“Sister, has she been kidnapped?” Xue Xingchen asked the maid attending him.
Cui Zhu nodded, “Yes, the Master has already sent people to search.”
Xue Xingchen scratched his head, “Sister, I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
Cui Zhu hugged him and said, “She will be.”
“Sister, carry me to find Prefect Lin…”
Cui Zhu paused, “You…”
“Sister, I have something I want to say to the Prefect.”
Unable to refuse Xue Xingchen’s pleading gaze, Cui Zhu brought him to the front hall. Prefect Lin was pacing like an ant on a hot pan, extremely restless.
“Master…” Cui Zhu stepped forward.
Prefect Lin looked up, saw Cui Zhu and the little one in her arms, and said with a hint of displeasure, “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be taking him back to rest?”
“Uncle…” Xue Xingchen reached out his arms towards Prefect Lin.
Prefect Lin was taken aback. Looking at the little fellow, he couldn't bring himself to ignore him. He stepped forward, picked up the child, and said, “Uncle is busy with something. Will you be a good boy and go back to sleep with Cui Zhu?”
“Uncle, Sister is missing, isn’t she?” Xue Xingchen pressed.
Prefect Lin sighed, “You little thing…”
“Uncle, who went with Sister?” Xue Xingchen pressed.
Prefect Lin didn’t want to answer, but facing the little fellow’s bright, sparkling eyes, he replied, “Her cousin, and Yan Jin Chao.”
Xue Xingchen nodded. He knew Yan Jin Chao; his sister had mentioned him many times, and he knew she liked Yan Jin Chao.
“Sister’s cousin? Has Uncle questioned her?” Xue Xingchen asked.
Prefect Lin paused, looking at the little fellow, and then suddenly frowned, asking, “You suspect…”
He trailed off. What would such a young child know? Perhaps he was just speaking casually?
“Uncle, I heard Sister say that her cousin also likes Yan Jin Chao, is that right?” Xue Xingchen raised his head, looking at Prefect Lin.
Prefect Lin was surprised, “Isn’t that very normal?”
Xue Xingchen recalled Yan Jin Chao’s good looks. Indeed, any woman would likely fall for him upon meeting him.
“It is indeed normal, but Uncle, have you ever considered, if Sister’s cousin likes him, can two people share something they like?”
Prefect Lin frowned at this, looking at the little fellow in his arms, and said uncertainly, “Are you saying Yu Xiao Yu kidnapped Shi Shu?”
“Uncle, I’m not sure. You need to investigate. Don’t give up any clue. How is Sister now?”
Prefect Lin trembled all over. The little fellow was right. If something happened to his niece, he would regret it for the rest of his life.
“Someone summon the cousin,” Prefect Lin said coldly.
Yu Xiao Yu had just arrived at the mansion and before she could even return to her room, she was summoned back by a servant of the Lin residence.
“Uncle, are you looking for me? Have you found Cousin?” Yu Xiao Yu asked solicitously.
Prefect Lin looked at Yu Xiao Yu and asked, “Xiao Yu, did you notice anything unusual before Shi Shu was kidnapped?”
Yu Xiao Yu shook her head, “I didn’t notice anything unusual. If I had, how could I have let Cousin be kidnapped?”
She said this with tears in her eyes.
Prefect Lin then asked, “Were there any anomalies among the people around you?”
Yu Xiao Yu’s heart skipped a beat, and she shook her head, “No.”
“Sister, where is your maid?” Xue Xingchen in Prefect Lin’s arms suddenly asked.
Yu Xiao Yu paused, forced a smile, and raised her head, “Uncle called for me in a hurry, I came alone.”
“I remember Sister’s maid was called Xiao Cui,” Xue Xingchen said.
Yu Xiao Yu looked up at the little fellow in Prefect Lin’s arms. Strangely, she felt this little fellow was very similar to the other little one, with a similar way of speaking.
“Her name is Xiao Cui,” Yu Xiao Yu replied.
“Uncle, please call Xiao Cui here!” Xue Xingchen looked up at Prefect Lin.
Prefect Lin nodded, “Alright. Someone, go and summon Xiao Cui.”
During this time, Xue Xingchen stared intently at Yu Xiao Yu. However, Yu Xiao Yu showed no trace of nervousness, appearing very relaxed.
Soon, the servant returned, “Master, we found Miss Xiao Cui, but…”
Xue Xingchen’s heart sank, and he inwardly cursed his bad luck.
As expected, Xiao Cui had accidentally fallen off a cliff, leaving no trace of her remains.
“What? Xiao Cui is dead? How is that possible?” Yu Xiao Yu couldn’t believe it and grabbed the servant, asking.
The servant nodded, “I went to see the bottom of the cliff she fell from. There’s no possibility of survival.”
Yu Xiao Yu stumbled back several steps, her face filled with grief and indignation, “How is this possible? How is this possible?”
“Uncle, I need to go back and comfort Xiao Cui’s parents. Their whole family are houseborn servants.”
Prefect Lin nodded. Yu Xiao Yu turned and left.
“The clues are gone,” Prefect Lin said, a little dejected.
Xue Xingchen narrowed his eyes. No wonder Yu Xiao Yu was so nonchalant earlier; it turned out Xiao Cui had already been murdered by her.
“Uncle, don’t worry, there will be clues,” Xue Xingchen comforted Prefect Lin.
“Master, Young Master Yan requests an audience!” a servant reported, entering.
“Let him in,” Prefect Lin said.
Yan Jin Chao walked in. Xue Xingchen looked at the newcomer, his eyes lighting up, “Young Master Yan, do you have any clues?”
Yan Jin Chao said, “My people found something left in a carriage. Master, please see if it belongs to Miss Lin.”
Prefect Lin hurried forward and took it. It was a handkerchief. Upon opening it, a bamboo forest was painted inside. He nodded excitedly, “It’s my daughter’s, it’s hers! Young Master Yan, where is Shi Shu?”
Yan Jin Chao replied, “At present, I do not know. We are still searching. Prefect, rest assured, she will be found soon.”
Prefect Lin said, “Hurry, I fear delays will lead to unforeseen troubles.”
Yan Jin Chao nodded, “Yes, Master.”
“Brother, may I see the handkerchief?” Xue Xingchen, in Prefect Lin’s arms, suddenly said.
Yan Jin Chao was surprised but still handed it over. Xue Xingchen took it with both small hands. On the bamboo forest, a bright moon had been painted, with a star beside it.
Xue Xingchen’s gaze deepened. This was the mark of Xing Yue. She was asking for help.
Could Xing Yue also be here?
“Brother…”
Just as Yan Jin Chao was about to step out of the Lin mansion, he turned around and saw a little fellow running towards him.
“Something the matter?” Yan Jin Chao asked. He had met this little fellow once before, and the child had called him ‘Daddy’ right away.
Mentioning the word ‘Daddy’ reminded him of that little one. He wondered if she had cried.
“Brother, if possible, have your people look for the person using this mark of a star and moon.”
Yan Jin Chao’s gaze paused, “Does this have any meaning?”
Xue Xingchen said, “I cannot tell you the specifics, Brother. Just do as I say, and you will surely find Miss Lin.”
Yan Jin Chao looked at the little fellow’s serious expression and nodded, “Alright, I understand.”
With that, he turned and left.
Xue Xingchen silently prayed in his heart, Xing Yue, please don’t have anything happen to you. You must hold on.
“Sister, are you hungry?” Xue Xingchen looked at the dark, lightless room, faintly seeing Lin Shi Shu’s face.