Chapter 57 Your Highness, something terrible has happened!
Meanwhile, at the Marquis's residence, in the Ink Rhyme Studio.
After finishing his shift, Xiao Jingheng returned to his residence and went straight to his study. He habitually glanced at the spot where Su Xiaoyu usually liked to hang out and found no one there.
He frowned slightly and summoned a servant to inquire.
"Your Highness, Miss Xiaoyu left the manor early this morning with the Second Miss, saying that she was going to the academy to deliver some things to the Second Young Master."
Should we go to the academy to see Jingxuan?
Xiao Jingheng's eyes flickered slightly, then he raised his hand and waved the servants away.
He sat behind his desk and continued to handle official business.
But for some reason, I always feel like I can't calm down, as if something bad is about to happen.
Just then, the gatekeeper came to report: "Your Highness, Miss Lin from the Grand Tutor's residence is outside requesting an audience. She says she has something extremely urgent to tell you in person."
Xiao Jingheng frowned.
Lin Wan'er?
"Let her in," Xiao Jingheng ordered in a deep voice.
Soon, Lin Wan'er hurried into the study, not even having time to bow, her face full of anxiety and worry. It was as if she had run all the way there.
"Young Master Xiao!"
"Please send someone to look for Lingxi immediately! She...she's probably in trouble!"
Xiao Jingheng's expression hardened, and he stood up abruptly. His voice was as cold as ice.
"What happened? Explain yourself."
Lin Wan'er forced herself to remain calm and hurriedly said, "I just passed by a tavern and saw Lingxi and Su Xiaoyu there. They seemed to be having some kind of argument, and they mentioned things like 'Young Master Shen' and 'Don't tell anyone'."
"I wanted to step forward and offer some advice, but then I saw that Young Master Shen also went to the tavern, and he looked a little flustered."
"Not long after, I saw Su Xiaoyu come out alone. When I went back to the tavern, Lingxi was nowhere to be seen."
"Young Master Xiao, I... I dare to guess, is it because Sister Lingxi accidentally discovered some unspeakable relationship between Su Xiaoyu and that Young Master Shen, which led to the conflict?"
"What if Su Xiaoyu... would harm Lingxi to cover up the secret? The more I think about it, the more frightened I become. I dare not hide it, so I rushed here to tell the young master!"
Lin Wan'er's words were half true and half false. She seemed to be giving a heads-up, but in reality, she was leading all the clues toward Su Xiaoyu.
That was to tell Xiao Jingheng a fact: Su Xiaoyu and Shen Moyan were having an affair, and Xiao Lingxi had discovered it.
Therefore, it is possible that Su Xiaoyu colluded with Shen Moyan to poison Lingxi!
Sure enough, Xiao Jingheng's face darkened so much after hearing this that it looked like water could drip from it.
He stared intently at Lin Wan'er, his extremely imposing eyes locked onto her:
"Is what Miss Lin said truly true?"
The sound wasn't loud, but it seemed to carry immense power.
Lin Wan'er felt a slight chill in her heart, but her face still maintained just the right amount of anxiety and worry.
“Young Master Xiao, everything Wan’er said is true, without a single falsehood! This matter concerns the safety of Sister Lingxi, how could Wan’er dare to treat it lightly? If it weren’t for the urgency of the matter, and the fear of missing the opportunity, Wan’er would not have dared to come and disturb you rashly.”
Xiao Jingheng stared at her for a moment, his gaze so sharp it seemed to pierce through her heart.
Immediately, he gave a deep, cold order to Changfeng, his voice as frigid as the coldest days of winter:
"Long Wind!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Immediately gather manpower and secretly search all the taverns, teahouses, and inns in the city, especially the area in the south of the city."
"Furthermore, go to the academy immediately to find Shen Moyan's whereabouts. Once found, arrest him immediately."
"Yes!" Changfeng was startled, clasped his hands in acceptance, and quickly left.
Only then did Xiao Jingheng turn his gaze back to Lin Wan'er, his tone polite but distant.
"Thank you for informing me, Miss Lin. However, I have urgent matters to attend to at home and cannot keep you here any longer."
"Someone, escort Miss Lin back to her residence."
