Qi Junlin looked at the Crown Prince and said, "Three days? Are you only giving us three days to find out the truth?"

Crown Prince: "Father is benevolent; granting us three days is already quite an achievement. Junior Tutor Qi, thank you for your hard work!"

Qi Junlin: "Your subject will do everything in his power to find out the truth!"

The crown prince sighed helplessly, holding his head in his hands.

Qi Junlin wanted to persuade the Crown Prince, but after opening his mouth, he didn't know where to begin.

Given the current situation, it is best to find out the truth as soon as possible, as this would be the best way to give the Crown Prince an explanation.

Qi Junlin returned to the factory, where everything was as usual, and he found nothing unusual.

Qi Junlin summoned all those responsible for the factory's core technologies to his room.

Qi Junlin: "Everyone, recently some replicas of our factory have appeared on the market. Have you noticed anything unusual about them?"

Everyone shook their heads.

Qi Junlin: "You are the people in the factory who possess the core technology, and you are also the people I trust most. If any of you leaks the secret formula, I will not let you off easily!"

They exchanged glances.

At this moment, someone stepped forward and said, "Young Master Qi, your aunt, Madam Li, said some time ago that she wanted to observe and learn how to make glass, and she specifically said that you arranged it."

Qi Junlin: "I didn't arrange for her to go!"

Then another person came out and said, "Young Master Qi, a few days ago Madam Li said she wanted the soap recipe, and that you were the one who asked her to get it."

Qi Junlin: "She's using my name again to ask for the formula!"

"Young Master Qi, Madam Li also asked me for the perfume formula, and said that you would blame me if I didn't give it to her!"

Qi Junlin gradually broke down: "She's gone mad! What is she trying to do? Where is she? Did she even come today?"

"Reporting to the Junior Tutor, Madam Li has been on leave for the past few days and hasn't come."

Qi Junlin: "Guards!"

"exist!"

Qi Junlin: "Notify my brother Qi Junxian to send men to search the entire city for Li Wenjuan and bring her back at all costs!"

"yes!"

A few days ago, Li Wenjuan's daughter, Xu Tingting, noticed her mother's unusual behavior.

Li Wenjuan wants to work at a perfume factory, but her family isn't very supportive.

Husband Xu Enci said, "Wife, our family isn't lacking in food or drink, why would you go and suffer like that?"

Xu Tingting also said, "Yes, Mom, isn't it better for you to stay at home? Don't go!"

Li Wenjuan insisted, "No! I must go! Nowadays, people emphasize that women should be independent and earn their own money to feel secure. I also want to experience what it feels like to be independent."

Xu Enci: "Sigh! Look at how many ladies from wealthy families go to work in factories?"

Li Wenjuan: "Husband, those places are all female workers, and besides, Junlin is in charge there. If I go, I'll at least be a minor supervisor, not a worker. I just want to go out and see the world, to learn more. Please let me go!"

Helpless, Xu Enci could only say, "Then go and take a look first, try working there for a few days. If it doesn't work out, come back immediately!"

Li Wenjuan said happily, "Thank you, husband! Don't worry, the factory isn't far away. I'll come back every day after I finish my work, so it won't interfere with things at home."

Xu Tingting: "But..."

Xu Enci: "Alright then."

Xu Tingting hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

At first, Li Wenjuan returned home on time, but later she started coming home later and later.

When her family asked, Li Wenjuan only said that the factory was busy and she was working overtime.

No one thought much of it.

Xu Tingting was worried, so she waited for her mother to come home at the factory gate that day.

As dusk fell, many people gradually emerged from the factory.

Xu Tingting waited until the very end before seeing her mother come out.

She had intended to call her mother to go home together, but instead, someone slipped a note to Li Wenjuan and turned to leave.

Li Wenjuan glanced at the note and then hurriedly walked in the opposite direction from home.

Xu Tingting: Who is that person? What is Mother going to do?

Driven by curiosity, Xu Tingting quietly followed behind Li Wenjuan.

Li Wenjuan stopped in a small grove of trees not far away.

Xu Tingting hid in a place where no one could see her and observed in secret.

A short while later, a horse-drawn carriage stopped in front of Li Wenjuan.

Li Wenjuan boarded the carriage.

A gust of wind lifted the curtain of the carriage, and Xu Tingting covered her mouth in surprise.

She saw a handsome man in the carriage.

But the mother collapsed into the man's arms!

Xu Tingting was filled with fear.

Who is that man? Why is my mother with him?

Should we tell our father?

However, if she told her father, her mother would be finished.

If we don't tell Father, what will Mother do with that man?

What will happen if we let things develop as they are?

Xu Tingting was extremely conflicted.

Qi Junxian received news that a city-wide search for his aunt was to be conducted.

He immediately gave the order to search the entire city.

Qi Junlin first arrived outside the Grand Tutor's Mansion and encountered his cousin Xu Tingting, who was lingering at the gate.

Qi Junlin: "Tingting, is your aunt home? I need to talk to her urgently."

Xu Tingting shook her head and said, "Mother isn't home. Cousin, is something wrong?"

Qi Junlin glanced at Xu Tingting warily and noticed a barely perceptible unease in her eyes.

Qi Junlin: "Tingting, do you know something? This is a serious matter, you must tell me the truth!"

Xu Tingting hesitated for a moment: "This, however..."

Qi Junlin grew anxious and said, "Tingting, what can't you tell your cousin? This is no ordinary matter, and I'm just worried that your aunt will be deceived. You must tell your cousin everything you know. That's the only way your cousin can save your mother!"

Xu Tingting felt like crying. She walked to a secluded corner and whispered to Qi Junlin, "Cousin, my mother... my mother seems to have gone outside the city with a man."

Qi Junlin: "Why did you only tell me about something this big?"

Xu Tingting sobbed, "Cousin, I really don't dare to tell! If I tell Dad, he'll beat Mom to death!"

Qi Junlin: "Enough, things have come to this. We should find your mother as soon as possible."

Xu Tingting: "Cousin, I want to go with you too. If Mom does something foolish, I can try to persuade her."

Qi Junlin hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright, let's mount up!"

Xu Tingting stood beside the horse, unable to get onto its back.

Qi Junlin reached out a hand and pulled Xu Tingting up.

He gripped the horse's belly with his feet, spurred it on, and shouted, "Giddy up!"

The two men on horseback rode towards the outskirts of the city.