again and to continue our relationship in the next life."