"Since you're not feeling well, Miss Yun, you should go back and rest." Empress Chu looked at Yun Xiyue with disgust and disdain.
They're all seasoned foxes; what's she up to with this ghost story? She's just trying to attract attention. If it weren't for her unborn grandson, she would have been severely punished long ago.
Upon hearing this, Yun Xiyue's expression changed. She bit her red lips tightly, her eyes filled with tears, and she lowered her head, looking pitiful and heartbreaking.
The Empress Chu looked at Yun Xiyue with even more disdain and disgust. She hadn't even entered the door yet, and she was already trying to gain sympathy through scheming. She was bound to be a troublemaker in the future.
Yun Qingran remained completely uninvolved throughout the process. Since Yun Xiyue had already been sent to Southern Chu and entered the Chu Palace openly and legitimately, if she were to commit any wrongdoing in the future, she could simply use the excuse that oranges grown in the south are sweet oranges, while those grown in the north are bitter oranges, to shift the blame and make it none of Bei Yin's business.
Inside the main hall, Empress Chu and Yun Xiyue were locked in a fierce confrontation when a man in armor entered through a side door and beckoned to Eunuch Li.
Eunuch Li immediately went to him, and the two whispered to each other for a while. Eunuch Li's expression changed drastically, and then he returned to the emperor's side, leaned close to the emperor's ear, and covered it with his hand, saying something that was unclear.
The Emperor's expression changed slightly after hearing what Eunuch Li said.
"Father, has something happened?" Nangong Ye asked with concern.
For the first time, Yun Qingran thought Nangong Ye was a complete idiot. The fact that Eunuch Li and the Emperor were whispering the whole time indicated that this matter might not be suitable to be made public. And yet, he just blurted it out, acting like he was so filial and clever. What a moron!
"Xiao Shi is missing," the Emperor said in a deep voice.
After these five words were spoken, the hall erupted in an uproar, with everyone discussing the matter.
"Who is Xiao Shi?" Green Immortal asked Yun Qingran.
"Who is Xiao Shi?" Yun Qingran asked Ying Yu.
“Xiao Shi is the eldest son and only son of Xiao Jie, the richest man in Southern Chu,” Ying Yu replied.
"He's gone, how do we report this to the Emperor of Chu?" Yun Qingran asked, puzzled.
Although the son of the richest man has an extraordinary status, he doesn't seem worthy of alarming the emperor.
“Your Highness, you don’t know, but half of the business in Southern Chu is controlled by the Xiao family. They are deeply rooted in Southern Chu. The Chu Emperor has always been wary of the Xiao family, worried that they might use their vast wealth to betray the country or rebel, but he can’t take action without evidence. So, under the pretext of treating Xiao Shi’s illness, he detained Xiao Shi in the capital.” Ying Yu explained in detail.
"Oh, I see." Yun Qingran nodded, then continued, "What illness does Xiao Shi have?"
“Foolish,” Eagle Feather replied.
"Is it innate or acquired?" Yun Qingran continued to ask.
"The day after tomorrow. It's said that Xiao Shi was kidnapped by a thief when he was a child, and after being rescued, he became mentally impaired. Now he's twenty-one years old, but he still acts like a child," Ying Yu replied.
"Princess Rongchang, I've heard you're intelligent and quick-witted. Why don't you help us find Xiao Shi?" Emperor Chu asked Yun Qingran.
"Yes, it is my duty." Yun Qingran stood up and clasped her hands in response.
"Why did the Emperor of Chu ask you, Master, to help find Xiao Shi?" Green Immortal complained unhappily.
"They probably want to see how strong I am," Yun Qingran guessed.
"Hmm." The Emperor of Chu nodded, then looked at Nangong Xu and said sternly, "Xu'er, you are in charge of Xiao Shi's disappearance. You must find Xiao Shi."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey the decree," Nangong Xu replied, standing up.
Because of Xiao Shi's disappearance, no one was in the mood to continue the banquet, and everyone went home to their own families.
"Ranran." As the banquet ended, Nangong Xu called out to Yun Qingran, who was about to leave.
"Your Highness Xu," Yun Qingran replied politely.
"Where are you going now?" Nangong Xu asked.
"I'm planning to go and take a look at Xiao Shi's residence now," Yun Qingran replied.
“Let’s go together. I also want to go to the Xiao residence,” Nangong Xu suggested.
"Okay," Yun Qingran said, feeling embarrassed to refuse.
The group arrived at the gate of the Xiao residence. Yun Qingran dismounted and looked at the Xiao residence in front of her.
The Xiao residence wasn't large. On the way there, I inquired and learned that Xiao Shi's residence was just a small courtyard with three courtyards. Apparently, a fortune teller said that living in a small courtyard would be beneficial for Xiao Shi's recovery.
Although the Xiao residence was not large, it was luxurious in every way, with ironwood gates and gold door studs; the word "luxury" simply couldn't describe it.
"Greetings, Your Highness Xu and Princess Rongchang." A man who looked like a general ran forward and bowed respectfully to the two of them.
"General Zhou, what's going on?" Nangong Xu asked him.
“This morning, Young Master Xiao went out for a stroll as usual and returned around noon. After lunch, he took a nap. He never allows anyone to be in his room while he naps, so we didn’t stand guard outside. He slept until evening and still hadn’t woken up. When we pushed the door open, the room was empty. We searched the whole mansion but couldn’t find him anywhere.” General Zhou finished speaking and sighed slightly.
"Could they have been kidnapped from the roof?" Nangong Xu asked.
"No, we have seven highly skilled martial artists on the roof. They didn't see anyone approach the roof, let alone take away a living young master like Xiao." General Zhou was certain that the person did not leave from the roof.
"Could it be that someone dug a tunnel and took Young Master Xiao away from underground?" Yun Qingran wondered. If it wasn't from the sky, then it must have been from underground.
“Princess Rongchang, you may not know this, but the foundation of the Xiao residence’s walls is extremely deep, making it impossible for someone to dig a tunnel in from the outside,” General Zhou also denied.
"It didn't come from the sky, nor from the ground. Could it be that Xiao Shi can turn invisible? Did he disappear into the shadows?" Yun Qingran found it hard to believe.
Nangong Xu and General Zhou looked at her, they also wanted to ask the same question. Otherwise, how could a living person simply vanish into thin air?
"Seal off the Xiao residence. Do not allow anyone to enter or leave, and not even any items," Nangong Xu said.
"Your Highness, rest assured, I gave the order long ago," General Zhou replied.
"Okay. Take us inside and have a look," Nangong Xu said.
"Yes." General Zhou stepped aside. "Your Highness, Princess Rongchang, please."
The three of them passed through numerous checkpoints and entered the Xiao residence, which was heavily guarded with checkpoints every three steps and sentries every five steps.
"Is it like this all the time?" Yun Qingran asked General Zhou.
“The guards are always on guard like this. After all, Young Master Xiao’s identity is special, so we dare not let our guard down,” General Zhou said.
The defenses are too tight; there's absolutely no way a fool could escape. It's also unlikely someone would come to their aid or that they'd be captured; at the very least, they'd make a scene.
So how exactly did Xiao Shi disappear?
The three arrived at Xiao Shi's room. Yun Qingran found a ruler and measured the size of the circle outside, then went inside and measured it as well.
The dimensions inside and outside the room are the same, indicating that there is no dark room.
Then Yun Qingran tapped each wooden plank with a bamboo stick, and there was no hollow sound, indicating that there was no tunnel.
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