The winter in Shuojing was getting colder by the day.
It rained at night and the next morning, the ground was covered in a layer of damp coldness. On the tenth day of the tenth month, He Yan got up early.
He Sui and He Yunsheng left before the sun rose. One of them had to go to work and the other had to go to school. He Yan got up after they left and lit a candle. He quietly finished washing up and tiptoed out the door.
Qing Mei was sleeping soundly and it was not yet time to wake up to cook. He Yan knew that Chi Wu was staying in an empty room in the courtyard. He was keeping watch in the first half of the night and resting in the second half of the night. However, this person was very quick-witted and was afraid of being discovered. He Yan used the skills he learned from his previous life in the Vanguard and walked the short distance from the courtyard to the outside.
Xiang Xiang looked at her as if he did not understand her actions. He Yan rubbed the horse's head. He Yunsheng really loved this horse and specially bought a saddle for it. However, he was reluctant to ride it and the saddle was new. However, she was going out of the city today and she was so poor that she did not have the money to rent a carriage. She could only ask Xiang Xiang to give her a ride.
He Yan mounted the horse and galloped out of the city under the hazy light of the winter morning.
When the rooster crowed for the third time, Qing Mei yawned and got up to boil water. The water stove was placed outside the courtyard and the kettle gurgled with steam. It gave off a bit of warmth in the cold morning. She first went to the kitchen and boiled the porridge. Then she went to the courtyard to add water to the stables' water trough.
He Yunsheng loved the horse as much as his life. In the past, he would feed the horse himself. However, he was busy with his studies and left early and returned late every day. He really could not take care of the horse all the time, so he gave this glorious task to Qing Mei. Qing Mei did not dare to neglect and treated Xiang Xiang as the third young master in the residence. She took good care of him.
In the past, when she walked to the "stables," Xiang Xiang would hear her voice and pace back and forth. However, today he was unusually quiet. Qing Mei was a little worried. Was he sick? Recently, the weather had been very cold. Even people could easily catch a cold, let alone horses. Qing Mei walked to the front of the stable and took a look with the lantern in her hand. In a split second, she was stunned. A moment later, she came back to her senses and hurriedly ran towards He Yan's house. As she ran, she shouted, "Young Lady, Young Lady, it's not good! Xiangxiang … Xiangxiang has been stolen … "
The door was pushed open, and Qing Mei's voice stopped abruptly. The room was empty, and there was no one in sight. Her heart was in a state of panic. She looked around but didn't see He Yan's shadow. After staring blankly for a moment, she burst into tears.
"Bang!" The door was opened again, and a man's voice sounded in the courtyard, "What happened?"
Chi Wu rubbed his forehead. He had to admit that the He family was really too poor. Other than the three rooms in the courtyard, there were no other guest rooms. He Sui was an honest person. He wanted to give his room to Chi Wu. He Yunsheng also reluctantly agreed to live in the same room as Chi Wu, but Chi Wu flatly refused. Although he didn't pay attention to his daily life, he didn't want to risk his life to become a bodyguard in someone else's residence to protect the master's safety. He even had to protect the master's main room. In the end, after thinking about it, He Sui could only vacate the innermost room in the courtyard, which was filled with junk.
This room was very small. After removing the junk, there was only enough room for one bed. If Chi Wu wanted to walk, he had to walk sideways. Although he was also a bodyguard in a Xiao family, the treatment was very different. Although the He family had tried their best to provide him with the best conditions, Chi Wu often wished that he could pay out of his own pocket so that the He family could move to a bigger residence.
Last night, he kept watch for the first half of the night and went back to his room to rest in the second half of the night. When he woke up at this moment, he heard this young maidservant crying her heart out, so he got up to ask.
