The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 40 - 39

Chapter 39

Shi Miao Temple.

Time passed until the early evening of the same day, and finally, the ceremony concluded. Mu Gongzhen, who had been reciting prayers all day, stood up, donned his cloak, and prepared to return to the manor.

As he stepped out from his private prayer room adjacent to the temple, he unexpectedly found his younger sister, who should have returned home since midday, still waiting for him on a bench near the room’s entrance.

Mu Yingying, swinging her feet playfully while waiting, turned her head towards the sound of the door opening and her eyes sparkled with joy.

"Eldest Brother!"

She called out cheerfully, jumping up from the bench and walking briskly towards her brother.

"Why hasn’t Ying’er returned yet?" Mu Gongzhen furrowed his brows slightly, opening his arms to lift the petite figure onto his strong forearm.

Mu Yingying reached around her brother’s neck to steady herself and explained, "Second Sister and Sixth Sister said another carriage would come for me later, so they asked me to wait here."

"Second Sister? Sixth Sister? What do they have to do with you? Weren’t you supposed to return with Xuan’er?" Mu Gongzhen’s frown deepened, sensing something odd about the situation.

"Second Sister said the carriage could only fit one person per carriage, so she separated Eldest Sister to another carriage, and I was to return with her," Mu Yingying explained with an innocent face, as if narrating a regular, trivial matter.

Separate the carriages?

Mu Gongzhen’s eyes narrowed slightly, pondering deeply. He feared this situation was far from ordinary. Those two children harbored malice beyond their age, always hiding sinister motives.

"And why are you still here then?"

"I..."

Mu Yingying hesitated, struggling under her brother’s intense gaze until she finally disclosed the truth.

"Sixth Sister accidentally spilled tea on my cloak, so I was asked to change it here. They said another carriage would come later to take me back..."

Hearing this, Mu Gongzhen’s gaze darkened as he observed the large cloak on his sister, clearly not her usual attire but a man’s cloak.

Noticing her brother’s attention, Mu Yingying hurriedly explained, "I didn’t bring a spare cloak, so Lu Jiu lent me his to wear temporarily."

Realization dawned on Mu Gongzhen about who Lu Jiu was. Despite his reservations about Lu Jiu’s true identity, he noted Ying’er’s trust and closeness with the servant and didn’t want to distress her.

"So, you’re still here because the carriage hasn’t arrived yet?" He mulled over the situation silently.

"Actually, that carriage did arrive, but I didn’t recognize the coachman, so I didn’t board on. Since I was already waiting, I decided to return with you instead," the little girl said, beaming with bright eyes.

"You little one..."

Mu Gongzhen smiled faintly, pinching her soft cheek gently before carrying her through the snow to their private carriage prepared nearby.

On the way back to the manor, Mu Gongzhen had an epiphany: the day’s events were likely orchestrated by their stepmother and two half-sisters.

Excluding the strange coachman Ying’er mentioned, they probably intended to isolate Ying’er at the temple amidst the chilling cold.

Venomous as ever!

They wouldn’t learn unless taught a harsh lesson!

Main House, Mu Manor.

Within the main hall, some family members, primarily the elders and adults, lingered, waiting for Mu Gongzhen’s return to formally conclude the ritual ceremony.

The children had already dispersed to their respective quarters, leaving only Mu Qingxuan, who had obtained permission from Elder Mu Furen to wait for her elder brother and younger sister in the hall.

It had been more than two hours, and Ying’er had yet to return!

Mu Qingxuan was becoming increasingly agitated, her beautiful face betraying her worry.

"Don’t fret, Xuan’er child. Perhaps Ying’er has already returned but got sidetracked somewhere. After all, we are just in the main hall. How would we know if she had already arrived?" Bai Lijun tried to comfort her, displaying a sympathetic face, though inwardly she was reveling in a gloating joy.

As Mu Qingxuan’s anxiousness grew, so did Bai Lijun’s pleasure!

More...be more distressed, restless, and anxious than this!

"Ying’er returned with Second Sister and Sixth Sister, didn’t she? If Ying’er hasn’t yet returned, it means they haven’t either. Aren’t you worried about them, Mother?" Mu Qingxuan’s brows knitted slightly.

Bai Lijun chuckled softly, replying, "Fei’er and Shuang’er would have gone straight to their quarters upon return, not coming here."

As per the plan, Fei’er and Shuang’er were to separate Mu Yingying in a designated carriage, making it impossible for the three to return together!

Kept worrying then. But whatever it was, that girl wouldn’t be returning!

Pausing her lips, Mu Qingxuan decided to implore Elder Mu Furen, "Grandmother, could we send someone to check on Seventh Sister at the eastern wing? Should there be any trouble, we could address it promptly."

"So be it," Elder Mu Furen nodded, instructing Su Ming to dispatch someone to the Eastern Wing House.

"What’s all the fuss about? It’s just a child coming home late. Isn’t she likely just loitering around?" Mu Cui Ming, who had been silent, spoke up impatiently.

Having to wait for his son’s return from the temple according to the auspicious time was frustrating enough without enduring these trivial concerns!

Where would a child disappear except to wander around and play?

Mu Qingxuan glanced at her father, who had only recently recovered, and offered a cold smile, "If it were Sixth Sister, Father wouldn’t say so..."

"What of it? Shuang’er, having been raised in the capital, is too naive to guard against strangers, unlike Yingying who knows Qingyun City well. What’s there to worry about?"

Mu Cui Ming responded coolly, even causing Elder Mu Furen to frown at his words.

Choosing not to argue with this seemingly incurable further, Mu Qingxuan looked outside, watching the shadows anxiously.

Soon, a servant hurried into the hall, his face was red while gasping for breath,

“Haa, Haa.”

