Song Hanzhi didn't think much of it. He simply ordered the people behind him to adjust their formation and move forward quickly to catch the auspicious time.

The burly men carrying the sedan chairs at the far end, whose vision was already poor at dusk, all listened to their leader and went wherever he told them to go.

The maids and servants accompanying the sedan chair were still dazed from being scattered by another wedding procession. After following the sedan chair for a while, the matchmaker slowly realized that the road they were on did not seem to lead to the Song residence.

"Oh dear! Stop the sedan chair! Stop the sedan chair quickly! We've followed the wrong group!" the matchmaker cried out, thinking to herself, "I don't know if we can make it in time if we turn around now."

Before she could finish speaking, a group of masked men suddenly rushed out from both sides of the street. They knocked out the sedan bearers, picked up the bridal sedan, and ran away.

The matchmaker and others were shocked, and the maids and servants who had accompanied the bride all chased after them.

As soon as the Lu family left, the remaining people quickly carried the dowry chests and ran away.

Meanwhile, Song Hanzhi had already arrived at the gate of the Song residence, where a servant immediately lit firecrackers. Song Hanzhi dismounted and walked to the bridal sedan chair, suddenly sensing that something was amiss.

Looking around, the maids and servants who had accompanied her were gone, but the musicians who played music were putting on a great show.

"What's wrong?" Lin asked, seeing her son's hesitant expression.

Song Hanzhi met his mother's worried gaze, but he remained silent. He simply kicked the sedan chair according to custom and then lifted the lid.

But when the scarlet sedan curtain was lifted, there was no sign of the bride! Inside the empty sedan, there was only a memorial tablet!

Seeing her son standing motionless in front of the bridal sedan chair, Madam Lin went closer to look. Upon seeing what was inside, her smile froze on her face, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted from fright. Perhaps she hadn't fully recovered, for even as she fainted, a smile remained on her lips.

Song Hanzhi's mind went blank as he thought of the wedding procession he had bumped into earlier that day.

"Father, I'll go after them right away. I should be able to catch up with them soon!"

Song Chengzhang immediately ordered his servants to scatter and search, and also hurriedly sent someone to inform the Lu family.

This capital city isn't that big, but it's not small either! Right now, who knows whose family is getting married!

The guests waited in the lobby for half a day, and as the auspicious time approached, the bride and groom still hadn't come in, so many guests began to crane their necks in anticipation.

What's wrong?

Inside the hall, Song Yaozhu and Xie Liwei, due to their distinguished status, sat upright on either side.

Song Yaozhu picked up her teacup and took a sip of tea, thinking that Song Hanzhi should be out looking for his bride right now.

Compared to Song Qingyuan's straightforward dislike for his younger sister Song Yaozhu, Song Hanzhi was even more disgusting to Song Yaozhu.

When Song Yaozhu first returned to the Song family, she was full of expectations for all her relatives. She thought she would receive their love and affection, but instead, she was met with their disdain.

This second brother, however, was an extremely hypocritical person. He didn't openly express his dislike for Song Yaozhu, but deliberately tormented her over trivial matters.

For example, not long after she returned home, Lin took her female relatives to Huangjue Temple to offer incense and fulfill her vows, accompanied by her two sons.

Song Yaozhu was visiting Huangjue Temple for the first time and was unfamiliar with the place, so she only dared to stick close to her mother and younger sister. However, the crowds at Huangjue Temple were so large that she was eventually separated from them.

She stood at the entrance of the main hall, filled with fear and trepidation, waiting for the Song family to find her.

The women of the Song family were resting in the meditation room, and none of them noticed that someone was missing. However, Song Hanzhi saw her while strolling outside.

When "Song Yaozhu" saw him, her eyes lit up and she followed him.

"Second brother, do you know where Mother and sister went? I can't find them." Song Yaozhu struggled to keep up with a man, lifting her skirt. Especially since she was weak and thin, she was panting and sweating profusely after only a few steps.

Song Hanzhi originally wanted to talk to a friend, but seeing his younger sister following him, he was extremely annoyed. However, he was better at pretending than Song Qingyuan. He paused and said, "Your mother and sister are praying for you. If you disturb them at this time, not only will their efforts be in vain, but they will also turn against you."

Song Yaozhu had always grown up in the countryside, and her adoptive mother was a spiritual medium who believed in such things, so she immediately dared not ask any more questions. She looked timidly at Song Hanzhi and asked softly, "Then, second brother, what should I do for my mother and sisters?"

Song Hanzhi only wanted to get rid of her. Seeing the tree in front of her covered with red ribbons, she suddenly had a flash of inspiration and said, "You just need to make a sincere wish in front of that wishing tree for three hours to pray for your mother and sister."

With her dark eyes wide open, "Song Yaozhu" obediently walked to the tree, closed her eyes, and made a sincere wish.

After resting and listening to the abbot's sermon, the Song family descended the mountain and left in about two hours. A sudden downpour began on the way, and everyone looked anxious, fearing the return journey would be difficult.

Halfway there, Madam Lin, the eldest daughter of Song, sent someone to inquire with the younger generation if anything was amiss. It was then that the girls discovered that Song Yaozhu was missing.

Song Hanzhi suddenly remembered the prank she had played on "Song Yaozhu". When she sent someone back to look for her, the silly girl was still standing under the tree. Even as large raindrops pelted her thin body, she did not move.

Song Hanzhi felt a surge of anger rising to her head and stepped forward to pull away her arm.

Are you stupid?!

Song Yaozhu didn't understand why her second brother was so angry. Wasn't she supposed to stand under the tree and sincerely pray for three hours, just as he had said?

Later, the girl returned home and developed a high fever. She heard people secretly mocking her for being stupid, but no one cared about her true feelings.

This matter weighed heavily on the girl's mind and was part of her emotional breakdown that ultimately led to her death.

Pulling herself out of her reverie, Song Yaozhu placed the covered bowl on the coffee table. Someone had already come in to deliver a message.

"The groom bumped into another family while picking up his bride; the two families' sedan chairs had been mistakenly carried together, and now the groom is leading his men to chase after them!"

The steward didn't mention that the family was involved in a ghost marriage, since it was considered extremely unlucky!

Song Hanzhi led her men out to search, but they found no clues whatsoever. The capital city was vast, and with darkness falling, making further action even more difficult.

Song Chengzhang, with a shameless grin, went to the Ministry of Revenue to inquire how many families were getting married that day, hoping to get some clues.

Today is an auspicious day, and there are five families in the same district as his! If he were to rashly go to these families to inquire, he would inevitably be disliked by them.

Thinking of the Lu family and the virtuous concubine in the palace, Song Chengzhang disregarded his reputation and sent people to these families to inquire about the situation.

At this hour, everyone had already finished their wedding ceremony and drunk the nuptial wine. After hearing what the Song family servants said, all the families couldn't help but feel unlucky.

On this special day, you lost your bride, so you think you can just steal our family's property?

And if your family can be so unlucky on this auspicious day, why are you going to other people's houses? Are you trying to spread bad luck to them?