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These words caught her completely off guard. Lin Xu turned to look at Dou Yanxun. She spent all her time with Dou Zhen at the Princess's residence and naturally had no idea what was happening at home. Dou Yanxun, however, remained calm and composed, seemingly unconcerned about the matter, and casually said:
"Even if Lang Ge'er came during the day, he only took a short look around and left before even seeing my wife. In such a short time, less than half an incense stick's time, how could he have lost anything?"
The young maidservant, lacking courage, could only nod and agree when Dou Yanxun questioned her. Granny Zhao, unwilling to give up, forced a troubled smile and said gently, "This old servant understands Second Master's meaning, but the First Madam is indeed very uneasy right now. Whether she finds it this time or not, she will search everywhere before she feels at ease. Therefore, I can only trouble Second Master to do us a favor so that we can go back and report."
Dou Yanxun stood leisurely outside the study door, gazing into the distance, yet inexplicably appeared as steadfast as a pine tree.
Lin Xu pondered for a moment and then said, "Very well, since it is so valuable, then please search carefully. It would be a real pity if it were found here and neither the Second Master nor I knew about it."
After saying that, she turned to Zhou Qi and Zhou Quan and gently instructed them, "Quickly light the lanterns in all the courtyards, make sure they are as bright as possible, and go with Granny Zhao to search. Don't miss any corner."
Granny Zhao immediately thanked her profusely.
Although the matter came suddenly and seemed suspicious, Feng Daizhu appeared to be a straightforward person and didn't seem like the type to resort to such obvious tricks to stir up trouble. Furthermore, Lin Xu had only recently married into the Dou family and also harbored a benevolent heart. Therefore, she simply stood quietly under the eaves, wanting to see what the eldest son's actions were all about.
She was ready to meet force with force and water with earth; if there were any tricks involved, she would have no fear whatsoever.
Having received her instructions, Zhou Qi and Zhou Quan led a group of guards to search the courtyard. Zhao Mama, using the bright lanterns, almost bent over as she searched the ground. Zhu Ling watched this and whispered to Lin Xu, "It's already late at night. With such a commotion in the front yard, I'm afraid the whole family will be disturbed."
Lin Xu pursed her lips. The moonlight was low, and the snow, which had been falling for days, had finally subsided. Sure enough, a faint sound echoed from the front yard, standing out starkly against the backdrop of the snowy night. It seemed that their villa was not the only place disturbed tonight.
Fortunately, she was always easygoing. Since she couldn't sleep, she simply instructed Rongwei and Qingmo to prepare two wooden chairs with backrests and a small table under the eaves. She smiled and said to Dou Yanxun, "It's been a long time since I've had goat milk. The moonlight is just right. Would you like to share a cup of goat milk tea with me, my husband?"
Dou Yanxun was casually leaning against the study door when Lin Xu called him, and then he looked over.
Lin Xu smiled and called out to him, her eyes crinkling at the corners. Her fair face, hidden in the tranquil moonlight, resembled a quiet and serene gardenia blooming silently. In truth, he had never liked drinking cow's milk as a child, let alone the strong-smelling goat's milk tea, and over the years he had long since developed a habit of not liking it.
However, Lin Xu seemed genuinely hungry, her face full of anticipation, and she repeatedly ordered someone to prepare something in the kitchen. She then grabbed a few dried plums from the table, leaned back against the chair, and finally had a moment to rest. She felt a sudden wave of exhaustion wash over her; she was utterly worn out after a busy day.
Dou Yanxun grabbed a chair next to her, straddled it, and spoke calmly:
"The snow fell all day, but it's gradually stopping now."
Lin Xu said softly:
"After the snow falls, the ground is covered in a beautiful, delicate white snow. Last year, I waited all winter and never saw such a beautiful and heavy snow."
In the seventeenth year of the Yuanzhen era, a prolonged drought with little rain struck, causing frequent droughts in several counties in northern Central China. A rare famine broke out in late autumn, leading to widespread famine and refugees fleeing to the south of the Yangtze River, leaving the people destitute. She remembers spending her days by the window, eagerly awaiting the first snowfall, but it never came.
Now, several snowfalls have finally arrived, which is surely a good omen for next year, bringing favorable weather, peace, and prosperity to the country.
