Chapter 104: Search 3: Chunhuayuan's mistress is gone
When Xie Wuhen arrived at the Li family's house, Li Taian was helping Li Mingze learn to read in the side courtyard.
Hearing that his son-in-law was coming, he hurriedly changed into appropriate clothes and rushed to the front hall.
The future of his young child at home might depend on this son-in-law, so he naturally has to be careful to build a good relationship with him.
Less than half a minute later, Li Taian arrived at the front hall, a smile on his face. "I didn't expect Wuhen to come so suddenly." He glanced outside the room and said, "Are you alone?"
Under normal circumstances, the son-in-law should come back with his daughter.
Xie Wuhen replied: "Yes, only my son-in-law."
"It's okay for you to come back alone. Ever since Ye'er passed away, your mother-in-law has gone mad and has become a complete lunatic. I'm sure Shuli wouldn't want to see such a situation at home." Li Taian sighed, then smiled brightly. "Fortunately, Mingze is naturally intelligent. He can recognize quite a few Chinese characters at such a young age."
Xie Wuhen had no intention of chatting with him about the young child of the Li family.
He looked a little solemn: "My son-in-law came here today because I have something to say to my father-in-law."
Li Taian pretended to listen attentively: "Wuhen, please tell me what you want to say."
Xie Wuhen said in a deep voice, "To be honest, I thought my wife had gone back to her parents' home, so I came to take her back home. But from the tone of my father-in-law, it seems that she didn't come at all."
He knew that it was impossible for her to return to the Li family.
After all, her last name is Su, and she has no connection with the Li family. It is impossible for her to have any connection with the Li family when she escaped.
But her identity was something only she and he knew, and Li Taian couldn't know about it, so she had to make a feint like this.
Li Taian was confused: "Shuli really hasn't been here, what happened to her? Where did she go?"
Xie Wuhen replied, "Yesterday, my wife and I had a disagreement over some trivial matter at home. In a fit of rage, she ran away from home. Now, my husband is searching everywhere for her."
Li Taian slapped his thigh in anger. "Why is this woman so troublesome? She's clearly the mistress of a household, yet she acts so recklessly. It's all my fault for spoiling her too much. Wuhen, don't be angry, and don't worry. She might come back on her own in a couple of days."
Li Taian did not investigate the reason in detail, nor did he care about where his daughter went.
Xie Wuhen suddenly felt disgusted with the Li family and his father Li Taian from the bottom of his heart.
But it’s better this way, it makes it convenient for him to do things.
He replied, "I have searched several places where Shuli often goes, but have found nothing. So I am going to post a missing person notice. I hope you don't mind, father-in-law."
Posting the poster would involve the Li family, so he naturally had to come and talk to Li Taian.
Li Taian waved his hands quickly: "The great Xie family doesn't mind, so why should my Li family, a small family, mind? As the saying goes, a daughter who is married off is like spilled water. Since she has become a wife of the Xie family, she is a member of the Xie family. Everything is up to Wuhen to decide."
Xie Wuhen didn't want to say anything more to him, so he said "Thank you, father-in-law" and left.
As soon as he returned home, he went into his study and wrote a missing person poster, which read as follows:
My dear wife Shuli, I know you have a deep resentment towards me, so you have not heard from me for two days since leaving home. I am filled with remorse and helpless. If you can come back as soon as possible, I will turn over a new leaf and change my ways.
Another line read: Anyone who can provide effective clues about my wife will be rewarded with 10,000 taels of silver.
At the same time, a brief portrait of Su He and an introduction to her identity were drawn next to it.
The poster was signed by Xie Wuhen, Shaoqing of the Dali Temple.
He instructed Wu Sheng, "Take this poster to a bookshop and have it printed in thousands of copies. Have our spies post it in the streets and alleys of the capital, as well as in the prefectures of Liang State."
Wu Sheng was a little surprised: "Boss, do you really want to make such a big fuss?"
Once this poster is released, all the people in Liang will know that the young lady of the Xie family has run away. How will the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple save his dignity then?
Xie Wuhen said without hesitation: "Don't talk nonsense, just do as you are told."
Wu Sheng replied "Yes" and left the house with the poster.
As soon as Wu Sheng left, Nanny Han arrived and said, "Master, the old lady wants to see you."
Xie Wuhen said "hmm" and walked out of the house.
In the main courtyard.
Xu Nanzhi was resting on the couch.
Erlang stood barefoot in front of the couch, picking his fingers quickly and muttering "Not here yet, not here yet" to himself. He stopped talking abruptly until Xie Wuhen appeared at the door.
Xie Wuhen entered the room, bowed, and asked directly, "Why did mother call me?"
Xu Nanzhi didn't beat around the bush: "I heard Shuli is missing?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Erlang also started crying, crying and shouting: "I want my sister-in-law, I want my sister-in-law, brother, go find my sister-in-law... go find her..."
Xie Wuhen was a little annoyed and gave Erlang a cold look.
Erlang was so frightened that his body tensed up and he quickly shut his mouth, but he was still crying.
Xie Wuhen replied, "Mother already knew what happened last night. She's quite well-informed."
Xu Nanzhi sighed helplessly: "We live in the same house, and you are indifferent to me, but I can't just ignore you."
Then he glanced at his son's haggard face and asked, "Did you...stay awake all night?"
He answered irrelevantly: "I will take care of my own affairs, mother, don't worry too much. As for Shuli, I will find her as soon as possible."
Xu Nanzhi asked, "Why did Shuli disappear?"
He said with a straight face: "Son, I have no comment."
He added, "If there is nothing else, I will take my leave first." After saying that, he turned around and left.
