On the second day after the Imperial Bulletin was posted, Yu Shu waited for a long time before Song Dali, who had been sent to Fenghua Manor to search for Xue Xue, finally returned. However, what followed was another bolt from the blue.
"He's gone!?" In the north wing, Yu Shu's voice rose a few octaves.
"This lowly one rushed to Fenghua Manor two days ago and found out where Sir Xue was staying. I went to find him and saw Sir Xue. I conveyed your message to him word for word. When Sir Xue heard it, he told me to rest at the posthouse and wait for him for a day. Once he was done with his business, he would return to the capital with me. Who would have thought that after I slept for a night, when I woke up the next day, Sir Xue was gone."
Song Dali's back was drenched in sweat and his face was covered in dirt. As soon as he returned to the fu, he was brought to see Yu Shu. He didn't even have time to catch his breath.
"I waited there for another day. On the second day, Sir Xue's disappearance alerted the yamen and officials were sent to search everywhere. His residence, clothes, and luggage were all there. His manservant also didn't run away. He was the only one. I don't know where he went, as if he disappeared into thin air."
After listening to him, Yu Shu felt a little dizzy. Such a big thing happened in the capital and at this critical moment, Xue Rui suddenly disappeared. No matter how she looked at it, she felt that these two things were closely related.
There were only two possibilities for Xue Rui's disappearance. One was that he had quietly hidden himself, and the other was that someone had taken him away.
According to Yu Shu's understanding of Xue Rui, he wouldn't run away without a word. That meant that he had been taken away. Then, who had taken him away?
Yu Shu suspected that it was Ning Wang, but then she felt that it was the Emperor who had secretly done it. No matter how she thought about it, her head was spinning and she couldn't come up with a conclusion.
Song Dali thought that he had messed up his task, but when he saw Yu Shu's expression, he knew that he was in trouble. He stupidly knelt down and asked for forgiveness, "It's all my fault for not doing my job well and not looking after Mr. Xue. Miss, please punish me."
How could Yu Shu be in the mood to blame him? Besides, this matter had nothing to do with him. Xue Rui was not a weak scholar. He stayed in the guest house where the officials stayed, and he was accompanied by imperial guards. Yet, someone was able to capture him without a sound. It could be seen that the culprit was an expert among experts. Song Dali was just an ordinary martial artist, so how could he be a match for him?
The only thing that comforted her was that it was said that there were no signs of fighting at Xue Rui's residence. It could be seen that since the other party had secretly taken him away, it was probably not to kill him.
"This matter has nothing to do with you. You must be tired from running back and forth. Quickly go and rest, there's nothing else for you to do here." Yu Shu waved her hand, letting him leave.
Song Dali let out a breath of relief and took out a heavy bag of money from his bosom, saying, "This is the rest that Miss gave me. There's also Mr. Xue's reward. This lowly one is ashamed to accept it."
Yu Shu's expression softened as she said to him, "Just take what's given to you. Just one thing, when you go back, keep your mouth shut. Don't mention the matter of you going to Fenghua Fu to anyone, not even Zhou Hu."
"This lowly one understands." Song Dali held the bag of money and received a dozen taels of silver for free. Yu Shu did not blame him and happily retreated.
Yu Shu closed the door and started to worry again. Last night, she had divined for Xue Rui's good or bad fortune, but it was an empty hexagram. She could not predict whether it was good or bad and was so worried that her hair had turned white.
But Xue Rui had disappeared for no reason. If this matter was reported to the capital, it would add fuel to the fire.
She originally thought that when Xue Rui returned to the capital, the two of them would sit down and discuss this matter. But now, she was full of worries, but who could she talk to?
***
Princess Fu —
"What? You're saying that Brother Xue is missing?" Jing Chen looked at Yu Shu, who was sitting opposite her, in surprise.
"Yes, he disappeared the day before yesterday. I sent someone to Fenghua Fu to look for him, but after waiting for a night, he mysteriously disappeared." Yu Shu leaned back in her chair, holding a cup of hot medicinal tea.
This was Jing Chen's own recipe for nourishing the mind. There were almost no guests at his place, so he didn't even prepare tea for them. Seeing that she didn't look well, he gave her a cup of the medicinal tea that he had just brewed.
"How?" Jing Chen's eyes were full of doubt, "Did he deliberately hide?"
Yu Shu glared at him and said snappily, "My brother did not do anything wrong, why would he hide? He must have been caught."
Jing Chen tactfully closed his mouth.
However, Yu Shu insisted on making things clear to him. "In the end, you haven't completely recovered that part of your memory. What you see and hear in your dream might not be the truth. Before the truth comes to light, can you not be prejudiced against my elder brother?"
Jing Chen wanted to say that he was not prejudiced against Xue Rui, but he was afraid that she would be deceived by others. However, when he saw her attitude of "I'll fall out with you if you can't do it", he could only nod in agreement in order to make her stay. Then he asked a very practical question,
"What do you want me to do?"
He promised to help Yu Shu. Naturally, he would not let her suffer alone. He owed her and now he could make it up to her.
Yu Shu calmed down and asked him, "Yesterday, the Chief took Xu Li away from the Supreme Judiciary. Do you know where he locked him up?"
"I can go and inquire about it."
Yu Shu continued, "If you want to see the Head Advisor, there's no need to be secretive. Just ask him where he's keeping the person, and ask him if there's any information from the interrogation. This matter started because of you, and you're the victim. No matter how much you care, it won't arouse their suspicions. I think they'll definitely let you see Xu Li to identify the person's face. If possible, go and ask the Head Advisor. It's best if he can let you listen during the interrogation."
Xu Li, who appeared in Jing Chen's dream, became the key at the moment. If the Chief got anything from him, it was likely to bring disaster to the Xue family.
Jing Chen was silent for a while. He was not hesitating, but he was thinking. He looked up and saw Yu Shu's deep eyes. He said helplessly,
"It is feasible, but it is a little difficult. When I deal with the Chief, I am always afraid that I will say something wrong and be seen through by him."
They had already experienced the power of the Grand Insight Technique.
However, Yu Shu was not worried. She was already prepared. She took out an exquisite ball from her bosom and handed it to him. She said, "Wear it closely. No matter what you say in front of the Chief, he will only think that it is the truth."
The hollow jade ball was only the size of a thumb and index finger. Jing Chen took it in his hand and asked curiously, "What is this?"
Yu Shu avoided his eyes, but she did not lie to him. "This is the thing of your father, Yunhua Yi. It is called Zhuge Eye. It is the same as the strange treasure worn by the current emperor. It is cut out from the Seven Stars Ruler, one of the six founding weapons. It can prevent divination and will not be noticed."
Last night, when she went to the Wangji Tower, she spent a lot of effort and spent a lot of effort to 'borrow' it from Xin Laowu.
Hearing this, Jing Chen opened his palm in a daze. He stared at the delicate ball for a while, then he closed his fingers and held it tightly. He looked at Yu Shu again. He did not ask her about the origin of this thing, but he made a request.
"Can you give it to me?"
Yu Shu paused and licked her lips. She saw his pleading eyes and thought of his pitiful life. She could not bear to refuse him.
"If you like it, take it. It is your father's thing. I should have given it to you long ago."
As soon as she said it, she regretted it. With a bitter face, she calculated how much money she would have to spend to deal with the profiteer Xin Li Shan.
Maybe she would have to pay the jar of crystal on the rooftop of Wangji Tower.
"Thank you." Jing Chen thanked her in a low voice. He put the small ball into his close-fitting purse and put it in his bosom. Then, a smile appeared on his calm face for the first time.
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