Yao Ling already gave a signal and one of the Mi Hui people tactfully took the other members of the old woman"s household out of the house. She didn"t care about what kind of excuse they used, as long as she would have the house to herself and freely did the interrogation by herself. She forbade Yao Ying from following her because she knew she needed to do this alone. It was easier to coax the old woman if she was alone.
The old woman had already gone inside the house and she was currently drinking tea. Despite her age, she sat with her back straight and Yao Ling knew it was ingrained in her body because of the palace"s etiquette. She emitted a lonely vibe that somehow made Yao Ling pity her. It seemed like what Han Yi said was true, this old woman led a hard life.
"Who is it?" The old woman asked. She noticed that there were soft footsteps that coming toward her.
"h.e.l.lo..." Yao Ling greeted the old woman but she deliberately didn"t introduce herself first. She didn"t use an imposing manner to scare the old woman but instead, she wanted them to become more intimate so the old woman would be comfortable enough to share her story with her.
The old woman was surprised by the sudden arrival of Yao Ling. Her eyes were getting worse and it was hard for her to see clearly --- unless she squinted her eyes and tried with all her might to see. However, she could make out the outline of the incoming woman. She was beyond beautiful with a calm temperament. She had lived long enough to know that the woman wasn"t a simple person.
"Gu Niang, who are you?" The old woman asked once again. "Are you my niece and her husband"s new employer?" She didn"t know what kind of luck that her niece had to suddenly get such a blessing. Although she knew that things weren"t as simple as it looked, she couldn"t bear to see her niece"s disappointed expression. That was why she just kept quiet and wanted to see what would happen at Lin Zhou.
With this woman"s appearance, it affirmed her previous thought and she started to be careful around the woman. The old woman had heard about Han Xiang"s matter and she felt like this thing... had something to do with the princess. Otherwise, why would they try to lure her out?
She had been hiding for so long and no one knew about her whereabouts, so how did this young woman find her?
Yao Ling smiled and answered, "You could say that." She added inwardly... whether they would lead a good life later or not, it would depend on this old woman. Yao Ling was very clear about rewards and punishments. No matter how pitiful the old woman was... she had to be heartless.
"Thank you for your kindness, Gu Niang. However, would you mind telling me the reason?" The old woman didn"t try to beat around the bush and decided to just ask the beautiful woman directly.
Yao Ling thought that even though the woman was old but she still had a sharp and clever mind. No wonder she would be able to serve in the palace and survive the ordeal despite the harsh life there. Yao Ling sat beside the old woman and patter her hand softly, "No need to be tense... I won"t hurt your family."
When the old woman heard Yao Ling"s a.s.surance, she felt slightly relieved but didn"t dare to let her own guard down. "What do you need this old woman for?" The old woman asked. She knew that this was actually the same as forcing her to talk and they were taking her family as hostages.
Yao Ling asked softly, "Before we get into that part, can you tell me what"s your name? I don"t know how to call you." She didn"t think it was polite to call her old woman even though she was a mere commoner now.
The old woman was a bit touched by Yao Ling"s question and she felt that she was respected despite the other being n.o.bler than her, "Gu Niang, just call me Tao Gu Gu." That was how she used to be called before everything went awry.
"Tao Gu Gu..." Yao Ling called her in a respectful voice.
"Gu Niang... who are you?" This was the third time Tao Gu Gu asked the same questions but there was not a hint of impatience in her voice.
Yao Ling admired her att.i.tude and finally decided to answer her question, "Tao Gu Gu, you can just call me Yao Ling. I am here on the behalf of your past employer"s son."
Tao Gu Gu"s hands that were holding a cup of tea slightly shook. Her employer"s son? The Ce Fei"s son? Was it the son that she had been missing all the time? General Lin"s son? Even though that topic was banned by the prince back then, the Ce Fei had told her everything about her past.
"What? Please say that again?" Tao Gu Gu asked once again, trying to affirm what Yao Ling just said. She was afraid that it was only a part of her imagination.
With this kind of reactions, Yao Ling knew that she hit the right thing. Tao Gu Gu knew something and it seemed like the Ce Fei was indeed Lin Jian"s mother. Yao Ling repeated what she had just said and Tao Gu Gu was crying.
Yao Ling was taken aback because, despite so many possible scenes that she had imagined before, she would have never thought that Tao Gu Gu would choose to cry. "Why are you crying, Tao Gu Gu?"
Tao Gu Gu didn"t answer her but she needed to be clear that this woman indeed came under the Ce Fei"s son"s order. "Why... why doesn"t Lin Jian come to see me himself?" Tao Gu Gu asked.
Yao Ling tactfully answered, "I arrived first at Lin Zhou and I was too excited to finally find a lead about Lin Jian"s mother. Thus, my hastiness to meet you."
Tao Gu Gu nodded her head. "Are you... Lin Jian"s wife?" She liked this kind and beautiful woman and if she was Lin Jian"s wife, the old woman would praise Lin Jian"s good eyes.
Yao Ling was dumbfounded with the sudden question and she didn"t know whether she should laugh or cry. "Er... no... Tao Gu Gu, I"m Lin Jian"s best friend"s wife," Yao Ling admitted shyly.
Tao Gu Gu felt a bit disappointed with this knowledge but she said nothing. She just sighed, knowing that this good woman had been taken by another man. "How do you know about me?" Tao Gu Gu asked.
Yao Ling divulged everything that had happened back at Wen Feng and Tao Gu Gu"s body was trembling in anger. She angrily said, "That stupid niece of mine! I already told her to guard this secret to the grave! If I didn"t accidentally spill the bean when I was drunk, there was no way that stupid girl would have known about this matter!"
After that incident, she had never touched wine anymore. She drank because that was the anniversary of the day when the Ce Fei was gone... She couldn"t overcome her sadness and choose to drink until she could forget everything.
Yao Ling quickly poured tea for the old woman and let her drink to calm herself down while trying to appease her, "Tao Gu Gu, please don"t be angry! Without your niece, I don"t think that we will be able to find you."
Tao Gu Gu huffed and puffed, but she knew what Yao Ling said made sense. Her niece would really become the death of her! However, she knew that she couldn"t do anything to that woman except beating her when she got back. She already thought her as her own daughter and treated her like one. She could only helplessly sigh.
Tao Gu Gu calmed herself down and said, "Naturally, she"s lucky that the one who heard about it is your party. What if another person heard about it too? It would lead to our death!"
Yao Ling nodded in understanding. "Don"t worry, Tao Gu Gu. We will a.s.sign people to keep you and your family safe."