Chapter 314 Where Is My Cousin?

Chapter 314 Where Is My Cousin?

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a significant occasion for any household in the Great Xia Dynasty, and wealthy families take it even more seriously.

Despite the recent turmoil in the imperial court, Duan Shaoqing, due to his ordinary background, modest official rank, and limited connections—traits that usually left him feeling somewhat inadequate—now found himself facing fewer troubles. As a result, the Shaoqing household was in good spirits to celebrate the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival.

The elderly lady, thinking about the hustle and bustle of the festival the next day, was somewhat annoyed by Duan Yunlang's sudden request after dinner. She sipped some tea to rinse her mouth and asked, "What is it, Lang'er?"

Duan Yunlang looked around and said, "Grandmother, could you dismiss the servants?"

The elderly lady frowned and gestured for the servants in the room to leave. Soon, only the family members of the Shaoqing household remained in the hall.

"Go on."

Duan Yunlang hesitated and glanced at his younger sister sitting beside their mother.

Madame Zhu, seeing this, stood up with her daughter, Duan Yunyan, and said, "Elderly lady, Yan'er goes to bed early every day. I’ll take her back to Suxin Garden first."

The elderly lady nodded.

Once Madame Zhu and Duan Yunyan had left, Duan Yunlang immediately spoke up: "Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and I still haven't been able to see my cousin at the Evening Serenity Abode. Grandmother, Uncle, is Cousin Qing alright?"

At these words, the elderly lady and Duan Shaoqing exchanged a look.

It wasn't just Duan Yunlang who was closely watching the elders; Duan Yunling was watching closely too.

Over the past two months, she’d been to the Evening Serenity Abode several times but had never been able to see her cousin. She could only infer from Xiaolian’s demeanor that her cousin was probably fine. If her cousin were truly in trouble, Xiaolian, being her closest personal maid, wouldn’t have been so composed.

The silence from the elderly lady and Duan Shaoqing turned Duan Yunlang pale: "Is my cousin—is she gone?"

"Second Brother, what are you saying? That’s nonsense!" Duan Yunchen scolded.

Duan Yunlang suddenly turned to Duan Yunchen, his respect for his elder brother wasn’t as strong as for his elders: "Does Elder Brother know something too?"

He looked at the grim faces of his grandmother, uncle, and elder brother, as well as his father's puzzled expression. His mind was racing, and he blurted out his suspicion: "Have you locked up my cousin, planning to seize Qingsong Bookstore and her shops?"

Duan Yunchen strode over and grabbed Duan Yunlang's wrist: "Second Brother, do you realize what you’re saying? How can you accuse your elders like this?"

Once the words were out, Duan Yunlang actually regretted them, but Duan Yunchen's questioning reignited his anger: "Then tell me, Elder Brother, why hasn’t Cousin Qing stepped out of the Evening Serenity Abode in over two months? Don't you find it strange?"

Duan Yunchen's expression darkened, and he pursed his lips: "I only know that Cousin Qing voluntarily asked Grandmother for permission to focus on her spiritual cultivation. I respect her choice, unlike you, who’re making a scene with the elders."

He also found it strange, but since his grandmother and father didn't say anything, as a cousin, how could he ask too much?

"I'm not causing a scene; I just want to know what's really going on with Cousin Qing." Duan Yunlang shook off Duan Yunchen's hand.

He had said too much. If something really happened to Cousin Qing, Elder Brother would be the one to benefit the most. But such words were too harsh, and if he really said them out loud, it would completely ruin their brotherly relationship.

"Yunlang." Duan Shaoqing finally spoke.

Duan Yunlang looked at him.

"If you don't believe what the adults in the family say, then let's call Xiaolian over."

Soon, Xiaolian hurried over from the Evening Serenity Abode. Upon hearing the reason, she looked at Duan Yunlang with both gratitude and helplessness.

"This servant would like a word with the Second Young Master in private." Xiaolian bowed respectfully to the elderly lady and others.

The elderly lady nodded and rubbed her temples.

Once they were in a private spot, Duan Yunlang said, "Xiaolian, just tell me straight, how's Miss Qing? Now that the elders are involved, I won't rest until I get to the bottom of this."

Previously, when he went to Evening Serenity Abode and asked about Miss Qing, Xiaolian had always evaded the question. He figured Xiaolian might have her reasons for keeping quiet, so he didn't press further. Now that Your Honor summoned Xiaolian, even if she told the truth, she wouldn't be blamed.

Xiaolian glanced in the direction of the flower hall and whispered, "Second Young Master, promise me you'll stay calm."

"I can take it, just tell me," Duan Yunlang said, though his voice was choked.

It's over—my cousin must be dead!

"Miss isn't at Evening Serenity Abode."

She's... gone?

"I knew it—my cousin's gone."

Seeing tears well up in Duan Yunlang's eyes, Xiaolian twitched her lips and said, "Miss went on a trip out of the capital. To avoid gossip, she claimed she was in seclusion."

Duan Yunlang was stunned, and after a while, he asked in a daze, "Does Grandma know?"

Xiaolian hesitated for a moment, "The old lady probably knows."

Since the old lady hasn't looked for Miss in two months, Your Honor might have told her.

"What about my uncle?"

"Your Honor knows," Xiaolian's tone was much more certain this time, as she was the one who told Duan Shaoqing.

"What about my brother—"

Seeing that Duan Yunlang intended to ask everyone one by one, Xiaolian hurriedly said, "The others probably don't know."

Duan Yunlang stood frozen for a moment, then he bolted back to the flower hall, knelt in front of the old lady, and hugged her legs, "Grandma, I was wrong!"

The old lady shouted angrily, "Let go!"

"Grandma, I was really wrong!"

Looking down at her shameless grandson, the old lady sighed heavily, "Go to your room."

Perhaps accustomed to her grandson's antics, the old lady couldn't stay angry when the rascal admitted his mistakes and begged for forgiveness.

Duan Yunlang let go and knelt in another direction, "Uncle, I was wrong!"

What else could Duan Shaoqing say? He sternly replied, "Don't act so rashly next time."

After a series of promises, Duan Yunlang left Ruyitang with his father, Duan Wenbo.

Father and son walked in silence through the night. After a while, Duan Wenbo spoke, "Lang'er, you were indeed impulsive today."

Duan Yunlang took a big step forward, walking beside Duan Wenbo, and whispered with his head down, "I know. But I couldn't rest without asking for clarity."

If he didn't ask, who else in the Shaoqing residence would?

Duan Wenbo silently patted his son's shoulder.

In Ruyitang, after everyone else had left, the old lady asked Duan Shaoqing, "Wensong, did the immortals tell you in your dreams when Qingqing will return from her trials?"

"Soon enough."

After tending to his elderly mother, Duan Shaoqing returned to his residence, sat down on a chair, and tugged at his hair in frustration.

This wretched life is truly unbearable, even for a single day!

The next day was the Mid-Autumn Festival. Emperor Xingyuan attended the court as usual, then handled state affairs. While listening to the arrangements for the family reunion feast reported by his inner court officials, he grew increasingly annoyed.

Xinxin had just been buried not long ago, and he wasn’t really in the mood to host a palace banquet. However, the Mid-Autumn Festival was not an ordinary occasion. Even if he didn’t care about others, he couldn’t disregard his mother’s feelings.

The thought of the palace bustling with a lively family reunion dinner while Mu'er was alone in the imperial mausoleum, cold and desolate, left Emperor Xingyuan feeling uneasy.

After some thought, he summoned He Qingxiao for an audience.