This servant caught everyone’s attention except Mu Qingxuan, who now felt even more uneasy.

"Trou...trouble has occurred!"

The servant was visibly panicked, his voice trembled as if he was frightened by something. Elder Mu Furen’s face immediately turned solemn.

"What happened? Why such a commotion?"

"A...a dead body was found by the roadside near the crossroads close to Shi Miao Temple. It was our carriage driver sent to fetch the young misses from the temple!"

Bang!

Mu Qingxuan stood abruptly, her chair toppling behind her, echoing across the room.

Her face drained of color, her eyes wide with shock, she demanded, "How did he die?"

"He was fatally slashed across the chest, I’m afraid...," the servant trailed off, bowing his head, not daring to utter any further.

Elder Mu Furen took a deep breath and inquired worriedly, "Afraid of what?"

"I’m afraid that the young misses’ carriage might have been ambushed and she was kidnapped!"

“Elder Furen!”

As the servant’s words faded, Elder Mu Furen felt a momentary darkness overcome her, her body swaying slightly. Fortunately, Su Ming was nearby and quickly steadied her.

"Mother!"

Mu Cui Ming rushed over, concerned for his mother’s condition. His expression was tense, mirroring the gravity of the situation.

The potential kidnapping had significant implications!

This affected not only the family’s reputation but also the perceived safety of the remaining daughters!

Mu Qingxuan approached, pretending to help support her grandmother, but surreptitiously checked her pulse. Finding the elder’s distress was due to panic, she subtly massaged various pulse points to calm her down.

After a while, Elder Mu Furen’s condition improved. Amidst the chaos in the hall, Bai Lijun’s concealed, malevolent smile was unnoticed by anyone.

Her swan-like eyes gleamed with amusement at the general panic, especially Elder Mu Furen’s brief collapse.

This was truly pleasing for her!

Then, a servant dispatched to check on Seventh Young Miss in the eastern wing returned, reporting,

"Elder Furen, Seventh Young Miss has not yet returned!"

Mu Qingxuan felt her heart sink; her premonition was correct. Something had happened to Ying’er!

Elder Mu Furen’s heart ached, but gestured she felt better and weakly inquired, "Has the official report been made yet?"

"Not yet, Miss."

"Send someone immediately! What are you waiting for?" Elder Mu Furen commanded urgently, her brows knitting together.

Mu Cui Ming, disagreeing, intervened, "Mother, please calm down. Alerting the authorities would publicize that Mu’s young miss has been abducted, potentially damaging our children’s reputations."

"And what, should we just sit idly by?! If we delay, it might be too late to remedy the situation!" Elder Mu Furen pressed for an answer. How could her son ignore the severity of the incident over mere reputation?

"It’s not that, Mother. We should first send our people to search within the city. If truly missing, then we’ll notify the authorities," Mu Cui Ming further explained. If it was truly a kidnapping incident, the victims were highly likely his three daughters who hadn’t returned.

Given Fei’er’s approaching marriageable age, he wanted to avoid unnecessary scandal at all costs!

"Why the delay? What are you worried about!?" Elder Mu Furen furrowed her brows, unable to comprehend her son’s hesitance.

What could be more important than security concerns?

"According to Xuan’er child, Fei’er, Shuang’er, and Ying’er’s carriage were supposed to return last. If they haven’t arrived, they might have been ambushed!" Mu Cui Ming elaborated.

“This year Fei’er is thirteen, about to turn fourteen. Next year she’ll reach marriageable age. If this matter is spread out, I’m afraid it will affect her reputation. I therefore propose that we send our men to search first. Notifying the authorities later won’t be too late.”

"Humph! Father, remember, aside from Second Sister, there are also Sixth Sister and Seventh Sister. Is their well-being not as important as Second Sister’s reputation?" Mu Qingxuan interjected sharply, her face turned icy cold,

"Indeed, a woman’s reputation is vital. Should your sister suffer a scandal, how would she face the future?" Mu Cui Ming countered firmly.

"Let’s not argue further. No one’s reputation is ruined yet," Bai Lijun intervened, calming the heated debate before addressing her husband,

"Don’t worry, Husband. Fei’er and Shuang’er must have safely returned. It seems only the seventh child is truly unfortunate...."

Bai Lijun showed a feigned sorrowful expression, tears brimming in her eyes, prompting surprise from Mu Cui Ming.

"Fei’er and Shuang’er are back at the manor already?"

"Yes, I think they should be at their quarters. I’ll send someone to fetch them right away," Bai Lijun instructed a servant before she hastened away from the main hall.

"Mother, what do you mean? Why have Second Sister and Sixth Sister returned to the manor, but not Seventh Sister? And how do you know they have returned when you have been here with us all along?!"

Mu Qingxuan narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Bai Lijun, echoing the confusion of others present. Despite their shared company for a while, why had Mu Furen not mentioned anything until now?

Bai Lijun feigned tears, sobbing pitifully. "It’s my fault, truly. I had forgotten that I had arranged another carriage to pick up my children from the temple later. When the servant reported that the seventh child had not returned, I feared she might have taken that last carriage, thus arriving late and potentially being kidnapped!"

"Recently, I overheard our servants gossiping about incidents where children were abducted for slavery outside the town or sent to work in brothels. Could it be that..."

Bai Lijun covered her mouth, feigning a look of terror and shock, before bursting into louder sobs.

"What could it be?"

A clear, bell-like voice inquired from the doorway. Everyone in the room turned towards the source before laying their eyes on Mu Yingying, who they thought had been kidnapped, snuggled in Mu Gongzhen’s embrace.

"Mother?"

Mu Yingying tilted her head, addressing Bai Lijun with an innocent face. However, Bai Lijun was frozen in place, her swan-like eyes wide with astonishment as if she had just seen a ghost.

"How...How are you here!?"

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