After getting married, she spent every night alone in her room; when she asked for a divorce, he kne

Xie Qinghe stood up, looking around, "Go, see where the Fourth Young Master is, and bring him here quickly."

"Yes." Several maids left the pavilion to look for someone. Xie Qinghe sat down and muttered, "Where did that fourth brother go at this crucial moment! He's really worrying!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Granny Li rushed into the waterside pavilion in a panic, kneeling down before Liu Yuansheng and Xie Qinghe, sobbing uncontrollably, "Young Madam, Third Young Madam, something terrible has happened! The young master is missing!"

"What?" Xie Qinghe's eyes widened. "Young Master is gone? Didn't he go with you to change clothes?"

"Yes, after I returned the young master's clothes, I exchanged a few words with the maid who brought the water, and in the blink of an eye, the young master was gone!" The wet nurse, Li, tugged at Liu Yuansheng's dress. "Third Young Mistress, what should we do?"

Liu Yuansheng's soul had already been scattered.

Yan'er is missing? How could this be? How is that possible!

She suddenly stood up and ran towards where Yan'er was changing, but there were only two helpless maids there, and Yan'er was nowhere to be seen!

Liu Yuansheng rushed in, gesturing to ask if she had seen any suspicious people coming in or out, but the two maids were too frightened to answer any of her questions and could only cry.

Liu Yuansheng had no choice but to give up and ran out panting.

Outside, chaos reigned. Xie Qinghe ordered her servants to search for the young master's whereabouts and sent someone to inform the owner of Lan Garden, asking for his help.

He then summoned a guard and ordered him to ride at full speed to the Censorate and tell Xiao Jinghan about the young master's disappearance.

Although Xiao Jinghan would be furious and seek revenge on them if he found out, no one dared to hide this from him.

The matter was of great importance, and even the usually capable Xie Qinghe panicked, pacing anxiously back and forth in the waterside pavilion, repeatedly clasping her hands together in prayer to God, hoping that the young master would not be in any danger.

Liu Yuansheng had already left Lan Garden.

She had never run so fast in her life. Even when she rushed down the mountain to find Jiang Zhihuan after learning that he had left without saying goodbye, she had never run so desperately.

She was determined to find Yan'er, not only to give Xiao Jinghan an explanation and avoid being blamed by him, but also for her own sake!

The thought of that soft, cuddly child who used to lie in her arms and laugh every day, growing up by her side, disappearing and possibly in danger, even losing his life, drove her crazy.

Her heart was pounding wildly, and Liu Yuansheng was breathing heavily. Gradually, her legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead, and her vision began to blur.

She knew this was a sign that she was physically exhausted, her heart condition was acting up, and she was about to faint, but she gripped her knuckles tightly and told herself that she couldn't faint, she couldn't faint!

After catching her breath against an old locust tree, she wiped her sweat, speculated on the direction the thief might have fled, and headed towards the alley to the south.

Sure enough, the moment she stepped into the alley, she heard a baby cry.

Then, a suspicious-looking, thin man handed an infant to a short, plump woman, who skillfully soothed the baby and prepared to put the child on the carriage.

It's Yan'er!

Although the baby wasn't wrapped in the swaddling clothes brought from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Liu Yuansheng could tell from Yan'er's cries that the child in the plump woman's arms was Yan'er.

Liu Yuansheng tried to call for help, but all the servants had gone to the main street and no one came to the narrow alley. Unable to make a sound, she ventured into the alley alone and blocked the carriage, preventing them from going any further.

The coachman was startled by Liu Yuansheng's sudden appearance. Seeing her dressed in fine silks and satins and possessing an outstanding appearance, he didn't dare to make a move. Taking advantage of the situation, Liu Yuansheng lifted the carriage curtain and, before the plump woman could react, snatched Yan'er away and ran towards the Orchid Garden.

But she wasn't that fast.

Seeing the situation was turning against her, the plump woman scrambled off the carriage and chased after Liu Yuansheng, shouting, "Give me back my child! That's my child!"

Yan'er cried loudly in Liu Yuansheng's arms. Liu Yuansheng couldn't bother to comfort him and tried desperately to run away, but was stopped by the fat woman. "Give me back my child!"

She grabbed Yan'er, "This is my child."

Liu Yuansheng glared fiercely at the fat woman, holding Yan'er tightly and refusing to let go. Soon, Yan'er's cries attracted the attention of the residents on both sides. "What's going on?"

One of the men said, "What are you all shouting about?"

"This woman is stealing my child! Everyone, please help me!" The plump woman preemptively accused Liu Yuansheng of being a child kidnapper. "Everyone, please help me get my child back and arrest this kidnapper and report her to the authorities!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was eager to help the fat woman snatch the child, but Liu Yuansheng shook her head in denial while holding Yan'er tightly and refusing to let go.