Qing Mei turned around and was shocked to see Chi Wu. Chi Wu was usually quiet in the courtyard. He didn't eat with them and only slept in the junk room at night. He really didn't have much of a presence. Sometimes, Qing Mei almost forgot that he was still in the room. At this moment, when Chi Wu appeared, Qing Mei seemed to have found a life-saving straw. She rushed up and said, "Young Master Chi Wu! Young Miss and Xiang Xiang are missing. They were taken away! "
Chi Wu was speechless.
He said, "I'll go and take a look."
He Yan's bedroom was gaudy. There were fragrant sachets and red curtains hanging everywhere. Chi Wu was shocked. If he didn't have to go in, he wouldn't want to see these things. He didn't expect He Yan to be so pampered under his casual appearance. He had to tell Bai Rongwei about this when he returned. When Bai Rongwei decorated Xiao Jue's room in the future, it would be exactly what He Yan wanted.
He only took a few glances and walked out of the room. Qing Mei followed him. "Young Master Chi Wu, how was it?"
"She wasn't taken away. She left on her own."
"How is that possible?" Qing Mei didn't believe him. "How could Young Miss leave on her own without saying anything? Even if she wanted to leave, she would have told us. Young Master Chi Wu. "She looked at Chi Wu suspiciously." Don't tell me you're afraid that you can't report to Military Governor Xiao, so you're pushing the responsibility to our Young Miss? "
Chi Wu couldn't take it anymore. "Young Miss, look carefully. Before your Young Miss was taken away, she carefully folded the bedding." The bedding was folded using the method used by the new recruits of the Liang Province Guard. It was square, like a square piece of tofu. It was obvious that it was made by He Yan. "May I ask, which assassin would wait for someone to fold the bedding before taking them away?"
Qing Mei: "But …"
"It's one thing to capture someone, but this one has never seen someone capture both a person and a horse."
Qing Mei didn't say anything.
After a while, she seemed to have forgotten all the accusations and suspicions she had for Chi Wu. She asked politely, "Then Young Master Chi Wu, can you think of why Young Miss left without saying goodbye?"
"Forgive this one for not knowing."
Chi Wu was also angry. There was only Qing Mei and him in this courtyard. Looking at Qing Mei's silly appearance, He Yan didn't need to go through so much trouble to sneak out of the fu. Without a doubt, it was to prevent him from following her!
Now that she was gone, if the young master asked about it later, he would definitely be in trouble. He Yan left easily by herself, leaving him a mess of chicken feathers. He already knew that this trip to the He Family wasn't going to be a good one. Sure enough, it was!
"What do we do now? Do we report it to the authorities? "Qing Mei was at a loss. She could only stare at the only person in front of her who could still speak.
Chi Wu said, "No need. I'll go look for her." Since He Yan snuck out, it was very likely that she was doing something she didn't want others to know about. It wouldn't be good to report it to the authorities and blow up the matter.
He had only taken one step when his sleeve was pulled. Chi Wu turned around to look. Qing Mei grabbed him as if she was afraid that he would leave without saying goodbye. "I'll go with you."
"No need."
"I'm the only one in this courtyard. Even Xiang Xiang isn't here." The young maidservant pursed her lips as if she was about to cry. She forced herself to hold it in. "Young Master Chi Wu, I'll go with you to look for her!"
Chi Wu: "…"
He was helpless. "Alright."
He Yan could certainly guess how the family would be turned upside down after he left. However, she also believed that Chi Wu could appease Qing Mei, that crybaby.
She had no other choice. If it wasn't for Mother Qin's good friend, Blacksmith Niu, who only went down the mountain to "Changmao Blacksmith Shop" on the tenth of every month, she wouldn't have thought of this idea. She couldn't let Chi Wu go with her. She could only sneak out. As for other things, she would wait until she found Mother Qin and solved this matter first.
Ever since Xiang Xiang came to the He Family, He Yan had been taking care of her. Occasionally, when he didn't have to go to school, he would take her to the nearby river to run. The little horse ran very fast. He Yan left the city very smoothly. He asked the pedestrians along the way and finally arrived at the market at the foot of the barren mountain.
