The fifth day of the twelfth month, at the time of Si.

"Dong-dong-clang! Dong-dong-clang!"

In the capital of Laifeng Kingdom, on the South Street, in front of a store called "Junyanfang", people were beating drums and gongs, and two big red lions were dancing. The festive atmosphere attracted passers-by to stop and watch.

"Go away, don't get in the way here!"

Cheng Minggui was about to step forward to ask for directions when he was suddenly pushed by a bystander and fell to the ground.

"Young Master~"

Xiaochun tugged at Lianxing's sleeve and reminded her.

"Are you okay?"

Lian Xing, who had just finished cutting the ribbon, looked at the man who had fallen on the roadside, pushed aside the crowd at the store door, and stepped forward to help him up personally.

"Thank you, sir. I'm fine." Cheng Minggui looked at the handsome man in front of him and thanked him sincerely.

"From the accent of this guy, he doesn't sound like a local. Our shop is opening today. If you don't mind, you can come in and have a cup of tea and some cakes." Lian Xing felt familiar with Cheng Minggui's accent and invited him.

A few days ago, Lian Xing, who arrived in the capital with Xiaochun, finally decided to open a "Junyanfang" in the south of the city that specializes in men's beauty care after some consideration.

After taking over a rouge and powder shop that had closed down due to poor management, Lianxing and Xiaochun packed up the shop briefly, made some preparations, and chose to open the shop today.

Hua Qingcheng's Jing Hua Yuan snack shop has opened branches across the country of Laifeng, and its custom of performing lion dances at openings has become a widely imitated tradition. Many people have even taken up lion dance training, and now there are lion dance teams across Laifeng. Nowadays, every shop opening will invite a lion dance team to liven up the atmosphere.

In addition to the lion dance performance, Lianxing also imitated the opening of Jinghuayuan Snacks, offering free snack tastings to attract customers. Although Junyanfang does not serve food, the free samples of cakes and tea offered to those who visited the store attracted many people.

"To be honest, sir, my name is Cheng Minggui, and I'm from Fufeng County in the south. I'm here to look for my son Ermao. Today is the fifth day since he disappeared..." Cheng Minggui said while wiping tears with her sleeves.

"Fufeng County?"

"I see……"

Lian Xing nodded slightly. He didn't expect to meet a fellow villager here.

Although Lian Xing had just arrived in the capital, she had vaguely heard about the recent mysterious disappearances of children. This morning, official notices had been plastered throughout the streets and alleys, directing families of missing children to collect them from Situ Cejun's villa in the city.

"Sir, do you know where the Imperial College is?" Cheng Minggui saw that the well-dressed young man was approachable, so he asked him directly.

"Imperial College? Why does Brother Cheng want to go to the Imperial College?" Lian Xing asked in confusion.

"Mingui heard that Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess is now studying at the Imperial College, so he wants to ask her for help in finding Ermao." Cheng Minggui's eyes were red. Now Hua Qingcheng was his spiritual support in finding his son.

"Her Royal Highness? Brother Cheng knows Her Royal Highness?" Lian Xing was slightly surprised when she heard this. Considering that Cheng Minggui had just said he was from Fufeng County, could it be that they were old acquaintances?

"Mingui married into Huaqiao Village from Chengjia Village, and was once considered a fellow villager of Her Royal Highness. Numerous cases of missing children have occurred in Fufeng County, and the government has been unable to uncover the cause. Her Royal Highness is kindhearted, and Mingui thought she would consider their fellow villager's friendship and help her find Ermao. So, Mingui spent all her savings and traveled to the capital to ask for her help..."

Although Cheng Minggui was meeting Lianxing for the first time, perhaps because he had been running around for days and had experienced the warmth and coldness of human nature, it was rare for him to meet someone with such a good attitude. He felt an inexplicable sense of intimacy with the man in front of him, so he became very close to him and opened his heart to him.

"Brother Cheng, didn't you see the notice posted by the government on the street?" Lian Xing asked in confusion.

"Notice? What notice? Mingui can't read." Cheng Minggui shook his head.

"Last night, Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess led people to rescue more than a hundred children from the Xiangyang Temple in the north of the city. Now those children have been temporarily placed in the villa of Situ Cejun in the city. Your Ermao may be there too." Seeing that Cheng Minggui really didn't know, Lianxing explained patiently.

"Are you serious?" Cheng Minggui was so excited that he directly shook Lianxing's hand.

"I think the notice posted by the government should be true." Lian Xing glanced at Cheng Minggui's hand holding hers, but did not shake it off.

"That's great..." Cheng Minggui wiped away tears again with excitement.

Since Ermao disappeared, Cheng Minggui has been in tears every day. The running around in recent days has made his spirit in a highly tense state. Now that he sees hope of finding his son, the heavy stone in his heart can finally be temporarily put down.

"Koharu!"

"Young Master."

"You take care of the store and have the driver prepare. I'll accompany this Brother Cheng to the city."

"Sir, the shop is opening now..." Xiaochun looked at Lianxing embarrassedly.

"Xiaochun, there is no end to making money. Brother Cheng must be very anxious because he lost his son. He is new here and has no relatives, so it is very difficult for him. Please help him if you can..." Lian Xing's eyes were as charming as silk, and she looked at him leisurely, as if she was recalling her unfortunate childhood and felt sympathetic.

"Sir, what are you doing..."

Cheng Minggui was deeply moved to see that this handsome man, whom she had never met before, was actually planning to leave his newly opened shop and accompany her to the city to find her son.

"Brother Cheng, my surname is Ye, and my given name is Lianxing. Like you, I'm from Fufeng County, so we're from the same hometown. You can just call me Lianxing. I heard that the princess's servants go to the Imperial College every day to bring her food. Since you and the princess have known each other since childhood, perhaps she will really meet you..."

Lian Xing turned her head to look towards the city, paused slightly and continued, "Well... I'll accompany you to the Imperial College and try your luck to see Her Royal Highness. After we go to the Imperial College, I'll accompany you to Situ Cejun's villa in the city to see if your Ermao is there."

(Lian Xing: Maybe, I can also meet Brother Situ II by the way...)