Hearing the man's words, although Su Xiu'er was unwilling in her heart, she quickly blinked her eyes. Duan Xifeng also saw her plea for mercy and, with a sweep of his finger, released her mute acupoint.
Finally able to speak, Su Zirong gasped for breath, and then tears began to fall again.
"I haven't bullied my three younger brothers during this time, so why are you threatening me? My eldest sister and third sister have different personalities. If they hadn't made mistakes, I wouldn't have punished them."
Her words were accompanied by sobs, but the now sober Duan Xifeng would not be easily swayed by her few words of grievance.
"You don't need to be so eloquent now. If I see you bullying the Su family's three brothers again, I will surely make you taste the pain Su Xiu'er suffered today."
As he spoke, he raised his fist and gestured.
Su Zirong quickly closed her eyes.
"No, no, don't worry, I won't bully them anymore."
Seeing that she had finally sincerely begged for mercy, Duan Xifeng did not intend to push his luck further.
His objective for today had been achieved, and it was time for him to go back and rest.
As he walked out of the room, it was already very dark outside. Duan Xifeng shook his head, vowing never to drink so much again.
Instead of flying out of the courtyard, the man actually walked along the small path towards his own courtyard.
The servants here only served their masters at night. These women lived here, and it was enough to deal with them during the day. Now it was approaching midnight, and there was no one around.
Since no one would notice, Duan Xifeng hummed a tune as he walked leisurely, completely unaware that he was being targeted.
He had flown over eaves and walls to get here, but he was not in a hurry to return.
Outside Su Zirong's courtyard was a beautiful lotus pond. Although there were no more lotuses, the palace lanterns floating on the water were exceptionally beautiful.
Perhaps it was because he had drunk alcohol today, Duan Xifeng was not in a hurry to return. He ambled a few steps and ended up by the lotus pond.
But as he walked, he suddenly felt something was wrong. When he turned around abruptly, he only saw a club smashing towards him.
Bang!
Duan Xifeng was instantly knocked unconscious.
At this moment, two men in black appeared. One of them, using the moonlight, carried him on his back. He gave a look to the other and ran off in another direction.
The remaining man looked around, trying to see if anyone nearby had witnessed the event. As he was scanning the area behind him, the rustling of footsteps caught his attention.
The man in black quickly hid in the nearby bushes.
After Duan Xifeng left, Su Zirong couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about being pressed down by that man in the room earlier, and the heat on her face lingered.
Unsure if the man had left, she decided to go out and check.
Naturally, he wasn't in the courtyard, but she inexplicably walked out of it.
The path ahead was a bit dark, so she naturally wouldn't walk there. Assured that Duan Xifeng had left, she felt at ease.
But just as she turned around, she felt a pain on her head, and then fell to the ground.
"I intended to capture one, but now it's good, one has been delivered."
The man in black muttered to himself. He was unsure if this woman had seen them take the other person away. Since she was already knocked unconscious, they might as well take her too.
The next morning, the palace servants arranged for Gu Qianying and the three Su sisters to have a meal together.
After all, only the two of them were left now, so there was no need to prepare extra portions.
Little Yi Hao had already changed his clothes and stood with Gu Qianying, but Duan Xifeng had not appeared.
"Uncle might have drunk too much last night and hasn't woken up yet."
Thinking that Little Yi Hao's words made sense, Gu Qianying shook her head, deciding to let him sleep for a while longer.
Su Yuxi, on the other hand, paid no attention to the missing person and naturally proceeded to the dining hall.
Guided by the maids, the two sat together, and the meal proceeded smoothly.
The Su sisters were very quiet today, with no signs of provocation.
Gu Qianying paid no mind to it, but Little Yi Hao was a little unaccustomed to it.
After eating a few bites, he raised his small head and looked towards the Su family. He was looking for his brother Su Cheng, but suddenly noticed that only two of the Su sisters were at the meal.
"Huh?"
He tilted his head and made a sound of confusion. Gu Qianying then followed the direction of his gaze.
Su Zirong was not opposite them.
This was not a big deal. Gu Qianying assumed that the second daughter of the Su family was feeling unwell and therefore had not appeared.
"Eldest Sister, did you hear anything last night?"
As they were eating, Su Xiuer suddenly said.
Su Yuxi put down her spoon and thought carefully, frowning.
"I seem to have heard something. Was it from Second Sister's courtyard?" She lived in the East Courtyard, and because she had more servants, she hadn't paid much attention.
Su Xiuer pursed her lips.
"I didn't notice anything, but this morning I heard the servants in the courtyard say that there were male voices in Second Sister's courtyard last night."
Initially, Su Xiuer had just heard it as idle gossip and hadn't paid it any mind. But when she glanced at Gu Qianying opposite her during the meal, she saw that Gu Qianying was not accompanied by her attendant today.
She knew that person was a man. Eating their meal, she suddenly made the connection and therefore asked.
Upon hearing about the male voices, Su Yuxi quickly questioned the three brothers behind her.
"Did you go to Zirong's room last night?"
The three Su brothers lived in the quarters for male servants and would not come over without special instructions. The three of them shook their heads.
Seeing that it wasn't the three of them, Su Yuxi looked at the maids beside her.
"Eldest Miss, I also heard voices last night, but because they were not clear, I didn't dare to speak rashly. Oh, and Second Miss hasn't come yet. Shall we ask her later?"
This reminded Su Yuxi.
They had been eating for quite some time, and the meal was about to be cleared, but Su Zirong still hadn't appeared.
Sensing a hint of unease, her gaze turned to the opposite side.
Gu Qianying had heard their conversation clearly. When Su Yuxi looked over, she also looked up.
Su Zirong was not there, and neither was Duan Xifeng.
Hearing the man's voice, and recalling Duan Xifeng's peculiar expression when he heard her and Little Yi Hao talking last night.
A wave of confusion washed over her.
Could the male voices they spoke of be Duan Xifeng? If so, and neither of them were here this morning, had something happened?
Seeing the doubt in Gu Qianying's eyes, Su Yuxi quickly turned and instructed a servant.
"Quickly go and knock on Zirong's door. If no one answers, break the door down."
At the same time, Gu Qianying also hurriedly got up and led Little Yi Hao towards Duan Xifeng's room.
Both sides acted almost simultaneously, and both discovered that neither of them was in their rooms.