Xie Jiayan turned, his green robes billowing with his movement. He seemed thinner.
Yu Mingyue waited until his figure disappeared before silently turning back. Although the storybooks mentioned his establishment of the academy in only a few strokes, there was one sentence she remembered clearly: he had been targeted for assassination multiple times and narrowly escaped death.
The noble families outwardly supported him, but in reality, they paid lip service while secretly acting against him. It would be too easy to orchestrate some accident.
As soon as Xie Jiayan returned to the inn, Liaokong hurried over. "Young Master, Yao Zhi Nian has been kidnapped!"
"He was on an official boat with guards. How could he be kidnapped for no reason?" Xie Jiayan was indeed greatly shocked.
There were indeed river bandits on the river, and they usually robbed passing merchant ships. Why would they target an official boat?
"Yao Zhi Nian wasn't kidnapped on the boat. Last night, they docked at Luoxia Town. Yao Zhi Nian found it uncomfortable to be rocked in the boat and wanted to stay at an inn. They were kidnapped at the inn," Liaokong said.
That inn was the largest in town, and Yao Zhi Nian had made a grand show of it, booking the entire inn. There were even guards outside, yet something still happened. Now, the authorities had sealed off Luoxia Town and were conducting a large-scale search.
Xie Jiayan frowned. An official of the imperial court had been kidnapped. The authorities would inevitably dispatch troops. Yao Zhi Nian's personal safety was a minor issue; if this escalated the conflict between the common people and the authorities, the Jiangnan region might descend into chaos.
"Should we send a message to Master Hua?" Liaokong asked.
Hua Chaofei had immense influence in the martial arts world, and with him involved, no one would be unfound.
Xie Jiayan pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "No need. You discreetly gather information. We don't need to get involved for now."
"Young Master is scheduled to discuss the academy matters with Lord Qian tomorrow. With this incident, how can he possibly focus on that?" Liaokong didn't care about Yao Zhi Nian's life or death. He was worried about his Young Master.
His Young Master had been tirelessly working on the academy matters. The scholars who had already arrived in Jiangzhou were not doing so out of respect for the imperial court; it was all due to the favors his Young Master had accumulated over the years. He didn't want his Young Master's hard work to go to waste.
"The Yao family and the Wuji Sect have long been colluding in secret. The Wuji Sect's influence is in Jiangnan. Yao Zhi Nian's unprovoked kidnapping will not leave them indifferent. Did you forget? We still have people from the Li Jing Sect?"
Ye Feisheng himself had come to Jiangnan. He certainly wouldn't be here just to protect him. He had been coming and going mysteriously these past few days, and perhaps he already knew the news.
Since Ye Feisheng could be utilized, there was no need to trouble Hua Chaofei. Moreover, although Hua Chaofei had a great reputation in the martial arts world, he also had many enemies. He had some grievances with both the Li Jing Sect and the Wuji Sect, so it was best not to involve him.
"Your subordinate understands. I will go find them to inquire about the news now." Liaokong withdrew.
Xie Jiayan took out a map and examined the location where Yao Zhi Nian had been kidnapped.
Luoxia Town was not large, but it was surrounded by water on three sides, making water travel extremely convenient. Once a boat entered the river, it would be very difficult to find.
A night had already passed, and Yao Zhi Nian was likely no longer in Luoxia Town.
Cui Family
"Sixth Daughter, your maternal grandfather asks what your relationship is with Scholar Xie. Did you come to Qinghe because of him? Tell your grandfather honestly, no lying." Old Master Cui's tone was stern.
The words of Scholar Chai today had indeed reminded him. Perhaps Sixth Daughter's unwillingness to marry the Seventh Prince had another reason.
"Jia Yan Gege and I are neighbors. I came to Qinghe because I missed maternal grandfather and maternal grandmother and wanted to fulfill my filial duty to them on behalf of my mother, but there is also another reason." Yu Mingyue had known for a long time that her maternal grandfather would definitely ask, and she was prepared.
"What reason?"
"Does maternal grandfather really need to know?"
"You must know." Old Master Cui said seriously.
This little girl was playing mind games with him again.
"Alright, the other reason is to organize the official school. Maternal grandfather must have guessed it already." Yu Mingyue put on an expression as if nothing could be hidden from him.
Old Master Cui snorted. If he believed her words entirely, then his old age would have been lived in vain.
Old Master Cui was also angry. Her mother, Manman, was such a steady and virtuous child. How could she have given birth to such a daughter, full of schemes?