She picked up two more plums, which were sour and salty, and tasted them. Meanwhile, the fresh goat milk tea, which had been simmering over a low flame, was ready. Zhu Ling took small steps and brought over two bowls of steaming hot milk tea, saying with a smile, "Fresh goat milk, and the kitchen specially added a lot of almond and peanut crumbs. Please try it."
She blew on the hot tea, waiting for it to cool slightly before taking a small sip. It was indeed mellow and fragrant, with absolutely no trace of muttony smell. She couldn't help but nod, looking at Dou Yanxun with great satisfaction.
"This goat milk tea has to be fresh to taste good. It's warm and comforting, especially in winter, it's so refreshing."
Dou Yanxun slowly stirred the goat milk tea with a spoon, his eyes sweeping lightly over the moon hanging in the sky, a slight smile on his lips, "Last year? Madam must be mistaken. Last year, there was continuous rain and snow all year round, and in winter, there were several snowfalls that were knee-deep."
Lin Xu choked on the half-drunk goat milk tea.
Seeing this, Zhu Ling hurriedly stepped forward and carefully patted her back. Lin Xu covered her mouth and nose while hurriedly putting down the white porcelain lotus bowl in her hand.
How could she have so easily forgotten that it is only the fifteenth year of Yuanzhen, and at this time last year, the Great Yu experienced a massive snowfall unseen in fifty years? And it was precisely because of last year's torrential snow that the Weilong River suffered from incessant flooding at the beginning of this fifteenth year?
As expected, one cannot be too carefree. Recently, she and Dou Yanxun have been showing signs of thawing their relationship, but she was still unsettled because of the commotion just now. She had only relaxed a little in front of Dou Yanxun when she almost made a big mistake due to a few casual words.
Dou Yanxun quietly observed her, his eyes shimmering with light that flickered in the evening breeze.
Lin Xu was racking her brains for an explanation when she saw Zhou Qi and Zhou Quan walking briskly towards her from not far away, with Granny Zhao and the maid following beside them. She couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
Zhou Qi stepped forward, bowed to Dou Yanxun and Lin Xu, and said with clasped hands, "Second Master, Young Madam, we have searched the entire villa, but we have indeed not found a trace of the jade wall."
Lin Xu then asked, "Have you made sure you've searched every nook and cranny? It's getting late, and there's still snow in the yard. Have you checked all of that carefully?"
Zhou Qi said, "Madam, we have thoroughly investigated everything and there is indeed no trace of it. Granny Zhao is also aware of this."
Zhao Mama nodded, bowed, and thanked her, "Reporting to Second Madam, this old servant did indeed search diligently, but found nothing. It seems that our master's half of the jade disc was not lost here. This old servant will go and report to First Madam now. I am very grateful for the trouble I caused earlier, and I am deeply grateful for the magnanimity of Second Master and you. I am sure our master will remember your kindness."
Lin Xu said, "It's alright. Although I didn't help much, I just hope that my sister-in-law can get her back as soon as possible."
When Zhao Mama and the other woman found that the items were missing, they hurriedly returned to the main house to report. Lin Xu covered her mouth and yawned, looking tired, and said, "In that case, husband, let's rest tonight."
.
However, after all this, how could she possibly sleep soundly as if nothing had happened? She lay fully clothed on the inside of the bed, her mind filled with Feng Daizhu's actions that night—claiming to have lost something late at night and even going so far as to alarm the entire household—it was all too suspicious.
Rumor has it that the Feng family is a wealthy and influential clan in the northern frontier. Even if the jade disc was a precious gift from her grandmother and had special significance, it would not be too late to search for it at dawn. Why is she in such a hurry and cannot wait even a moment?
She was deep in thought, and as soon as she turned over, she remembered that Dou Yanxun had questioned her for speaking too quickly earlier.
She had tried her best to change the subject, and even dared not meet his eyes. Was Dou Yanxun's scrutiny just a casual question, or had he really noticed something amiss? Afterwards, she was only concerned with dealing with Granny Zhao and did not answer again, so he did not mention the matter again. But now she understood him somewhat. He was a meticulous person. Even if his expression was normal, did he really consider it a slip of the tongue and let it go?
As she thought about it, she became increasingly uneasy.
However, just as Lin Xu was tossing and turning, a soft sigh suddenly came from beside him.
