Chapter 197: Chapter 196: Lin Wanwan Is Missing
In the early morning, Xiao Chong, his servant, and the staff member Xiao Ce, the three of them exited the back gate of Qiantang County Government together, mounted their horses, and headed towards the Xiao Mansion in the same neighborhood. Today was the day they would take Lin Wanwan’s boat back to Mao County.
The distance between the two places was not far. By the time Xiao Chong’s crimson horse clattered up to the gate of Xiao Mansion, he noticed that the side gate was bustling with servants wearing anxious expressions. As the County Magistrate, Xiao Chong immediately sensed that something was amiss; something must have happened within the Xiao Mansion.
"Shu Qi, go and ask what happened." Xiao Chong, sitting atop the tall crimson horse, issued the instruction calmly.
"Yes!" Shu Qi dismounted and went to the side gate to inquire.
Xiao Ce urged his horse forward to ride alongside Xiao Chong and, looking towards the main gate of the Xiao Mansion, said, "From what I can lip-read, they say someone has gone missing."
Xiao Chong replied with a hint of confusion in his tone, "Who is missing?"
Before Xiao Ce could speak, Shu Qi had already run back and looked up to Xiao Chong, reporting, "Lord, the gatekeeper of the Xiao Family feigns ignorance and doesn’t let us in, very disrespectful, even though we submitted our cards yesterday."
Xiao Chong and Xiao Ce exchanged glances, both seeing the gravity in each other’s eyes. The former directly pulled his horse’s bridle and moved forward to the side gate, asking, "I am Xiao Chong, has anything happened inside the mansion?"
The gatekeeper, upon seeing the imposing Xiao Chong, unconsciously lowered himself, wiped the sweat off his forehead, and replied with reluctance, "This... reporting to the Ming Mansion, there are some issues inside the mansion, today... today we might not be able to receive guests..."
Seeing Xiao Chong’s stern countenance, the gatekeeper found himself at a loss for words and instead said, "I’ll go report to the eldest young master, please wait a moment, Ming Mansion."
With that, he dashed off as if chased by a fierce beast.
On any other day, being refused at the door, Xiao Chong would have turned away. However, today, he must enter because he had a foreboding sense that the one in trouble was Lin Wanwan.
Over there, the gatekeeper stumbled into the main hall of the eldest house, flustered and anxious, saying, "Eldest young master, second young master, Xiao... Xiao Ming Mansion is here at the gate."
Xiao Yan furrowed his brow and said, "Didn’t I say we’re not receiving guests today? Tell him to go back... Never mind, I’ll go see him. Second brother, come along."
"Huh? I have to go too? Oh."
Xiao Chong’s status is not something a gatekeeper can casually dismiss, such an act would be too rude, and Xiao Yan was already out of sorts due to the unexpected incident.
But, it wasn’t entirely his fault, because having a well-regarded guest suddenly disappear without a trace early in the morning would leave anyone stunned.
If it were a man who disappeared, they would naturally go to the County Government for help. However, the missing person now was a beautiful lady of national repute, newly titled the Village Lady of Le’an.
If word got out, it would surely damage Lin Wanwan’s reputation and, likewise, cause significant consequences for the Xiao Mansion.
She disappeared after the Xiao Mansion was locked up at night. If a thief entered and kidnapped their niece without their knowledge, it would be disastrous, especially since there were still four unmarried young ladies in their house.
The most distressing part was that the boat from Lin Family Manor was docking today to pick her up, and she was missing at this very moment. When the brutes from Lin Family Manor come demanding her, how can Xiao Yan deal with that when he’s already overwhelmed?
Now Lin Wanwan is no longer the poor orphan girl who first came to the Xiao Mansion; she is now a Village Lady of the Secondary Fifth Rank. If she truly goes missing, this is not a matter for local officials; it must be reported to the throne.
Lin Wanwan’s five servants and one musician practically turned the courtyard upside down but found no trace of Lin Wanwan. Little Qingyu, eyes brimming with tears, tried her best to hold back, her large eyes watching the adults bustle around.
Standing at the courtyard gate, Yun Shang took a deep breath and resolutely said, "This is getting us nowhere, you all continue searching, I’m going to the County Government to find Xiao Mingfu."
Early this morning, little Qingyu didn’t see Lin Wanwan upon waking up and started crying on the bed. Hong Yan, the maid on night watch, heard the noise and inquired from outside the door, but received no response. Frustrated, Hong Yan called Kun Lun to break down the door, only to find that the window was open and their mistress was gone.
Hua Nong and Yun Shang also quickly put down what they were doing and entered the room, realizing Lin Wanwan was missing. Everyone was shocked, for the safety of Lin Wanwan was tied to the fate of everyone in the group.
Yun Shang hurriedly stepped forward to pick up little Qingyu, comforting her, while instructing others to search around the rooms. Thankfully, Yun Shang usually took care of little Qingyu, so with her comfort, Qingyu was less panicked.
However, the matter couldn’t be concealed for much longer. As the time for morning greetings approached, without even a shadow of Lin Wanwan, Yun Shang could only report to the head lady of the family, Mistress Yuan.
Consequently, the entire Xiao Mansion was thrown into chaos until Xiao Chong’s arrival.
Xiao Yan opened the side gate and welcomed Xiao Chong and his group of three inside.
Xiao Chong dismounted and asked, "Is it the Village Lady of Le’an who is in trouble?"
Well, there was no point in making up excuses anymore. Facing Xiao Chong’s piercing gaze, it was better to speak the truth.
Despite his young age, Xiao Chong’s appointment as the Upper County Magistrate at such a tender age belies his capability, not to mention he’s the legitimate grandson of the current Prime Minister Xiao Yu.
"I won’t hide it from you, dear nephew, indeed something unexpected has occurred, Wanwan mysteriously disappeared early this morning."
Xiao Chong’s expression remained unchanged, only his voice turned cold as he spoke, "May I have a look around my cousin’s courtyard? Perhaps I can be of some help."
"Certainly, certainly, this way, dear nephew."
The group headed toward the courtyard where Lin Wanwan resided, coincidentally encountering Yun Shang, who wore an anxious expression.
Yun Shang bowed gracefully to everyone, and Xiao Chong said, "Let’s talk while we walk."
"Yes." Yun Shang stood up, following beside Xiao Chong, lowly and quickly explaining the situation, "Xiao Mingfu, my lady was missing from early this morning.
At quarter past the Mao hour, the little lady cried for not seeing her, the night maid Hong Yan promptly knocked and inquired, but there was no answer, Hong Yan then summoned Kun Lun to break down the door and enter.
Immediately after, Hua Nong and I heard the commotion, stopped our tasks, and entered the room, yet did not find the lady. There remained only the little lady in the room.
At that time, the room’s door was bolted from the inside, but the window was open. The night’s breeze is chilling, yet it’s not customary for the lady to leave the window open after sleeping."
Xiao Chong listened in silence, then nodded slightly to Xiao Ce and Shu Qi, and the three of them cautiously began searching for clues around the rooms.
If clues could be found outside, there would be no need to enter Lin Wanwan’s boudoir, for there were proprieties between men and women.
The footprints on the ground outside were chaotic, mostly left by the servants searching the courtyard.
Xiao Chong frowned slightly, looking up at the window of Lin Wanwan’s room, his gaze deep and inscrutable.
He remained silent, and no one present dared to speak first, including Lin Wanwan’s two uncles.