nashuaworldcup Chapter 408 Missing (2)
Chapter 408 Missing (2)
Shen Fuhan, who was fast asleep, was awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door.
He asked in a hoarse voice, "What is it?"
When the wet nurse heard that the Marquis had woken up, she composed herself before speaking: "My lord, this concerns the Madam. Please allow me to go in and report."
For a woman, the most important thing is her reputation; she cannot announce this matter outside the door.
Upon hearing this, Shen Fuhan's expression immediately hardened. He replied with an "okay" and slowly sat up, feeling dizzy and disoriented.
The wet nurse pushed open the door, thought for a moment, then brought in Cai'er, the only one who knew the inside story, and carefully closed the door again. The two of them knelt down outside the inner room.
She said in a trembling voice, "My lord, the lady is missing!"
Shen Fuhan lost his composure and was about to speak when he was hit with a heavy cough.
He managed to ask with difficulty, "What... what happened?"
Cai'er quickly said, "Sixth Miss Pei came to visit just now, and her clothes got wet. So Madam took Sixth Miss Pei to Sister Ruyi's side room to change her clothes. When the wet nurse saw that they hadn't returned for a long time, she told me to go and check."
"When I went over, I found only Ruyi and Miss Pei's maid in the room. Both of them were lying on the ground unconscious. Madam's clothes were also there..."
Upon hearing this, Shen Fuhan's expression instantly tightened.
Did Pei Shijing kidnap A Yue?
It's pointless for Pei Shijing to do this; it's just a request from Pei Huaijin.
But no matter how powerful he is, the Jing'an Marquis's mansion is still under the Shen family name, and all the servants in the mansion know the madam. How could he possibly take A-Yue away without anyone noticing?
Could it be... that A-Yue went with her on her own initiative?
Shen Fuhan immediately dismissed the guess. It couldn't be true. She had been taking good care of him these past few days, and her distressed and worried expression was genuine.
But if it's just acting...
No, it's impossible.
Shen Fuhan banished the inappropriate thoughts from his mind; the most urgent task was to find her.
His mind raced, and he ordered in a hoarse voice, "Have Ling He and Si Bai come to see me."
He paused, then added, "Not a single word about the lady's disappearance shall be revealed."
He didn't care about her reputation, as long as she was alive and he could find her.
However, Wen Jiayue cared about what the world thought. If people found out, even if she came back alive, she would be depressed.
Cai'er put the young lady she was holding down and immediately ran out.
With her restraints lifted, Zhao Zhao slowly walked forward.
The wet nurse wanted to bring the young lady back, but she had already passed through the beaded curtain.
Without orders, the wet nurse dared not go in. After thinking for a moment, she decided to stay in the outer room.
Shen Fuhan was putting on her boots when she saw her daughter coming over. She instructed the wet nurse, "Take good care of Miss these next few days and make sure you don't leave her side for a moment."
The wet nurse nodded in agreement, secretly wondering what the Marquis meant by those words.
Shen Fuhan put on his boots and prepared to stand up, but then felt dizzy.
He closed his eyes and covered his throbbing forehead.
Choosing this moment to kidnap A-Yue was truly a perfect storm of favorable timing, location, and circumstances.
He was ill, making even walking extremely difficult, and finding someone was even more challenging.
The guards were all busy dealing with the princess's affairs, and only a few guards were stationed at the Marquis's residence, so Pei Shijing had no trouble getting through and managed to take the person away by sheer luck.
If guards are sent to find A-Yue, the matter concerning the Eldest Princess will progress slowly and be temporarily put on hold.
The longer it drags on, the more the Emperor will soften his heart towards the Princess.
Pei Huaijin is gambling, betting on whether he will choose the eldest princess or Wen Jiayue.
Just as I was lost in thought, my left index finger was suddenly grasped by a soft little hand.
Shen Fuhan opened his eyes and saw his daughter's face flushed red, her little legs raised as she desperately lunged at him.
He still had the strength to carry his daughter, so he easily lifted her onto his lap by pinching her waist.
Zhao Zhao didn't want that, so she stood up, wiggled her little bottom, and hugged his head.
Shen Fuhan was puzzled when Zhaozhao pouted and blew air onto his forehead.
“It hurts, ouch,” Zhao Zhao said earnestly, “Zhao Zhao ouches for Daddy.”
Shen Fuhan looked at his daughter's almond-shaped eyes, which were exactly like Wen Jiayue's, and was momentarily lost in thought. He then gently kissed her eyes.
Zhao Zhao uncomfortably stepped back and continued to blow air onto his forehead.
“Father doesn’t feel pain,” Shen Fuhan coughed a few times. “Thank you, Zhaozhao.”
Although he didn't know why his daughter did this, her soft, saliva-stained breath soothed a bit of his anxiety.
She will be found, she definitely will.
A short while later, Ling He and Si Bai hurriedly walked in.
Shen Fuhan gestured to dismiss their formalities and went straight to the point: "Ling He, the madam has disappeared in Ruyi's side room. If you have any clues, take the guards to investigate immediately. You can take as many guards as you like. You don't need to ask me for permission. Be sure to keep it a secret and don't reveal a single word."
"Furthermore, using the excuse that the servants of the Princess's residence have left the city without permission, send people to strictly check the people leaving the city. If they see Pei Huaijin, Pei Shijing and his wife, immediately detain their carriages."
Shen Fuhan drank a lot of water and managed to finish speaking in one breath.
Ling He, having seen his share of storms, remained calm, clasped his hands in agreement, and turned to leave.
Siber was completely panicked. How could the lady have disappeared?
Shen Fuhan took another sip of tea to suppress his cough and instructed, "Sibai, take me to the side room."
Si Bai advised, "My lord, but you are still ill..."
Seeing the Marquis's expression, he shut his mouth and carefully helped the person up.
At the city gate.
A carriage came to a stop at a leisurely pace. The city gate captain checked the identity and then peeked out from behind the carriage curtain.
The man was gentle and handsome, and the two beautiful women were sleeping and waking up – he was truly blessed.
The city gate captain waved his hand with a sigh, letting them leave the city.
Before long, guards from the Marquis of Jing'an's residence galloped over, reined in their horses, and dismounted.
The carriage outside Chang'an City had already traveled quite a distance.
Pei Shijing asked excitedly, "Brother, where are we going?"
"I don't know," Pei Huaijin asked gently, "Is there anywhere you'd like to go?"
Aside from having rehearsed kidnapping Wen Jiayue a million times in his mind, he made no plans for what would happen next.
Since their plans would be guessed, it was better to wander aimlessly, where no one would know where they went.
Pei Shijing thought for a moment and said, "I like the water towns of Jiangnan, and I like any place with beautiful mountains and clear waters."
Pei Huaijin pondered for a moment and then agreed, "Okay, then let's go to Yangzhou."
Seeing her brother listen to her so much, Pei Shijing smiled, but when she caught a glimpse of the sleeping Wen Jiayue out of the corner of her eye, she pursed her lips again.
She agreed to let her brother bring Wen Jiayue out, on the condition that they would not be separated and that he would take her with him wherever he went.
Her brother agreed, and she was able to leave the city as she wished, but now...
She asked softly, "Brother, do you like Madam Shen?"
In a place unseen by anyone, Wen Jiayue, who had fallen into a deep sleep, trembled slightly, as if she were about to wake up.