At the Xie mansion, chaos erupted like a pot of boiling porridge because the Fourth Young Lady and several maids and servants hadn’t returned all night.
The Old Madam stamped her feet and shouted in the main chamber: “She hasn’t returned and isn’t at the temple – could she have flown to the heavens? Where’s the eldest son? Quickly send the servants out to search! Such a major incident has occurred, and you’re all standing around like stupid geese. If anything happens to Fourth Girl, how will you explain it to the master!”
Explaining to the master was just an empty threat – the master didn’t care much about this youngest daughter. Even if Qing Yuan disappeared, he could easily pretend she had never existed. But the Old Madam’s anxiety was genuine. After all, Fourth Girl was still a daughter of the Xie family, and if something truly happened to her, it would affect the Xie family’s reputation. The Xie family had been high officials for generations, and the women of their household had always maintained spotless reputations. If someone of this generation ruined their reputation, how could she face the Xie family ancestors after death?
Zheng Ze, holding his waist, said: “Grandmother, don’t worry. Your grandson has sent out everyone available to search. Let’s wait a while; there will surely be news soon.”
The Old Madam had no choice but to listen, anxiously gasping for breath. Madam Hu stood beside her fanning her, saying: “Mother, please calm down. Youzhou is a big city. Perhaps Fourth Girl wanted to buy something for her mother and just left Bikhen Temple for a while.”
How could the Old Madam accept such comfort? She said angrily: “Nonsense! If she needed to buy something, sending servants would have sufficed. What mountain of gold or silver needed moving that a whole group of people stayed out all night? I know this time something terrible must have happened. Youzhou looks peaceful, but aren’t there plenty of bandits in places we can’t see? If Fourth Girl fell into their hands, then… then…”
The Old Madam turned pale with anxiety, her legs trembling and body shaking uncontrollably. She suddenly stood up and rushed a few steps toward the door. “Quickly send someone to report to the authorities. Just relying on our household, we probably won’t find her even by tomorrow.”
“We cannot report to the authorities.” Madam Hu stopped her, turning to say: “Mother, please stay calm. If this matter spreads, it will bring our family a hundred harms and no benefit. I’m also worried sick about Fourth Girl’s disappearance, but Mother, think carefully – if we alert the officials about a young lady’s disappearance, we lose face whether we find her or not. A proper young lady missing for a night – how will people talk about us? Even if nothing happened, they’ll find something to gossip about. How could our family show our faces in Youzhou then? Mother must think of the other children – three young masters are preparing for the military examinations, and Qing Ru and Qing Rong need to be married. We can’t ruin their futures for Fourth Girl alone, can we, Mother?”
These words made sense. The Old Madam, initially focused only on finding the person, hadn’t thought it through so carefully. Now, with Madam Hu’s reminder, she could distinguish the priorities.
Her heart, which had been in her throat, slowly settled back in place. The Old Madam sat back on the southern kang bed, patting her knee and pondering: “I was confused with worry, almost causing a huge embarrassment. But Fourth Girl is still a member of our Xie family. If we truly lose her, what will we do?”
Madam Hu also frowned worriedly, considering before saying: “For now, we can only search quietly by ourselves. If we can find her, that’s best. If we can’t find her… Old Madam must broaden her heart. Fourth Girl wasn’t raised by us after all, and children raised by others aren’t as close as our own. Old Madam’s judgment is as keen as ever – surely you understand this principle?”
Qing He on the side could hardly bear to listen anymore. Unable to oppose Madam Hu directly, she only said to the Old Madam: “Grandmother, Fourth Sister is extremely intelligent. Although she was raised by the Chen family when young, how could she not know she’s a member of the Xie family? If she could run back to the Chen family now, she wouldn’t have willingly returned to the Xie family in the first place.”
Concubine Lian seized on Qing He’s words and agreed: “If we want to prevent outside gossip, finding her quickly is the proper course. If you’re worried she ran back to the Chen family, just send someone to Hengtang. We need to see her alive or find her body.”
The Old Madam disliked Concubine Lian’s inauspicious words and glared at her fiercely. “At a time like this, is it proper to speak so carelessly?”
Concubine Mei had been standing quietly to the side. Since Qing Yuan had shown her respect since arriving at the Xie family, she couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to the young lady. Moreover, hearing Madam Hu’s tone suggesting she hoped the girl wouldn’t be found, and never wanting to miss a chance to displease Madam Hu, she turned to Zheng Lun and said: “Second Young Master, isn’t the Young Master of the Marquis of Danyang in Youzhou? Please go quickly to find the Young Marquis. He has many connections and cares about Fourth Young Lady – if we ask him to search, he’ll surely do his utmost.”
At these words, Qing Ru, who had been forcing herself to stay alert and listen to the commotion, became displeased. Leaning against Lü Zhui, she said: “Haven’t we troubled their family enough? When Father had his mishap, we relied on their influence to smooth things over. Now we need their help even to find a missing person. Our huge family is like a crab without legs – needing their help for everything. After owing so many favors, how will we ever repay them!”
