It was already getting late. Yang Zhe’s group was staying in a guest courtyard, gathered together drinking tea and chatting.

The arrival of the Marchioness of Wuning left the group somewhat surprised.

“You’re Young Master Han, correct?” The Marchioness of Wuning swept her gaze around before settling it on Han Baocheng.

Han Baocheng performed a salute: “Marchioness, hello. Just call this young one Baocheng.”

The Marchioness of Wuning couldn’t be bothered with pleasantries and directly asked: “Today in the maple forest, did you encounter Wei’er?”

This question left the group startled. Han Baocheng spoke up: “We did encounter Second Miss Tang. We spoke a few words and then left.”

“Wei’er’s maid said Wei’er went in the direction you departed. Did you encounter her again afterward?”

The group exchanged glances, realizing Tang Wei had met with an incident.

This made Han Baocheng’s answer more cautious: “No, we left the maple forest very quickly.”

The Marchioness of Wuning stared intently at Han Baocheng. Unable to discern truth from falsehood in his expression, she said in a heavy voice: “Wei’er has disappeared.”

Disappeared?

Although they had anticipated this, these words still shocked the group.

“It’s so late, and Wei’er still hasn’t been found. I must trouble you all to make a trip to the maple forest and point out the route you took when leaving.” The Marchioness of Wuning spoke rather politely, but her tone brooked no refusal.

The group agreed.

The night had grown somewhat cold. The vegetation was damp, lacking the comfort of daytime.

Throughout this area of the maple forest, there were still many monks carrying lanterns searching for someone.

The group walked along the route they had taken when leaving. The Marquis household’s servants and monks who followed still couldn’t find the person.

Quite a few pilgrims staying overnight noticed the unusual activity outside, including Prince Wei, who had come to offer incense on a whim.

“Go ask what’s happening outside.”

The servant who received the order went out for a turn and brought back the news.

“Reporting to Your Highness, it’s said that Second Miss of the Marquis of Wuning’s household has disappeared in the maple forest.”

Although the Marchioness of Wuning had instructed the monks not to make a commotion, the monks naturally wouldn’t hide anything from Prince Wei’s people when they inquired.

“The Marquis of Wuning’s household?” Prince Wei became interested.

Second Miss of the Marquis of Wuning’s household was the Crown Princess’s own younger sister, and she had actually disappeared at Green Deer Temple?

Having nothing to do anyway, Prince Wei decided to go out and watch the excitement.

The servant was somewhat worried about Prince Wei’s safety: “Your Highness, I heard Second Miss Tang’s maid died in the forest—”

Prince Wei smiled: “With so many people around, what’s there to fear?”

The servant didn’t dare say more.

Prince Wei slowly and leisurely walked out.

Of course, hindered by his excessively wide physique, he couldn’t move quickly even if he wanted to.

At this time, the liveliest area was the guest room section.

Unable to receive good news about her daughter, the Marchioness of Wuning held on to Yang Zhe’s group and the Lin Hao sisters without letting go.

“My daughter last saw you all. Now she’s neither seen alive nor dead. Please explain your whereabouts clearly.”

Lin Shi asked: “Has the Marchioness reported to the authorities?”

The Marchioness of Wuning’s face was covered with frost as she looked coldly at Lin Shi.

With her daughter missing, from initially harboring hope and having household servants search, to telling the temple monks, to inquiring of Minister Han’s household’s young masters and the others, step by step she had grown less and less confident—who would report to the authorities at the very beginning?

Lin Shi laughed coldly: “I advise the Marchioness to report to the authorities early. The authorities will naturally investigate whoever they find suspicious, rather than now holding people without letting go, preventing them from even sleeping.”

The Marchioness of Wuning’s rage surged: “Lin Wanqing, do you still think you can run wild like when you were young? Let me tell you, if Wei’er can’t be found, everyone in this temple won’t escape responsibility!”

Back then, Lin Wanqing was the daughter of a Duke. When she pulled out a handful of her hair, there was nothing she could do about it. But now fortunes had turned—as the Crown Prince’s mother-in-law, could she not deal with a ruined household without father, husband, or son?