Xu Nanzhi was so angry that she beat her chest and stamped her feet: "This bastard, he never treated me as his mother, he treated me as his enemy."
Xie Erlang burst into tears again: "I want my sister-in-law... I want my sister-in-law..."
Nanny Han hurriedly comforted him: "Don't worry, Erlang, your brother will find your sister-in-law soon. Don't cry, Erlang."
He then comforted Xu Nanzhi: "You have finally managed to get your body back in better shape, but please don't get sick from anger again. The young master has his own arrangements, so you should just relax."
Xu Nanzhi sighed deeply and remained silent for a long time.
As Xie Wuhen walked out of the main courtyard gate, he saw Ah Si running out from behind him and called out "son-in-law".
He glanced at him and asked, "What's the matter?"
Ah Si asked, "Where on earth did the Madam go?"
He asked in return, "You are loyal to your wife, so maybe your wife didn't tell you where she was going?"
Ah Si shook his head dejectedly.
Xie Wuhen's tone grew colder. "So, you instigated Erlang to tell the old lady about this?"
As soon as he entered the main courtyard, he saw Ah Si cowering at the back door, and he understood instantly.
Ah Si hunched his shoulders and said, "I'm worried about Madam's safety, but I don't dare to ask the uncle directly, so I have to... I have to go find the Second Young Master..."
Xie Wuhen was too lazy to argue with him: "Next time if you have any questions, just come and ask me directly." After saying that, he strode forward.
Ah Si looked at his back and replied timidly, "Yes."
The missing person poster was posted at dusk that day, and it immediately caused an uproar among the crowd.
Everyone in the teahouses, taverns, painted boats and theaters was discussing this matter.
"I wonder what kind of injustice the Xie family's young mistress must have suffered to have the audacity to run away from home. Where can a decent woman run to?"
"The Shaoqing is quite generous in offering a reward of 10,000 taels. Why don't we help him look for it? We might be able to make a fortune."
"Come on, you can't even find the young master, and you think you can do that? In my opinion, the young lady of the Xie family might have a wild man outside."
"The Xie family has also suffered misfortune. Xie Jin was born in the second branch, and now the young lady of the first branch has run away. I heard that the cousin of the third branch who committed adultery was also murdered."
…
Even Liu Qinian, the Minister of Justice, was surprised when he saw the poster. He smiled wickedly, "It seems Wuhen's leave of absence wasn't due to illness, but because he lost his wife."
He then ordered the officer, "Go to Xie's residence and ask Master Xie if he needs any help. After all, only when his personal affairs are taken care of can he concentrate on carrying out his duties for the Emperor."
The officer should say "yes" and turn away.
Xie Wuhen couldn't refuse Liu Qinian's kindness, so he symbolically accepted some people and then waited for news in his mansion.
He was not waiting for news about the officers' search, he was waiting for news of Su He's return.
He felt that as long as Su He saw the missing person poster, she would definitely come back on her own.
He had told her clearly in the poster that he didn't care about her deception or lies, and as long as she could come back, he and she could still be husband and wife like before.
After all, she has no relatives or friends and nowhere to rely on, so he is her greatest support.
He didn't even dare to sleep or turn off the lights. He always felt that she would choose to come back quietly at night. What if he fell asleep and didn't notice her coming back? What if she changed her mind and left again? Wouldn't he regret it for the rest of his life?
But several days passed and Su He did not come back.
Without its hostess, Chunhuayuan was empty, like an ice kiln.
His face became increasingly haggard and pale, and he even had stubble growing on his chin.
He wondered, how could she be so heartless? Was everything before fake?
His heart was overflowing with sadness and resentment.
One day, Wu Sheng hurriedly came to report: "Boss, someone spotted the young lady near the plum forest on the west mountain."
Isn’t Xishan Meilin the place where they first met?
Xie Wuhen was shocked and immediately rode his horse to the West Mountain.
At this time, the plum forest had been surrounded by police officers, and there were many people watching at the entrance of the plum forest. The suspicious woman was being controlled by two police officers under a plum tree.
Xie Wuhen walked closer and took a quick glance before he knew it wasn't her.
Although the figure is somewhat similar, it is not her.
He suppressed the frustration and anger in his chest and said, "Let him go."
He didn't even bother to say a word to the woman.
Wu Sheng was also a little discouraged. He waved his hand impatiently at the officer and said, "You've got the wrong guy. Let him go."
The woman was confused and bowed to Xie Wuhen tremblingly before hurriedly leaving.
Another day, Wu Sheng came to report: "Boss, news just came from Wu County that someone saw the young lady over there."
Wu County is about three days' journey from the capital.
Without a second thought, Xie Wuhen stood up and walked out of the house, saying as he walked, "Prepare the horses and go to Wu County."
He traveled for three days without sleep, and his horse was exhausted. Finally, he arrived at Lai Fu Inn in Wu County.
At this time, there were spies guarding the inn.
The spy bowed to Xie Wuhen and said, "Sir, the hostage has been taken into custody in the guest room on the second floor."
He ordered, "Take me there immediately."
The spy replied "yes" and turned to lead the way.
As he walked up the stairs to the second floor, he thought about it several times.
This time, it should be her, right? If she wants to get away from the capital, Wu County is the only way.
And if it really was her, how could he persuade her to return to Beijing?
Xie Wuhen nervously pushed open the wooden door of the guest room...
Light leaked in from the door, and he just raised his eyes slightly, and was once again sure that he had found the wrong person.
The woman did resemble her in temperament, but she was not her.
The huge disappointment suddenly pressed down on him like the collapsing sky, making him breathless for a moment.
He told Wu Sheng in a hoarse voice, "Go back." Then he turned and went downstairs.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