Qing Ru’s private motives were plain and unconcealed. Concubine Mei heard this and said: “Second Young Lady’s words are incorrect. When someone from the family is missing, it’s an urgent matter. To avoid owing favors, we’d let her be? This isn’t how close relatives should behave. Fourth Young Lady is already pitiful enough, losing her mother young. Now she’s missing and hoping for rescue. Second Young Lady speaking this way, isn’t it heartless?”
Zheng Ze, being good friends with Li Congxin and knowing how much effort he had put into pursuing Qing Yuan, naturally ignored what Qing Ru said and only replied: “He was called back to the capital to take up his post right after the last banquet and hasn’t returned to Youzhou yet. I’ll go find him now and ask him to think of ways to search for her.”
Seeing that Zheng Lun was going to notify Li Congxin, Qing Ru became furious. Madam Hu gave her a light glance, one that carried a reassuring meaning. Qing Ru felt more at ease, knowing that even if Zheng Ze went, it wouldn’t change anything, so she relaxed and leaned back against Lü Zhui’s shoulder.
Let them search, let them panic – the result would be the same. Though that girl was clever and cunning, she was still too green when it came to serious matters. A fourteen or fifteen-year-old young lady would be scared to death just seeing those vicious men. Her little schemes might work for inner chamber tricks, but when facing real thugs, she could only wait for slaughter.
Madam Hu left Huifang Garden, walking back in the fresh sunlight, asking Granny Sun as they walked, “Has any news come from outside?”
Granny Sun said there was none. “It’s rather strange. By rights, there should have been a report by now, but even at this hour, there’s still no word.”
Madam Hu fell silent. While there was some worry, she felt Fourth Girl’s chances of escape were very slim, and so she said somewhat self-consolingly: “The mansion is in chaos right now. Coming to report now would be self-incriminating, wouldn’t it? It’s better to stay quiet. Let them search everywhere, and after two days without a trace, they’ll give up hope.”
Granny Sun agreed, then after thinking, asked: “That Jin Er – he’s reliable, isn’t he?”
Madam Hu’s lips curved into a cold smile.
The midsummer day was truly hot – the sun had barely risen, yet one could feel the rolling heat waves. Everything exposed gleamed with heat; even the lush green leaves had extremely fine golden edges.
If life in Hengtang had been ordinary, then in Youzhou, she felt like a fish in water. A woman’s natal family was truly important – nowadays, great families all emphasize matching status in marriages. Those who could enter the Xie family as the primary wife naturally came from no common background.
Madam Hu had a well-established natal family. Her father was the General of Guiding Virtue who had fought against barbarians on the battlefield, earning ten merit promotions and receiving the honor of Upper Military Protector. Though he had retired due to age, he still had several reliable former subordinates in Youzhou. These people didn’t need high positions or great power – the more obscure they were, the more they knew about dealings that couldn’t see the light of day. They were officials yet connected to bandits, and to ensure they could stay uninvolved, they operated even more carefully than she had imagined.
“Rest assured, whether Fourth Girl is dead or alive, it won’t be traced back to us,” Madam Hu said melodiously, looking at the sky and murmuring, “No news for over ten hours – it seems the worst has likely happened…”
Granny Sun also smiled along, saying softly: “To spend so much effort on such a little girl – it hardly seems worth it. How can Fourth Young Lady blame anyone else for her current situation? If she had learned from the Third Young Lady and listened to Madam in everything, how could this disaster have happened? As they say, a young lady shouldn’t be too proud. Second Young Lady is the legitimate daughter and naturally ranks above her, yet she insisted on opposing Second Young Lady – what was the point!”
Madam Hu smiled, appearing quite understanding, “Young children – how would they know hardship without tasting some suffering?”
But this suffering went too far, carelessly costing a life. Now that young lady was probably lying exposed under some patch of sunlight. In such hot weather, even if they found her, she would likely be unrecognizable.
At the Commander’s Guard office in the capital, Qing Yuan, who should have died tragically, was very much alive at this moment. She smiled reservedly at Shen Run, “Commander need not worry. This is an official place with doors wide open – no one will misunderstand. I’m here for yesterday’s case, answering the Commander’s questions. If anyone misinterprets the Commander’s actions, I’m willing to clear your name and won’t let anyone speak ill of you behind your back.”
Shen Run seemed unsatisfied with her response. Looking at the official robe in his hands, he asked with furrowed brows: “With my official robe having covered Fourth Young Lady, won’t they think you have a close relationship with me, and look at you differently from now on?”
This indeed caused Qing Yuan embarrassment. Even without the robe incident, she had sensed the guards treating her with much more respect. Naturally – their superior was unmarried and had no one close to him, so by finding an unmarried young lady, they assumed the Commander’s romance star was rising and he might take this young lady as his wife.
However, she couldn’t explain this to each person individually. She said frankly: “For now, I might receive some convenience, but later when the Commander marries, or when I’m betrothed to someone, people’s misunderstandings will naturally clear up.”
