Ajin said through tears: “I’m sorry, Mother. From childhood to now, you have raised your son through hardship and toil. Now is the time for your son to show filial piety – how can I abandon you and leave!”
Auntie Fang trembled with anger and roared: “You scoundrel!”
Ajin said nothing, only staring fixedly at Yunyi. The latter knew he was waiting for her answer. Actually… even if she didn’t agree, Ajin probably wouldn’t leave anyway. But… looking at this mother and son who depended on each other, she ultimately softened.
“Fine! As long as you…” Before she could finish speaking, the hand holding the dagger was suddenly grasped by Auntie Fang, who desperately tried to slash it across her own neck. Although Yunyi stopped her in time, the blade still left a long gash on her neck.
“Mother!” Ajin cried out in terror – that crimson streak was so glaring and frightening in his eyes.
Auntie Fang gripped Yunyi’s hand tightly, ignoring her own wounded neck and fingers, saying sternly: “If you don’t leave right now, I’ll die right in front of you!”
Just when Ajin had been swayed by her words, Auntie Fang suddenly pulled this stunt, making Yunyi extremely annoyed. She called out to Ajin: “I can agree to your terms – as long as you come back, I absolutely won’t kill you or your mother. I’ll only keep you confined, and after I accomplish my goals, I’ll release you!”
“Don’t believe her lies – she’s deceiving you! Go quickly!” Under Auntie Fang’s “pressure,” Ajin gritted his aching teeth and sailed the boat downstream!
Yunyi wanted to pursue, but was again entangled by Auntie Fang’s feet, making her tremble with rage. She viciously pulled the dagger from the woman’s hands and said harshly: “You think this will prevent me from catching up to Ajin?”
Auntie Fang ignored her bleeding hands and said calmly: “Unless you kill me, as long as I still have a breath left, I will never let you harm Ajin!”
“Fine! Fine!” With these two words, Yunyi raised the dagger in her hand with a ferocious expression, ready to stab down… or perhaps to spare her… only she herself knew.
Ajin desperately rowed the boat, tears continuously falling from his eyes, blurring his vision, but the sorrow in his heart was not diminished by half. Originally, although their family was poor, they had been happy and content. But in just over ten days, he had lost both his father and mother.
Mother, I’m sorry – your son is useless, your son couldn’t protect you. But your son swears that even if it costs me my life, I will make those who harmed you pay with blood for blood, and will never let her escape justice!
Night slowly descended upon this land. Yunyi returned to the Governor’s residence before nightfall. As soon as she stepped into her room, she saw Li Shimin and Jiang Caiping sitting together at the table. When the latter saw her enter, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief and came forward saying: “Sister, you’ve finally returned – Second Young Master has been waiting for you for quite a while.”
Yunyi curtsied to Li Shimin: “I wonder what matter brings Second Young Master to wait here specially for Meixue?”
Jiang Caiping beside her also showed curiosity. She had asked Li Shimin earlier why he had come, but he hadn’t answered, only saying he would wait here for Meixue.
Li Shimin said with a grave expression: “Meixue, you saw Xuanba yesterday, didn’t you?”
Hearing this, Yunyi understood Li Shimin’s purpose for coming. It seemed Li Xuanba’s absence for two days was beginning to make them uneasy.
Yunyi said calmly: “Yes, when returning to the residence yesterday, I saw Third Young Master looking hurried, and he didn’t even notice when he dropped his jade pendant. Later, when I asked the guards at the gate, they said they hadn’t seen Third Young Master return.” After taking out the jade pendant and giving it to Li Shimin, she probed: “Could it be that Third Young Master still hasn’t returned?”
Li Shimin’s brow furrowed into a deep line: “That’s right. Since leaving yesterday, Xuanba hasn’t returned at all. You should be the last person to see Xuanba.”
“Perhaps… Third Young Master had some urgent matter, so he couldn’t return to the residence in time.” Before Yunyi could finish speaking, Li Shimin was already shaking his head: “That’s impossible. Although Xuanba is somewhat rash by nature, he’s not the type to leave without word. If he really had something preventing his return, he would certainly send someone to report, so we wouldn’t worry.”
Yunyi was silent for a moment before asking: “Then what should we do now?”
Li Shimin forced a smile: “It’s nothing. You should rest – I’ll have people search for him outside the residence.” As he was about to leave, Li Shimin remembered something and turned back: “Oh, I heard from Third Lady that Uncle Wu was feeling unwell – has he gotten better?”
Yunyi forced a smile: “Thank you for your concern, Second Young Master. Father has no serious problems – after resting for a day, he’s almost completely recovered.”
“That’s good.” After saying this, Li Shimin left. Jiang Caiping asked nervously: “Sister, do you really not know where Third Young Master went?” Although she had cruelly severed her future with Li Xuanba, that fondness couldn’t be erased just by saying so. In the quiet of midnight dreams, she often remembered those days with Li Xuanba – though naive, they had been happy. Now hearing of his disappearance, how could she not worry?
Yunyi suppressed the guilt in her heart: “If I knew, I would have told Second Young Master long ago.” She patted Jiang Caiping’s shoulder: “Third Young Master is a grown man with excellent martial arts skills – surely nothing will happen to him. He might even return shortly. Don’t worry.”
“I hope so.” Saying this, Jiang Caiping went with Yunyi to get dinner. After eating absent-mindedly, she said: “Sister, please take the dishes back to the kitchen. I’ll go ask Second Young Master if Third Young Master has returned.”
“Caiping…” Yunyi had only said two words when Jiang Caiping interrupted: “I know what sister means, but without news of Third Young Master’s return, my heart remains uneasy.”
Yunyi sighed: “Fine, wait a moment – I’ll go with you.”
After hurriedly returning the dishes to the kitchen, Yunyi accompanied Jiang Caiping to Jingji Pavilion. They did see Li Shimin, but he also had no news of Li Xuanba.
Jiang Caiping said urgently: “Third Young Master… could something have happened to him? Second Young Master, please send more people to look for him – don’t let anything happen to him.”
Regarding her situation, Li Shimin had also heard some things: “I will search for Xuanba’s whereabouts with all my strength. Don’t worry too much.”
Jiang Caiping nodded helplessly. After waiting until the third watch, she returned to her quarters under Yunyi’s persuasion, tossing and turning on the bed all night without sleeping.
Yunyi also didn’t sleep, silently watching Jiang Caiping on the other side. If she knew that she had killed Li Xuanba, would she forgive her? Probably not.
If possible, she truly hoped this secret could be buried forever and never be dug up.
In Jingji Pavilion, Li Shimin waited through the night. As dawn gradually broke, the groups of people sent out to search returned one after another, but none brought back news of Li Xuanba. Including this night, Xuanba had been missing for two days and two nights. Where had he gone, and why hadn’t he returned?