She paused, then looked down at the arm that had wrapped around her waist. The person in that arm was burning hot, and even through her undergarment, it sent a shiver down her spine. Dou Yanxun's voice sounded behind her:
"Madam, you are tossing and turning in bed. Is something on your mind?"
...She has so many worries on her mind.
Lin Xu closed his eyes, trying his best to calm himself down, then turned slightly to the side and whispered:
"It's alright, it's just that what happened earlier is making me a little worried. My sister-in-law lost such a valuable item, and although it hasn't been found in our yard, I'm still a bit concerned."
Dou Yanxun remained silent upon hearing this, yet his hand remained around her waist, even pulling her closer. They were so close she could feel the powerful pounding of his heart. She gently closed her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering. A moment later, she heard Dou Yanxun's steady breathing; he seemed to have quickly fallen asleep.
.
The next day, as dawn broke, Lin Xu got up early and, accompanied by Zhu Ling and Rong Wei, went to pay their respects to Madam Bai. The chill of the snow had not yet faded. As they passed through the garden of the mansion, they saw several plum trees in full bloom, their branches covered with glistening frost. The red plum blossoms were exceptionally vibrant, making the surroundings quiet and serene.
Upon reaching the main courtyard of the Bai family, just as they stepped across the threshold, they saw Feng Daizhu already standing under the eaves, speaking quietly with several maids. Feng Daizhu's makeup was as exquisite as ever, but it couldn't hide her haggard appearance; dark circles were faintly visible under her eyes, clearly indicating that she hadn't slept well the previous night.
Lin Xu smiled slightly and stepped forward to give a graceful bow: "Sister-in-law, you've arrived early today. How did things go last night? Did you find the item?"
Feng Daizhu turned her head upon hearing the voice, and seeing it was Lin Xu, she quickly mustered her spirits and smiled in return:
"I'm sorry to have troubled you, sister-in-law. It's my fault, really. I disturbed everyone's sleep in the middle of the night, and I have to apologize to you and my second brother right away."
Lin Xu said gently, "It's nothing, just a small favor. We're all family, why are you being so polite with us, sister-in-law? But you seem to have had a bad rest. If you have some free time after we've finished paying our respects, you should take a good rest. Although the jade disc is still missing, your health is the most important thing."
Feng Daizhu smiled, concealing the weariness in her eyes: "Thank you, sister-in-law."
Lin Xu added, "However, it was quite dark last night, and the jade disc is a small item, so it was a bit difficult to find. The weather is fine today, and if you'd like, I can help you search around again later. Perhaps the maids were just careless and misplaced it. There are only so many places in this mansion, and a careful search will surely find the trace. You don't need to worry so much."
Upon hearing this, Feng Daizhu's expression changed slightly, and she lowered her eyes, saying, "Indeed, it must have been my oversight that troubled my second sister-in-law."
Before long, Fu Lian, who was by Bai's side, came out of the hall and interrupted the two women's conversation. She gave them a graceful curtsy and said in a gentle voice, "Please come in with me, young mistresses."
Upon hearing this, Feng Daizhu immediately composed herself and whispered, "Mother is calling us, let's go in quickly." With that, she hurried forward.
The hall was as fragrant as ever. Madam Bai, who disliked burning incense, had chosen only seasonal flowers to offer in the room. The crisp fragrance of plum blossoms, carrying a hint of coolness, made the air even more refreshing. Madam Bai was already seated in the main hall, dressed in a thick crimson silk robe, her face radiating kindness.
Lin Xu and Feng Daizhu then stepped forward together to pay their respects, and Madam Bai waved her hand and smiled:
"We're all family, no need for formalities, come and sit down."
After the two sat down, Madam Bai took a sip of tea to moisten her mouth before looking at Feng Daizhu: "I heard last night that something went missing from the eldest son's side, causing quite a commotion. Has the item been found yet?"
Feng Daizhu forced a smile, bowed respectfully, and said softly:
"Mother, we have not found her yet. Yesterday, Daizhu acted hastily, which must have disturbed Father and Mother's sleep. Daizhu knows she was wrong."
Madam Bai frowned slightly, but only instructed, "It's alright, I've already heard the whole story from Fu Lian. Since it's a jade disc given to you by your grandmother and is priceless, it's understandable that you're anxious. However, now that it's lost, it would be best if it could be recovered. If it really can't be found, don't worry too much."
Feng Daizhu lowered her head and could only force a smile in agreement, repeatedly saying yes.
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