He disappeared
The noise woke Jiang Jin. When she opened her eyes, she saw Wei Shu sitting by the bed, wiping her hands.
"You're awake." Wei Shu helped Jiang Jin lean against the couch. "I've asked the kitchen to keep some porridge warm for you. Would you like some?"
"Where is Ziyuan, and where is Sanfeng's body!" Ignoring Wei Shu's attempts to stop her, Jiang Jin jumped off the bed and stared blankly at the sandalwood coffin in the hall.
"Umbrella Wind?" Jiang Jin stepped forward and saw that Umbrella Wind inside had changed into clean clothes, just like when she first saw it after the snow disaster.
"Sweet cake, yes, sweet cake!" Jiang Jin rushed to the kitchen like a madwoman and started making sweet cakes by herself. Tears dripped into the flour. Jiang Jin forced herself not to think about anything else.
The steaming hot sugar cake came out of the oven, and Jiang Jin carefully placed it before the altar, saying, "If only I had made it for you when I left that day."
Jiang Jin knelt on the cushion, looking at the memorial tablet and coffin, and murmured, "Sanfeng, if you reincarnate slowly, things might be different in the future." Jiang Jin knelt before the memorial tablet, burning yellow paper in the brazier.
"Madam." Zhou Liao stood behind Jiang Jin, who closed her eyes. "What is it?"
"Our men found Lady Ziyuan's dagger there." Lying in Zhou Liao's palm was indeed Lady Ziyuan's dagger.
"Where's Zhou Cong?" Jiang Jin felt her body trembling slightly, but she still tried her best to steady herself.
"He's been tirelessly searching for Ziyuan." What Zhou Liao didn't say was that Zhou Cong seemed to have become tireless, his mind solely focused on finding Ziyuan.
“Let him come to my room. Wei Shu and I have something to ask him. Don’t disturb Sanfeng in front of the coffin.”
Jiang Jin opened her eyes, supported herself on the ground, and slowly got up, walking step by step towards the house. Wei Shu, who had been waiting inside, saw Jiang Jin's absent-minded appearance and quickly hugged her.
"It's alright, it's alright." Wei Shu helped Jiang Jin sit down on a stool, picked up a porcelain bowl and blew on the hot porridge inside. "Eat some, if you get sick, Shan Feng and Zi Yuan will feel unwell too."
"Wei Shu," Jiang Jin murmured, looking at the porcelain bowl, "Do you think something might have happened to Zi Yuan? Who would kidnap her? Those people are clearly too busy to care about Zi Yuan, so how would they know about her? Are they after me...?" Jiang Jin spoke very quickly, but Wei Shu understood what she meant.
"Ah Jin, it's actually a good thing that we haven't found anything yet. It means that the mastermind didn't intend to kill, and that Zi Yuan still has value. What we need to figure out now is why Zi Yuan disappeared under the protection of several people."
"Oh right, there are also Yi Er and Yi San, I almost forgot about them." Jiang Jin quickly called out the two of them, "You two were with Zi Yuan, quickly tell me what happened back then?"
Yi Er knew it was his and Yi San's oversight, so he kept in contact with the capital to see if there was any trace of Zi Yuan.
"At the time, Lady Ziyuan said she was going to the lakeside, and Xiaotong wanted to go with her, but she refused. Lady Ziyuan said that Yisan would accompany Xiaotong, and I thought that with Zhou Cong and me there, nothing serious would happen, so I didn't stop her." Jiang Jin nodded. Although she didn't know why Ziyuan didn't want to go with Xiaotong, Yisan's account was correct.
"Later, Zhou Cong accompanied the lady to the lakeside, while I stayed behind to discuss the attack with the Imperial Guards. A little while later, Zhou Cong rushed over and said that Ziyuan had accidentally gotten her clothes wet. He came to get clean clothes, but when he returned to the lakeside, Lady Ziyuan had disappeared." Jiang Jin looked into Yi Er's eyes and asked, "Did you offer to stay with Ziyuan at that time?"
"Of course, Madam instructed us to guard Ziyuan, but since Madam wants Zhou Cong to accompany her, we don't want to disturb them." Yi Er finished speaking and glanced at Jiang Jin's expression.
"Madam, Zhou Cong has arrived." Zhou Liao's voice came from outside. Wei Shu said in a deep voice, "Come in."
Zhou Cong walked in with his head down. Jiang Jin didn't recognize him at first; he looked exhausted and as if he had aged more than ten years.
"Madam, please punish me. It was my negligence that led to Lady Ziyuan's disappearance." Zhou Cong knelt on the ground, feeling Jiang Jin's gaze.
"Tell me what happened when you accompanied Ziyuan to the lakeside," Jiang Jin asked, her expression neither sad nor happy.
"When Ziyuan and I arrived at the lake, she said there seemed to be a koi fish in it. I didn't believe her, so she dragged me closer to the edge. There was moss there, and she accidentally fell into the water. After I pulled her ashore, I found she was soaking wet. I wanted to put a cloak on her and take her back, but she said it was inappropriate and told me to go back and get some clean clothes." Zhou Cong finished recounting the situation in one breath. He didn't hear Jiang Jin's response and didn't dare to look up.
"Yi Er, tell me, what's wrong with this?" After listening, Jiang Jin understood that perhaps this was all part of Zi Yuan's plan.
“Lady Ziyuan is afraid of water, so it’s impossible for her to approach the lake just to see koi. Besides, she’s not the kind of person who would care about being unseemly.” Yi Er noticed the thoughtful look in Jiang Jin’s eyes as he looked at her.
