Han Chiyan parted the curtain and poked her head out to look around.
A plaque hung prominently above the high doorframe, bearing the four characters 'Pingyang Marquis Residence'. It seemed this was indeed Marquis Gu's estate.
"Shuang'er, are you sure this is the place?" Han Chiyan asked, narrowing her eyes.
Huge Shuang'er hopped off the carriage shaft and approached Han Chiyan, "Princess Yan'er, this is the Pingyang Marquis Residence. Shall we go in now?"
Han Chiyan stared at the plaque for a moment before withdrawing her gaze. "Go knock on the door and inquire about Jiaojiao's whereabouts. Remember, absolutely do not reveal our identities..."
Because Huge Shuang'er had the appearance of a Central Plains woman, the Marquis's steward would not be suspicious.
"Understood, Princess!~" Huge Shuang'er replied, tidied her skirt, and slowly approached the main gate.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
"Is anyone home?"
"Knock, knock, knock..."
A moment later, an impatient voice emerged, "Who is it? Can't a person have some peace early in the morning? Sigh, it's so annoying!~"
The main gate was pushed open, and the Marquis's steward, Zhou, peered out curiously. "Who are you looking for, girl?"
Huge Shuang'er smiled sweetly and bowed gracefully. "Old sir, I'd like to inquire if a barbarian woman has come to your Marquis's residence recently?"
Steward Zhou: "???"
A barbarian woman?
Their Marquis had an irreconcilable hatred for the barbarians. Why would he let a barbarian woman into his residence?
"No, no, you should leave quickly..." Steward Zhou waved his hand.
How could Huge Shuang'er, a person of such intelligence, be easily deterred?
Even if Marquis Gu had captured Princess Jiaojiao, he wouldn't let his servants broadcast it everywhere.
"Old sir!" Huge Shuang'er bowed again, her beautiful eyes glancing into the courtyard. "Then may I ask if Marquis Gu is at home?"
Steward Zhou was stunned upon hearing this. "Why are you looking for my Marquis out of the blue? He's not here..."
"Then do you know where he went, old sir?" Huge Shuang'er pressed.
"Aiya, he went to Da Shui..." Before he could finish the word 'village', Steward Zhou vaguely felt something was amiss.
He suddenly remembered that a young master named Kong had brought a barbarian woman to find Marquis Gu the year before. At that time, Steward Zhou had only told him that the Marquis was in Da Shui Village and not at the residence, so Young Master Kong left in a hurry...
Could the young lady in front of him be that woman's family, here to find her?
However, the Marquis had instructed him before he left that any guests who visited the Marquis's residence in the future were not to be received, let alone this stranger who was asking so many questions and whose identity was suspicious...
Huge Shuang'er curved her eyebrows, surprised. "Old sir, what did you just say, Da Shui?"
Steward Zhou snapped back to attention and chuckled dryly. "My Marquis went to manage the flood. You know, the southern coastal areas are experiencing severe floods. Oh dear, so many people have drowned in the disaster! His Majesty ordered the Marquis to resettle the people within three months, so he..."
"Heh!~" Huge Shuang'er curled her lips, inwardly cursing the fool.
Did this old geezer think he could fool her with such an ambiguous excuse?
It was utterly laughable.
She wasn't a three-year-old child to be deceived by such a low-class excuse!
"If that's the case, then this humble girl will not disturb you further. Farewell..." Huge Shuang'er concealed the cold glint in her eyes, waved goodbye to Steward Zhou, and turned to leave.
"Phew, phew, good heavens!~" Watching Huge Shuang'er's retreating back, Steward Zhou let out a long sigh. "I almost let it slip. If the Marquis found out, he'd skin this old man alive!"
Back in the carriage, Han Chiyan quickly asked, "How was it, Shuang'er? Did you get any news?"
She had promised Abu to rescue Jiaojiao within a month. If she couldn't even complete such a simple task, Abu would value her less and less...
Abu had always been partial, doting on Jiaojiao immensely since childhood. Although he treated her not badly, Han Chiyan always felt something was missing.
Huge Shuang'er took Han Chiyan's hand and smiled. "Princess Yan'er, don't worry. The Steward Zhou just mentioned a place in his panic. If I'm not mistaken, Princess Jiaojiao and Marquis Gu might have gone there..."
"Wh-what place?" Han Chiyan widened her almond-shaped eyes.
"Da Shui!~" Huge Shuang'er said casually.
Han Chiyan was full of questions. "What Da Shui?"
"I'm not sure either. Their Great Liang Kingdom's administrative divisions are very complex, with villages, counties, prefectures, administrative regions, and the capital. I don't know which administrative level 'Da Shui' belongs to..." Huge Shuang'er murmured to herself.
Upon hearing this, Han Chiyan lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then hurriedly lifted the window curtain and looked at both sides of the street. "Shuang'er, go to the general store and buy a map. Get the most detailed and comprehensive one!~"
Since she had found a clue, she would pursue it to the end, not letting go of even the slightest sliver of hope...
"Okay!" Huge Shuang'er nodded and jumped off the carriage again.
It was the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, and many shops had already reopened.
Although there weren't many pedestrians on the street, a map could still be bought.
In the afternoon, the mistress and servant arrived at an inn and settled down temporarily.
A large map was slowly unfurled on the table, marked with complex and dense place names, making Han Chiyan's eyes blur...
"Princess, why doesn't this map have the words 'Da Shui'? However, characters like 'Tai Shui', 'Da Bing', and 'Tian Yong' are very close to Da Shui. We can't just search aimlessly like headless flies, can we?" Huge Shuang'er asked confusedly.
Han Chiyan extended her jade-like fingers and carefully searched the map. Indeed, there were no villages or counties named Da Shui...
Unbeknownst to them, Xiao Jinheng had already instructed officials from the Ministry of War to remove 'Da Shui Village' from the map.
This was precisely to prevent villains from finding the place and harming everyone in the Yun family.
Han Chiyan snorted coldly, her delicate cheeks filled with anger. "You think you can pull this trick on me and make this princess give up? Shuang'er!~"
"What are your orders, Princess?"
Han Chiyan frowned. "I heard that Marquis Gu has an elderly father who is currently living in the residence. You will sneak into the Marquis's residence tonight and kidnap that old Marquis for me. Then, have the steward send a message to Marquis Gu. If he still wants his father to live out his remaining years peacefully, he should send my sister back as soon as possible. I'll give him half a month. Go..."
"As you command!~"