Chapter 30: I Ask You, Where Is My Sister?

Pei Shangling clung tightly to Pei Yunxi and rushed off.

On the other side, Xiao Yichen, who had been hiding behind the warehouse, waited for an opportunity to act; he had heard all the previous noises clearly, and he reflexively felt for the fire‑extinguishing thing hidden in his clothes; lately he had been investigating Gu Rongjin, so he always kept such items on him for emergencies.

Now is the perfect time to put it to use.

Xiao Yichen clenched the concealed weapon that Mu Yuanzhi had given him long ago in his hand, crouched low, and sneaked toward the warehouse.

The light in the warehouse hadn't gone out yet, but there was no sound at all.

Xiao Yichen held his breath, moved soundlessly to the back door, then kicked it open with force, and at the same time flung several poison‑coated concealed‑weapon long needles inside—

However, when he took a clear look, there was no one left in the warehouse!

The main door and windows were tightly shut, but a large slab on the floor had been moved aside, revealing obviously a secret passage underneath.

Damn it!

A misstep!

Without hesitation, Xiao Yichen was about to jump down the secret passage when a deafening boom rang out; the passage immediately collapsed, and the entire warehouse began to cave in!

He could only run outward, and when Pei Shangyan came rushing over, he saw Xiao Yichen alone, his eyes nearly bursting: "Where is my sister?!"

Xiao Yichen shook his head.

"What do you mean by shaking your head?!" Pei Shangyan grabbed Xiao Yichen's shoulder: "I'm asking you—where is my sister?!"

"There's a secret passage in the warehouse!" Xiao Yichen's pent‑up fury exploded: "You're so tense now—why did you just push her into a fire pit?!"

Pei Shangyan was left speechless by the question, he muttered, withdrew his hand from Xiao Yichen's shoulder, his gaze wandering: "If it were you, how would you choose?"

Hearing that, Xiao Yichen's chest felt emptied, and he fell silent.

After a long silence, they silently agreed to go back and think of another plan.

The secret passage had collapsed, the only lead was cut off, so they could only return to discuss a long‑term strategy.

Mu Yuanzhi was once again tightly bound and thrown into an old warehouse; the two kidnappers locked the door and left.

She tried to shift a little, but couldn't muster any strength; earlier they had noticed she had half‑loosened the ropes, slapped her twice, and forced a packet of bone‑softening powder into her mouth, so even without the ropes she couldn't move.

The dark, damp old warehouse had a candle burning; through its faint light she saw a figure in the corner!

Mu Yuanzhi instantly became alert.

The person in the corner moved, slowly lifted his head, and the disheveled figure smiled at Mu Yuanzhi.

Mu Yuanzhi recognized him—a notorious simpleton from the market, mad as a hatter, who had once stopped her carriage and frightened her greatly; at that time he had almost been beaten to death by the guards under Pei Shangling's command.

Was he also someone Pei Yunxi had summoned?

"Little lady..." the simpleton split his mouth in a grin, rose oddly from the ground holding a stick, and approached Mu Yuanzhi: "They say you're my bride!"

"They lied to you—who would be so evil?" Mu Yuanzhi tried to steady the simpleton's emotions.

"They lied to me?" the simpleton tilted his head, "Aren't you my bride?"

"I'm not, but I know where your bride is," Mu Yuanzhi said, striving to stay calm, "Shall we go look for her?"

Stalling isn't a good plan, and we don't know if those two will return or when; the bone‑softening powder she took will take at least twelve two-hour periods to wear off.

In her previous life, during the long confinement in Yong Lane, besides being whipped by the old woman there, she was mostly tormented by the addled former concubines, who treated her as a vixen vying for favor—kicking her like a sandbag, leading her like a dog.

Gradually she also learned a few ways to deal with the madwomen—how to calm them, then secretly stir things up so they'd bite and fight each other, giving her a brief respite.

But such methods aren't foolproof; more often she ended up with a bloody head from collisions, forced to hide far away so they couldn't find her.

So Mu Yuanzhi had little confidence she could keep this simpleton under control.

The simpleton blinked, "They said they wouldn't deceive me!"

He fumbled in his clothes, pulling out who‑knows‑what.

"Who are they? Isn't there a pretty girl who's the con artist? You shouldn't believe her."

Mu Yuanzhi again tried to guide the simpleton.

The simpleton shook his head vigorously then nodded vigorously, "She's very pretty, but not as pretty as you, so I like you as my bride!"

He finally produced a red head‑cover from his clothes: "After the wedding bow, we're husband and wife, and the bride can bear me children!"

The simpleton, grinning as he drew nearer, made Mu Yuanzhi dare not breathe; she widened her eyes and said: "He really did trick you—I have a contagious disease, that wicked woman deceived you!"

"You have a contagious disease?" the simpleton halted, his eyes wide: "I don't believe you—you're lying to me!"

"I haven't lied to you." Mu Yuanzhi indicated the simpleton should look at her neck's unhealed scar: "Look at my neck."

The simpleton stepped back, instantly flew into a rage, brandishing his stick and smashing wildly.

Mu Yuanzhi jumped in fright, shrank back wanting to dodge, but couldn't move, her eyes fixed on the simpleton as he smashed and cursed wildly.

When the simpleton goes mad, he's utterly uncontrollable—she has no way to deal with it!

Inside Xuanshi Hall, the atmosphere was solemn.

Only Pei Yunxi dared to break the oppressive silence: "Father Emperor, I subject consider it improper; Sister Yuanzhi was abducted by two kidnappers, and a large‑scale manhunt would tarnish her reputation—a woman's reputation is paramount."

Pei Yunxi's words were indeed sound; rumors are dreadful. Years ago, the daughter of the Jingzhao Prefecture magistrate was waylaid and robbed by bandits, and gossip in the capital claimed they had taken liberties with her; unable to bear the slander, that magistrate's daughter hanged herself.

Thus, Pei Shangyan, Pei Shangling, and Xiao Yichen in the hall remained silent.

But relying solely on covert investigation by the guards and the Imperial Army, when will we ever find anyone?

They all awaited the Son of Heaven's decision.

After careful deliberation, the Son of Heaven ultimately agreed with Pei Yunxi's view, saying: "This matter must be handled covertly, not publicized; we must find the princess as soon as possible!"

Xiao Nianzi, who had been eavesdropping outside, heard enough and angrily returned to Weiyang Palace; the other three waited anxiously, faces full of expectation, asking: "How is it? What did the Majesty say?"

"Leaving this to others is utterly unreliable! We still have to figure it out ourselves!" Xiao Nianzi clenched his fists, and he no longer spoke of those aggravating matters.

Everyone understood, so no one pressed further.

"But what can we few do? We can't even leave the palace gates!" Hongdou was about to go frantic.

Xiao Yunzi was the most composed, saying: "Let's go find the Young Master!"