"Then what?" Zhou Cong finally dared to raise his head and look at Jiang Jin.
"If Ziyuan were like this, what would you do?" Jiang Jin asked Yi Er, but her eyes remained fixed on Zhou Cong.
"Of course, we'll bring Ziyuan back!" Yi Er wasn't going to leave Ziyuan by the lake because of the separation of men and women, nor was he the type to be fooled by such petty tricks.
"So, the reason Yi San was sent away first was because he's a bodyguard and doesn't know her well, so he wouldn't show her any mercy. Yi Er saw that she was with Zhou Cong but wouldn't disturb her. Zhou Cong, no matter what, isn't a proper bodyguard, so he'd naturally be mindful of the proper conduct between men and women. That's why he left her alone by the lake." Jiang Jin analyzed Zi Yuan's thoughts.
"Could it be that Lady Ziyuan left on purpose?" Yi Er looked at Jiang Jin with some uncertainty.
“If she left on purpose, she wouldn’t have left behind her most treasured little knife.” Jiang Jin knew Zi Yuan’s personality; that knife was her most reliable weapon, and she would never discard it unless absolutely necessary.
"Then why?" Yi Er was also a little confused. "Zhou Cong, you spent the most time with Zi Yuan, did she do anything strange?"
Jiang Jin's gaze returned to Zhou Cong, who shook his head but then nodded as if he had thought of something.
"It seems Ziyuan received a note, but because she's Madam's person, I didn't pay much attention to its contents," Zhou Cong said with some regret. If he had been more forceful back then, perhaps Ziyuan wouldn't have disappeared.
"A note?" Jiang Jin's fingers gradually tightened, and Wei Shu noticed that he was holding her hand.
"The root of the problem must lie in this note." Yi Er knew that for Zi Yuan to take such a big risk, sending everyone away to the lakeside alone, the note must involve Jiang Jin, Zhai Wan, or Lou Xuan; otherwise, Zi Yuan would never have taken such a risk.
"I understand. Yi Er and Yi San, come out with me." Jiang Jin, with a stern face, led the two back to Zi Yuan's room.
"These are the pills I left behind. Have A-Wan see what's inside. Also, send these two pieces of paper over with them." Jiang Jin stood in front of the table and silently recited the medicinal herbs she had memorized.
"Yi San, you must personally hand him over to A Wan. There can be no mistakes," Jiang Jin instructed Yi San in a deep voice.
"Don't worry, my lady, I'll leave now." Jiang Jin stopped Yi San from leaving.
"I feel like we're being watched if we leave at night." Jiang Jin suspected that Zi Yuan's disappearance was related to him.
"Okay." Yi Er advised, looking at Jiang Jin's pale face, "My wife has just woken up and shouldn't be so tired."
"I know what I'm doing. I'll go keep vigil for Sanfeng." Jiang Jin waved her hand to stop Yi Er's attempts to dissuade her, and left the house somewhat forlornly. The mourning hall was empty; Jiang Jin remained kneeling on the prayer mat, burning paper money for Sanfeng.
As the golden light of dusk fell upon the coffin, Jiang Jin squinted and closed the hall door. "Sanfeng doesn't like sunlight, don't disturb her any further."
“Ah Jin, it’s me.” Wei Shu’s voice came from outside the door. “I’ve had some snacks made. You need to write to have the strength to keep vigil.”
Jiang Jin hesitated for a moment, then got up and opened the door. Wei Shu, carrying a food box, looked at Jiang Jin hopefully.
"I'll eat. A-Shu, I want to be alone with Sanfeng for a while." Jiang Jin forced a smile, not wanting Wei Shu to worry.
"Alright, I won't disturb you." Wei Shu stood outside the door watching Jiang Jin slowly close the hall door. Jiang Jin, holding the food box, looked at the coffin inside as if she could see the umbrella and the wind smiling at her.
"Would you like me to eat something too?" The candle suddenly flickered, and Jiang Jin's heart skipped a beat. She looked around; the windows in the hall were tightly closed, preventing any draft from getting in.
"Sanfeng, is that you?" Jiang Jin called out Sanfeng's name repeatedly as if grasping at a straw, but the candle in front of her remained motionless.
"It's alright, I'm glad you're here." Jiang Jin stopped insisting, knelt on the prayer mat, opened the food box, and stuffed the pastries into her mouth.
Around midnight, there was a sudden commotion outside the hall. Jiang Jin withdrew the paper from her hand and quietly walked to the entrance. She abruptly opened the door, and Wei Shu, caught off guard, nearly fell to the ground.
"What are you doing here?" Jiang Jin saw Wei Shu outside and immediately realized that Wei Shu had been keeping her company. "You've been keeping me company the whole time?"
"I know you want some peace and quiet, but I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it, so I wanted to stay outside with you." Wei Shu raised his hand and tucked a stray strand of Jiang Jin's hair behind her ear.
"I'm fine. I'll go back after the sun rises. You go back now." Jiang Jin hugged Wei Shu and nestled in his arms, revealing a hint of vulnerability. "Wei Shu, you have to take good care of yourself and don't leave me."
"Don't worry, I will never leave you alone no matter what." Wei Shu gently patted Jiang Jin's back. "I'll wait for you in the room."
Wei Shu carefully wiped away Jiang Jin's tears. "Don't be afraid. I've already sent people to secretly look for Zi Yuan. I believe the person behind this won't harm her."
"Okay." Jiang Jin took a few deep breaths and stepped out of Wei Shu's embrace. "I'm going in. You should go back early too. The pastries were delicious." Jiang Jin closed the hall door again, and just as she was about to put on new candles, she heard a soft knock on the door.
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