Chapter 330 Running Towards Her
It's past midnight.
Night markets in many neighborhoods have closed and finally quieted down, waiting for the fifth watch of the night before they resume their lively atmosphere.
Those restaurants that stayed open all night had already been questioned and investigated, but there was no news of Fangzhou.
Granny Yu had been forced by Qiu Heng to return to the mansion to rest. Qingluo and the little maid Huan'er had their eyes swollen from crying and stayed close to Qiu Heng.
Standing where Fangzhou had last left, Qiuheng asked the two of them again, "Are you sure Fangzhou ran in that direction?"
Huan'er nodded vigorously: "I'm absolutely sure I remembered correctly."
Qingluo felt a pang of regret in her heart: "It's all my fault. I should have stopped her. Why didn't I react in time..."
Qiu Heng stared intently in that direction, motionless.
I've already started from the beginning, searching in that direction several times, repeatedly asking Qingluo and Huan'er, just because I'm unwilling to give up. It's as if hearing a new answer will give me a new direction, a new clue.
"Aheng, why don't you go back and rest for a bit? I'll take some people and continue the search."
Xue Han was well aware of Fangzhou's importance in Qiu Heng's heart.
"Xue Han," Qiu Heng called softly, "What if we can't find him?"
Her voice sounded calm, but everyone knew that the calm was just a facade.
Xue Han said with certainty, "We will definitely find it."
"But there are many people who you can't see with your own eyes, and many who can't be found, right?" Qiu Heng looked into Xue Han's eyes, subconsciously seeking comfort.
She wanted to hear a negative answer from someone she trusted and liked so that she could control her panic.
When Xue Han heard these words, his heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle.
That year, he witnessed Ah Heng being abducted by human traffickers and never found her again.
The long-lost pain returned, but he quickly suppressed it and spoke to the girl who was waiting for his answer in a more resolute tone.
"No, we will find it, I promise you."
Qiu Heng heard what she wanted to hear and nodded slightly: "Then let's continue searching."
"Okay, keep looking."
This search led them to Tianming.
The sun rose, illuminating every corner. Qinglian Lake, rumored to be haunted, shimmered in the morning light, tranquil and picturesque.
This tranquility was shattered by a young couple who had secretly come to meet.
As screams of terror rang out, more and more people gathered by the lake.
"What's wrong? Is it haunted again?"
"Look in the lake, it looks like someone has drowned..."
...
Upon hearing that Fangzhou had gone missing, Hu Si, who had joined the search team, saw a large crowd gathered by the lake and went over to them.
"What happened here?"
The person being asked pointed and said, "The water ghost was looking for a substitute and drowned a woman."
woman--
Hu Si's heart sank inexplicably. He pushed aside the people blocking his way and immediately saw a person floating in the lake.
From this distance, the drowning person's appearance is not visible, but the pink dress faintly visible in the water makes it clear that it is a woman.
Because of the rumors of a water ghost, none of the people gathered by the lake dared to try to retrieve it.
Hu Si was about to jump, but his men held him back tightly.
"Let the villain go."
Hu Si glanced at his empty sleeve and didn't insist any further: "Hurry up and get the person out of there."
His men jumped into the water and swam there quickly, only to know at a glance that the man was long gone.
Hu Si stood by the lake, watching intently as his men swam back with their men until they were pushed ashore.
The woman lay motionless, her long, loose hair obscuring her face, her wet pink dress stained with mud and losing its luster. Yet, anyone looking at her could sense that she must be very young.
They're very young.
Realizing this, Hu Si felt a tightness in his throat, as if he couldn't breathe.
He was just moments ago in a frantic rush to jump into the lake to save someone, but now he slowly squatted down, knelt on one knee, and slowly reached out his hand.
His fingertips touched the woman's damp, cold hair, but it felt like touching a branding iron, and he abruptly pulled away.
Noticing Hu Si's unusual behavior, the two henchmen exchanged bewildered glances.
"Commander Hu—"
Hu Si glanced at the subordinate who had called him, and for a moment he wanted to turn his back and let his subordinate see the appearance of the female corpse.
But in the end he didn't do that. He reached out again to brush aside the long hair that was covering the woman's face, revealing a familiar face.
Hu Si collapsed to the ground, his face deathly pale.
The gods and Buddhas did not hear his prayers; it was truly Fangzhou.
If he is already in such distress, what will happen to the Sixth Miss?
Hu Si struggled to his feet and ordered his men, "Found it...go tell the master..."
Hu Si is still in the Imperial City Guard, so it's not appropriate to call Xue Han that anymore, but who cares about that at a time like this?
His men ran all the way to Xue Han.
Seeing the imperial guards panting as they ran, Xue Han's first thought was that he had found someone.
"Lord Xue—" the imperial guard called out to Xue Han, his eyes sweeping over Qiu Heng before quickly looking away, hesitating about what to say next.
Xue Hanxin's heart sank, and he quickly walked over.
The imperial guard leaned close to Xue Han's ear and whispered, "Found him... he's drowned..."
Xue Han's breath hitched, his body taut like a bowstring, and he dared not turn around.
A sound came from behind.
"Where?"
He slowly turned around and looked at the girl walking towards him.
"Ah Heng, don't panic—"
Qiu Heng stared straight at the imperial guard: "Tell me, where is she?"
The imperial guards looked at Xue Han.
"Xue Han, my hearing is just as good as yours. Let him tell me where it is."
Xue Han felt a pang of heartache looking at Qiu Heng, but knew he couldn't hide it from her, so he nodded to the imperial guards.
"At...Qinglian Lake."
Qinglian Lake.
The expressionless girl swept past the imperial guards like a wisp of smoke, just like that spring day three years ago when she returned from the Great Xia Dynasty forty years later after overcoming countless hardships, heading towards that peaceful little village at the foot of Yunfeng Mountain.
She ran with all her might towards her home, towards the family she had missed for so long, filled with joy yet also with trepidation as she approached her hometown.
The first thing she heard was Fangzhou rushing towards her in surprise.
"Girl, you're back!"
And now, she is rushing to her family, her sisters, her best friends, not even daring to be sad, for fear that such emotions would shatter the hopes in her heart.
Did you mistake someone for someone else?
He was lying to her.
She ran towards him, but Fangzhou would still rush towards her.
Just like returning home from that shattered Great Xia, just like every night she secretly slipped out of the Yongqing Marquis's mansion, as long as she returned, Fangzhou would happily greet her, smiling and saying, "Miss, you're back."
Qinglian Lake is so far away, why is it so far?
He stumbled, seemingly tripping over something, but was steadied by the person close behind him.
Qiu Heng gently pushed the hand away and ran even faster.
Actually, it didn't take long before we arrived at Qinglian Lake.
The usually quiet Qinglian Lake was now crowded with onlookers.
What is heartbreaking for those who care is just a spectacle for most strangers.
Qiu Heng stopped, stared blankly for a while, and then walked over step by step.
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