Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 627 - 629: The Sinking Boat (Part 4)
The surroundings were deathly silent, even the sound of people outside the alley seemed distant from them.
The smell of blood wafted from below, and Xiqiu coldly said, "We may have encountered bandits. Don’t panic, if someone comes later, scatter and escape outwards. Return to the mansion to find help. If you can’t escape, don’t force it. It’s most important to stay alive."
They didn’t know the intentions or the identity of the other party. They were merely four women who couldn’t even kill a chicken, and if the other party wanted to kill them, it would be a simple matter. Sitting in the carriage, Xiqiu quietly contemplated a way out.
What puzzled her was how there could be bandits when the Capital had always had good security.
Moreover, the carriage bore the mark of the Shen Mansion; even bandits should weigh this seriously. The more she thought about it, the darker her face became.
Chunliu, Bihuai, and Biwu were also pale-faced; even the maids had lived in the inner residence and had never seen such a scene.
Xiqiu was just about to speak.
At that moment, the carriage started moving again...
The Grand Dowager was in the room talking to Xing, Min, and Sheng, then turned to ask Nanny Wu, "What hour is it now? Why hasn’t Xiqiu returned? Did Shen Mansion send any word?"
"3:45 PM," Nanny Wu replied, "I’ll send someone to the outer courtyard to inquire."
The Grand Dowager furrowed her brow and nodded, Xiqiu usually returned after noon, or if she wasn’t returning would send word back. Could something have delayed her?
Min asked, "Grandmother, where did Mother go?"
The Grand Dowager turned to Min with a smile, "Mother went to visit a friend, she’ll be back soon." Min nodded.
After a while, Nanny Wu returned from outside and reported, "The outer courtyard says Fourth Madam hasn’t sent anyone back with word, and they haven’t seen the Shen Mansion carriage."
The Grand Dowager nodded thoughtfully and said, "Let’s wait a bit longer." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
But even as evening passed, Xiqiu still hadn’t returned. The Grand Dowager became increasingly uneasy and called Nanny Wu to instruct, "Send a maidservant to Shen Mansion to check, bring some gifts from the storeroom. If Xiqiu is delayed, offer to fetch her, and if Xiqiu has left without contact, give the gifts to Old Madam Shen."
Nanny Wu acknowledged the instruction and turned to leave.
First Madam arrived, and upon hearing the Grand Dowager mention Xiqiu hadn’t returned, she was slightly startled and asked, "Could she have returned to her mother’s home?"
"She likely wouldn’t." The Grand Dowager shook her head, "If she was to go back, she’d surely send word, plus it’s already dark now." First Madam nodded, about to speak, when Fourth Master Xiao strode in from outside. His gaze swept across the room without seeing Xiqiu, and he furrowed his brow slightly. The Grand Dowager immediately said, "Xiqiu hasn’t returned yet. I’ve just sent someone to inquire at Shen Mansion."
Fourth Master Xiao’s eyes narrowed slightly at her words, and he asked the Grand Dowager, "When did she leave this morning?"
"At 7 a.m., with Shen Mansion’s carriage picking her up." Nanny Wu answered without thinking.
Fourth Master Xiao fell silent for a moment, then suddenly turned and left without looking back.
About half an hour later, a maidservant ran in from outside, drenched in sweat and almost collapsing from exhaustion, she knelt on the floor rambling, "Grand... Grand Dowager."
The Grand Dowager’s expression changed immediately upon seeing her, asking, "Speak clearly, what happened?"
"It’s... it’s Fourth Madam, Fourth Madam and several girls are all missing." The maidservant knelt, her legs trembling uncontrollably.
"What did you say, what’s missing?" The Grand Dowager stood up abruptly, "Say it again!"
The maidservant repeated the report.
The Grand Dowager listened and her vision went black, First Madam immediately supported her and asked, "Has anyone asked at the Tong Family if Fourth Madam went back home?"
"Fourth... Fourth Master went there personally, he hasn’t returned yet." The maidservant replied and paused before adding, "Even the Shen Family’s carriage hasn’t returned, and the dozen servants who were with it have also disappeared without a trace."
Xiqiu was in Shen Mansion’s carriage, if not on an urgent matter, how could she detour to the Tong Mansion halfway?
The Grand Dowager listened blankly and fell straight down.
"Mother, Mother!" First Madam hurriedly supported the Grand Dowager, while Sheng, Xing, and Min ran out from the green gauze cabinet, the three children seemed to understand what had happened, staring blankly at the fainted Grand Dowager.
First Madam placed the Grand Dowager on the eight-step bed, Nanny Wu quickly brought the Life-saving Pill and placed it into the Grand Dowager’s mouth. First Madam turned and instructed the maidservants, "Remember, do not let this matter spread!" Saying this, she glanced at the three or four maids and servants in the room, and everyone instinctively hunched their shoulders, nodding in agreement. First Madam then coldly said, "Go find the Marquis."
Someone ran out swiftly.
The maidservant kneeling cautiously stood up, knowing the severity of the issue. If something happened to Fourth Madam, this reputation would be unbearable for her, and even the Marquis Mansion couldn’t bear it.
Now with more than a dozen maids, servants, and Fourth Madam all disappearing silently, though finding them is crucial, Fourth Madam’s reputation is also very important. Otherwise, even if she is found, her life would be ruined.
When the late Emperor was reigning, there was a lady who went to Puji Temple to burn incense and was abducted halfway. Two days later she was found, though it was just a ransom for money and the lady was unharmed, she still became a nun in the end.
The maidservant cowered in a corner, knowing that if Fourth Madam indeed encountered trouble, for the sake of reputation, those who knew about it from the Marquis Mansion would not be spared.
Old Madam Shen suddenly stood up, throwing the teacup in her hand, she furiously looked at Shen Ji and said, "Take some trustworthy people and search. I refuse to believe they have the courage to abduct someone under the noses of two mansions!"
Shen Ji had already made arrangements, without need for Old Madam Shen’s command, he must find this person, and must search with all efforts.
Nobody knows Fourth Master Xiao’s attitude toward Fourth Madam better than Shen Ji, and if something happened to her, given Fourth Master Xiao’s nature... the consequences were unimaginable.
"Mother, don’t worry, I’ll take people to search immediately. Right now only people within our two mansions have some knowledge, outsiders don’t know anything yet!" He paused and added, "A carriage so large, it won’t be easy for them to hide it."
Old Madam Shen nodded her head and waved, "Go quickly, what are you still standing here for?"
Shen Ji took the order and hurriedly left.
Madam Shen recalled Xiqiu still being here happily this morning, yet now absent, she supported Old Madam Shen with a solemn face and said, "Mother, Fourth Madam was in our mansion’s carriage, do you think it might be?"
"It must be so." Old Madam Shen tightly furrowed her brows, "The other party probably isn’t aiming at Fourth Madam, but at the relationship between our two mansions, trying to make Fourth Master Xiao completely hate us."
