“Young Master, was this Miss Lin intentional? She invited you, and then she stood you up?” Xue Song said indignantly.
Yan Jin Chao glanced at him indifferently and said, “This is for the best!”
Xue Song was startled, suddenly recalling that his young master had never shown any ambiguous behavior towards Miss Lin, clearly not liking her.
For some reason, he always had a feeling that his young master should also have a woman, that woman just hadn't appeared yet, like the woman he dreamed of day and night, visible but intangible.
“Young Master, shall we return to the manor?” Xue Song asked.
Yan Jin Chao nodded, “Return to the manor.”
Xue Song nodded and was about to drive away when suddenly, a figure ran towards them, shouting as they ran, “Help, help, save my lady…”
“What happened?” Yan Jin Chao asked as he got into the carriage.
Xue Song peered closely, finding the woman somewhat familiar. Before he could recall, she had already run over and grabbed his hand, “Save my lady, save her!”
Xue Song remembered at this moment, “You… aren’t you Cui Hua, the maidservant beside Miss Lin?”
Cui Hua cried, “Master Xue Song, save my lady!”
“What happened to Miss Lin?” The carriage curtain was lifted, and Yan Jin Chao asked Cui Hua, looking at her.
Seeing him, Cui Hua knelt on the ground with a thud, “Save my lady, my lady…”
“Get in the carriage, and tell me on the way,” Yan Jin Chao said.
Xue Song pulled Cui Hua up and pushed her into the carriage. Cui Hua was already distraught, but seeing that astonishingly beautiful face and those clear, cold eyes, she felt an inexplicable calm.
“What happened?” Yan Jin Chao asked after Cui Hua had calmed down.
Cui Hua sobbed, “Because of the appointment with Young Master Yan, my lady and I went to Juhua Tower early this morning to prepare, but… but…”
“Speak slowly…” Yan Jin Chao said calmly, then said to Xue Song, “Go to Juhua Tower.”
Cui Hua composed herself and continued, “Several men barged into the private room and forcibly tried to drag my lady away. I shouted loudly, telling them my lady was the daughter of Magistrate Lin. I expected courtesy, but they said they were looking for Magistrate Lin’s daughter. I quickly went out to call for help, but when I went outside, I discovered everyone outside had been killed.
I thought of going back, even if it meant death, I wanted to protect my lady, but from a distance, I heard my lady tell me to go for help. I… I knew that even if I went back, I couldn’t change anything, so I ran out. As soon as I got out, I saw your carriage.”
Yan Jin Chao raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and asked, “Did you happen to remember what the bandits who kidnapped Miss Lin looked like?”
Cui Hua thought for a moment and shook her head, “This servant didn't even have time to see what they looked like?”
“Young Master, we have arrived,” Xue Song said as the carriage stopped.
Lifting the carriage curtain, Yan Jin Chao saw many soldiers standing at the entrance of Juhua Tower. Cui Hua quickly got out of the carriage, saying, “Sir, you should be here.”
“Young Master, do you want to get down?” Xue Song asked.
Yan Jin Chao surveyed Juhua Tower and saw obvious damage to the window at the corner of the second floor. “Xue Song, go up to the second-floor window and see if you find anything. Don’t be discovered.”
Xue Song nodded, got out of the carriage, and went around to the back.
Yan Jin Chao alighted from the carriage. Seeing such a handsome and refined man, the onlookers spontaneously made way.
Upon reaching the entrance, he saw Magistrate Lin, whose face was filled with anxiety. Magistrate Lin clearly saw him as well and walked towards him.
“Magistrate Lin,” Yan Jin Chao said, cupping his hands politely.
Magistrate Lin nodded, “My daughter has been abducted. Do you know about this?”
“This humble one has just been informed,” Yan Jin Chao said.
Magistrate Lin looked at the man before him and said in a low voice, “My little daughter’s reputation is all in Young Master Yan’s hands.”
“What does Your Lordship mean by that?” Yan Jin Chao raised an eyebrow and asked.
Magistrate Lin said, “You must absolutely not let anyone know that my little daughter was abducted by villains. This would be a devastating blow to my little daughter. I know this is a difficult request for Young Master Yan, but I still implore Young Master Yan to keep this a secret.”
“That is only natural,” Yan Jin Chao replied. He had no intention of publicizing the matter, especially since Miss Lin had no enmity with him.
Magistrate Lin breathed a sigh of relief. He knew people would generally agree to such requests, but without seeing Yan Jin Chao agree, he was still a little uneasy. “However, I still have a humble request.”
“Your Lordship, please speak,” Yan Jin Chao said calmly.
“Could Young Master Yan perhaps say that my little daughter went on an outing with Young Master Yan?” Magistrate Lin said after a moment of hesitation.
Yan Jin Chao nodded, “Certainly.”
Today, he was supposed to meet her anyway. With this explanation, Miss Lin’s reputation should be protected.
Magistrate Lin nodded; Yan Jin Chao had indeed impressed him.
“Your Lordship, we have searched everywhere, inside and out, and found no trace of my lady. We have also interrogated the waiter, and he doesn’t know who those people were.”
Hearing the servant’s report, Magistrate Lin’s heart sank to the bottom.
“Your Lordship, may I go in and take a look?” Yan Jin Chao said slowly.
Magistrate Lin nodded, “You may.”
Yan Jin Chao entered Juhua Tower and surveyed the lobby. There was nothing out of the ordinary. He then went upstairs to the corner, where Xue Song was already waiting. “Young Master…”
“Did you find anything unusual?” Yan Jin Chao asked.
Xue Song handed him something he was holding, “This subordinate found this.”
Yan Jin Chao took it and frowned, “Is this a token from Qianjin Tower?”
Xue Song nodded, “Precisely. However, Qianjin Tower disbanded two years ago. The appearance of this token now is likely not a coincidence.”
Yan Jin Chao looked at the token in his hand, lost in thought. Suddenly, his hand moved, and the token slipped into his sleeve. Turning around, Magistrate Lin approached. “Young Master Yan, have you found anything?”
“Nothing for now, Your Lordship. Please try to relax. Miss Lin is blessed by the heavens and will surely return safely.”
Magistrate Lin’s expression was somewhat weary. He simply nodded and left.
“Xue Song, go and investigate discreetly,” Yan Jin Chao said calmly.
Xue Song received the order and left.
Yan Jin Chao returned to the manor. Xue Song hurried back with important news: one of the kidnappers of Lin Shishu had been apprehended.
Yan Jin Chao rushed to Magistrate Lin’s manor. The servants there led him to a secluded room in the backyard, where he saw the kidnapper being brutally interrogated.
“Your Lordship,” Yan Jin Chao said, stepping forward and cupping his hands.
Magistrate Lin turned his head. His blue robe was already splattered with blood, a shocking sight.
“Your Lordship, has he confessed?”
Magistrate Lin shook his head, “He refuses to speak, and he even tried to swallow poison. I discovered it, and now he has bitten off his own tongue.”