"Miss, my name is Gao Yang. I'm from Lotus Village. My younger brother, Gao Wei, went to Swallow Mountain before."
A man around forty years old walked over, stating his name and family member's name. Rong Zhi checked his name on the roster, found the corresponding entry, and registered it. The accompanying constables then gave him his share of the silver.
Everyone else followed suit. With Xia Yunting present, no one dared to cause trouble.
"Ji... Ji Dong."
A small, stuttering voice. Rong Zhi didn't hear clearly and looked up. "What?"
As she looked, her gaze met the eyes of the very person who had burned down her house.
"No need to say it, I know," Rong Zhi quickly found the corresponding name on the roster and noted it down. They had returned alive from the mines.
The constable on the side handed him the silver.
"Miss Lin, you know him!"
"Mm," Rong Zhi smiled. "My husband personally brought him back."
Her words were filled with pride for Xia Yunting. Ji Dong, on the other hand, blushed, suddenly feeling that his past actions were quite despicable.
There was more than one person from Yunshui Village. Unlike Ji Dong, the others recognized Rong Zhi and greeted her politely. Some said they missed her when she wasn't in the village, while others asked when she would return, expecting her to diagnose and treat them.
Rong Zhi responded to everyone, and this distribution of silver felt more like Rong Zhi's personal reunion.
After about half a day, all the silver had been distributed, and the crowd dispersed. The constable sighed, "Miss Lin, you have such good connections."
"They're all just villagers and neighbors; everyone is just enthusiastic."
Rong Zhi stretched, her back aching from holding a single posture for too long.
Suddenly, a hand appeared on her back, massaging it with warm strength. Rong Zhi turned her head and saw Xia Yunting looking at her with a smile.
"You two are so affectionate. I'm so envious of you as an unmarried person," the constable said, packing up his stall. "Thanks to your help, the money was distributed so quickly. I'll take my leave now."
Rong Zhi and Xia Yunting nodded. After watching the constable leave, Rong Zhi let out a long sigh.
She then noticed that one person hadn't left yet. Ji Dong stood not far away, his gaze fixed on them, wanting to look but not daring to, hesitating about something.
Rong Zhi wasn't interested in him and said to Xia Yunting, "Let's go back!"
"Mm."
As they were about to leave, Ji Dong gritted his teeth, as if making a resolve, and walked over, bowing deeply to Rong Zhi.
"I'm sorry, I was a scoundrel. I shouldn't have burned down your house!"
Rong Zhi smiled, "I already said I wouldn't hold it against you. You don't need to feel any burden. However, you need to change this ungrateful nature of yours. If this spreads, who will dare to help you or befriend you in the future?"
Ji Dong nodded, his face growing even redder.
Rong Zhi and Xia Yunting walked away. Ji Dong stood in place for a long time before a look of relief appeared on his face, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
According to Zhang Yajing's plan, she was supposed to head to the Imperial City after the money was distributed. However, before she could act, an accident occurred.
"What? Yajing is missing?"
Rong Zhi looked at a worried Cui Xi and a frowning Chu Qingze, slightly surprised. "Wasn't she just with you?"
"She was with us. I just went to the kitchen to pour some tea, and when I came back, she was gone."
Rong Zhi looked at Chu Qingze, waiting for his response.
"I heard someone calling me from outside, and I thought it was someone seeking medical treatment. When I went out, there was no one there. When I returned, the person who was in the courtyard had vanished."
It was as if ghosts were at play. In broad daylight, a living person had disappeared into thin air.
"This was clearly a diversion. Is Zhang Yajing being targeted for revenge?"
"I think I know who it is." Chu Qingze recalled someone, his expression worsening.
"Who?"
"Xiao Yao."
Xiao Yao had a past grievance with him. The woman who called him outside had deliberately altered her voice. He hadn't recognized it at the time, but thinking back, Xiao Yao was highly suspicious.
"Why would she capture Yajing? They shouldn't have any enmity."
Xia Yunting guessed, "Perhaps it's to use her as a threat for revenge."
"Revenge..." Rong Zhi's expression eased. "In that case, Yajing should be safe for now. We need to find her quickly. After she arrived in Changping County, she has been staying at the yamen. Do you think Lu An might help her hide someone?"
"I think it's possible. Xiao Yao is powerful. If she truly asked Lu An for help, he wouldn't dare refuse," Chu Qingze speculated.
Xia Yunting shook his head, "I don't think so. Although Lu An is a bit of a sycophant, he is a relatively just official. I think we should split up and quietly investigate Xiao Yao's whereabouts. Let's not alert her."
"Alright." Chu Qingze was also anxious at this moment. "Then I'll go search the taverns and inns in the town."
"I'll go to the yamen to look," Rong Zhi said.
"I'll have Chen Xing search the nearby deep mountains and neighboring counties."
The three quickly divided their tasks. Rong Zhi saw Cui Xi standing by, looking lost. She said, "Cui Xi, you stay here and hide. If you see any trace of Xiao Yao and your young lady, quietly go to the yamen to find me."
The most dangerous place is often the safest. Xiao Yao might bring Zhang Yajing back, so it's always good to have a backup.
"Mm."
Thus, the three set off in different directions to search for her.
