Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 723 - 724: Bygone Days (2)

Fourth Master Xiao is on his way, bringing the Third Madam with him. It’s certain the journey won’t be peaceful. If they reach Zhenyuan and have soldiers to escort them, it would be fine, but there’s the fear of being ambushed along the way, especially since he only has four hundred guards with him... Xiqiu becomes increasingly anxious the more she thinks about it.

The Third Madam is so important to Xiao Yancheng, he will surely try every means to rescue her, while Fourth Master Xiao is eager to find the Grand Dowager and Xiao Yanyi. Would Xiao Yancheng use this to coerce him? Although Fourth Master Xiao holds Xiao Yancheng’s lifeline—the Third Madam, who knows what crazy things Xiao Yancheng might do as a desperate person?

She doesn’t want the Grand Dowager and Xiao Yanyi to be in danger, and even less wants Fourth Master Xiao to be in danger.

If the Grand Dowager and Xiao Yanyi could be found, Fourth Master Xiao would surely be much more relieved, without so many restraints and concerns, wouldn’t he?

Where could the Grand Dowager and Xiao Yanyi be? Fourth Master Xiao has sent so many people to search along the way. In just a day’s time, how far could a carriage have gone?

Why can’t Fourth Master Xiao find them?

At that time, there were many matters, and Fourth Master Xiao also concealed the Grand Dowager and Xiao Yanyi from the court, so he couldn’t expand the search too much. But despite a day’s time, with one secretly sending the people out by carriage and another searching meticulously, there shouldn’t be no clues at all. Moreover, Fourth Master Xiao has always been cautious and thorough!

Could Xiao Yancheng have caught a blind spot in his thinking? And played a trick, in short, he did something that Fourth Master Xiao could think of but overlooked?

The Marquis Mansion? Impossible!

When the incident happened, Fourth Master Xiao and the First Madam had examined the Marquis Mansion inside and out. They must have considered that Xiao Yancheng couldn’t have gone too far with the three people.

So, what other places are there?

Xiqiu turned over, her mind was racing, she wasn’t sure if her thinking was right, after all, even Fourth Master Xiao hadn’t thought of it, and she wasn’t confident either!

What other places could there be?

Suddenly, she thought of something. Where were Prince Rong and Princess Rong hiding when they disappeared before?

The Emperor had sent so many people to search, and not a single clue was found...

She was curious at the time, with a family of three and a child, there weren’t many places to hide. A child’s crying could easily attract attention.

What place could hide a child?

Unexpectedly, she thought of those mysterious hidden passages in the Cian Palace. The Miaojiang people have long lived deep in the mountains. Without fields, they clear the mountain fields; without houses, they dwell in the mountains. Digging a hidden passage wouldn’t be difficult as long as there’s enough time, would it?

Then could there be another similar hidden passage? If concealed properly within the passage, even a crying child wouldn’t be discovered.

With this thought, she had some basis but also felt it was unreliable!

Suddenly, she sat up, thinking of what the First Madam had said, about a gatekeeper woman at the Mansion’s corner gate who suddenly died in her room.

Could it be related to this matter? She called out, "Bihuai!"

Bihuai, wrapped in clothing, came through the screen, with no sign of sleepiness on her face, clearly not fully asleep. She asked, "Madam!"

"What hour is it now?" Xiqiu’s tone was somewhat excited. Bihuai glanced at the pocket watch and replied, "Just a quarter hour until 3AM to 5AM."

Xiqiu nodded, unable to sleep, she simply said, "Help me get dressed, we’re going to Fourth Master’s study." With that, she lifted the covers and was about to get out of bed. Bihuai looked at her in surprise, "Madam, won’t you sleep a little longer?"

"I can’t sleep." Xiqiu got out of bed. Seeing her determination, Bihuai fetched the clothes and helped her dress. Xiqiu instructed, "Go to the outer court and find Tiancheng, I have something for him to do."

Bihuai complied, and after assisting Xiqiu in dressing and washing, she went to the courtyard to wake Chunliu and Biwu. The three of them accompanied Xiqiu to the study, with Chunliu and Biwu attending to her side. Bihuai went to the outer court to find Tiancheng.

When Xiqiu saw Tiancheng, she couldn’t wait to instruct, "Take a few trusted young servants and women to the Marquis Mansion now..." Seeing Tiancheng’s puzzled look, she added, "Carefully search Third Master’s room for hidden passages and secret paths."

Tiancheng was startled and asked, "Madam suspects Third Master also dug a secret passage in the Marquis Mansion?"

"I’m not quite certain, but it still needs to be verified. Remember to search carefully, and if there’s nothing in the courtyard, check around the East Corner Gate. Also, ask the gatekeeping women if there was anything unusual when Third Master was around. Don’t miss any clues!" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Tiancheng, seeing Xiqiu’s serious demeanor, knowing she never did anything superfluous, nodded in agreement, "I’ll take the people there right away." He turned and left the study.

Xiqiu paced back and forth in Fourth Master Xiao’s study, her mind still occupied with the dream from the night.

Could Fourth Master Xiao really be in danger?

It wasn’t until noon when Tiancheng returned from the Marquis Mansion, his face full of delight, "Madam, just as you predicted, a hidden passage was found in Third Master’s room, where people had once lived. That passage leads all the way to the thicket outside the second gate."

There really was a hidden passage!

Xiqiu was delighted to hear, but Tiancheng changed the tone, "However, after we went inside to search, the place was deserted."

Seeing Xiqiu’s disappointed expression, Tiancheng took a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Chunliu, "This handkerchief was found in the passage. I showed it to the First Madam, and she instantly recognized it as belonging to the Grand Dowager!"

"The Grand Dowager’s?" Xiqiu took the handkerchief from Chunliu, examined it carefully, and then confidently nodded, "It’s indeed Nanny Wu’s needlework!"

So the Grand Dowager and Xiao Yanyi had indeed stayed in the hidden passage, but now they’re not there anymore.

Suddenly, she thought, could Xiao Yancheng have used the hidden passage to create a time gap, keeping the Grand Dowager and Xiao Yanyi in the passage for a few days, and only when Fourth Master Xiao took the soldiers out did he bring the Grand Dowager and Xiao Yanyi out? If Xiao Yancheng wanted to take them to Miaojiang, then it’s very likely that they are currently still on their way somewhere.

Such clever tactics, such thorough planning!

The weak light pierced through the dense branches once more, the scent of blood spreading in the air, causing the beasts in the forest to howl furiously, one after another.

Amidst the flashes of swords and knives, Fourth Master Xiao held Xiao Yancheng with one hand, while the other hand, like an illusion, slew countless enemies. The Third Madam glared at Fourth Master Xiao with rage, watching helplessly as countless of her kin fell to the ground. She wished she could break free of her bonds and tear him to pieces.

Xiao Yancheng, on the other hand, was much calmer. In the spare moments, he smiled and said, "Fourth Brother, your martial arts have improved greatly, but I wonder how long you can last!" The implication was, relying on him alone, how many more enemies could he slay? The number of people he brought was not just the five thousand soldiers seemingly endless before him.