This place wasn't as lively as the city. There was only one big market in the nearby villages and towns. On the tenth of every month, all kinds of businessmen would set up stalls here. Some were selling herbs, some were selling old clothes, and some were selling cattle and sheep. It was very lively and dazzling.
He Yan led the horse to a shop that sold wine. The shopkeeper smiled and greeted him, "Little Brother, do you want to buy wine?"
He Yan dressed up as a man for convenience. He only smiled and said, "I'm going to make a pair of horseshoes for my horse. I heard that there's a blacksmith shop called 'Changmao Blacksmith Shop' nearby. Shopkeeper, do you know where it is?"
When the shopkeeper heard this, he pointed to a direction for He Yan, "Follow this road and go straight. When you reach the end, look to your right. That's Changmao Blacksmith Shop."
He Yan thanked the shopkeeper and led Xiang Xiang to the end. When he reached the end of the road, he turned around and saw a shop right in front of him. The words "Changmao Blacksmith Shop" were scribbled on the shop.
He Yan tied the horse outside and walked in. There was only a white-haired old blacksmith sitting in front of an iron furnace. He was knocking on a black iron jar.
"Master." He Yan called out to him.
The old blacksmith raised his head and looked at He Yan, asking, "What do you want to make?"
"Sorry," He Yan said, "I'm not here to forge iron. I'm here to inquire about a person called Blacksmith Niu. I heard that he comes here every day on the tenth of every month. Has he already been here today?"
He Yan was not sure. Fu Wang only said that Blacksmith Niu would come every day on the tenth of every month, but he did not say when he would come. With Blacksmith Niu's cautiousness, he must have left after finishing his business. She left the city and came here. It was almost noon. Blacksmith Niu might have already been here and left.
When the old blacksmith heard this, he stopped what he was doing. He stood up and took a handkerchief soaked in water. He wiped the stains on his hands and said, "Old Niu has not come today. However, he's late. This is the first time he's late. "
He Yan asked, "Late?"
"On the tenth of every month, in the morning, he will come here to deliver the goods. Old Niu's craftsmanship is very good. "The old blacksmith said with some emotion," I originally wanted him to come to my shop to help. The monthly salary is much higher than what he would get if he were to work by himself. According to the time, he should be here this morning to hand over the ten iron sickles that I asked him to make last month. However, it's almost noon now. "The old blacksmith looked at the sun outside and said," He hasn't come yet. "
"Maybe he was delayed by something on the way." He Yan said this, but her heart sank. She was afraid that Xu Zhiheng had already found Mother Qin's whereabouts before her. Therefore, she could not see Blacksmith Niu now.
"Old Niu is a reliable person. If there's nothing important, he won't be late." The old blacksmith asked He Yan, "Gongzi, why are you looking for him? Ever since I met him, he has always been alone. Gongzi knows Old Niu? "
He Yan smiled and said, "I don't really know him. I'm looking for him because I want to ask him about some things."
The old blacksmith nodded and pointed to a wooden plank at the side, "Gongzi, please sit here. We'll talk when Old Niu arrives."
He Yan sat down. However, he did not expect that he would sit for an entire day.
The sun gradually set and the sky began to darken. The old blacksmith finished his work for the day. He washed his hands and changed his clothes. He stood up and said to He Yan, "Gongzi, it seems that Old Niu won't be coming today."
"The market is about to end. I'm going to close the shop." He tactfully indicated that it was time for He Yan to leave.
He Yan's heart sank like a piece of Shi Tou. He forced a smile and said, "Okay." However, he was still worried and said to the old blacksmith solemnly, "Master, please don't mention today's matter to anyone. Blacksmith Niu is the same. In a few days, I'll come again."
After the old blacksmith agreed, He Yan led his horse and left.
The people in the market dispersed in twos and threes. There was only a mess left after the bustle during the day. A mother and son from a poor family were bending over to pick up the leftovers. The lanterns in the distance gradually lit up. He Yan led his horse and walked slowly. It was hard for him to be happy.
