The hunting grounds were crowded and noisy, and out of consideration for Qingying's reputation, Wei Huaixu did not go directly into the inner room to see her. After learning that she was alright, he left with Wei Dongchen.

He needs to find out as soon as possible who wants to kill Qingying to prevent her from being harmed again.

Wei Dongchen went to find Liu Chengfeng.

Meanwhile, Liu Chengfeng discovered that Ayan was missing. The men he sent out said they had searched the entire hunting grounds but could not find any trace of her, so he was so anxious that he had to go look for her himself.

He rode his horse until dawn and finally found a bracelet that Ayan had dropped at the foot of a mountain outside the hunting grounds. It was a gift he had given her not long ago, so he led his men up the mountain.

News of Qingying's assassination spread quickly.

Such an incident occurred during the autumn hunt, and in order to appease the General's Mansion, the Emperor immediately ordered the Court of Judicial Review to conduct a thorough investigation.

...

Liu Chengfeng did not return to the capital until three days later, by which time Qingying was already able to move freely.

He had barely stepped into the mansion when the steward approached and said, "Young Master, the master requests that you return to the mansion immediately to see him."

After three days of traveling, his clothes were wrinkled, his face was haggard, and his beard was unshaven. Where was the noble demeanor of a young master from a prominent family?

As soon as he entered the study, Liu Yu knew it was him. Without even raising his eyelids, he coldly ordered, "Kneel down!"

Knowing that he would be punished for leaving home for three days without saying goodbye, Liu Chengfeng knelt down without hesitation.

Where have you been these past few days?

Why ask a question you already know the answer to, Father?

His men all belong to Liu Yu, so how could he escape Liu Yu's eyes from what he's been doing these past few days?

Liu Yu made the last stroke on the paper, revealing a large character "忍" (patience/endurance) on the unfolded paper on the table.

If it were in the past, the brush in his hand would have already flown to Liu Chengfeng's forehead by now.

He slowly raised his head, his sharp gaze falling on his kneeling son. After a moment, he scoffed and said, "You've gotten yourself into this state because of a woman of unknown origin?"

"She is not a woman of unknown origin!"

"Oh? Whose daughter is she? What's her surname? Where is she from?"

“This…” Liu Chengfeng lowered his head, speechless for a moment.

Liu Yu snorted coldly and said, "Without ancestors or lineage, without father or mother, what else could you be but someone of dubious origin? Just for a woman like this, you left without saying goodbye, ignoring your worried mother at home and your injured and sick sister? Have you no conscience at all!"

He swept his hand across the inkstone, accidentally knocking it over. The black ink spread, gradually blurring the character "忍" (ren, meaning to endure).

The next second, Liu Yu grabbed the wooden stick on the side of the table.

One moment Liu Chengfeng was still wondering, "Is Shushu injured?", when he was hit with a stick and then chased all over the house by Liu Yu.

The butler, standing by the door, peeked inside and clicked his tongue, saying, "It's been a long time since we've seen a scene like this. It's suddenly a familiar, exhilarating feeling."

...

"What? My brother got beaten up?" Qingying quickly stood up and was about to leave.

She took a step forward but then stepped back, thinking, "No, I can't help if I go over there now; I'll only make things worse."

Zhang Mama nodded and said, "The eldest young master did make a mistake this time, and he deserves to be beaten. Besides, the madam will definitely rush over once she gets the news. As for you, just continue to be an injured person and stay here obediently."

Qingying sat back down and said with a smile, "What Granny said makes sense."

Although she knew that Liu Chengfeng had been away for the past few days searching for the missing Ayan, she felt that his reckless actions deserved some consequences.

Yu Yue sighed and said, "Miss Ayan's status already makes her difficult to be treated well. Now that the eldest young master is acting like he would do anything for her, how can the master and madam possibly tolerate her?"

Tong Xia also clicked her tongue and shook her head, saying, "I'm afraid even the Madam wouldn't want her to set foot in Pandu City again, let alone the gates of the Liu family."

In the past, Liu Yu disregarded the reputation of the Liu family and the well-being of his wife and children for Ye Shi's sake, which had already broken Pan Shi's heart. Now that her son had become like this for a woman, how could Pan Shi accept it?

As Qingying pondered this, a thought suddenly exploded in her mind: "Is it possible... that Sister Ayan's disappearance is related to Mother?"

“Miss, please don’t speak nonsense.” Zhang Mama said seriously, “Madam has been staying in the manor these days, how could she possibly harm Ayan?”

Why should she do it herself if she wants to?

Qingying thought this, but didn't dare to say it aloud.

Yu Yue said, "Is it possible that Miss Ayan stood out at the autumn hunt and jeopardized someone's interests?"

Tong Xia chimed in, "That's right. Even you, Miss, have people who dare to have impure thoughts about you, let alone Miss Ayan, who has no one to rely on."

Qingying felt that what they said made sense.

The waters run deep among the powerful and influential in the capital. Without absolute power, any act of standing out could put you in the bullseye, and you might not even know who shot the arrow that struck you until you die.

Take her assassination case, for example. Although the Dali Temple was involved, three days have passed and there's still no lead. Wei Huaixu told her that the assassins died cleanly, leaving no trace except at the Brahma Temple.

That place is even harder to investigate. Because none of the employers who buy lives at the Brahma Temple will personally go to negotiate, and everyone who goes to the Brahma Temple must wear a mask. The two parties only discuss the transaction, regardless of their identities.

Therefore, in order to fulfill its obligations, or rather, to give the Liu family an explanation on the surface, the Dali Temple would find a scapegoat to take the blame.

Qingying was feeling extremely depressed at this moment.

Not even knowing who wants to kill her is like hanging her on a cliff, letting her know that she could die at any moment, yet she has no way to stop it.

Just as she was frowning in worry, a maid suddenly came to announce: "Eunuch Yu summons Miss to receive the imperial decree!"

Eunuch Yu was the chief eunuch serving the emperor, and his sudden arrival clearly indicated that he had come to deliver the imperial decree of marriage.

Qingying immediately forgot everything else and hurriedly asked Yu Yue and Tong Xia to help her change her clothes. Zhang Mama also got busy, calling the maids in the bedroom to come in and serve her.

She needed to be properly dressed to receive the imperial decree, but she dared not keep her father-in-law waiting. A room full of maids surrounded her and arranged things in an orderly manner before she quickly walked to the front hall.

Everyone from the Liu family, including the second branch, had arrived. Behind Eunuch Yu stood several rows of people, each carrying something in their hands, as well as dozens of baskets wrapped in red silk.

When Eunuch Yu saw her, he smiled very kindly: "Miss Liu, come and receive the imperial decree."

She was ushered forward and stood beside Liu Yu.

As Eunuch Yu loudly proclaimed, "Announce—"

Everyone knelt down.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have heard that Liu Qingying, the eldest daughter of General Liu Yu, is virtuous, generous, gentle, kind, and of outstanding character and appearance. I am delighted to hear of this. Now that the Crown Prince is of marriageable age, it is appropriate to choose a virtuous woman to marry him. Liu Qingying is currently of marriageable age, and she and the Crown Prince are a match made in heaven. To ensure the happiness of this beautiful woman, I hereby betroth you to the Crown Prince as his Crown Princess. All the ceremonies shall be jointly handled by the Ministry of Rites and the Director of the Imperial Observatory, and the wedding shall be held on an auspicious day. This proclamation shall be made known throughout the land."