Lin Wan'er was surprised that Xiao Jingheng was so calm, and even had the time to send someone to escort her.
She harbored resentment in her heart, but dared not show it. She could only force herself to remain calm and bow, saying, "I hope to find Sister Lingxi as soon as possible. If there is anything you need from Wan'er, please do not hesitate to ask."
Lin Wan'er left the Marquis's residence quickly, and when she reached the gate, she made a point of looking back.
Sooner or later, I'll become the mistress of this place.
...
Meanwhile, outside the city.
Su Xiaoyu was awakened by the jolting of the carriage. Her neck was still throbbing slightly.
She opened her eyes and found herself in a moving carriage, her mouth gagged with a strip of cloth and her hands tied behind her back. Outside the window, it was already dark, and a bright moon hung in the trees.
She was about to go to the window when her knee accidentally bumped into someone. She almost tripped.
Su Xiaoyu looked closely and saw that it was Xiao Lingxi.
She was also tied up, but because she had drunk too much, she hadn't woken up yet.
Su Xiaoyu was extremely anxious and whispered a few times into Xiao Lingxi's ear.
But the other party did not react at all.
Su Xiaoyu got anxious.
They still don't know who kidnapped them, nor do they know where the carriage is going.
Moreover, judging from the unique environment and the occasional chirping of insects nearby, they should have already left the city.
Su Xiaoyu's heart sank!
With Xiao Lingxi still unconscious, she was tied up and unable to do much.
The carriage traveled for a while longer before finally coming to a slow stop.
Su Xiaoyu immediately closed her eyes, adjusted her breathing, and pretended to still be unconscious.
Soon, the carriage curtain was lifted, and a woman's slightly high-pitched voice rang out from outside: "We've brought you the people, all of them top-quality goods, especially the one in brocade, she looks like a young lady from a wealthy family, with delicate skin and tender flesh."
A burly man retorted, "You old woman, you always say it's good stuff, but the last one died in less than two days, what bad luck! If it doesn't work this time either, you can forget about upgrading it in the future!"
"Hey, Mr. Black, don't worry, this time it's definitely different! Just look at the quality..."
The old woman smiled ingratiatingly, "The usual price..."
Behind them were the two of them hushed tones as they bargained.
Su Xiaoyu was horrified!
This is clearly the work of a habitual human trafficker! Were she and the second young lady sold as "goods"?
I never imagined that such a daring thing could happen in the capital, right under the emperor's nose!
Before long, it seemed that the two sides had reached a deal. She and Xiao Lingxi were roughly pulled off the carriage and their eyes were then blindfolded.
Su Xiaoyu could smell the rich, damp scent of grass and trees in the air. Under her feet was a rugged mountain path, and in the distance, she could faintly hear the rough shouts of many men, playing drinking games and the clinking of cups and bowls.
It was even mixed with unrestrained laughter and foul language.
All of this points to one fact: this must be a bandit stronghold outside the city.
Su Xiaoyu was so nervous her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her chest.
She was carried on someone's shoulders, bumped along the way, and finally thrown into a woodshed.
She probably hadn't woken up the whole way, because the person carrying her muttered "bad luck" as they left, then closed the door and walked away.
Su Xiaoyu waited quietly for a while, and only after confirming that there was no more movement outside did she suddenly open her eyes.
Although her eyes were blindfolded, her hearing and sense of smell were amplified to an extreme degree.
She moved her body with difficulty and nudged Xiao Lingxi next to her with her shoulder.
"Second Miss! Second Miss! Wake up! Wake up!"
She called out anxiously, trying to wake Xiao Lingxi. She then rubbed her head against her knees a couple of times, quickly removing the blindfold.
The place was dimly lit, with only a few slivers of moonlight filtering through the window. I could barely make out that it was a small woodshed, with a few old, unused tables, chairs, and benches in the distance.
Without hesitation, she looked around and found a few broken stones, then began to rub the rope in her hands.
Just then, they suddenly heard footsteps approaching.
Su Xiaoyu immediately held her breath in nervousness, unsure whether to continue pretending to faint.
Just then, Xiao Lingxi stirred, probably because her hands and feet were uncomfortable being bound. She rolled around on the ground a couple of times, and then slowly opened her eyes...
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