After leaving Jiang Xinrui's courtyard, Yan Xiao quickly returned to the place where she had hidden her clothes to change back into her outer garment. Instead of meeting up with Qian Qiu Wan Dai, she went straight back to the General's Mansion.
The gatekeepers were somewhat surprised to see her return alone.
Seeing their appearance, Yan Xiao roughly guessed that Qian Qiu Wan Dai had not returned yet. It was a long story, but if you count the time, it actually didn't take her very long to get to Jiang Xin Rui's house.
In addition, the route from the night market back to the General's Mansion is actually the same as the route to Jiang Xinrui's residence, so it's normal that Qianqiu Wandai and the two guards haven't returned to the General's Mansion to find someone to help search for her at this time.
Just as she was thinking this, and was about to send someone to the night market to call Qianqiu Wandai back, she saw Zhao Qian leading a team of guards, rushing out of the general's mansion in a panic, his face full of anxiety.
When Yan Xiao saw Zhao Qian, Zhao Qian also saw Yan Xiao. He was stunned for a moment, and then the anxious look on his face quickly turned into ecstasy.
Then he ran a few steps to Yanxiao's side, forgetting even to bow, looked her up and down, and only after confirming that she was unharmed did he breathe a sigh of relief and say:
"My dear wife, where have you been? I just received word that you suddenly disappeared at the night market. I was terrified!"
Zhao Qian received the news so quickly that Yan Xiao was slightly surprised. Then she clearly realized that she knew nothing about the communication methods of the General's Mansion guards. If she wanted to do anything sneaky in the future, she would have to be more careful.
She truly thought about it, but showed no sign of it on her face, only replying:
"What's the panic? I just got separated from the others while watching the commotion. I looked for a while but couldn't find Qianqiu and the others, so I came back on my own. See, I'm perfectly fine."
Zhao Qian didn't doubt these words, only repeatedly saying that he was just glad Yan Xiao had returned safely, and pleaded with a pained expression:
"Madam, from now on, please let me accompany you when you go out. I really don't trust anyone else. If this happens a couple more times, my heart might not be able to take it."
Yan Xiao remained noncommittal, and as he walked inside, he instructed Zhao Qian to inform Qian Qiu and the others to come back. He figured the two girls were probably quite frightened after what had happened, so he would give them a red envelope later to calm their nerves.
After receiving the order, Zhao Qian gestured to the guards he had brought to carry it out, and then Yan Xiao casually said:
"By the way, when I came back just now, I passed by Doctor Jiang's courtyard and saw a faint light inside, and I also heard someone shouting that there was a fire. Could you have someone go and see what's going on when they pass by?"
Zhao Qian was slightly taken aback by these words. He didn't think Yan Xiao would care about Jiang Xinrui's situation. Just as he was wondering, Yan Xiao added:
"I'm just curious, a bit gossipy, and I also want to see if she burned to death. We've known each other for a while, if she's dead, wouldn't I have to prepare a big farewell gift for her?"
"Ah? Oh, okay, I understand."
When Yan Xiao said this, Zhao Qian understood. Although it seemed like kicking someone when they were down, thinking about what Jiang Xinrui had done during the day, he felt that this was how their general's wife should behave, and it wasn't excessive at all.
Yan Xiao was genuinely tired at this point and had no interest in what Zhao Qian thought. After giving her instructions, she stretched and indicated that she was going back to rest. She told Qian Qiu Wan Dai not to disturb her when she returned and that they could discuss things tomorrow.
Zhao Qian naturally agreed to everything.
The next morning, when Yanxiao came out of the bedroom, she saw Qianqiu and Wandai looking frightened and haggard. If you looked closely, you could see that their eyes were still a little red and swollen.
Judging from their appearance, the two must have cried last night, which immediately dispelled Yan Xiao's lingering drowsiness.
Before she could react, Chiaki and Bandai knelt before him, each offering a apology:
“Madam, it is Qianqiu’s fault for losing you. Please punish me.”
"Yes, Madam, it's all my fault. I have no complaints about punishing you. I only hope that you can give me another chance and not send me away."
Yan Xiao felt unusually embarrassed seeing them like this.
She knew perfectly well what had happened last night, and she couldn't blame those two girls at all.
She was always very generous to her own people and understood that employing people required not only strictness but also appropriate rewards. So she quickly gave the two red envelopes she had prepared the night before to the two of them and softly comforted them:
"What happened last night wasn't your fault. I was too engrossed in watching the commotion. I know you were a little frightened because of me last night, so take this and buy some good food to calm your nerves."
The two maids were surprised that they had not only escaped punishment for their poor performance, but also received red envelopes. They felt that although the madam was somewhat strict, had a strange temper, and did things in ways that were not conventional, she was really good to them. They felt even more ashamed and had no face to actually take the red envelopes.
"This servant lost you, Madam. The fact that you did not punish me is already a sign of your kindness and forgiveness. How could I possibly accept that red envelope?"
After Chiaki finished speaking, Bandai expressed the same sentiment, kneeling on the ground with a face full of shame, too ashamed to accept the gift.
Seeing their reaction, Yan Xiao felt somewhat helpless and didn't insist any further. She simply gestured for them to get up, indicating that she didn't blame them and that they should just be more careful in the future.
The two nodded repeatedly, promising that such a thing would not happen again, and then went to serve Yanxiao her meal.
Upon returning, Qianqiu reported to Yanxiao:
"Madam, Guard Zhao has arrived. He says he has something to report."
Yan Xiao roughly knew Zhao Qian's purpose for coming and gestured to Qian Qiu to let Zhao Qian in.
Just as Yan Xiao had suspected, Zhao Qian had come to report on Jiang Xinrui.
Zhao Qian said that after receiving instructions yesterday, he arranged for the city's law enforcement and guard teams to go to Jiang Xinrui's house to inquire about the situation, under the pretext of receiving news of a fire.
The result was that Jiang Xinrui's house did indeed catch fire last night, but it was not serious. Only some medicinal herbs and shelves in the yard were burned, and there were no casualties.
However, the guards also received another piece of news: Jiang Xinrui was missing.
According to the young apprentice in the house, Jiang Xinrui seemed to be in a bad mood after returning home yesterday and refused to talk to anyone.
When it was time for dinner, she suddenly said that she had a headache, and in the end, she was helped into her bedroom by two apprentices to rest.
After Jiang Xinrui entered the bedroom, she was not seen coming out again until they went back to their room to rest.
As a result, even after they put out the fire in the yard, Jiang Xinrui still didn't come out of the room.
Concerned about Jiang Xinrui's condition, they sent a female medicine boy into the house to check, only to find that Jiang Xinrui was not there at all.
Not only that, but there were obviously a lot of things missing from the room, and those missing were all items that Jiang Xinrui liked and that were valuable and easy to take with her.
Yan Xiao knew almost everything Zhao Qian said, and after listening, she asked:
"Based on your experience and the testimonies of those apprentice doctors, where did Jiang Xinrui go? Why did she suddenly sneak off like that? What's she up to?"
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