The people in the carriage behind were trying to quickly catch up to Ren Yaohua’s carriage when, unexpectedly, a group of individuals suddenly appeared from nowhere and surrounded them. They claimed that their ox cart had been damaged by the carriage and demanded compensation. Then, taking advantage of the lowered vigilance of the maids and elderly servants, the assailants knocked them all unconscious, stuffed them into the carriage, and drove off.
Meanwhile, after turning a corner, Ren Yaohua’s carriage driver noticed something amiss. Ren Yaohua hurriedly instructed the driver to stop and check what had happened to the carriage behind them. As soon as the driver halted the carriage, he was attacked from behind. Without making a sound, he collapsed to the ground and could not get up again.
The assailant who attacked the driver took his place, and two others joined him on the carriage shaft.
As the carriage started moving again, Xiangqin pulled open the carriage curtain. Seeing three unfamiliar men sitting outside instead of the familiar driver, she screamed in fright. One of the men swiftly struck her on the side of the neck, knocking her unconscious, and then he and another man climbed into the carriage.
Ren Yaohua gasped in shock, “Xiangqin—”
She quickly grabbed a teapot from the small table and hurled it at the intruder’s head, then overturned the table and pushed it toward them. Just as she was about to call for help, she was knocked unconscious using the same method that had been used on Xiangqin.
Thus, Ren Yaohua, along with the maids and elderly servants she had brought with her, were abducted along with both carriages. The group drove the Ren Family’s two carriages through the narrow alleys of Yunyang City, winding their way out of the city gates and finally onto the main road.
Although Ren Yaohua was abducted in a relatively secluded alley, it was impossible to leave no trace after taking so many people. Among those dispatched by Xianwang Residence was a scout who, upon investigating the area, noticed clues from the carriage tracks and footprints on the ground.
An elderly woman selling needles and thread door-to-door also mentioned that she had been passing through another alley at the time and happened to hear some commotion, including a woman’s scream. However, she was too frightened and immediately turned and ran without coming closer to investigate.
The people from Xianwang Residence followed the trail and eventually discovered that the abductors had taken Ren Yaohua out of the city and onto the main road heading toward Zhuozhou. Dongsheng sent Qiusheng back to report to their superiors while he and a few others continued tracking the trail.
Ren Yaoqi and Madam Li soon received the news from Xianwang Residence. Madam Li was so frightened she nearly fainted. Nanny Zhou quickly pinched Madam Li’s philtrum, saying, “Madam, you must stay calm, or what will become of Third Miss?”
Ren Yaoqi also said, “Mother, don’t panic. Dongsheng has already taken people to pursue them. Let’s wait for more news.” Though Ren Yaoqi was deeply worried herself, now was not the time to lose composure.
Madam Li came to her senses, wiped her tears, and sat up straight. “You’re right. Hua’er is waiting for me to rescue her. I can’t fall apart first.”Madam Li knew that if she collapsed, Ren Yaohua's situation would become even more perilous. Ren Shimin was not one to handle affairs; even if he wanted to save Ren Yaohua, he had no means to do so. Moreover, if the Ren Family learned that Ren Yaohua had been abducted by a group of men of unknown origin, whether they would even want her back remained uncertain.
Madam Li had heard of a case where a young lady was kidnapped by bandits on her way to a temple to offer incense. Although she was eventually rescued by the authorities, her own clan forced her to take her own life.
At this thought, Madam Li quickly said, "Nanny Zhou! Give the order immediately—the news of Third Miss being taken away must not spread. We must also keep it from the Old Master and Old Madam!"
Nanny Zhou promptly replied, "Rest assured, Madam. Fifth Miss has already given the order earlier. This servant has arranged everything accordingly. Even the Master has been kept in the dark for now. We’ll say that Third Miss went to visit her maternal grandparents today and was asked to stay by her grandmother."
Seeing that Ren Yaoqi had already anticipated this, Madam Li couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. "Yaoqi is indeed thoughtful." After some consideration, Madam Li also agreed to keep Ren Shimin in the dark.
Ren Yaoqi did not distrust her father, but in this matter, Ren Shimin could offer no help. Moreover, Third Master Ren was an upright and straightforward man. If others, especially the elders of the Ren Family, questioned him, Ren Yaoqi feared he would be unable to keep the secret.
Once Madam Li had calmed down, Ren Yaoqi immediately sent Pingguo to the Yanbei Prince's Mansion to find Xiao Jinglin. The group had already left Yunyang City and was heading toward Zhuozhou. Ren Yaoqi worried that the people from the Xianwang Residence might ultimately be unable to intervene due to certain constraints. Since both Yan Prefecture and Zhuozhou were still within Yanbei’s territory, Ren Yaoqi believed seeking help from the Yanbei Prince's Mansion was the safest course of action.
Upon receiving the news, Xiao Jinglin was furious. She immediately sought out Xiao Jingxi. As soon as she entered, her face darkened. "Now even random scoundrels can come to Yunyang City to commit crimes? Although you are not the rightful heir, you have been acting in the heir’s stead for years. With Father away from Yan Prefecture, can’t your subordinates even guard our home properly? We might as well raise a few wolfhounds!" The Prince of Yanbei had left Yan Prefecture not long after Xiao Jinglin’s coming-of-age ceremony.