As soon as they stepped out, Chu Qingze immediately headed towards the town. Rong Zhi, however, pulled Xia Yunting aside. "She came here to find you. Hurry and find a way to get her back, and don't let her cause trouble everywhere, or I'll teach her a lesson in my own way."
Rong Zhi was truly angry this time. She already had a poor impression of the noble scions in the Imperial City, especially those who bullied others and acted recklessly based on their status.
Xia Yunting also realized this and nodded. "Don't worry."
With that, they parted ways.
Rong Zhi headed straight for the yamen and, as expected, found no one.
"County Princess? She left very early this morning and hasn't returned yet."
Lu An looked confused. He saw Rong Zhi rushing over and thought she was here to report Xia Yunting's whereabouts. But seeing her troubled expression, he suspected she wasn't here to deliver news and felt uneasy.
"Really not here?"
"Not at all. If you don't believe me, I can take you to her room?"
"Alright."
"See? I told you... Huh? What did you say?"
Did she really want to go? That was the County Princess!
"What are you waiting for? Hurry and take me there!"
Rong Zhi urged him again. Lu An responded with an "Alright" and quickly led the way.
"Miss Lin, you seem so anxious. What happened?"
Along the way, Lu An asked nervously. Had she gotten into a fight with the County Princess?
"It's nothing, just a few questions I want to ask."
Rong Zhi didn't mention Zhang Yajing's kidnapping, as it was still just speculation, with no concrete evidence that Xiao Yao was responsible. Moreover, Zhang Yajing's reputation among the common people wasn't very good. If this news spread, it would likely lead to more gossip.
Lu An sensed the murderous aura emanating from Rong Zhi and didn't dare to ask further. He quickly led her to the door of Xiao Yao's guest room and personally opened it.
Rong Zhi looked inside from the outside. It was empty, not a soul in sight. She went in and inspected carefully but found nothing. However, just as she was about to leave, she subtly sprinkled some powder on the bed.
"Magistrate Lu, if the County Princess returns, please tell her I came looking for her."
"Alright."
Rong Zhi left like that, leaving Lu An bewildered. What was going on?
Meanwhile, Chu Qingze and Xia Yunting were also searching door to door. Chu Qingze found it easy to find people. Most of the county was indebted to him, and they readily agreed to keep an eye out for someone.
There were also a few unpleasant encounters. Perhaps because Chu Qingze's previous words defending Zhang Yajing had spread, he was pelted with a couple of rotten eggs. However, he didn't care about these things. His only thought was to find Zhang Yajing quickly.
In contrast, Xia Yunting's situation was much more relaxed, as he only needed to delegate the task to Chen Xing.
Just as Chen Xing received his orders and left, another person arrived in Changping County from the Imperial City and went directly to Xia Yunting.
Upon seeing this person, Xia Yunting's deep eyes showed confusion, and then his expression turned solemn. "Why are you here?"
The newcomer was a man around thirty years old, appearing mature and steady. The stubble on his face gave him a weathered look. He was a secret guard trained by Xia Yunting, tasked with guarding the Black Water Pavilion, and would not emerge under normal circumstances.
The man said, "Scouts have discovered suspicious individuals near the Black Water Pavilion. Your subordinate suspects they are informants from the Grand Tutor's mansion."
Xia Yunting's expression grew even heavier at this.
"General, what should we do?"
"Return to the capital. I will return to the Imperial City immediately."
"Yes."
After leaving the yamen, Rong Zhi met Chu Qingze on the road. He had searched the entire Changping County with no success. The two of them seemed to have vanished into thin air.
"Did you find anything?" Seeing Rong Zhi emerge alone from the yamen, Chu Qingze already knew the answer but habitually asked.
Rong Zhi shook her head. "With just a few of us, we might search until the monkeys grow old. I think we should ask the constables for help."
"But what if Lu An and Xiao Yao are colluding to conceal it..."
"Don't worry, we'll go directly to Li Zhao."
Li Zhao had a personal connection with Zhang Yajing and would definitely not conceal the truth.
Chu Qingze's eyes lit up. "Good, let's go now." They headed together towards the Zhang family mansion. At this time, Rong Zhi hadn't realized that Xia Yunting had already quietly left Changping County.
Upon receiving the news of Zhang Yajing's disappearance, Li Zhao immediately gathered all the constables. Most of the constables brought by Lu An had already returned to the prefectural yamen, with only one or two left to protect Lu An. They would all withdraw once the new county magistrate took office. Therefore, Li Zhao could mobilize personnel more conveniently.
To maintain secrecy, Li Zhao did not reveal the truth to them, only stating that County Princess Xiao Yao was missing and instructing them to search discreetly, forbidding anyone to speak of it. Offending the County Princess meant offending a Prince, and ten heads wouldn't be enough to lose. With such a stern warning, everyone naturally kept their mouths shut tight.
By nightfall, Rong Zhi returned home and still hadn't seen Xia Yunting. She found it strange.
Xia Yunting generally didn't care about anything other than himself. Even when searching for someone, he would usually let Chen Xing do it. How could a dignified General condescend to do it himself? If he wasn't looking for people, where could he have gone?
Rong Zhi wasn't worried about him encountering any danger, only curious. Late in the night, Rong Zhi went out to search but found nothing. Not to mention Xia Yunting, even Chen Xing was nowhere to be found.