Qiao Zhao’s hand stopped beside her eyes.

That voice spoke again: “Third Miss Li, if you know what’s good for you, you’d better not remove that black cloth.”

Qiao Zhao silently lowered her hand, leaning back against the carriage wall without making any further movements.

The carriage seemed to be passing through a busy market district, with vendors’ calls coming from outside.

“Steamed buns, hot steaming buns from Old Wang’s family, thin skin and big filling, you’ll want more after eating one—”

“Tofu pudding, Sister Yang’s tofu pudding—”

Qiao Zhao listened carefully as another voice spoke: “This little girl is quite interesting, remaining so calm and unhurried.”

The earlier voice carried dissatisfaction: “Say less, too many words lead to mistakes.”

“She’s just a young girl—”

“She’s the fiancée of Marquis Guanjun!”

The carriage fell silent, but Qiao Zhao knew that besides herself, there were at least two other people in this compartment.

Having awakened halfway through the journey, she couldn’t calculate how far the carriage had traveled. It seemed she could only wait until they reached their destination and then adapt to the situation.

The Li household remained peaceful at this time.

Binglu returned from practicing martial arts, leaning against a corridor pillar while wiping sweat and asking A’Zhu, who was tending a small stove, “What are you cooking? It smells wonderful.”

“I’m making lily and shredded chicken porridge for Miss to eat when she returns. Miss hasn’t been resting well lately.” A’Zhu focused intently on the fire, occasionally fanning it gently with a fan.

“Where did Miss go?”

“Fourth Miss came by earlier and invited Miss to Jinrong Courtyard.”

“Oh, then I’ll go wash up first and feed Er Bing later.”

The two maids went about their respective tasks without giving it much thought.

From Yahe Courtyard to Jinrong Courtyard was just a few steps away, and it was normal for their mistress not to bring maids when moving around the inner courtyard.

But as noon approached and Qiao Zhao still hadn’t returned, Binglu began to worry: “A’Zhu, why hasn’t Miss come back yet? Could she be staying at Second Madam’s for lunch?”

A’Zhu looked at the meat porridge warming over the fire, feeling inexplicably uneasy: “Second Madam is pregnant, Miss shouldn’t disturb her for too long. Even if she were staying there for lunch, someone from Jinrong Courtyard should have sent word.”

Old Madam Deng ran a frugal household, and usually, when the masters had meals, they would go to the main kitchen according to the number of people. If anyone ate elsewhere, they would inform their maids.

“I’ll go to Jinrong Courtyard to check.” Binglu quickly left Yahe Courtyard and headed straight for Jinrong Courtyard. On the way, she happened to meet a maid from Jinrong Courtyard carrying a food box out.

“Xiao Ling, is our Third Miss having lunch at your Madam’s place?”

The little maid shook her head: “No, the older sisters didn’t tell me anything about that.”

“How strange.” Binglu waved at the little maid and entered the Jinrong Courtyard gates.

“What, our Miss left long ago?”

“Yes, Third Miss chatted with our Madam for a while and then left. At the time, Madam asked Fourth Miss to escort her, but Third Miss declined.”

“But our Miss never returned home. Could she have gone somewhere else?” Binglu hurried to Lady He’s place, and hearing that Qiao Zhao hadn’t been there, she rushed to Qingsong Hall. After searching all the places she could think of, she returned to Yahe Courtyard dejected.

“A’Zhu, isn’t this strange? I searched the entire inner courtyard but couldn’t find our Miss. Could Miss have gone out?”

A’Zhu’s expression grew grave: “That shouldn’t be possible. Miss just said recently that she wouldn’t go out shortly. Moreover, many people outside want to invite our Miss to be their guest now. Even people from Prince Rui’s mansion have come to invite her several times, but Old Madam blocked them using Miss’s illness as an excuse. Under such circumstances, how could Miss possibly go out? Besides, even if Miss had urgent business to go out, she should have told us.”

“You mean—”

“I think something’s not right. You watch over things here, I’m going to report to Old Madam.”

After A’Zhu finished speaking, she hurried away. Binglu caught up: “Watch over what? If we can’t find Miss, what’s the point of watching over anything?”

The two maids hurried to Qingsong Hall.

“You’re saying you can’t find your Miss?” Old Madam Deng’s face darkened. “Explain the situation to me clearly.”

After hearing A’Zhu’s account, Old Madam Deng instructed Qing Yun: “Go invite Fourth Miss here.”

Soon, Li Yan arrived, and after questioning, Old Madam Deng sent maids and servants to search every part of the mansion. By the time evening fell, they still couldn’t find any trace of Qiao Zhao.

The atmosphere in Qingsong Hall had grown somber, with only Li Yan’s barely suppressed sobbing breaking the silence.

“Stop crying.” Old Madam Deng rubbed her temples.

Li Yan fell to her knees with a thud: “Grandmother, it’s all my fault. If I hadn’t invited Third Sister to Jinrong Courtyard, or if I had escorted her back when she left, Third Sister wouldn’t have mysteriously disappeared.”

Old Madam Deng sighed: “This matter isn’t your fault. Fourth girl, don’t tell your mother or your aunt about your Third Sister’s disappearance. One just became pregnant and the other just gave birth—they can’t handle this shock.”

“Granddaughter understands.”

Old Madam Deng looked at Binglu: “Go call Chen Guang here.”

“Yes,” Binglu responded and ran off quickly.

“Third Miss has disappeared?” Chen Guang was shocked upon hearing this.

Binglu wiped her tears while pushing him: “Don’t ask questions now, Old Madam is waiting to see you. Hurry and come with me!”

Chen Guang rushed to Qingsong Hall.

“Chen Guang, I trust your General has made arrangements for Third Miss’s safety?” Old Madam Deng asked directly.

“Yes, our people are stationed around Li Mansion. If Third Miss had left, we would have known.”

“What if someone kidnapped Third Miss and escaped over the walls?”

“Old Madam, our people are positioned around Li Mansion with guards every few steps. If such a situation occurred, it would be discovered even faster than going through the main gate.”

“How strange, then. Nanny Rong, take some people to the back garden…” Old Madam Deng paused, closed her eyes, and said, “Check around that dry well!”

“Old Madam!” Chen Guang was terrified, his face completely drained of color.

“Why are you all standing there? Go!”

Time felt exceptionally long until Nanny Rong returned with her people and shook her head at Old Madam Deng. Only then did Old Madam Deng collapse back into her chair.

“Good that there’s nothing, good that there’s nothing.” The old lady seemed to age ten years in an instant.

“Old Madam, I need to know everything that happened today, not a single detail can be omitted, especially regarding who entered and left the mansion.” Chen Guang said coldly.

He appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was ice-cold.

If something happened to Third Miss, how would he explain to the General? Even death wouldn’t be enough to atone for his failure!

Old Madam Deng immediately called the steward for questioning.

Li Guangwen walked in slightly intoxicated, blinking in confusion: “Mother, there are so many people here today.”

“You still have the nerve to come back! Do you know how many people I sent to look for you?”

Li Guangwen felt wronged: “Son didn’t want this either. I was still at the office when someone called me out for drinks. They pestered me all afternoon before I could get away. Mother, what’s happened at home?”

Old Madam Deng was silent for a moment before speaking: “What I’m about to tell you, you must remain calm and not cause trouble.”

Li Guangwen smiled: “Mother, when have I ever not been calm? ‘Remaining unmoved even as Mount Tai collapses before you’—that describes your son perfectly.”