Tian Yu revealed a look of confusion. "Young Master Wang, if Second Young Master Xiao fell off the cliff, the first thing we should do is send people to search the foot of the mountain."
Wang Qingyao nodded. "One group will search the foot of the mountain, and another will search the mountainside. If there are branches sticking out from the cliff face to catch him, or any ledges or other peaks, Second Young Master Xiao wouldn't have fallen all the way down."
Tian Yu's expression showed admiration. The Princess Consort was truly thoughtful.
However, the cliff was so high that even if they lowered ropes, no one would dare to risk it.
Indeed, when the county yamen soldiers heard Wang Qingyao's words, they all looked hesitant.
Wang Qingyao immediately said, "Lord Tian, don't worry. You just need to prepare the ropes for us, and we'll handle the search ourselves."
Tian Yu's face showed guilt. The soldiers beside him, though relieved to hear her words, also felt a pang of shame. They immediately went to find ropes, hoping to contribute in some way.
Before long, the county yamen soldiers had bought all the available hemp ropes. Xiao Yun's men remained on Qipan Mountain, while Tian Yu led his men to search the foot of the mountain.
Xiao Yun's group lowered two hemp ropes, securing them to the large stone pillars behind the ruined temple. The two most skilled guards in qinggong descended along the ropes to search meticulously. The rest of the men stood guard by the two ropes, some tightening them, others continuously adding more rope.
Even though the two men descending possessed exceptional qinggong, the sheer cliff face, smooth and stony, would instill fear in even the most resolute person.
Before they went down, Xiao Yun repeatedly instructed them, "If there's any danger, come back up immediately. Second Young Master's life is important, but so are yours."
After searching for more than half a day, by noon, the guards who had descended returned.
"Reporting to Your Highness, we found a broken tree branch on the cliff face. The break is fresh, it should have snapped not long ago. It's likely it cushioned Second Young Master's fall. If there were more branches below, Second Young Master might have survived."
"All the way down is smooth rock. There are no ledges in this area, nor any other peaks. Second Young Master must have fallen to the foot of the mountain. There are many trees at the foot of the mountain. Second Young Master is blessed by heaven; he will surely be fine."
Xiao Yun's expression improved slightly.
The group reeled in the hemp ropes and returned to the ruined temple, then descended to the foot of the mountain to meet Tian Yu's men.
"How was it? Did you find Second Young Master Xiao?"
After comparing notes, neither side had found him.
Qipan Mountain spanned one hundred and ninety-two square kilometers. With only about twenty people, searching inch by inch at the foot of the mountain, they still hadn't found any trace of Xiao Mo by nightfall.
They continued searching the next day, still with no success.
The third and fourth days, they searched for five consecutive days, and still found nothing.
To find him alive or his body if dead, this complete lack of news left their fate uncertain.
Some county yamen soldiers whispered among themselves, "Perhaps he was already devoured by wolves."
Xiao Yun's sharp gaze swept over them, and the speaker's face immediately turned red. He lowered his head, not daring to meet Xiao Yun's eyes.
Wang Qingyao looked at the magnificent waterfall and the babbling streams at the foot of the mountain, and a sudden idea struck her.
"Lord Tian, are there any villages or towns near Qipan Mountain, especially downstream from the rivers?"
Based on the martial arts novels she had read in her modern life, such cliff-falling scenarios often led to not only the development of divine skills but also the possibility of being carried by rivers to nearby settlements.
Tian Yu's eyes lit up. "There should be, but I'll need to check the local gazetteers back at the county yamen."
So, the group hurried back to the county yamen.
The county yamen kept very complete geographical records of Yunnan and Guizhou, with each town and city neatly categorized.
Wang Qingyao quickly found the gazetteer for Changfeng City and located Qipan Mountain.
After reading through it, she found what she was looking for.
She read aloud to Xiao Yun: "...A stream flows from the foot of Qipan Mountain, downstream to Anmu Village, a village at the border of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Nanzhou, with a population of..."
"Let's go to Anmu Village."
It was already late, so they would have to wait until the next day to hitch a carriage and depart.
Wang Qingyao changed her clothes in the inner room. Hearing a knock at the door, Xiao Yun opened it. As the man's voice carried in, Wang Qingyao stayed in the inner room, avoiding him.
The rules of segregation between men and women in Changfeng City were not as strict as in Duanjing. Even in the inner courtyard, it was permissible for acquaintances to enter.
Xiao Yun saw a man in a soldier's uniform, recognizing him as one of the yamen runners who had been helping search for Xiao Mo. Assuming he was sent by Tian Yu with a message, he politely asked, "Does Lord Tian have something to convey?"
The man replied, "If I have nothing to do, can I not come to see Your Highness?"
This yamen runner was handsome, with rosy lips and white teeth, and a smaller frame than most adult men. His words, spoken in a cooing tone, were accompanied by a flirtatious glance at Xiao Yun.
Xiao Yun was instantly petrified.
Wang Qingyao, in the inner room, couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Seeing that Xiao Yun was silent and just staring at him, the yamen runner seemed encouraged. He took another step forward and said in a "delicate" voice, "Your Highness, ever since I first saw you, I've been captivated by your heroic demeanor. I think of you day and night. If Your Highness doesn't mind, this humble one is willing to go through fire and water to follow Your Highness, to be your ox and horse!"
The words were awkward and nonsensical. Fearing he might misunderstand, and adhering to the upright values of a good youth, Xiao Yun hesitated and asked, "I don't quite understand what you mean. I already have enough guards around me, and besides, your martial arts skills are not good."
The man chuckled flirtatiously. "Oh, Your Highness, you do joke. Don't you understand what I mean? What this young master can do for Your Highness, I can do too, and even better. I can serve Your Highness more comfortably!"