Xue Zhongfu was slightly taken aback. He had not expected the Dowager Concubine Shu to ask about his marriage so directly. After calming down, he replied respectfully, "Your Highness, I have always been cautious about remarrying. My late wife held an irreplaceable place in my heart, and her passing was a great blow to me. Therefore, I hope to find a woman as kind and gentle as my late wife to spend the rest of my life with. However, this also requires fate and time, and I am in no rush."
After hearing this, Concubine Shu's eyes flashed with satisfaction. She appreciated Xue Zhongfu's honesty and his deep affection for his deceased wife, and she also understood his expectations for his future wife.
"Lord Xue, I am moved by your sincerity and deep affection. I have picked out several unmarried ladies from noble families for you. Would you like to be the matchmaker?" Concubine Shu said in a gentle tone but with a hint of majesty.
Xue Zhongfu bowed deeply upon hearing this and said, "Thank you very much, Madam Dowager, for your concern and kindness. I am deeply grateful, but I have not yet considered continuing the story."
Hong Yingrong also stepped forward and said to ease the atmosphere, "It is truly an honor for our Xue family that Her Majesty the Concubine is so concerned about my son's marriage. If there is a suitable candidate, there is no need to rush..."
"You are too polite, old lady. I just hope that Lord Xue can find a virtuous wife." Concubine Shu said with a smile.
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became heavy. Hong Yingrong caught a glimpse of a figure swaying in the side hall out of the corner of her eye. She secretly wondered in her heart, could it be that Princess Ning'an is also here?
However, the sudden visit of Concubine Shu and her harsh questioning of Xue Zhongfu made her feel a little confused and uneasy. It seemed as if Concubine Shu had come here specifically to question her.
Hong Yingrong was in a dilemma, not knowing what to do, but she caught a glimpse of a palace maid running out of a side hall in a panic, with a look of panic on her face.
"It's bad, Her Majesty the Dowager!" the palace attendant reported in a trembling voice, "Just now, the Princess suddenly burst into tears for some unknown reason, then stole the guards' horses and bolted towards the back mountains."
Upon hearing this news, Concubine Shu's expression changed instantly. She stood up with a look of anxiety on her face, "How could this happen? Quick, send someone to look for her. Make sure to bring the princess back safely!"
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense. Hong Yingrong also felt the seriousness of the situation. She looked at Xue Zhongfu and saw that he was frowning and seemed worried.
"Yes, I'll go right away!" The palace maid responded and turned around and left in a hurry.
Concubine Shu paced back and forth, looking restless. "This silly child, he obviously heard something just now..."
Seeing this, Hong Yingrong tentatively asked, "Your Highness, do you want me to send someone to help look for him?"
"No need. The palace guards should be enough." Concubine Shu waved her hand, a hint of fatigue in her tone. "Let's end today's business here."
The guard hurried over to report, his breath barely steady when he blurted out, "Her Majesty, something terrible has happened! We chased her to the back mountain, but there's no sign of the Princess!"
Xue Zhongfu's heart tightened. He remembered that there was a secret path in the back mountain that could lead down the mountain, but the path was narrow and close to the edge of the cliff. If he was not careful, he would be in danger of falling off the cliff.
He immediately stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, I know of a small path in the back mountains. Perhaps the Princess came down from there. Without further ado, I will lead the way to find her."
After saying this, he quickly mounted a horse brought by the guards, gripped the reins tightly, and galloped towards the back mountain with a determined look in his eyes.
Seeing this, the other guards also hurriedly mounted their horses and followed closely behind.
Upon hearing the news of the princess's disappearance, Concubine Shu was already distraught. Then, hearing that she might have fallen off a cliff, she turned pale with fear and fainted. Fortunately, a palace maid was quick to help her and prevented a further chaos.
Upon seeing this, Hong Yingrong quickly ordered her servants to bring tea, while secretly praying in her heart that Xue Zhongfu could find the princess as soon as possible and return safely.
At that moment, the wind howled in the mountains behind them, carrying a chilling atmosphere. Xue Zhongfu led the way, galloping along the path. His heart was filled with worry and anxiety, but at the same time, he was determined to find the princess and bring her back safely.
The guards behind him followed closely, the sound of their horses' hooves echoing in the silent mountains and forests, with a hint of tension and eagerness.
Xue Zhongfu's eyes were fixed on the four forked roads in the back mountain, and distant memories came flooding back like a tide.
That year, he and his wife, Chen Yunniang, had come to Xiangguo Temple together to pray for a safe childbirth. However, a sudden downpour blocked their way down the mountain due to a landslide.
They had no choice but to turn and drive towards the back mountain, where they were faced with the same choice of several forked roads.
That time, Xue Zhongfu chose a road, but he didn't expect it was a dead end, which eventually led to his wife's difficult childbirth in the carriage, resulting in a tragedy of two deaths.
Now a similar scene happens again, and it is time to make a decision again.
Four forked roads lay before him, like four paths of destiny. However, with only three of them, including the guards, they couldn't explore all of them simultaneously.
At this critical moment, Xue Zhongfu decisively rode towards the rightmost road and said, "You two go to the two roads on the left to track!" His voice was firm and decisive, with unquestionable majesty.
As soon as the words fell, the three of them split up and started searching against the clock.
They knew that any moment of hesitation might mean missing the opportunity to rescue the eldest princess.
Xue Zhongfu's heart was full of determination. He not only wanted to put an end to the regrets of the past, but also to protect every life in front of him.
Xue Zhongfu sped along the rightmost road, his heart beating like a drum. The trees on both sides of the road swayed in the wind, as if telling an unknown story. He stared fixedly ahead, afraid of missing any clues.
Suddenly, he discovered something and pulled the reins hard. The horse neighed, raised its front hooves, and stopped steadily.
Xue Zhongfu jumped off his horse and walked quickly towards a patch of grass by the roadside. In the grass, an exquisite jade pendant lay quietly. It was the eldest princess's personal belonging.
Xue Zhongfu's heart tightened. The appearance of this jade pendant meant that the eldest princess might have indeed been here.
He looked around, trying to find more clues. At this moment, a faint cry came into his ears, looming, like a call from the wind.
Xue Zhongfu's spirits lifted. He led his horse and carefully followed the sound. After passing through a dense forest, he finally found the source of the sound.
Near the edge of the hillside, Princess Li Shurou held a vine tightly with both hands, her whole body stiff, not daring to move at all.
There was a steep hillside under her feet. If the vine broke because it could not bear her weight, she would inevitably roll down. Even if she survived by chance, she would be seriously injured.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
