"Sister, what if the monks and guards can't find the person?" Yuan Yanyan asked.
Xu Jiang's expression was solemn. "Then we have to have his parents report him to the authorities and put up notices to search the entire city."
Yuan Yanyan frowned and said, "But if this happens, Sister Lan Jing's reputation will be damaged."
Xu Jiang paused, turned around and touched Yuan Yanyan's face, "Life is more important than reputation at this time."
Yuan Yanyan tilted her head and asked, "When did reputation become more important than life?"
Xu Jiang was silent for a moment, then said, "Reputation, more important than life itself, is ingrained in one's bones and soul, and cannot be humiliated or slandered. It concerns ambition, loyalty, truth, justice, and character, not vanity, money, status, nobility, or face. The former can be protected with one's life when necessary, but the latter is vain and even a shackle, not worth sacrificing one's life for."
She held Yuan Yanyan's hand tightly, her voice gentle, but her words weighed as heavy as a rock. "Lan Jing's disappearance was not her wish. If her parents disregard her life for this false reputation, they are not worthy of being parents."
Yuan Yanyan's young and naive heart seemed to be awakened by the beating of gongs and drums. She nodded heavily, "Sister, you make sense." Then she pulled Xu Jiang forward and said, "Let's go find Lan Jing quickly. She must be terrified after being separated from us for so long."
Xu Jiang and Yuan Yanyan had just walked a short distance when they heard an anxious voice behind them asking, "Lan He, have you found Lan Jing?"
They turned around and saw a couple pulling a round-faced girl, asking about Lan Jing. The round-faced girl was Lan He, who cried and shook her head, "No, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, it's all my fault for not keeping an eye on her."
The couple had no time to blame her. They had brought a lot of servants with them, and when they heard that the person had not been found yet, they quickly ordered the servants to go and look for her separately.
Xu Jiang and Yuan Yanyan went to meet them. They bowed to the two men first. Seeing that they looked unhappy, she was worried that something might happen to them. She said to them, "Please be patient. I have asked the monks and patrol officers in the temple to help find him. Together with our own people, as long as Lan Jing doesn't leave the temple, we will have news soon."
Lan Jing's mother looked at her gratefully with red eyes, "Thank you for your trouble. May I know who this lady is?"
"Second Aunt, this is Madam Xu, the owner of Zhanchun Bookstore." Lan He then introduced her to Xu Jiang, "This is my second uncle and second aunt, Lan Jing's parents."
Xu Jiang guessed it, "Xu Jiang greets the sir, and greets the madam."
Lan Jing's father nodded, then asked anxiously, "I just heard from Madam Xu that she's asked the monks and patrolmen from the temple to help look for him. May I ask how long they've been searching?"
"Less than half an hour."
"Then we won't delay any longer. Please help us look for it. My Mu family will reward you handsomely later."
Everyone then dispersed again and went to various places to look for Lan Jing.
"A Jiang!" Xu Jiang had just separated from a few people when she heard a familiar voice coming from behind her. She turned around and saw that it was Lou Yunchun.
Lou Yunchun strode forward and looked her up and down several times. Seeing that she was okay, he breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "I just heard the patrol say that someone was missing. What happened?"
Yuan Yanyan's eyes rolled around between the two of them, finally stopping on Lou Yunchun.
Xu Jiang told them about Lan Jing's disappearance, and then said, "Her parents have also come and are already looking for her inside."
Lou Yunchun nodded, then looked around. Seeing that the temple was sparsely populated, he mobilized most of the patrol guards to help with the search. He asked Xu Jiang to gather the women and wait at the gate. Then he entered the temple and asked the abbot to send monks to inspect the Buddhist halls, palaces, and inner courtyards. Finally, he took a few more people with him to search the temple's perimeter.
When the voices gradually died down and the temple's evening drum sounded, a team of patrol guards finally brought news that Lan Jing had been found!
Everyone cheered upon hearing this, and Song Yi and Lan He embraced and cried. Everyone waited eagerly, and soon they saw the Mu family couple, holding Lan Jing's hand, walking towards them. Lan He hurried over, first scolding Lan Jing a few words, then hugging her and sobbing.
"You scared me to death, girl."
Lan Jing touched her face, and his eyes were red. The girls hurried over and asked about Lan Jing's condition.
Xu Jiang also came forward, leading Yuan Yanyan by the hand. Seeing that Mo Ming and several Western Region monks were following them, she asked Mo Ming, "Where did you find her?"
Mo Ming replied, "The abbot led his men to search the Buddhist halls and temples and found her in the Sutra Translation Pavilion. She was separated by the crowd and fell, twisting her ankle. Several monks took her back for treatment. The woman couldn't speak, and the monks didn't understand Chinese. I was also away, so they couldn't find anyone to pass on the message, so they didn't get her out in time. I hope you won't blame me."
After hearing this, Xu Jiang was speechless for a while. For someone who can't speak and meets someone who doesn't understand Chinese, it's like a mustard seed falling into the eye of a needle. It's really a coincidence.
The Western monks mumbled something incoherent, and no one understood. Mo Ming translated for them, "The monks said that the female guest is fine. She needs to go back and rest for a few days. Her foot injury will heal."
The Mu family couple walked up to the mages, pulled Mulan Jing to her knees and bowed, saying, "Thank you all for your help."
The monks were used to kneeling and did not understand the etiquette of the Central Plains. They just chanted the Buddha's name together, said a few words to Mo Ming, and then left together.
The person was found and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The Mu couple held their daughter and kept thanking everyone.
At this time, Lou Yunchun also heard the news and came over. Seeing the Mu family couple, he was slightly surprised and greeted them, "Hello, Lord Mu."
Lord Mu was also a little surprised, "Lord Xiaolou." Then he understood and bowed to him and thanked him, "Thank you for your help, Lord Xiaolou."
Lou Yunchun returned the greeting, "Your Excellency is polite. It's my duty." Then he glanced at Mulan Jing and said, "It's good to have the person back."
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