The Grand Secretary has no heir? His concubine gives birth to triplets.

Pei Yan reached into the blankets.

The mattress was completely cold, with not a trace of warmth left.

His knuckles were stiff on the pillow, and his ears were ringing.

The Crown Prince has already set his sights on Jiang Guo'er.

She was pregnant. What if she fell while climbing out of the window? What if she was kidnapped? What if she sneaked out of the mansion to find Lu Yunzheng...?

Pei Yan dared not think about it anymore.

"Someone come here!"

Afu, who was outside the door, pushed the door open and entered. Upon seeing his expression, his knees buckled and he knelt down.

"Prime Minister."

"Seal off the front and back gates, and check all entry and exit records at the side gates today! Divide the guards into three teams and search along the mansion walls, water channels, and carriage and stable areas!"

Pei Yan pressed one hand against the bedpost, his face ashen.

"Firewood sheds, storerooms, empty courtyards—not a single one should be missed! We must find Aunt Jiang!"

"yes!"

"This matter must not be leaked out of the Pei residence. Anyone who dares to utter a word or leak the news will be beaten to death!"

Afu got up and ran outside, almost tripping over the threshold.

Pei Yan then called out "Xiao San".

"Go to Changji Clothing Shop. If you see Jiang Guo'er, knock her out and bring her back!"

"What if we see Lu Yunzheng?" Xiao San asked.

Pei Yan's fingernails dug into the door frame, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged.

Lu Yunzheng and Murong Sheng have a very deep friendship, and they have already begun to investigate old cases. Keeping him alive is more useful than killing him.

Moreover, if he really harmed Lu Yunzheng, Jiang Guo'er would probably never forgive him.

"Don't touch him. Confirm whether Jiang Guo'er has been in contact with him, and report back immediately."

Xiao San accepted the order and left.

Soon, both the front and back yards were in chaos.

The guards searched everywhere with lanterns, while the old women searched all around.

Steward Zhao brought over the roster from the back gate and summoned all those who had left the mansion that day to buy goods, deliver items, or visit relatives for questioning.

Xue Lingyi arrived in a hurry, wearing only a light purple shirt over her shoulders, her hair disheveled at the temples.

"Where has Guo'er gone?"

Xue Lingyi looked at the empty bed, her face ashen.

Lüyi supported her, barely managing to steady her voice.

"Madam, please don't panic. Aunt Jiang is most likely still in the manor. Even if she's angry, she wouldn't go out alone at this hour!"

"Did she mention Lu Yunzheng today?" Pei Yan stared at Lü Yi.

Green Ripple was startled.

How could the Prime Minister even know this?

Not daring to show anything amiss, she replied with her hands at her sides, "This servant has never heard Consort Jiang mention Lord Lu."

"She was upset last night, and today she heard rumors in the mansion about tinea capitis, so she has been feeling uneasy ever since."

"I tried to persuade her to eat, but she refused. Perhaps she just wanted to hide away and have some peace and quiet."

Pei Yan's voice was hoarse.

"If she wanted peace and quiet, why didn't she just say so?"

Luyi pursed her lips tightly, ultimately refraining from arguing.

Four servants stood guard at the entrance to the side room, supposedly for protection, but they looked no different from guards watching over prisoners.

She was pregnant, and with so many things weighing on her mind, it would be strange if she wasn't feeling unwell.

Pei Yan also thought of those four people.

He thought that by keeping an eye on her, he could protect her.

Jiang Guo'er used to be a young lady of the Marquis's mansion, always surrounded by maids and servants. Now, she even has to explain to several servants when she goes for a walk in the garden.

How could she not feel aggrieved?

The anger in his chest dissipated by most of it, only to be aroused by an even greater fear.

What if she really leaves the manor?

What if someone used Lu Yunzheng as bait to lure her to Changji Clothing Shop?

Just then, the sound of a cane tapping on the blue bricks came from outside the door.

"Give it up!"

The old lady was helped in by Granny Qin. Before she could catch her breath, she asked:

"Why is Guo'er missing? What happened?"

Pei Yan did not want his grandmother to know that the Crown Prince had his eye on Guo'er, and he dared not mention the old case of the Murong family.

He was silent for a moment.

"My grandson lost his temper and scolded her over a small matter. She was probably throwing a tantrum and hid away."

The old lady raised her cane and struck his leg.

"She's pregnant, why are you scolding her?"

Pei Yan stood still without dodging.

"It's my grandson's fault."

The old lady wanted to hit him again, but seeing that his face was completely bloodless, she stopped.

"What are you all standing there for? Find them!"

"Can a perfectly healthy person just fly away out of thin air?"

At this moment, a cleaning woman was brought in by the nanny.

The old woman didn't dare to raise her head and knelt on the ground kowtowing.

