Chapter 91: Waking You Isn't Meant to Make You Cry

Cheng Ru'an only felt a cold rush instantly crawl from the soles of her feet up to the Heavenly Spirit Cover, and her vision suddenly went black, her voice changed in tone: "Tuan Tuan?! Where's Tuan Tuan?!"

Xiao Ningxun, hearing that, whirled around, their gaze sweeping rapidly over the surroundings; people came and went, shoulder to shoulder, and there was no sign of their sister!

"Mother! Tuan Tuan was just here!" Xiao Ningxun's complexion turned pale in an instant, and their voice trembled uncontrollably.

Grandma Liu hurriedly pushed through the surrounding crowd, shouting: "Little miss! Little miss!"

Just moments ago everyone's attention had been drawn to that scholar, and no one noticed that a living little child had simply vanished!

The midsummer sun shone on her, yet Cheng Ru'an felt a chill spread through her body, as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

Her Tuan Tuan… is lost!

Cheng Ru'an's footing gave way, she staggered a step and nearly fell; Grandma Liu and Xiao Ningxun were quick-eyed and swift-handed, and steadied her with a firm grip.

"Tuan Tuan! My Tuan Tuan!" Her voice was plaintive, lacking any of her usual composure, and she shoved the two aside, darting through the crowd like a madwoman, shouting, "Tuan Tuan! Where are you? Answer your mother at least!"

Xiao Ningxun's face turned ashen, suppressing the huge panic in their heart, and urgently told Grandma Liu: "Quick! Search east and west! Ask the nearby vendors if they've seen anything!"

They themselves caught up with the nearly collapsing mother, searching inch by inch along the way they came.

Approaching each person, they gestured and asked: "Have you seen a girl this tall, dressed in a pink ruqun, with two little braids?"

However, the Book Drying Festival had made the street crowd dense as a weave, and the commotion caused by that scholar earlier had long settled.

The crowd came and went, countless faces flashed by, yet no one noticed how that tiny figure disappeared.

The only response was bewildered shaking of heads and the surrounding noisy hawkers' cries.

Hope, like water poured onto a sand pile, vanished instantly.

Fear and despair completely sapped Cheng Ru'an of strength: "Return to the mansion!" she clutched her son's arm, her voice hoarse, "Quick! Return to the mansion! Find your father!"

The carriage galloped back toward the Prince's Mansion.

As soon as the carriage halted, Cheng Ru'an staggered out, with Xiao Ningxun and Grandma Liu supporting her, their faces equally frantic and grim.

The three rushed into the front hall and immediately saw Xiao Yuanhang and Xiao Ningchen walking from the opposite side corridor.

"Yuanhang! Yuanhang!" Cheng Ru'an, upon seeing her husband, felt her forced strength drain away, tears streaming, she lunged and clutched his arm tightly: "Tuan Tuan… Tuan Tuan is gone! She was on the street, and in the blink of an eye she vanished!"

Xiao Ningchen heard this, and the smile on his face froze instantly.

"What?!" Xiao Ningyuan, who had just come from the back courtyard, happened to hear the words, and as if struck by lightning, rushed forward, "The sister is missing?! Where was she lost? When did this happen?!"

Xiao Ningxun let out a "thud" and fell to his knees, his voice choked and trembling: "Father, elder brother, second brother! It's all my fault… I didn't watch over my sister properly. Just now in front of Hanmo Zhai, we… we helped a scholar, and when we turned our heads, the sister was gone."

"You!" Xiao Ningchen's anger flared instantly, veins bulging at his temples, he grabbed Xiao Ningxun's collar and lifted him up, "How could you watch her! A grown man can't even keep an eye on a child! If the sister were to suffer any harm, I…"

"Enough!" Xiao Yuanhang let out a deep shout, instantly quelling all the chaos.

He steadied his nearly limp wife, his gaze sharply scanning everyone.

The composure forged on the battlefield now made him the calmest person in the household.

At this moment, finding his daughter was his sole objective.

"Xiao Ningyuan, stop, don't turn!" He first calmed the eldest son, who was anxiously spinning like Tuan Tuan in the house, his gaze then fell on the second son, "Xiao Ningchen, let go. This is not the time for retribution."