“Is that so?” A lazy voice came.

Everyone looked in that direction and saw a ball.

“Greetings, Your Highness.” Everyone performed salutes.

Prince Wei slowly moved over and looked at the Marchioness of Wuning: “Does the Marchioness mean to say that if your beloved daughter can’t be found for a day, none of us can leave?”

“Your Highness is also here?” The Marchioness of Wuning was somewhat surprised.

Because her eldest daughter was accomplished, the Marchioness of Wuning inevitably had a somewhat superior attitude when dealing with people, but Prince Wei was definitely not among these people.

Who told the Emperor to have only two sons—the Crown Prince and Prince Wei?

Prince Wei said neither warmly nor coldly: “Had I known that coming to offer incense meant not being allowed to leave, this prince wouldn’t have dared to be here.”

The Marchioness of Wuning’s expression became somewhat unpleasant: “Your Highness misunderstands. That’s not what I meant.”

Prince Wei glanced at Lin Shi: “This prince thinks this lady speaks correctly. Those who should search should search, those who should report to authorities should report, those who should rest should rest. There’s no need to drag things out like this. What does the Marchioness think?”

The Marchioness of Wuning forced out a smile: “Your Highness speaks truly.”

“Is the manpower searching for your beloved daughter sufficient? Does the Marchioness need this prince to lend some people?”

“Thank you for Your Highness’s kind intention, but it’s not necessary. Many monks from the temple are searching.”

“With everything pitch black all around, it’s indeed difficult to search. Perhaps she’ll be found once it’s daylight. The Marchioness should still report to the authorities early.”

Prince Wei didn’t want to say more to the Marchioness of Wuning. With hands behind his back, he swept his gaze over those present and walked toward Yang Zhe’s group.

“You’re Top Scholar Yang, correct?”

Yang Zhe cupped his hands: “This student is indeed.”

Prince Wei squeezed out a friendly smile: “This prince has an impression of you.”

“Thank you for Your Highness’s favor.” Yang Zhe said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Prince Wei looked again at Han Baocheng and the others and smiled: “Since we’ve encountered each other rarely, accompany this prince for a cup of tea.”

The group secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Accompanying Prince Wei for tea was much better than accompanying the Marquis of Wuning household’s people searching everywhere late at night while bearing the Marchioness of Wuning’s suspicion.

With Prince Wei’s words, the Marchioness of Wuning couldn’t continue holding on to people. She sent someone overnight back to the city to report to the authorities, but the city gates had long since closed. To have the authorities come would have to wait until after daybreak at the earliest.

“Madam, please go back to the room to rest a bit.” The maid advised.

The Marchioness of Wuning was accustomed to comfort. Although worried about her daughter, she couldn’t endure standing outside like this continuously, so she nodded.

The maid supported the Marchioness of Wuning as they walked toward the guest room. Just as they reached the doorway and were about to push open the door, they suddenly discovered a letter stuffed in the door crack.

“Madam, look at this!” The maid handed the letter to the Marchioness of Wuning.

The Marchioness of Wuning took it and opened it. Borrowing the orange glow from the lantern, she quickly scanned it once, and the hand holding the letter began to tremble.

After quite a while, the Marchioness of Wuning shouted loudly: “Someone, come quickly!”

Before long, the steward monk led people hurrying over.

The Marchioness of Wuning threw the letter over and said sternly: “The one who abducted my daughter must be someone familiar with the terrain here!”

The steward monk hastily read through the letter.

The letter demanded that the Marchioness of Wuning prepare one thousand taels in banknotes and place them at the base of a pine tree tied with a blue cloth strip at the valley entrance near the maple forest. Only one maid was allowed to bring the banknotes there. Upon reaching the pine tree, she would learn of Tang Wei’s whereabouts.

“Madam, the temple has martial monks. We could have them go take a look.”

“No!” The Marchioness of Wuning firmly objected. “The letter said if they discover other people, my daughter will end up like that maid.”

A mere thousand taels—compared to her daughter’s safety, it wasn’t worth mentioning.