"About half an hour ago, I saw Consort Jiang on the path leading to the garden. She was holding half a steamed bun. I called her name, but she didn't hear me."

"Which direction did they go?"

"It looks like it's heading towards the waterside pavilion."

Pei Yan turned and left.

Xue Lingyi and Lüyi quickly followed.

A light rain fell in the evening, leaving the garden path covered in wet mud.

Pei Yan walked faster and faster, the hem of his dark blue straight-legged boots sweeping across the muddy puddles, splashing mud onto his black boots.

A soft murmur could be heard coming from the waterside pavilion, separated by a bamboo fence.

"Eat up, eat more. Even half a steamed bun is food; it's a shame to throw it away."

Pei Yan suddenly stopped.

Jiang Guo'er was sitting by the railing of the waterside pavilion, holding a small piece of steamed bun in her hand.

She broke off a piece and threw it into the water, and several koi fish crowded over to fight for it, splashing water everywhere with their tails.

"You guys have it easy. When you're hungry, someone feeds you, and no one sends four servants to watch over you."

She was so angry that she didn't want to eat dinner.

After climbing out through the back window of the side room, you can pass by the small kitchen and smell the aroma of freshly baked pancakes.

She was so hungry that she grabbed half a piece.

She had only taken a few bites when she remembered Pei Yan's rumor that she had tinea versicolor, and she was so angry that she felt full again.

It would be a waste to throw them away, so I simply came over to feed the fish.

"What are you fighting over? There's something for everyone."

Jiang Guo'er sprinkled another handful of crumbs.

"If that guy surnamed Pei were half as easy to fool as you, I wouldn't be hiding here!"

"What do you mean by protecting me? Who protects someone so fiercely? It's like I betrayed him. I've long forgotten Xie Qing. Everything's been explained clearly, why does he still doubt me?"

I heard hurried footsteps behind me.

Jiang Guo'er turned around, and the steamed bun in her hand almost fell into the water.

Pei Yan stood outside the waterside pavilion, his eyes bloodshot and his face frighteningly dark.

She felt a pang of guilt.

How much of what he just said did he hear?

"Prime Minister, you—"

Before she could finish speaking, Pei Yan strode forward, grabbed her arm, and pulled her up from the railing.

Jiang Guo'er stumbled and crashed into his arms.

Pei Yan held him very tightly.

It was so tight that her chest felt heavy, and she almost couldn't breathe.

His hand reached down the back of her neck, then grasped both of her wrists, squeezing each of her ten fingers.

There was no blood, no wounds.

He is perfectly fine.

Jiang Guo'er was stunned by his examination.

"I'm just feeding the fish here, you..."

Pei Yan took off his outer robe and wrapped it around her from head to toe, then bent down and picked her up.

"We'll settle the score when we get back."

Jiang Guo'er's heart skipped a beat.

As she passed the garden entrance, she saw the old lady standing there with a cane, followed by a group of guards and old women carrying lanterns.

Xue Lingyi held Lüyi's hand, her face completely pale.

When Lüyi saw that she was safe and sound, her legs went weak and she almost sat down on the ground.

Jiang Guo'er then realized what was happening.

The entire household is looking for her.

She only climbed out the window and hid for half an hour, planning to go back after feeding the fish. How did she cause such a big commotion?

If she had known this would happen, she should have left a note.

Jiang Guo'er shrank back into Pei Yan's outer robe, only her nose tip showing.

That's it.

Whether you stick your neck out or not, you'll get stabbed anyway.

It's better to go back and admit your mistake than to stubbornly resist.

Back in the side room, Pei Yan placed the person on the couch, then turned and closed the door.

Before he could speak, Jiang Guo'er placed her hands on her knees and honestly admitted her mistake.

"It was my fault today."

"I shouldn't have hidden away without a word, making everyone worry."

Pei Yan had his back to her and did not respond.

"I was just annoyed by all those people guarding the gate, so I wanted to go out for some fresh air. I didn't intend to sneak out of the mansion, and I certainly wouldn't risk my life or my child's."

"No adventure?"

Pei Yan suddenly turned around.

"You knew the Crown Prince's men were watching you, yet you still dared to approach the water alone. What if you slipped? What if a spy hidden in the mansion pushed you from behind?"

"If I arrive at the scene and only find a corpse, it will be too late for regrets!"

After the last sentence landed, Jiang Guo'er fell silent.

Pei Yan's chest heaved violently.

In that half hour, he considered all the possibilities.

She was kidnapped, she fell off a high wall, she fell into the water, and she lay covered in blood in some unknown corner...

Each one was enough to drive him crazy.

After confirming that she was safe and sound, the fear did not completely disappear, but instead turned into an uncontrollable rage.