Qin Junyao wandered around the shop, noticing that quite a few new items had appeared. The back door was also locked from the outside, so it seemed she would have to wait until daytime to see what had happened.
As dawn broke, Qin Junyao, wearing a cloak, emerged from her spatial realm.
With the growing light, Qin Junyao could see that the shop now had more furniture, the floor tiles were new, the walls had been repainted, and it looked like several beams in the roof of the second floor had also been replaced.
Filled with questions, Qin Junyao climbed over the back wall of the courtyard.
Avoiding her mother's noodle shop, Qin Junyao found a wonton shop and had a proper breakfast before heading to Tingyin Pavilion.
"Who's knocking so early?" The shop assistant, as Tingyin Pavilion had not yet opened, sounded impatient upon hearing the knock.
When he saw it was Qin Junyao, his eyes widened. "Miss Qin? Where did you come from? Come in quickly, I'll go fetch our young lady."
The shop assistant led Qin Junyao into the shop, instructed others to attend to her, and then hurried off.
Ling Manshuang had purchased a residence before her cousins arrived, and she now lived there.
About fifteen minutes later, Ling Manshuang rushed over, her hair merely tidied, and her usual exquisite makeup absent.
"Everyone out," Ling Manshuang commanded the shop staff once she confirmed it was indeed Qin Junyao inside.
Qin Junyao's previously smiling face gradually turned serious.
"Sister Manshuang."
"Where have you returned from? No, where did you go? Are you injured?" Ling Manshuang's tone was clearly anxious.
Qin Junyao's already bewildered heart grew more confused. "What's wrong, Sister Manshuang?"
"We were going mad looking for you," Ling Manshuang stepped forward and grasped Qin Junyao's hand. "Are you truly not injured? Weren't you captured?"
"Sister Manshuang, what exactly happened?"
"Sit down and we'll talk," Ling Manshuang breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that Qin Junyao didn't seem injured at all.
"Twenty-three days ago, you told me you were going to handle some matters and that if your family asked, you'd say you were with me."
Qin Junyao nodded. "Yes."
"Three days later, people entered the shop on your second floor, pried up the floor tiles, and damaged the roof beams. At first, I thought they were after the shop."
"But when I investigated, it turned out they were after you."
Qin Junyao's heart gave a jolt. Ling Manshuang didn't know, but she herself knew she had been in that shop. Had she been followed?
"Later, I captured the culprits. Upon interrogation, it turned out they were from the Northwest Great Camp, and their objective was to capture you to obtain information from General Zhao."
"Hmph!" Ling Manshuang snorted. "A dignified commander of a region resorting to such despicable tactics."
"I informed General Zhao about this matter, and we intended to find you and ensure your safety, but you vanished."
"General Zhao thought you had truly been captured by people from the Northwest Great Camp. He even killed Shao Yong, one of his deputy generals, but still couldn't find any trace of you."
"Sister Junyao, where did you go?"
Facing Ling Manshuang's concern, Qin Junyao was somewhat speechless. She couldn't say she had truly vanished from here.
"I went into the mountains. My family disapproved, so I lied and said I was with you," Qin Junyao clenched her fist under her cloak, her expression unchanged as she continued, "I didn't expect to be gone for so long."
"I got lost in the mountains and sprained my ankle. A hunter family rescued me, and I only returned after my foot healed."
"Sister Manshuang," Qin Junyao reached out and clasped Ling Manshuang's hand. "My family doesn't know, do they?"
Ling Manshuang patted Qin Junyao's hand in return. "So that's what happened. Your family doesn't know. How could we possibly tell them? However, Grandma Qin has been very calm throughout, not showing any fear of you being in danger."
"Heh heh, my grandmother is good at divination. Sister Manshuang, you mentioned capturing people from the Northwest Great Camp. Will they resent you for it?"
"Sister Junyao, didn't you always want to know what I said to Madam Qian when I first visited your home?" Ling Manshuang leaned forward.
"Yes, I did. I am a county princess with a fiefdom. I command troops and have immunity from prosecution for killing."