Chapter 56 The Woman You Can Never Have
The streets were already bustling with traffic, and the cries of vendors filled the air, creating a noisy and lively atmosphere.
But Yu Zhirou's voice still managed to reach Yu Nian's ears precisely.
She said: Lu Mingzhu probably doesn't have much time left. She is suffering from both qi and blood deficiency, and even a god couldn't save her.
When asked for the reason, Lu Mingzhu hesitated and was unwilling to say, but from her few words, Yu Nian could guess seven or eight parts of it. It was related to the fact that the entire Lu family was imprisoned on the day the Consort gave birth.
Yu Nian was somewhat lost in thought. Although she had only known Lu Mingzhu for a short time, she still quite liked her personality. The thought of a delicate flower about to fade away before her eyes weighed heavily on her heart.
When Yu Nian left, Lu Mingzhu secretly gave her something, something that could answer many of Yu Nian's questions.
This task was also given to Yu Nian by Lu Mingzhu, and Yu Nian had to help her complete it no matter what.
"Cousin, it's getting late, let's go back."
Yu Zhirou called Yu Nian a few times before Yu Nian responded. Just as the two were about to get into the carriage, a luxurious carriage with a gilded roof suddenly stopped in front of them.
The air currents created by the carriage lifted the light veil on Yu Nianwei's hat. Looking up, she saw Li Mingjin's unpleasant face behind the curtain.
"Rou'er, you canceled our appointment just to go out with her?"
Li Mingjin spoke, his face full of frustration. Was Yu Nian changing her strategy and starting to steal his sweetheart?
Yu Nian's lips twitched involuntarily. What bad luck to run into him! And what Li Mingjin was saying sounded so sour and sarcastic.
Yu Nian retorted to Li Mingjin rather bluntly.
"What's wrong with my cousin and I going out for a walk?"
"What's the point of shopping with you? Rou'er, come up here, I'll take you home. Don't get too close to this kind of woman in the future, lest you lose face."
Li Mingjin glanced coldly at Yu Nian, then reached out and pulled Yu Zhirou into his own carriage.
Yu Nian was speechless for a moment. What did she mean by "this kind of woman"? What was wrong with her?
Yu Nian gave Li Mingjin the middle finger in the direction he left, tch, I'm the woman you'll never have!
Yu Nian also lifted her skirt and got into the carriage. She didn't have time to argue with the Crown Prince; she had to hurry home to find her fourth brother.
There's an old saying: haste makes waste.
Yu Nian wanted to urge the driver to speed up, but they encountered a massive traffic jam outside. People, horses, and trucks formed a long line on the main road.
"Chuntao, what's going on?"
Yu Nian lifted the curtain of the carriage and peeked out to ask.
Kyoto's main roads are wide and spacious, with enough room for four horses to drive abreast. How did it suddenly become congested?
"Miss, I just inquired and it seems that the Imperial Guards are checking passing vehicles and goods. Apparently, they're catching some kind of human traffickers who specialize in abducting young women."
Yu Nian raised an eyebrow. Human traffickers are universally hated in every era, but this trafficker actually managed to bring them to the capital, right under the emperor's nose. He was really bold.
Canghai, who was on duty, saw Yu Nian's carriage in the distance and immediately rode over to greet him.
"Miss Yu, where are you going? It's not safe outside right now. I'll have someone clear the way for you. You should go back to your residence as soon as possible."
Canghai means he's going to give Yu Nian a special favor.
Yu Nian was also in a hurry to return to her residence, so she didn't stand on ceremony with Cang Hai and took advantage of Chunyu Han's generosity.
"Thank you very much. Is that human trafficker very powerful? He actually alarmed the Imperial Guards and even sent you here personally to supervise the investigation."
Yu Nian asked casually, "Logically speaking, catching human traffickers in Kyoto should be the responsibility of the Dali Temple and the city's patrol teams."
When asked about this, Canghai was a little embarrassed. He couldn't very well tell Yu Nian that he had been punished by Chunyu Han to be on duty here because he had spoken an extra word to Yu Nian when he delivered the betrothal gifts that morning.
“That human trafficker is indeed quite capable, daring to commit crimes in broad daylight. Four women have already disappeared without a trace, which has had a terrible impact. When the news reached the Emperor’s ears, he handed the matter over to the Eastern Depot and ordered him to be arrested within three days.”
Canghai briefly explained the situation to Yu Nian, since Yu Nian would soon be his master's wife.
"Only three days? What if we can't catch them?"
Yu Nian wasn't lacking in confidence in the Jinwu Guard; he just felt that apprehending a person in ancient times was truly not an easy task.
However, Canghai's answer surprised Yu Nian.
"If nothing unexpected happens, we should be able to catch him today. I fought with that thief today and cut his right arm. We have now sealed off all the city's exits and pharmacies. Unless he doesn't want his arm anymore, there will definitely be people coming to seek medical help."
Yu Nian nodded and gave Canghai a thumbs up. As expected of Chunyu Han's bodyguard, his abilities are indeed strong.
On the carriage back to the manor, Yu Nian suddenly remembered what Chunyu Han had said before leaving that morning: that she shouldn't go out unless there was something important to do.
Now it seems that this refers to the rampant human trafficking.
Chunyu Han is indeed a strange person; he can't even express his concern for others properly.
If he were normal, he would have said something like, "Things aren't safe outside, try not to go out," and Yu Nian wouldn't have been badmouthing him behind his back again.
Because of the delay, it was already dark when Yu Nian returned home.
As they passed the gatehouse, Yu Nian asked.
"Butler, has the Fourth Young Master returned?"
"He's back, but the Fourth Young Master doesn't look well. He said he wants to rest and told no servants to disturb him."
The fourth young master rarely showed such indifference, which surprised the butler.
"I see."
Yu Nian didn't want to bother Yu Jing, but she had been entrusted with a task and had to fulfill her duty, so she still had to go see him.
Besides, she's not a servant, right?
Yu Nian told Chun Tao to go down first, and then went to the thatched cottage in the West Garden where Yu Jing lived.
Warm candlelight flickered on the doors and windows. Chun Tao raised her hand and knocked twice on the door, only to find to her surprise that it was unlocked. Her knocking caused it to open a crack.
This behavior is really in line with Yu Jing's gentlemanly demeanor. He told people not to disturb him, and he really believed that no one would come. He didn't even lock the door.
"Fourth Brother?"
Yu Nian knocked on the door, rested her hand on the door panel, glanced inside, and called out.
A few breaths passed, but no one responded to Yu Nian.
"He's not not here, is he...?"
Yu Nian straightened up and pushed open the door; the room was indeed empty.
It's so hard to find someone; Yu Jing is always elusive, never showing up again.
Yu Nian muttered as she turned to leave, wondering how to find Yu Jing. But her pale white ankle boots seemed to have stepped into a puddle of water, making a soft splashing sound.
"What is that?"
Yu Nian lifted her skirt and looked down. The deep crimson had already crept up her light-colored skirt, and there were also specks of red on the surface of her moon-white shoes.
Yu Nian looked down and saw what she was standing on, and her heart suddenly tightened.
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