Xiao Ningchen's chest rose and fell violently, he glared fiercely at the sallow-faced Xiao Ningxun, and let go.

Xiao Ningxun turned and rushed outward: "I'll go find them again!"

"Stop!" Xiao Yuanhang shouted, halting him.

Xiao Ningxun's steps were suddenly nailed to the spot; he turned his head toward his father, his eyes full of tears, but they were forcibly held back by him.

Xiao Yuanhang's voice was swift and clear: "Xun Er, go immediately to Jingzhao Prefecture, report the case in person to Prefect Li Jing, and have him dispatch every constable he can to search the streets for her!"

"Xiao Ningchen, take Xiao Er with you, rally the palace guards, have them all change into plain clothes, and conduct a covert search outside the mansion without making a sound. Jingzhao Prefecture is aware; you must cooperate covertly."

"Focus on searching all alleys and shops around the Nanjie Book Market, interrogate every vendor whether they've seen any suspicious persons or vehicles!"

"I will enter the palace at once, see His Majesty, report this matter, and request an immediate order to seal all exits and entrances of Jingcheng, conduct strict inspections, and not let even a single fly escape!"

Finally, he steadied the trembling Cheng Ru'an, his voice unusually gentle: "An Er, stay in the mansion; don't go anywhere."

"If the villains' aim is the Prince's Mansion or to demand money, they might send a letter to the door; someone must be in charge at home, and I will return as soon as possible."

He glanced again at everyone present: "Everyone, listen. This matter must be kept strictly confidential; not a whisper may reach Old Madam's courtyard!"

"Old Madam is advanced in age and cannot endure such fright; anyone who dares to leak, will face military law punishment!"

"Yes!" Everyone took the order and left.

Xiao Yuanhang finally cast one last glance at his wife's pale face, squeezed her hand, and turned, striding outwards.

Anyone who dares to touch my daughter, Xiao Yuanhang, will be dug three feet into the ground; I will tear these scoundrels to pieces!

Tuan Tuan was jolted awake by a hard impact.

Her body was stiff beneath her, she strained to open her eyes, her little head feeling dizzy, and a strange fishy‑sweet taste lingered in her mouth.

No wonder it hurt so much; who put me on the ground?

"Mother, Third Brother?" she tried to call, but her throat was dry and her voice was unusually weak.

She tried to raise her hand, but found her limbs bound tightly with rough hemp rope, unable to move.

She turned her little head, struggling to look around.

Where is this? It's so dark.

Huh, why is my neck empty? Oh, where is my Longevity Lock, my sachet and embroidered pouch at my waist, and the string of glass beads that Third Brother gave me on my wrist? They're all gone!

The windows had been nailed shut with wooden planks, allowing only a few weak rays of light to filter in, illuminating specks of dust dancing in the air.

She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them again, having adjusted to the light, she realized she was not alone.

Not far away, four or five other girls of similar age lay crookedly, also tightly bound, still unconscious.

Oh no, we've fallen into the villains' hands.

These must be the "paohua" kids from the stories, the ones who specialize in snatching children.

Father and the others must be extremely worried.

We must escape quickly! But our limbs are bound, the embroidered pouch is gone—what can we do?

"Hey! Wake up! Wake up quickly!" Tuan Tuan strained, shaking his tiny body, he lunged to bump the nearest little girl, whispering a call.

"Do you know where this is? How do we get out?"

Finally, the little girl woke up.

She first blinked blankly, then feeling the bonds on her body, she immediately burst into loud sobs: "Mom! Mom! Dad! Where are you? I'm so scared!"

Tuan Tuan was speechless; I shouted to wake you up so we could escape, not to make you cry!

The thin, sharp cries sounded especially grating in the empty room.

A 'click' of a lock being opened came from outside the door.

The wooden door burst open with a bang, a tall thug with a fleshy face stormed in, roaring ferociously at the crying little girl.

"What are you wailing for! Shut up!"

The little girl was so scared by him that she choked, not daring to cry anymore; only her shoulders kept twitching, emitting intermittent sobs, her little face flushed red from holding back.

The tall thug glared viciously around the room at the other few children he had startled awake, now trembling with fear, he muttered curses as he left, relocking the door.