The plump woman was quite strong, but she couldn't snatch the child from Liu Yuansheng's hands several times, and she became anxious. She grabbed Liu Yuansheng and gave the driver a look. Just then, Liu Yuansheng suddenly broke free from the plump woman's hand and ran towards the alley entrance.

She saw the guards searching for Yan'er nearby!

She'll be saved as long as the guards find her!

Liu Yuansheng opened her mouth wide and strained, but no sound came out. In a moment of inspiration, she picked up a large rock, intending to smash it on the ground to make a noise and attract attention. However, before she could even throw the rock, a large wooden stick came crashing down on her head…

*

The guards and servants of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion searched the Orchid Garden several times, but they still couldn't find the young master's whereabouts.

The streets were blocked off, and soldiers searched the area. Every possible method was used, but the young master seemed to have vanished from the spot, and they couldn't find him anywhere.

Xie Qinghe was so frightened that she almost lost her mind, and Xiao Jingzhuo was equally frightened. He and his entourage stood guard outside the Orchid Garden, anxiously waiting for Xiao Jinghan.

Upon hearing the news, Xiao Jinghan rushed over and immediately saw Xiao Jingzhuo, who was pacing like an ant on a hot plate; he knew things were bad. He dismounted, walked a few steps to Xiao Jingzhuo, and asked, "How did the child get lost?"

"Third Brother, you've finally arrived!" Xiao Jingzhuo grasped Xiao Jinghan's hands and said urgently, "I heard from my sister-in-law that while Nanny Li was taking Yan'er to change clothes, the child was taken away. The other person was quick, and we couldn't find him no matter how hard we looked."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinghan's expression grew even more somber. "I'm asking you, who did you tell what you overheard in the flower hall?"

Xiao Jingzhuo was taken aback, not understanding why Xiao Jinghan suddenly asked him about the flower hall. "I... I didn't tell anyone!"

"Say that again!" Xiao Jinghan roared. "I'm giving you one last chance. Otherwise, get out of here and head to the Ministry of Justice's prison!"

Xiao Jingzhu shuddered, his tongue tumbling out in fear of Xiao Jinghan. "I...I...I really didn't tell anyone!"

He scratched his head, then suddenly realized, "Ah! I remember now, I mentioned it to Mr. Jiang when I attended the Lanyuan Poetry Gathering last time!"

"You really told Jiang Zhihuan!" Xiao Jinghan angrily grabbed Xiao Jingzhuo by the collar.

Xiao Jingzhu trembled like a leaf, "Third Brother, Third Brother! Don't be angry, let me explain, Third Brother!"

"It was during the post-match dinner that Mr. Jiang casually mentioned that he had heard that Lord Jin had made things difficult for Third Brother in the main hall of the Three Judicial Offices, and wondered how Third Brother was doing. I replied that Third Brother was doing well and that I had already thought of a way to retaliate!"

"Idiot!" Xiao Jinghan shoved Xiao Jingzhuo aside. "What do you mean, 'accidentally'? They were clearly trying to trick you into revealing information! You, with your head full of mush, spilled everything out! If I hadn't planned ahead, I'd be the one trying to escape capture right now!"

Xiao Jingzhuo was completely bewildered, only then realizing he had almost caused a major disaster. "Brother, you mean Lord Jiang and Lord Jin are in cahoots?" He shook his head. "That's impossible!"

Xiao Jinghan sneered, thinking to himself, what's impossible?

Dealing with those people is a minor matter; finding Yan'er is the real issue. He wants to find out who these people are that attacked Yan'er!

Just as he was about to leave, Ying'er came running over in a panic, "Young Master! Save my young lady!"

Xiao Jinghan pulled on the reins, "What's wrong with your young lady?"

Ying'er cried, "My young lady ran off to find the young master, and then she disappeared. I don't know if she was kidnapped by bad guys!"

Ying'er knelt before Xiao Jinghan, clutching his robes, and said, "Your Highness, Miss is frail and cannot speak. If she is truly taken away by bad people, she will surely die! Please, Your Highness, find a way to bring Miss back!"

Xiao Jinghan was taken aback. "Liu Yuansheng has also disappeared?"

"Yes!" Ying'er said, taking out a small medicine bowl from her sleeve. "Please, Your Highness, take pity on Miss and save her life, considering how hard Miss has worked day and night to make ointments for you."

Xiao Jinghan was about to leave when he saw the ointment in Ying'er's hand and couldn't help but take it, asking, "Did she give this to me?"

"Yes!" Ying'er wiped away her tears and said, "When Miss saw the injury on the back of the young master's hand, she searched through ancient medical books for a prescription. Even though she was allergic to pollen, she still went to pick roses! She took a small piece of the rose petal near the pistil to use as medicine."

Xiao Jinghan was incredulous.

In a daze, he recalled the aloof figure standing in front of the rose wall, and also the tearful face when he was scolded and reprimanded.

Xiao Jinghan let out a deep breath, and without saying a word, mounted his horse and rode away...