Quick Transmigration: Why did you provoke him? He's love-struck!

Chapter 169 Canglan Ferry (39)

Zhang Baichen acted swiftly, taking only two and a half hours to travel back and forth from the capital to Fuming Mountain overnight.

The clatter of hooves broke the silence, and Pei Ji, who had been lying in wait, immediately got up upon hearing the noise.

Even from a distance, one could see the approaching soldiers carrying torches; the flickering flames seemed like a sharp blade tearing through the thick night, rapidly approaching the village.

Pei Ji could hear the commotion, and so could the people in the manor; chaos erupted inside instantly.

Pei Ji, with his sharp eyes, saw the group hurriedly leaving through the back gate of the manor. He immediately shouted, "Follow me!" and ordered the guards he had brought to rush down and stop them.

A fierce battle is about to break out.

Pei Ji, who rushed into the manor, recognized several familiar faces among the fleeing people. They were all court officials, including several high-ranking officials.

Because he stalled for time, when Zhang Baichen and his men surrounded the manor, none of those people were able to escape.

Having successfully taken control of the estate and tied up the people inside, Zhang Baichen hurriedly went inside to search for them.

However, after searching around, Zhang Shulan and Yan Zhen were nowhere to be found. When Zhang Baichen came out, his face was pale: "Your Highness, I couldn't find Lan'er and Miss Jiang. Could it be that they are..."

Pei Ji couldn't tell him that both girls were safe and sound, so he could only pretend to be more anxious than he was and ordered his men to arrest and interrogate the person in charge of the estate.

The interrogation yielded nothing, and the two men remained silent for a long time. Pei Ji then said, "Lord Zhang, we may have come to the wrong place. My wife and your daughter should not have been taken away by them."

At this moment, the eastern horizon began to lighten, and dawn was approaching.

Zhang Baichen is getting on in years, and after working tirelessly through the night, coupled with the fact that he still doesn't know where his daughter is, he looks as tired as if he has aged several years.

Despite his disappointment, Zhang Baichen remained relatively calm and said to Pei Ji, "His Majesty has entrusted me with investigating the dye shop matter. Now that everyone has been apprehended, I must return to report. As for Lan'er's matter..."

"Rest assured, Lord Zhang, I will lead the search and rescue team to continue until we find it."

Upon receiving Pei Ji's words, Zhang Baichen cupped his hands in a gesture of respect typically reserved for officials of equal rank, conveying the unspoken message.

-

The capital city was bathed in sunshine and gentle breezes.

Early in the morning, the tranquility of the neighborhood was broken by a rumor—the beloved concubine of the Duke of Dingguo's heir and the legitimate daughter of the Grand Secretary were kidnapped by bandits on their way to Qingshan Temple to offer incense.

The news spread at an astonishing speed, and within half a day, it was the talk of the town.

"Didn't the Grand Chancellor's daughter just get engaged to Xu Erlang from the Crown Prince's Junior Tutor's family a few days ago? Why isn't she staying at home embroidering her wedding dress? What is she doing at Qingshan Temple?"

"The bandits on the road to Qingshan Temple are rampant. Last year, they robbed passing merchants and killed several people. Two weak women were captured. How could they possibly survive?"

"Even if she survives, the woman who entered the bandits' den will definitely have been defiled. The Xu family is really in big trouble this time. The bride hasn't even entered the family yet, and she's already been defiled by the bandits."

"If you ask me, they deserved it. They didn't go to any of the temples in the capital, but insisted on going to Qingshan Temple in the deep mountains. Who can they blame for encountering bandits?"

……

Amidst the various rumors circulating in the capital, Yan Zhen and Zhang Shulan had just woken up at Chongyang Temple, dozens of miles away.

Zhang Shulan was frightened yesterday and couldn't sleep at night. She was worried that the bandits would chase her to Chongyang Temple. In the middle of the night, she ran to Yan Zhen's room with her blanket and slept with her.

She kept nagging Yan Zhen until midnight, preventing her from falling asleep. Yan Zhen was so disturbed that she felt like giving up on life. In the end, she could only light a calming incense stick to help her fall asleep.

