Su Nan spread out the simple map he had drawn on the table, and Qiu Ju quickly turned on the lamp wick.
"The restaurants and inns on the street have been checked." Jiang Shuyue marked a spot on the map.
Su Nan moved his finger across the map. "The imperial palace is impossible too."
"Residential houses are being searched. The Prefect of the Capital and the Imperial Guards are numerous. It is estimated that the search will be completed in another half hour."
Jiang Shuyue moved the charcoal pencil in her hand to the blank space. "These places used to be large open spaces with many trees, which could be places to hide. I've been away from the capital for many years, so I don't know if they've changed since then?"
Seeing that the young lady's brows were furrowed into a deep frown, Qiuju said, "The officials are more familiar with the capital's terrain than we are, so they certainly won't miss a single corner."
Su Nan's map was too simple; he didn't mark the temples and Ciyin Hall in the capital. Jiang Shuyue marked the rest.
The three were engrossed in organizing the map when suddenly hurried footsteps sounded.
"Sister Jiang!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Jiang Shuyue looked up abruptly, "Yutong, what brings you here?"
“Sui Sui, he…” Du Yutong’s voice choked, and tears welled up in her eyes.
The gatekeeper had just told her everything that had happened, and Du Yutong felt heartbroken thinking about how her little darling had been kidnapped.
Jiang Shuyue put down her charcoal pencil and went to meet her; their hands clasped tightly together.
"I'm sorry to have worried you, sister. I'm drawing up a map to investigate, and the Emperor's men are also searching for them. When Chang Le and Sui Sui left the mansion, the city gates were already closed, so they must still be inside the city."
"Yes, Sister Jiang, don't worry. All the civil and military officials have received the news that it was Song Yunzhi who caused the trouble. My father has already led people out and is now issuing a city-wide warrant to arrest her."
No sooner had Du Yutong finished speaking than her maid arrived.
"Miss, you ran too fast, I almost couldn't keep up." The maid stepped forward, panting, and bowed to Jiang Shuyue.
Jiang Shuyue was deeply moved. The fact that Du Yutong had run all the way from the Du residence to the Jiang residence showed how worried Du Yutong was about Sui Sui.
Jiang Shuyue pulled Du Yutong to sit down at the table, and said sadly, "Isn't it already widely rumored outside?"
Du Yutong knew exactly what Jiang Shuyue was referring to. She shook her head and said, "No, people outside just think that Princess Chang Le and the palace maids have been kidnapped by Song Yunzhi. No one knows how many people have been kidnapped yet."
Qiuju poured a cup of tea and handed it to Du Yutong, saying gratefully, "Miss Du, you are so thoughtful. You actually guessed that Princess Changle and Suisui were together."
Du Yutong took the tea, took a sip, and looked at her personal maid. "It was Zhu'er's words that reminded me. She said that Song Yunzhi was so audacious as to dare to enter the palace and kidnap people. That's when I remembered that Chang Le might have left the palace and come to the Jiang residence."
Some things are unspoken, and Du Yutong isn't one to pry.
Su Nan pushed the map towards Du Yutong, her eyes full of anticipation, and said, "Sister Du, please help me see if there are any hiding places on this map that have been missed."
Everyone was on edge, and the usual polite formalities were gone.
Du Yutong took the map and examined it carefully. After a moment, he pointed to a blank space and said, "This is Lianwu Lake. Although it's not a place to hide, it should still be clearly marked."
“Yes, and there’s also Lotus Foliage Lake.” Jiang Shuyue’s eyes lit up.
The scene of Lotus Fountain Lake quickly flashed through her mind.
Back when the original owner's mother was still alive, one Mid-Autumn Festival night, her adoptive father, in order to please Madam Yang, spent a lot of money to rent a painted boat to go boating on the lake, and the original owner and her mother also went.
The painted boats are bustling with activity, filled with the sounds of birds singing and dancing. As the boats glide slowly across the lake, a thin mist rises from the water as night deepens, creating a scene reminiscent of a fairyland.
Groups of people released lanterns on the lake. From the painted boats, the shimmering lights on the lake resembled brilliant starlight in the vast night sky, a truly magnificent sight.
Suddenly, Jiang Shuyue stood up abruptly, and exclaimed excitedly, "Yes, it can hide people!"
Su Nan and Qiu Ju looked at Jiang Shuyue, who suddenly became agitated, with puzzlement.
Du Yutong and Qiu Ju exchanged a glance, then looked at Jiang Shuyue. "Sister Jiang, do you mean that people can hide in Lianwu Lake?"
Jiang Shuyue nodded. "Yes, the Emperor sent so many people out but there was no news at all. It must be that Song Yunzhi and her people are hiding on the lake."
Du Yutong shook her head. "Impossible. The lakeside is full of ordinary people releasing lanterns, and the pleasure boats on the lake are for noble families to enjoy the lake and the moon with their families. Where could she possibly hide?"
Qiuju thought that her mistress was flustered and lost her composure. "Miss, although Lotus Mist Lake is large, there are no small islands or anything in the middle, so there is indeed nowhere to hide."
Su Nan didn't know how big Lianwu Lake was, but he knew that his sister was a smart and perceptive person.
He paused for a moment and said, "Even the officials can't find her, which means she's extremely cunning. There's a saying in the books that 'the greatest hermits hide in the city.' Song Yunzhi is a native of the capital, so perhaps she really is hiding in a crowded place."
Jiang Shuyue added, "There's a reason why Lianwu Lake got its name. You can believe my guess."
“Yes, fog rises over the lake at night, in clusters that look like lotus flowers in a fairyland from afar,” Du Yutong added excitedly.
"Zhu'er, take your young lady back. Qiuju, you and Su Nan go to the Jingzhao Yin to send a message to the Emperor, telling him that the person may be hiding in Lianwu Lake." Jiang Shuyue said, and quickly ran out the door.
"Miss!"
"Sister!"
"Sister Jiang!"
The three of them exclaimed in surprise at the same time.
Su Nan was worried about his sister going alone, so he said to Qiu Ju and Du Yutong, "Please ask Sister Du to accompany Sister Qiu Ju to deliver the letter to the Emperor. I'll go after my sister."
There were no horses left in the manor's stables. Jiang Shuyue knew there was a shortcut to Lianwu Lake; it was a small alley.
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