Chapter 106

The Su family was in chaos; Su Pozi was screaming and cursing, but no one paid her any mind.

The three Su men were searching outside, and nearby neighbors were helping too.

Elder sister Chen Xiaolan didn’t even notice one of her shoes was missing. She sat on the threshold, face filled with helplessness and despair. When she saw Chen Guanlou, she burst into loud sobs.

“Yaya is gone. I saw her playing with other little girls this afternoon. She wasn’t there at dinner. I’ve searched everywhere—she’s nowhere to be found. Yaya must’ve been snatched by a child trafficker. What am I going to do? It’s all my fault. I should’ve watched her closer. It’s all my fault. I’m a terrible mother—I lost Yaya.”

Chen Guanlou embraced his elder sister. “Sister, don’t cry. Even if Yaya really was taken by a trafficker, I swear I’ll bring her back.”

“Really? Two years ago, a child from the next neighborhood—a little girl—went missing too, and they never found her. Xiao Lou, what if I can’t find Yaya? How can I go on without her?”

“You’ll live. Everyone will live. Don’t panic. I’ll handle this. We’re certain she went missing at dinnertime—that means she’s likely still inside the city. As long as she’s within the city, there’s hope. Even if she’s left the city, I’ll find her, no matter where she is. Deal?”

“My father-in-law also said she probably hasn’t left the city yet. He’s already sent word to all the city gates—everyone must watch for unfamiliar faces leaving these days.”

“There are Su family members at the gates. I’ll handle the yamen—I’ll get Yaya back, I promise.”

After calming his elder sister and learning exactly what clothes Yaya was wearing when she disappeared, Chen Guanlou left the Su residence and arranged for prison guards to help search. He took full responsibility for all expenses.

Lu Datou hurried over to the Su house. “Your sister’s child really went missing? Don’t panic—your father-in-law works at the city gate. At this hour, traffickers can’t have gotten out yet. Come on, I’ll take you to see someone. No one in the capital knows more about traffickers than him.”

“Thank you! Right now, I’m counting on you.”

“We’re brothers—no need to thank me. When Yaya’s found, you buy me drinks at Zui Xiang Lou.”

“Deal.”

Without further words, Lu Datou led Chen Guanlou through streets and alleys to the entrance of a gambling den.

Chen Guanlou frowned, glancing at Lu Datou.

Lu Datou whispered, “The manager of this gambling den—you won’t believe his background. He’s a retired eunuch from the palace. Supposedly, even before entering the palace, he mixed with all kinds of underworld types. He was kidnapped as a child and spent over ten years among traffickers. Nothing hidden in the capital escapes his eyes. If you want to find Yaya, and the traffickers are still in the city, asking Old Manager will work.”

“If Old Manager has any leads, I’ll reward him handsomely,” Chen Guanlou promised. Right now, it was a race against time—useful leads were worth more than gold. Whoever helped him find Yaya would be his benefactor.

With that promise, Lu Datou relaxed. He led Chen Guanlou through the back entrance of the gambling den.

“I’m here to see Old Manager.”

“Old Manager doesn’t receive visitors.”

“Come on!” Lu Datou grabbed the gambling den’s enforcer.

At the same time, Chen Guanlou extended his hand—a five-silver-coin ingot slipped into Lu Datou’s palm, who immediately passed it to the enforcer. “We’re old acquaintances. Help us out. My child’s missing—it’s an emergency.”

The enforcer weighed the silver in his hand, satisfied. “Alright. I’ll announce you—since you’re familiar. But I can’t promise Old Manager will see you.”

“Tell Old Manager we’ve lost a three-year-old daughter. If he helps us, we’ll repay him handsomely,” Chen Guanlou added.

The enforcer eyed Chen Guanlou, suspicious.

Lu Datou quickly said, “This is my brother—our lives are bound together. Last time I owed money, it was my brother who paid it for me.”

Paying off a gambler’s debt—truly a bond of life and death.

The enforcer no longer hesitated and went straight upstairs.

After about ten minutes, the enforcer reappeared and gestured for them to come up—Old Manager would see them.

Lu Datou hurried Chen Guanlou upstairs. The wooden stairs creaked underfoot.

“Old Manager’s inside. Go in yourselves.”

“Thank you, young man,” Chen Guanlou said, then pushed open the door.

It was a study-like accounting room, but the bookshelves held not books, but ledgers. Three shelves were packed solid with ledgers—impressively overwhelming.

The room was divided into inner and outer sections, separated by a round carved wooden partition—clearly visible through.

Old Manager sat in the inner room, attended by two delicate-looking maids.

Incense burned in the room—sweet osmanthus fragrance, pleasant to the nose.

Lu Datou moved cautiously forward, bowing deeply. “Greetings, Old Sir. I’m Lu Datou, a guard at the Tianlaomiao. This is my close brother Chen Guanlou—he serves there too.”

“Chen? You mean the Chen from Pingjiang Marquis’s household?”

“Young man Chen Guanlou bows to Old Sir,” Chen Guanlou performed a respectful junior’s bow. “Yes, the Chen from Pingjiang Marquis’s household—but we’ve been out of the five degrees of kinship since the previous generation.”

“I’ve heard of you,” Old Manager said. He was ancient, emaciated, his face lined with wrinkles. He looked like a man with little time left—even in summer, a wool blanket covered his legs.

Yet Chen Guanlou saw clearly: Old Manager was a fourth-rank cultivator, at the peak of fourth rank, on the verge of breaking into fifth rank.

He dared not let his guard slip.

Tonight had been too intense. First, he’d been pressured by two fourth-rank peak cultivators, now he faced a hidden master. The capital was truly full of hidden dragons and tigers—never grow arrogant.

“They say the Tianlaomiao now has a scholar who follows rules strictly. That’s you, isn’t it?”

“Honored Old Sir remembers me? I merely follow Tianlaomiao’s regulations,” Chen Guanlou lowered his gaze slightly, humble and respectful—like a junior to an elder, like a weakling to a strong one.

“People who follow rules these days are rare. Back when I served in the palace, it was only by sticking to rules that I lived to this age. You’re impressive.”

“Old Sir flatters me,” Chen Guanlou opened his mouth to bring up the matter, but Old Manager raised a frail hand slightly, then pressed it down again, signaling him to wait.

“I already know your situation. Those child traffickers have grown even more despicable. But the ones who took your child are likely outsiders.”

Chen Guanlou looked puzzled. “May I ask, Old Sir, what do you mean by ‘outsiders’?”

“Outsiders are travelers passing through the capital who take a chance to snatch a child. They usually operate in family or village-based gangs.”

“May I ask, Old Sir, do you have any concrete information?” Chen Guanlou asked, tense.

Old Manager chuckled. “My information has never been wrong.”