When Zhang Shulan woke up, her tense mind relaxed a lot. After having breakfast, she and Yan Zhen went to pay their respects to the old lady of the Pingxi Marquis.

The Pingxi Marquis's family was a military family. The Marquis of Pingxi died on the battlefield in his early years. Old Madam Lu raised her three sons and two daughters on her own. Her sons were all accomplished in both literature and martial arts, and earned her the title of First-Rank Imperial Lady.

In Beijing, Madam Lu was a model of a distinguished lady.

However, the old lady's health had been poor in recent years, and she didn't want to get involved in the disputes in the inner quarters of the Pingxi Marquis's mansion, so she simply moved to Chongyang Temple to cultivate in seclusion.

When they arrived at the old lady's courtyard, she had just finished her morning lessons and received the two of them.

Madam Lu was over sixty years old and had a very serious expression.

Zhang Shulan seemed a little afraid of her. She had been chattering all the way here, but when she saw Old Madam Lu, she immediately became as quiet as a chicken and obediently pulled Yan Zhen to bow.

"Greetings to the old lady, and thank you for your help."

Madam Lu's expression was indifferent, revealing no emotion: "Get up—have you had breakfast?"

"I've already used it."

Madam Lu said, "Then go down the mountain and go home. I will send someone to escort you back to the capital."

Zhang Shulan had the same thought; her parents must be worried since she hadn't returned home all night.

Just as the two were about to take their leave, Granny Lu hurriedly came in from outside and whispered a few words in the old lady's ear.

The old lady frowned, glanced at Yan Zhen and Zhang Shulan, and then changed her mind: "I haven't been back to the Pingxi Marquis's residence for a while. It's a coincidence, so I'll go back with you."

Zhang Shulan seemed somewhat surprised, but didn't dare to ask, and obediently nodded, "Yes."

Before long, the group descended the mountain and embarked on their journey back to the capital.

The early autumn weather is pleasant, and the mountain scenery is beautiful.

The carriage bearing the emblem of the Marquis of Pingxi led the way, with guards from the Marquis of Pingxi standing on both sides. On the return journey, Zhang Shulan was less nervous and would occasionally lift the curtain to listen to the birds chirping outside.

"Sister A-Li, why do you think Old Madam Lu suddenly wants to return to the capital?"

Madam Zhang was a distant relative of the First Madam of the Pingxi Marquis's Mansion. During festivals, Zhang Shulan often accompanied Madam Zhang to visit her and heard some secrets about the Pingxi Marquis's Mansion.

The Pingxi Earl's mansion had not divided its property; the three sons and their wives were all capable and resourceful, and the infighting within the household was fierce.

The old lady Lu was so bothered by the absurd things that happened in the inner quarters a few years ago that she fell ill from anger. After moving to Chongyang Temple to live a quiet life, she refused to go back.

Every year during the Lunar New Year, her three sons would take turns visiting Chongyang Temple to invite her back to the mansion, but she refused to return.

Zhang Shulan wasn't stupid. Inside the Taoist temple, Old Madam Lu had initially only intended to have the guards escort them back to the capital. It wasn't until Granny Lu came in and said a few words that she changed her mind and decided to go with them.

She had a premonition that something might have happened in the capital.

Yan Zhen watched as her large, clear eyes darted around, her thoughts practically written all over her face. She couldn't help but find it amusing, confirming her suspicions.

"Since we haven't returned home all night, the Duke's Mansion and the Zhang family must be extremely worried. The news that we encountered bandits on the way has probably already spread throughout the capital."

Zhang Shulan's expression changed drastically.

An unmarried woman, a bandit, someone who hasn't returned home all night—if these words were put together, the rumors and gossip in the capital would be incredibly nasty.

If her reputation is ruined because of this, will the Xu family still want her as their betrothed daughter-in-law?

Upon realizing this, Zhang Shulan grabbed Yan Zhen's hand, her face turning pale: "Sister A Li, what... what should we do?"