Chapter 53

At this moment in the Huo Family's camp.

Huo Qiyan was frightened into tears, crying incessantly in her mother Zhao Rou's arms, "Mother, please send someone to save Cousin quickly! Cousin went missing trying to save me!"

Zhao was the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo, the younger sister of Zhao Hui, Duke of Zhao.

She comforted her foolish daughter, with a solemn expression, "Don't worry, the Huo Family and the Zhao Family are closely linked, they will certainly not abandon your cousin. Your father has already sent people to search for him, stop crying now, or your eyes will be swollen."

Huo Qiyan was in no mood to care about swollen eyes, when Zhao Changdu told her to leave first, she was so moved that she thought she loved him even more. Now she was just worried whether he was still alive. If he died, she wouldn't want to live either...

"Mother, let's ask uncle! Uncle will surely find a way!"

"Alright, alright." Zhao Rou conceded helplessly, and had no choice but to take her to the Zhao Family's camp.

The Zhao Family camp was also in chaos, only the neat and tidy Qilin Army's twelve soldiers were armed and ready.

When Zhao Rou and Huo Qiyan arrived, the Qilin Army had already silently departed into the Black Forest.

She watched the twelve soldiers' backs solemnly, and walked into the main tent after lifting the curtain.

The wind and snow blew in from the doorway, bringing a hint of chill.

Duke Zhao Hui sat anxiously on a short couch, with Lady Cheng sitting beside him, along with Zhao Changxing and the Huo couple.

Zhao Rou immediately noticed Huo Qiyan's pale face, and the uncontrollable worry in her moist dark eyes. She thought to herself: She's been married for so many years, could she still have feelings for Changdu in her heart?

Zhao Rou said impassively, "Yan'er, go talk with your sister."

Huo Qiyan's thoughts were simple, although she looked down on Huo Qiyun's low status as a concubine's daughter, but now she was distraught, and would have to get along with her sister sooner or later after marrying into the Duke's manor, so she set aside her usual reservations and went to sit with Huo Qiyun.

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Rou turned and asked Zhao Hui, "Big brother, what is going on with the Qilin Army?"

Zhao Hui sighed, "His Majesty ordered the Qilin Army to go find Changdu's whereabouts."

Zhao Rou's eyes lit up, "This is great news, big brother! If the Qilin Army is deployed, wouldn't our Zhao Family's status in Bianjing rise even higher in the future?"

Lady Cheng also thought this way. The old Duke was away leading troops, Duke Zhao had no military power in Bianjing, only a rich and noble sinecure. Her son Changxing was already over twenty-five, but could only mix around idly in the Ministry of Rites without a say in anything. Life was terribly stifling.

But if the Zhao Family held military power, even Commander of the Imperial Guards Xia Zixi would have to be polite to her Changxing.

Duke Zhao said nothing. "In any case, we must first find Changdu safe and sound, otherwise when my father hears of this, he'll stop eating and drinking, and rush back from the border to Bianjing. He'll flay us for failing to protect Changdu and hang us on the wall!"

Zhao Rou scoffed, "Father only dotes and pampers Changdu alone, has he ever doted on his granddaughter Yan'er?"

Duke Zhao glared at her, "Enough, you shouldn't talk about father's affairs! It's not for you or me to meddle with!"

He was terribly anxious here, how could he have the leisure to joke with her?

Zhao Rou silently rolled her eyes, and couldn't help urging, "Brother, don't forget about the marriage between Changdu and Yan'er. As soon as Changdu returns, Her Majesty has summoned him twice, it seems she still hopes that Changdu will marry Princess Yueyan. How can our Zhao family let Changdu marry into the imperial family? Him marrying Yan'er is the best outcome for us."

Hearing this, Huo Qiyun felt something collapse inside her heart... An indescribable loss slowly spread in her chest.

She didn't even hear Huo Qiyan calling her name.

Zhao Hui waved his hand, "I'll keep this in mind, for now let's wait for Changdu to return safely before discussing it."

Zhao Rou nodded. But Lady Cheng seemed to sneer, cursing countless times in her heart, wishing for Zhao Changdu to return dead and dismembered, so the Duke's title could only be inherited by her son Changxing!

... With the disappearance of Heir Zhao, only the Ye Family noticed that Gu Ying was also missing.

Gu Shuang was the first to discover Fu Xunzhi returning on Gu Ying's white horse.

"Young Master Fu, where is my second sister?"

Under the night sky, Fu Xunzhi was dressed entirely in black, almost blending into the night.

He rolled off the horseback in shock and fear, stiff all over, lips pale, "Second Young Lady, she... she's gone."

Gu Shuang was shocked breathless, and regardless, pulled Fu Xunzhi's hand and immediately brought him to the Ye Family.

The Gu Family was unreliable, she could only seek Imperial Censor Ye Zhuohua's help, "Master Ye, please save my second sister!"

Imperial Censor Ye Zhuohua looked over the battered Fu Xunzhi up and down, with a solemn and cold expression. "You said Miss Gu let you leave first while she chased after the horse alone?"

Fu Xunzhi was dumbfounded, snowflakes all over his hair bun. At these words, he knelt down with a thud, tears falling from the brave lad's eyes, "Yes, it was me who was incompetent, I couldn't protect the Second Young Lady! I won't ask for Master Ye's forgiveness, I only ask that Master Ye grant me a good horse so I can rush back into the Black Forest to search for the Second Young Lady!"

"I'm going too! I'm going to find sister too!" Gu Shuang hurriedly knelt down red-eyed beside Fu Xunzhi, "I'm going to find second sister too!"

As head of the Censorate, Ye Zhuohua had always been cold and ruthless, his face like iron and uncompromising. Only when facing this niece of his who had long declared she would sever ties with the Ye Family, did the hard expression on his face crack slightly.

As Gu Ying's uncle, how could he not worry?

But remembering how Gu Ying had said she despised him and would cut ties completely, he hesitated, unsure whether he should help or not.

Ye Qingchi bent down to help both Fu Xunzhi and Gu Shuang up, gently saying, "Don't panic, Miss Gu's affairs are naturally the Ye Family's affairs. I will go with you two to search for Miss Gu shortly."

Then he turned and said, "Father, go to His Majesty's imperial camp now and report this matter. We have to make it as big as Heir Zhao's disappearance, otherwise the Gu Family won't expend effort to search for Miss Gu. I'm afraid ill-intentioned people will take advantage of Miss Gu being alone to plot against her life."

Hearing this, Ye Zhuohua immediately could not sit still, "No matter how much Gu Ying despises the Ye Family, we have to wait until she returns alive before she can scold me. Qingchi, you take the Fu Family's son and the Gu Family's daughter to search for Gu Ying first, I'm going to report to His Majesty right away."

"Yes, father."