Meng Qingluan was anxious, so she raised her hand and knocked lightly twice on the academy door. Soon someone opened the door.
The person who opened the door saw that Meng Qingluan was a stranger and asked, "You are...?"
Meng Qingluan asked, "I am Shen Yan's wife. Is he at the academy?"
The person who opened the door shook his head. "Didn't he leave the academy early today? Didn't he go home?"
Meng Qingluan didn't want Shen Yan to be criticized, so she forced a smile.
"He must have gone to the clothing store to buy clothes for me. Thank you for your help."
"It's nothing, it's nothing."
The person who opened the door shook their head and closed the door.
Meng Qingluan stood still, looking around, her gaze wandering away from the noise, but she still couldn't see Chen Yan's figure.
"Young lady, are you looking for your husband?" a voice came from behind.
Meng Qingluan turned her head and saw the gate opposite the academy being pushed open, with the old woman standing at the door holding a basin of water.
Upon hearing this, Meng Qingluan quickly stepped forward, "How did you know?"
The old woman explained, "Hey! Who doesn't know that your husband topped the list twice? And you two are both so handsome, it would be hard for me not to know."
Meng Qingluan responded and quickly asked, "Have you seen my husband today?"
“Master Shen walked out from the alley entrance,” the old woman said in a low voice, “but I saw Young Master Zhu’s men following behind him…”
Meng Qingluan suddenly realized that Shen Yan had been kidnapped by Young Master Zhu.
How dare he?
Meng Qingluan thanked the old woman and ran towards Young Master Zhu's residence.
…
The Zhu family was easy to find, and Meng Qingluan quickly located them in the south of the city.
Lanterns had already been hung at the entrance of the Zhu residence, and two servants standing at the gate were chatting idly.
Meng Qingluan hid behind the wall, knowing that she couldn't break through the main gate.
With patience, Meng Qingluan circled the Zhu residence and observed it before finally stopping at the back wall.
The back wall is not high. There is a large stone outside the wall that you can step on, and inside the wall there is a large tree that has lost all its leaves.
Meng Qingluan took a deep breath, rolled up her sleeves, and prepared to climb the tree.
She grew up in a compound and was one of the most mischievous kids, adept at climbing trees and playing in the mud.
Meng Qingluan stepped onto the stone, climbed up the backyard wall in three quick steps, and slowly slid down onto the tree branches.
The Zhu family's backyard was very large, and all the doors to the rooms were closed.
Meng Qingluan was somewhat worried and dared not make any rash moves. She hid behind a tree, only peeking out to look around.
The backyard is mostly guest rooms, and it's pitch black at night with no lights on.
Meng Qingluan saw a room with a light on and, thinking she might take a gamble, sneaked up to the door.
With a push, the door creaked open.
"Why is it you?"
When Meng Qingluan saw the person sitting inside, the disappointment in her heart was like the mountains under dense clouds, where the sun never shines.
Young Master Yu had already heard the footsteps outside the house, and when he turned around, he met Meng Qingluan's delighted eyes.
However, before he could fully see the light in his eyes, it instantly dimmed and went dark.
Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, Young Master Yu stood up, not expecting her to appear here.
What are you doing here?
"Don't ask so many questions, let me take you out first."
Meng Qingluan was in a hurry to find Shen Yan, so she didn't have time to explain much to him.
They assumed he had also been kidnapped by Young Master Zhu, grabbed his hand, and dragged him away.
His wrist was grabbed, and the contact between their skin immediately sent shivers down his spine.
He thought he would instinctively push her away, but to his surprise, he had no other reaction except for discomfort.
Young Master Yu's eyes darkened, and he momentarily forgot to struggle.
"Alright, you can climb out yourself now."
Just then, Meng Qingluan led him to the wall in the backyard.
Young Master Yu looked up at the courtyard wall. "You climbed over the wall to get in?"
Meng Qingluan nodded, then hesitated and asked, "You don't know how to climb over the wall, do you?"
Young Master Yu: "..."
Even if he would, he would never do something so undignified.
Young Master Yu turned around with a cold face and was about to walk back.
Meng Qingluan called out to him.
Young Master Yu stopped in his tracks, but did not turn around; his ears, however, perked up involuntarily.
Sure enough, she still wanted to please him.
Meng Qingluan tentatively asked, "Imperial Jade Liquor?"
Young Master Yu: "..."?
Seeing that he didn't answer, Meng Qingluan was somewhat disappointed, but she didn't give up and continued to use the code.
How's this wine?
Young Master Yu finally couldn't take it anymore and stared at her with a strange look. "What are you talking about?"
Seeing his expression, Meng Qingluan realized that he was genuinely confused without any pretense, and she was utterly disappointed.
So, Young Master Yu really is Young Master Yu; he's not An An…
Despite his disappointment, Meng Qingluan still kindly advised him, "Young Master Zhu is not a good person. You'd better climb over the wall and escape quickly."
"..."
Before Young Master Yu could even speak, Meng Qingluan had already run back to the backyard.
Young Master Yu belatedly raised his arm, and even though he had only gripped it for a short while, he still felt an unusually burning heat in his wrist…
After realizing what he was thinking, he immediately frowned and cleared his mind of the distracting thoughts.
…
The candlelight in the backyard was dim, and Meng Qingluan kept her head down the whole time.
Others simply assumed she was a new maid who had just entered the household, and she did not arouse any suspicion.
Meng Qingluan circled the backyard but didn't see a trace of Chen Yan. She then carefully made her way to the front yard.
Young Master Zhu is so bold! He actually dared to hide someone in the front yard?
As Meng Qingluan walked, she came to the entrance of a courtyard where several servants were chatting idly.
"Ha, young master is truly audacious, daring to kidnap a grown man!"
"He's just some bastard from Nanfeng Pavilion, always acting all high and mighty. Let's see if he can still be arrogant after today."
"That male prostitute has a wife, why not kidnap them both and have them serve you, young master..."
Their words became increasingly vulgar and offensive.
Meng Qingluan was trembling with anger, but at least she was certain that Shen Yan was indeed hidden in this courtyard.
As Meng Qingluan was pondering how to get into the courtyard to rescue Chen Yan, the servants guarding the gate had already noticed her.
"Hey! Are you the girl who was just sold here?"
Meng Qingluan lowered her head.
The servant raised his voice and ordered Meng Qingluan, "I'm talking to you, come here."
Meng Qingluan lowered her head slightly, making sure they couldn't see her face, and walked up to them.
The servants didn't take her timid and hesitant manner seriously, assuming she was just shy since she had just entered the mansion.
One of the servants asked, "What's your name?"
"Spring Flower," Meng Qingluan casually picked out a name.
"Oh," the servant said without paying much attention, "someone who does odd jobs in the kitchen?"
Meng Qingluan nodded.
"Why are you asking so many questions?" Another servant, growing impatient, ordered Meng Qingluan, "Go to the backyard and fetch hot water. The young master will be resting here tonight."
Meng Qingluan's heart skipped a beat; she knew her chance had come, and she quickly nodded in agreement.
A servant handed Meng Qingluan a plaque, which she took to the kitchen.
The people in the kitchen had already received the news and had prepared hot water in the pot in advance.
Meng Qingluan handed them the sign, and soon someone poured hot water into the basin.
Meng Qingluan stared at the overflowing water in the basin, pondering how the two of them could escape.
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