She seemed unwilling to let the misunderstanding continue, maintaining her intention to draw clear boundaries with him in every word. Shen Run heard this and smiled, saying half-jokingly, half-seriously: “Their misunderstanding can be resolved, but I fear Shen Run’s misunderstanding will make it difficult for Fourth Young Lady to be betrothed to anyone else.”
His words carried deeper meaning, and after speaking, he shifted his gaze to give her a lingering look. Qing Yuan feared this manner of his most, always feeling he had already dug a trap and was just waiting for her to fall in. Dealing with such a person was most exhausting. She could only try to deflect, “Isn’t the Commander usually very busy with official duties? If you visit Youzhou less in the future, there won’t be any misunderstandings.”
Unexpectedly, this played right into his hands. He nodded seriously, “Official duties are indeed demanding. If I don’t return, the Fourth Young Lady can come to the capital. This would be good, sparing me the hardship of traveling back and forth. Indeed, Fourth Young Lady still cares for me.”
Qing Yuan was desperate, feeling like she had fallen into a large sack with no way to escape. She called out “Commander” indignantly, her voice carrying both reproach and complaint, startling him. “What’s wrong?”
His eyes, which rarely showed emotions so plainly, revealed a pure bewilderment after the surprise.
Seeing him like this, Qing Yuan felt somewhat embarrassed and smiled, “I was rash, please forgive me. What I mean is, Commander, you are a generation older than me – to me, you are a good teacher and friend. But you keep saying such unsettling things, I can’t help but overthink and wonder if you’re toying with me because of my humble origins. I just escaped death yesterday and am still shaken today, yet you continue to frighten me – isn’t this taking advantage of someone in distress?”
She spoke these words calmly, without harsh tones, her expression as if discussing ordinary matters, yet it left Shen Run momentarily speechless.
He began to reflect – perhaps it truly wasn’t the right time. Although he had an instinct to seduce her whenever he was near, she was worried about her uncertain future – how could she have the mind for romance?
Since she didn’t like it, he would interact with her in the way she preferred. He put the official robe back on the chair and said seriously: “I have never cared about family status, nor have I deliberately slighted or mistreated Fourth Young Lady for being born of a concubine. As Commander, I’ve seen all kinds of women. Why I’m taking such pains to approach Fourth Young Lady – I already explained that day in my humble residence’s side chamber. Fourth Young Lady is clever; you must understand my meaning.”
His expression became solemn, and Qing Yuan finally relaxed. This kind of conversation made her feel more at ease.
What kind of person was Commander Shen? Every step he took naturally carried deep meaning. He and Li Congxin were two completely different types of people. Even if Li Congxin thought simply, at least he was straightforward and upright. Shen Run was different – his multiple encounters with her were either in narrow passages or side chambers. The meaning of a side chamber was self-evident. Qing Yuan didn’t know if she had misunderstood, but she couldn’t eliminate her hidden worries. Furthermore, even if Commander Shen could truly disregard social prejudices and take her, a concubine’s daughter, as his principal wife, did she have the confidence and courage to spend a lifetime with such a person?
Qing Yuan gave a slight bow, “I’m grateful for the Commander’s misplaced affection, but marriage is a lifelong matter – I still need to observe as I go along. Please give me some time. One day, I will surely give the Commander an answer.”
It seemed difficult to get her to agree immediately. He saw this clearly – a young lady with her principles was a hundred times better than those who settled for anything and were unchoosing.
Shen Run said fine, “Since the Shen family’s misfortune, when former friends and acquaintances all stood by watching, I have never waited for anyone’s answer again. Fourth Young Lady’s prudence is very admirable. Then Shen Run will wait for the day you nod in agreement.”
It seemed her future was predetermined – this strange situation was truly helpless. Qing Yuan smiled faintly, wondering if she should feel fortunate that at worst, she could become Commander Shen’s concubine. A concubine – again her mother’s old path. Back then, her mother had no one left in the Jin family, and Xie Shu had accepted both person and property. As for herself, having a family was like having none, yet many people could decide her fate. If not for her grandparents from the Chen family caring for her, where in this world would she have a place to stand?
They had reached an understanding, drawing a clear boundary between them – this was good too.
At this moment, hurried footsteps came from the corridor, and a guard announced: “Commander, the Young Master of Danyang requests an audience.” Before he finished speaking, the visitor appeared behind him.
Li Congxin had walked quickly, his fair cheeks showing a faint flush. Looking past the guard’s shoulder and seeing Qing Yuan, he called out with surprise and joy: “Fourth Sister, I’ve finally found you.”
That “Fourth Sister” was like a stone thrown into a lake, creating rippling echoes. Shen Run saw Qing Yuan smile with curved eyes and brows, with a relaxed serenity she had never shown when facing him.
He slightly furrowed his brows and arrogantly turned away his gaze. In his heart, he pondered: unfortunately, Li Congxin’s Department of State Affairs was in the capital. He had taken pains to notify the Minister of State Affairs to urge him to take his post, specifically to prevent him from finding opportunities during Qing Yuan’s Buddhist ceremonies. But after all his careful planning, he still couldn’t avoid this. He began to consider whether he should find another position for this young marquis – sending him to Hualing as the Tomb Guardian would be quite nice.