He originally thought that Fu Wang had found a clue and came here today to find Mother Qin's whereabouts from Blacksmith Niu. However, he did not expect to find anything.
For the past few months, Blacksmith Niu would go to the blacksmith's shop on time every month to deliver the goods. However, he did not come today. He waited from morning to night and disappeared. It was not a matter of time. Either Blacksmith Niu took Mother Qin and moved away again, or he could not come back.
He Yan's eyes darkened.
When he returned home, the house was already in chaos. He Sui was not back yet, and He Yunsheng was preparing to go out. The whole family was noisy. When He Yan led his horse back, Qing Mei was at the door. When she saw He Yan, she thought that she had seen wrongly. She rubbed her eyes and rushed over, shouting, "Miss, you're back!"
He Yan did not have time to speak before He Yunsheng took the lead and put on a punitive look. He said, "Where did you go? You even took Xiang Xiang with you! "
For a moment, He Yan didn't know whether he was concerned about Xiang Xiang or himself. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I just had nothing to do today. I haven't been out these days, so I took Xiang Xiang out for a walk."
"Since you wanted to go out, why didn't you take her with you?" He Yunsheng looked at Chi Wu, who was silent at the side. "You didn't even say goodbye."
"Ah," He Yan pretended to be surprised, "I left a note on the table before I left. Didn't you see it? If you didn't see it, perhaps a swallow flew in from outside and took it away. "
"It's the middle of winter. How could there be a swallow?" He Yunsheng looked coldly at her lying, "Where did you go?"
"I just went out for a walk. I didn't do anything. I saw that it was still early and Chi Wu was not awake yet. I thought that I shouldn't wake him up. Anyway, I'll be back in a while. I didn't expect that I would forget the time as soon as I went out. I'm sorry. I was playful this time. It won't happen again. "He Yan apologized without any sincerity.
Chi Wu: "… …" Was she saying that he was sleeping too soundly?
He Yunsheng was angry, "He Yan!"
"I'm hungry. Did Qing Mei cook?" He Yan touched his stomach. It was true. She had waited in the blacksmith's shop for the whole day and did not leave at all. She was afraid that she would miss Blacksmith Niu at the last moment. She even bought two steamed buns at the door to eat.
"I did, I did." Qing Mei quickly went to the kitchen to bring out the food, "Miss, if you're hungry, eat first. This servant has been heating up the porridge. It's just right to taste it now."
"Thank you." He Yan replied with a smile.
He Yunsheng was angry at He Yan, but there was nothing he could do. He Yan had never been able to control what she wanted to do. For a moment, he was angry and helpless. He could only sit down at the table with He Yan. He picked up the chopsticks and ate without tasting the food.
Chi Wu stood by the door. He was also puzzled. He Yan had been out for the whole day. On this day, he and Qing Mei looked everywhere for He Yan, but they could not find her. He Yunsheng almost went to report it to the authorities. He Yan looked safe and sound, and there were not many flaws in her expression.
But … … where did she go?
In a room in a remote courtyard, a man and a woman sat opposite each other. They were not young anymore. The man's skin was dark, and his face was full of wrinkles. His fingers were dirty, but he was strong and strong. One look and one could tell that he was a man who worked hard. The woman was in her forties. Although her clothes were ordinary and unremarkable, her skin was tender and she looked like a middle-aged woman. She did not look like she had suffered.
The man was in a better state, but the woman looked particularly frightened. Their hands and feet were tied with ropes, and they couldn't move even half a step. Their mouths could still speak, but after calling for a long time, no one came to answer.
"Old Niu, what's going on?" The woman asked. Her voice was full of panic.
This man and woman were Blacksmith Niu and his lover, Mother Qin, whom He Yan was looking for.
Blacksmith Niu shook his head. This man looked dull, but his eyes were sharp. He looked around and said, "Maybe they're from the Xu family."
