Li Shi found it hard to understand. "Brother, knowing they protect each other, why would you urge me to report to the officials? Isn't that just a waste of time?"
"You don't understand, this is what we call seizing the initiative. As long as everyone knows Xiao Fei's disappearance is related to Lu Nian Fu, even if something happens to Xiao Fei, she won't be qualified to come back and snatch the dye works from you. Otherwise, those people outside would drown her with a single spit. Then this dye works and the Lu family's grand residence will all be yours."
Li Chuan Hu's eyes glinted with greed.
Although this residence, draped with white banners, felt a bit ominous, it was valuable.
Before, when he managed the general store, he only thought this courtyard was quite beautiful when he visited the Lu mansion. But now, as the chief steward of the dye works, he had seen more of the world. Only then did he realize that every flower, every tree, every stream, and every landscape in this courtyard had its own significance.
However, Li Shi became angry. "At a time like this, you're still only thinking about these external possessions. Without Xiao Fei, what use are these things to me?"
Li Chuan Hu quickly tried to appease her.
But Li Shi was too worried about Lu Fei to pay him any mind, and she hurried to find the steward Lu Song, asking him to send household guards out to search for him.
Lu Nian Fu waited for news at the Bafang Inn.
She waited until the hour of Xu (8:00 PM).
The meals, reheated three times, had gone cold again. Yan Qing helplessly had them taken away, leaving only a few plates of pastries for her. "Young Lady, please don't worry too much. Little Master is blessed, he will surely be alright."
But Lu Fei was not blessed.
Lu Nian Fu grew more anxious with every word she heard, fearing that Lu Fei might be burning with fever somewhere, succumbing to the same fate as in her previous life.
"Knock, knock, knock."
The wooden stairs shook violently under hurried footsteps. Not knowing who was in such a rush, Yan Qing, fearing someone was causing trouble at the inn, quickly excused herself. As she stepped out of the room, she bumped squarely into Song Ming. Their foreheads collided with a loud thud, making Lu Nian Fu wince in sympathy for them.
Song Ming, however, had no time to attend to his injury. Clutching his forehead and gasping for breath, he said, "Sister-in-law, they, they found him."
Lu Nian Fu suddenly stood up from her chair. "Found him? Where is he?"
"In Yangzhou city. It was indeed Li Chuan Hu who sent people to take him away. He was paid to drown the young master in the sea. But when it came to it, he got scared and decided to sell the young master to human traffickers. He was caught red-handed during the transaction. Eldest Brother has already rushed over and sent me to deliver the message."
"Is Xiao Fei alright? Was he scared?"
Song Ming scratched his head. "The messenger didn't say."
"No, I have to go back and see. Song Ming, where's our horse?"
Yan Qing said, "It's at the inn. Young Lady, don't worry. If the young master had been in trouble, the messenger would have said so. Since he didn't, he's fine. Didn't you want to use this opportunity to draw out Li Chuan Hu? This is an excellent chance."
Lu Nian Fu nodded. "It is indeed an opportunity, but I won't rest easy until I see Xiao Fei. Alright, let's not publicize the discovery for now. Steward Yan, if Mother comes looking for me..."
"Don't worry, I'll handle it. You just go back and let your husband know, so no one leaks the news."
Song Ming waved his hand. "Don't worry, Eldest Brother has already ordered everyone to keep quiet."
As expected of someone who had been a constable, he was reliable.
Riding from Yangzhou to Xiangshui County and back, Lu Nian Fu felt as if the skin on her inner thighs was no longer her own. But the first thing she did after dismounting was rush to Lu Fei's room.
Qing Ya was guarding the outer room of Lu Fei's chamber. She had already lain down but jumped up upon hearing Lu Nian Fu's voice, lighting a candle. "Young Lady, why have you returned so late at night?"
"Riding my horse. Where's Xiao Fei? How is he? What did the doctor say?"
"The young master is fine. The doctor said the child was startled and might develop a fever tonight, which is why I'm here keeping watch. He's sleeping soundly now. You can go in and see him; you definitely won't wake him."
Lu Nian Fu walked in, half-believing, half-doubting. Seeing her awkward gait, Qing Ya hurried to support her. "Slow down. Your thighs must be all chafed raw today, right?"
The young lady had delicate skin. In the past, after just a couple more laps at the racetrack with other young ladies, the skin on her inner thighs would become so red and swollen that it was unsightly. Today, she had ridden for at least four hours... Qing Ya dared not imagine if there was any good flesh left on her thighs.
Qing Ya's words made Lu Nian Fu's thighs ache. "My inner pants have probably stuck to my skin."
"I knew it would be like this. Go see the young master quickly, and then come back to apply medicine. Your husband will be heartbroken when he sees you like this!"
Lu Nian Fu blushed. "How could I let him see?"
As she spoke, she entered the inner room. On the carved bed, Lu Fei was breathing evenly, sleeping soundly, showing no signs of discomfort. Qing Ya said, "Are you reassured now? The young master is truly remarkable. The ruffian Li Chuan Hu hired wasn't someone who hadn't killed before, yet he was so intimidated by the young master that he didn't dare kill him. In the end, he had no choice but to send him to the traffickers. Otherwise, your husband wouldn't have found him. Fengshou is not so lucky. He's two years older than the young master, and an hour ago he had a fever and was unconscious. But our young master here is acting like nothing happened."
Lu Nian Fu touched Lu Fei's forehead. "We can't be too careless. Call Mian'er over. One of you guard half the night. If anything seems wrong, call a doctor immediately. Oh, where is the doctor?"
"The doctor left after giving Fengshou his medicine."
"No, go and invite him back later. What if Xiao Fei develops a fever in the middle of the night?"
"That would be too troublesome for the doctor..."
"Five times the consultation fee."
Qing Ya: "...Fine."
At that price, the doctor likely wouldn't refuse.