Nian Jiaojiao's eyebrows shot up when she heard the letter was from Sanshi Bookstore, realizing it must be from Sanshi Niang.
However, she had already given her all the manuscripts to her in advance. She wondered what could be so important that it warranted sending a letter?
Holding her doubts, Nian Jiaojiao unfolded the letter.
Tong Fu was tidying invitations nearby, but before long, she saw Nian Jiaojiao rush out like an arrow.
"Jiaojiao! Jiaojiao?"
"I have something to attend to at home, please ask for leave for me, use any excuse you like!"
Nian Jiaojiao rushed out the door without looking back.
At this moment, she had only one thought.
Hurry home!
After leaving the academy, Nian Jiaojiao went straight to Sanshi Bookstore in Fengcheng.
...
Sanshi Bookstore.
Sanshi Niang looked somewhat anxious.
She asked her young servant:
"Are you sure the letter was delivered?"
The young servant nodded:
"It was delivered, but it was Nian Tongshou's roommate who received it. Nian Tongshou couldn't be found."
Sanshi Niang tightened her grip on the abacus.
She could only hope that Nian Tongshou would see the letter...
A quarter of an hour later.
When Nian Jiaojiao arrived at Sanshi Bookstore, it was already Yinshi.
"Sanshi Niang! Sanshi Niang!"
The servants were first stunned to see Nian Jiaojiao rush in, instinctively thinking she was there to cause trouble. Then, upon seeing the scholar's robe Nian Jiaojiao was wearing, they realized who she was.
"Are you Nian Tongshou?"
A servant came forward.
Nian Jiaojiao nodded, panting as she replied:
"Huff... huff, yes, it's me, where is Sanshi Niang?"
Knowing the urgency of the situation, the servant quickly led Nian Jiaojiao into Sanshi Niang's quiet room.
"Nian Tongshou."
Sanshi Niang was slightly relieved to see Nian Jiaojiao.
Nian Jiaojiao nodded, "I've read your letter, and I roughly know what's going on. What exactly happened with my husband at home?"
Sanshi Niang replied:
"When I was in Shanshui Town, as per your request, I gave your monthly share to your husband. But strangely, in the second month, your husband was late in coming to collect the money. I was a bit puzzled, so I sent someone to inquire and only then did I learn that something had happened to them."
"Although I knew you were studying at an academy in Fengcheng, I didn't know which specific academy you were in, so I couldn't notify you."
"Fortunately, that night was the Full Moon Festival, and because of the Full Moon Poetry Gathering, your reputation spread throughout Fengcheng. Only then did I know you were at Chenxiang Academy and sent someone to deliver a letter to you."
Sanshi Niang said a lot, but it wasn't to the point, which made Nian Jiaojiao even more anxious.
Nian Jiaojiao was a person with strong self-protection awareness; she wouldn't easily give her heart away.
Therefore, all along, she had maintained a safe distance from these husbands.
But people are not plants and trees, how can they be without feelings?
After more than half a year of getting along, even if there was no romantic love between them, there was still friendship and affection.
They made her feel a little sense of belonging in this foreign Great Yue Dynasty.
So, Nian Jiaojiao interrupted Sanshi Niang and asked directly:
"So what is their situation now?"
Sensing the imposing aura emanating from Nian Jiaojiao, Sanshi Niang swallowed and said:
"When I came to Fengcheng, as stated in the letter, Xuan Yi had disappeared. Later, the other two husbands also went missing while searching for their elder brother. However, three days have passed since then, and I don't know what happened afterwards." Kuai Shu Ge
This meant all three brothers were missing.
But, what about Yuchuan?
Where was he?
Since such a major event had occurred, why hadn't he sent someone to inform her?
At this moment, Nian Jiaojiao was full of doubts.
Sanshi Niang looked at the shocked and anxious Nian Jiaojiao and couldn't help but suggest:
"Our Sanshi Bookstore has a carriage with two good horses that are fast. Why don't you use this carriage to go back and find out the ins and outs of the matter?"
Nian Jiaojiao said gratefully:
"Great kindness needs no thanks. After this matter is resolved, I will definitely bring my husbands to thank you!"
...
After traveling for a day and a night, Nian Jiaojiao had already arrived at Shanshui Town.
Seeing Nian Jiaojiao, who was covered in dust and about to run into the city, the guards at the city gate immediately stopped her.
"Who goes there?"
Nian Jiaojiao said nothing more, quickly handed over her travel permit and identity token, and was soon allowed to pass.
Upon arriving at the small courtyard in Rongwan Alley, Nian Jiaojiao searched the entire courtyard, hoping to see Yuchuan.
However, she was destined to be disappointed.
There was no one in the courtyard.
Seeing this, Nian Jiaojiao calmed down instead.
She sat on a rock by the pond, looking at the duckweed on the water, lost in thought.
All clues had to be traced back to the source.
The first person to disappear was—Xuan Yi.
And Xuan Yi was a responsible person. He wouldn't go missing without a word, making his younger brothers worry about him.
Now, Xuan Yi no longer went hunting in the mountains, so there was no danger of him being in peril.
In this town, the only way for someone to disappear was through human intervention...
Thinking of this, Nian Jiaojiao narrowed her eyes.
If it was man-made...
First, human traffickers, who saw Xuan Yi and let lust overcome them, turning to evil, thus capturing Xuan Yi.
However, judging from the aesthetics of the Great Yue Dynasty that she had learned about, Xuan Yi was the type of person who would be absolutely safe walking on the street...
Therefore, this situation was ruled out.
Second, people who had a feud with the Nian family.
As far as she knew, Zhao Mazi and Tong Xiaoye were the only ones within the scope of such a deep hatred.
Zhao Mazi was dead, so that was ruled out.
So, that left...
Nian Jiaojiao already had a conclusion in her mind about who the main suspect was.
Nian Jiaojiao stood up, playing with a stone she had just picked up, and continued to think.
If she were to go directly to the Tong Mansion to demand the person now, it would clearly be unrealistic.
Firstly, she was alone and weak, and secondly, there was no evidence to prove that Tong Xiaoye had sent people to abduct Xuan Yi.
If only Tong Fu were here...
As soon as this thought arose, Nian Jiaojiao immediately shook her head.
No!
She couldn't make things difficult for Tong Fu!
So now, she could only go find help.
In Shanshui Town, the only force that had power and could possibly help her was—the Xu Mansion.
With the answer in her mind, Nian Jiaojiao threw the stone in her hand into the pond.
The stone hit the center of the pond with a "plop," and the splashing water scattered the fish below.
...
Xu Mansion.
"Granny, please announce that Nian Jiaojiao has come to visit Master Gao."
When Nian Jiaojiao arrived at the gate of the Xu Mansion, she found unfamiliar faces at the entrance, so she had to ask them to announce her.
After the person went in for a long time, they came out and said slowly:
"I'm sorry, Scholar Xu is not at the mansion right now."
Nian Jiaojiao frowned and asked:
"Can you tell me where Master Gao is? I have something important to discuss with Master Gao."
"I don't know."
The other party's reply was cold and concise, making Nian Jiaojiao instinctively feel that something was wrong.
Even if she wasn't the master of the Xu Mansion, she was still Scholar Xu's daughter-in-law. How could this servant dare to be so disrespectful?
During her last visit to the Xu Mansion, Scholar Xu already knew that she had passed the Tong Sheng examination and had clearly valued her greatly. How could he not have given instructions to the servants?