Upon hearing the two words "Xu Family", Mother Qin's entire body couldn't help but tremble.
She had entered the Xu family with He Wanru. He Wanru was favored, and as a nanny, she also lived a good life. She ate and used much better than when she was in the He family. Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. Ever since He Wanru died, she lived a life of wandering and hiding.
Mother Qin could not help but shudder at the thought of He Wanru's death.
He Wanru was raised by her. Although she was a little arrogant, she trusted her nanny very much. Nanny Qin had reminded He Wanru before that some things were secrets and the fewer people who knew about them, the better. If someone told you the secret without any concealment, it was not because they trusted you, but because you were already a dead person in their eyes.
The dead could keep secrets the best.
She had tried to persuade He Wanru to pack up her belongings and escape with her. Unfortunately, He Wanru did not believe her, so He Wanru died in the Xu family's residence. Before He Wanru died, Mother Qin had predicted her fate. She wrote a letter to her old lover, hoping that Blacksmith Niu could help take care of her family after she died.
Although Blacksmith Niu was a craftsman who did rough work, he had a flexible mind. He also had some feelings for Nanny Qin, so he gave Nanny Qin an idea. He thought that if she died, Nanny Qin's children and grandchildren would still be in danger. It was better to escape. Xu Zhiheng might not dare to do anything to Mother Qin's family because of his misgivings.
When Mother Qin heard this, she felt that Blacksmith Niu's words were reasonable. As for where to escape, it was naturally up to Blacksmith Niu.
For the past year, she and Blacksmith Niu had been hiding in the barren mountains and had indeed lived a peaceful life. But last night, for some reason, a group of strangers suddenly broke into the thatched hut on the mountain and easily subdued them. When they woke up, they were already in this room.
"Old Niu, are we going to die?" Mother Qin asked timidly. "They found us and won't let us live … my grandson … and you. I've implicated you."
Blacksmith Niu said, "Ah Qin, don't be afraid. I don't think they want our lives."
Mother Qin raised her head. "What did you say?"
If there was a chance to live, who would want to die so easily? Mother Qin also did not want to die. When she heard Blacksmith Niu's words, a glimmer of light flashed through her eyes.
"If it was Xu Zhiheng, he would have taken action when he found us. He would not have let us live until now." Blacksmith Niu comforted her. "At least we are not in danger now."
"Then … then you mean that the person who caught us was not Master Xu?" Mother Qin asked in confusion. "Then why did he catch us?"
"I don't know either."
Mother Qin fell silent. Sometimes, the fear of the unknown was the scariest. The other party just left the two of them here and did not ask about them. It was more suspicious than if he had revealed his identity from the beginning.
After an unknown period of time, someone's voice sounded from outside. Mother Qin's spirits rose. She looked expectantly at the closed door.
The door was pushed open and someone walked in. The first to enter were two black-clothed people, a man and a woman. Their expressions did not reveal anything. The last to enter was a young man. He was exceptionally handsome. Based on his clothes, he did not seem to be from an ordinary family.
Mother Qin had served the Xu family for many years. She still had a bit of insight. When she saw the three people, she knew that the handsome young man was the master. She immediately said, "Sir, spare my life. Sir, spare my life!"
However, Blacksmith Niu did not say a word. He only silently sized up the newcomers.
The handsome young man sat down on a chair in the middle of the room. The two black-clothed people stood by his side. His gaze swept past the two of them and finally landed on Mother Qin.
His expression was clearly calm, but it made Mother Qin shiver.
"You are the wet nurse of the Xu family's He Wanru?" that person asked.
Mother Qin's heart sank. She had originally held onto a fluke, but now that this person spoke, she understood that he was here for the Xu family's secret. She said, "Indeed … Sir …"
Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by the other party. The young man said indifferently, "How did He Wanru die?"
"I …"
"If he lies, he will die." He raised his chin slightly and looked in Blacksmith Niu's direction.
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