Facing Xiao Jinglin’s anger, Xiao Jingxi remained unperturbed. He set down the official document he had been reading halfway through and motioned for Tong He, who was too frightened to speak, to bring tea for Xiao Jinglin. Then, with a smile, he looked up and said, "Wouldn’t that mean all the generals would have to switch careers to become dog trainers?"
Xiao Jinglin sensed something off in Xiao Jingxi’s attitude. She stared at him for a long moment before saying shrewdly, "Don’t tell me you already knew?"
Xiao Jingxi smiled without confirming or denying.
Xiao Jinglin glanced at him, frowned, and turned to leave.
At the doorway, she stopped and turned back, her tone laced with sarcasm. "I thought you were different, but it seems in your heart, interests still come first. Even protecting someone requires weighing pros and cons..." Her mocking tone carried deep disappointment.
Seeing that Xiao Jinglin was genuinely angry, Xiao Jingxi could only sigh and shake his head with a bitter smile. "I never knew you were so impatient. If I had to wait for you to come to me before learning of this incident, then as you said, I might as well raise a wolfhound to fulfill the duties of the Yanbei Prince’s heir."Xiao Jingxi's words made Xiao Jinglin pause. After understanding what he meant, she hurried back and asked, "You said you know about Yaoqi's sister being abducted and have already sent people to rescue her?"
This time, Xiao Jingxi dared not tease the hot-tempered Princess Xiao any further. "Someone reported to me as soon as their carriage left the city gate and entered the main road."
"So you sent people to follow them?" Ren Yaohua didn't dwell on why someone would report to Xiao Jingxi the moment the Ren Family's carriage left the city gate and took the main road to Zhuozhou.
Xiao Jingxi nodded. "Naturally."
As if recalling something, he smiled thoughtfully. "However, I didn't expect someone else to have followed them even before my people did. By now, they might have already rescued her."
Xiao Jinglin frowned and asked, "Who is it? Are they reliable? Why didn't your people take action themselves?"
Xiao Jingxi smiled. "I simply thought that person was more suitable to intervene than I was."
Seeing that Xiao Jinglin was about to speak again, Xiao Jingxi added, "I heard that Third Madam Ren has been looking for a marriage prospect for Third Miss Ren recently? Perhaps fate has arrived this time."
Xiao Jinglin narrowed her eyes, wondering why Xiao Jingxi had shifted the topic so abruptly. Besides, what did Ren Yaohua's marriage have to do with him? Wasn't he interested in Yaoqi?
But the princess was no fool. She almost immediately understood and glared at Xiao Jingxi with a strange expression. "Are you worried that if Ren Yaohua's marriage isn't settled, it will delay Yaoqi's turn?"
Xiao Jingxi: "..."
Xiao Jinglin looked at him disdainfully. "Then you'd better hope this matter ends as you wish. If Yaoqi finds out that you knew her sister was in danger but leisurely schemed to marry her off first, just wait and see how she reacts!"
Xiao Jingxi stiffened, cleared his throat, and said, "I didn't scheme against her sister. It's just that someone was already prepared to rescue her, and my interference would have been redundant. It was better to stay calm, follow behind, and help clean up afterward."
Seeing Xiao Jingxi hastily explain and distance himself, Xiao Jinglin felt secretly pleased. Outsiders would never have seen the usually aloof Xiao Jingxi looking so nervous and guilty.
After enjoying Xiao Jingxi's rare expression to her heart's content, Xiao Jinglin smiled calmly and said, "Save those explanations for when you talk to her later!"
With that, Xiao Jinglin turned and walked away gracefully. Since Xiao Jingxi's people were already following, Ren Yaohua wouldn't truly be in danger—of that, Xiao Jinglin was certain.
She still needed to send a message to Ren Yaoqi to ease her worries.
Xiao Jingxi watched as Xiao Jinglin slammed the door of his study shut and disappeared, leaving him with a bitter smile. After a moment's thought, he called Tong Xi in and instructed him to take some people and follow as well, just in case something went wrong and Ren Yaoqi ended up turning against him.
Ren Yaoqi soon received Xiao Jinglin's reply, which stated that Xiao Jingxi had known about the incident as soon as Ren Yaohua's carriage left the city gate and had sent people to follow and rescue her.Xiao Jinglin felt that, no matter what, it would be best to let Xiao Jingxi take full responsibility for this matter. She didn’t think she was undermining Xiao Jingxi; rather, she believed she was giving her elder brother an opportunity to shine and earn some face. Besides, she couldn’t let some inexplicable person who had suddenly appeared snatch all of Xiao Jingxi’s credit, could she?
Princess Xiao once again nodded to herself, proud of having grown into a kind and good sister despite the challenging shadow cast by her overly outstanding brother.
Meanwhile, upon learning that Xiao Jingxi had already intervened, Ren Yaoqi truly breathed a sigh of relief. She was confident that Ren Yaohua would return safely.
OpenNovel