Chapter 311: The Withered Tree in the Courtyard

Chapter 311: The Withered Tree in the Courtyard

Li Lanzhu grabbed Xingxing's hand as if clutching a lifeline: "Right, Xingxing, you remember too, don't you? At that time, the doorkeeper said that a girl wearing an osmanthus hairpin left the mansion early, claiming she felt unwell. But..."

Li Lanzhu's face was etched with anxiety, "I went to Wang Qianer's house, and her family said she hadn't returned. Clearly, Wang Qianer told the doorkeeper she felt unwell and left in a hurry, so where else could she have gone?"

Li Lanzhu spoke rapidly, almost choking on her words. She took a moment to catch her breath, her emotions even more agitated: "Moreover, after I sensed something was wrong, I went back and asked the doorkeeper again. The details about the color of the clothes matched, but there was one thing—the doorkeeper said the girl with the osmanthus hairpin left in a hurry, walking very fast—but that's not right! Wang Qianer actually has a minor flaw; she can't walk fast, and if she hurries, she limps—so she usually holds onto my arm!"

At this point, tears brimmed in Li Lanzhu's eyes, "So, Wang Qianer must still be in the Wang mansion! Someone must have worn her clothes, put on her osmanthus hairpin, and pretended to be her to leave the mansion!"

Upon hearing this, Master Wang was so shocked that he stood frozen, speechless.

Liu Ge'er's eyes gleamed with a cold light: "Master Wang, your mansion is truly interesting. This girl named Wang Qianer has gone missing in your mansion, and my sister was almost attacked by your guards!"

Li Lanzhu, just learning that Xingxing had nearly been attacked by the guards in the Wang mansion, was both shocked and horrified: "...And this happened?!"

Master Wang's lips quivered, sweat dripping from his forehead, unable to speak.

In a flash, Xingxing's face changed as she thought of something, and she turned sharply to look at Madam Wang and Wang Dongming!

Madam Wang and Wang Dongming's faces were now extremely pale, and under the weight of guilt, they looked even more ghastly!

Xingxing knew that if she directly exposed their affair now, they would surely deny it and might even retaliate!

Xingxing looked at Bai Ge'er and Liu Ge'er: "Second brother, third brother, we must find Wang Qianer!"

Bai Ge'er and Liu Ge'er didn't know Wang Qianer, but since Xingxing had spoken, they naturally agreed without hesitation.

Bai Ge'er immediately addressed Master Wang: "Let's set Xingxing's matter aside for now. Since Miss Li said Wang Qianer is missing in your mansion, let's search for her first. After all, it sounds like Miss Wang Qianer is in a very dangerous situation."

Seeing that Bai Ge'er's tone was much milder than before, Master Wang readily agreed, wiping the sweat from his brow and nodding repeatedly.

Li Lanzhu couldn't help but glance at Bai Ge'er, her lips pursed, her eyes glistening.

"Wait," Liu Ge'er's gaze swept over Madam Wang and Wang Dongming, a thoughtful glint in his eyes. He said gently, "Since Xingxing's matter isn't resolved yet, to avoid the possibility of some people colluding, it's better for Master Wang, Madam Wang, and this young master Wang to stay together."

Madam Wang and Wang Dongming's faces changed abruptly.

Madam Wang held back: "...I have other things to attend to..."

Bai Ge'er sneered, "Fine, I can ensure your Wang family won't have to attend to anything in the future."

This blatant threat completely unnerved Master Wang, who turned around and shouted at Madam Wang: "What do you have to attend to? Let the maids handle it!"

Madam Wang clenched her teeth and agreed.

She exchanged a worried glance with Wang Dongming.

Wang Dongming managed a smile: "Uncle, my mother is still waiting for me. Shouldn't I go and inform her first?"

Master Wang didn't object, but Liu Ge'er said, "Wait."

He called over a maid from outside: "Go and inform this young master's mother that he is temporarily occupied and not to worry."

Wang Dongming's face nearly twisted in anger.

This little brat was completely cutting off his chance to send a message!

The maid cast a timid glance at Master Wang.

Master Wang gravely instructed, "Listen to the Third Young Master."

The maid accepted the command and left.

After finishing these preparations, Liu Ge'er had Bai Ge'er stay in the room to accompany Master Wang and the others for tea. He personally led the effort, taking Xingxing, Huya, Li Lanzhu, along with the servants of the Wang family to search for Wang Qianer's whereabouts.

"At that time, Li Lanzhu and I searched the entire garden. There was only one place where, when we arrived, an old man was sweeping the ground there. We asked him a few questions and then left," Xingxing said. "Now that it’s confirmed Wang Qianer was impersonated, that old man seems suspicious too."

There was something else Xingxing didn’t mention.

If Wang Qianer had discovered the affair between Wang Dongming and Madam Wang in this courtyard and thus faced danger, then Wang Qianer might still be in that courtyard—after all, although the garden was remote, it was still within the premises of a banquet, and moving someone wouldn’t be easy.

But Xingxing wasn’t entirely sure, so she naturally kept it to herself.

Li Lanzhu also remembered that dilapidated courtyard.

She said excitedly, "Yes! Let's go there first!"

Liu Ge’er agreed without hesitation.

However, before setting off, Liu Ge'er specifically instructed Huya, "Keep Xingxing safe."

Huya nodded crisply, "Third Young Master, rest assured."

Liu Ge’er, Xingxing, Huya, Li Lanzhu, and some Wang family servants went together to that dilapidated courtyard.

The old servant sweeping earlier was gone.

Liu Ge'er took the lead, scanning the courtyard to ensure no one was hiding, and then prepared to enter the house.

A gust of autumn wind swept through, lifting a few scattered dry leaves that had just fallen in the courtyard.

Xingxing sniffed the air.

After studying medicine under Daxisipo, Daxisipo had particularly trained Xingxing's sense of smell and taste.

Now, following the wind, Xingxing caught a faint metallic scent.

It was the smell of blood.

Xingxing’s face tensed as she followed the scent, sniffing and sniffing.

Finally, she reached a thick, withered tree in the courtyard.

The tree was enormous, clearly very old.

It was so old that half of its branches were withered, yet it wasn't completely dead, with a small portion of its leaves still stubbornly growing.

The smell of blood grew stronger, no longer needing the wind to carry it.

Xingxing remembered the little kitten that had crawled into this withered tree earlier.

Clearly, the tree was hollow!

Xingxing lifted her skirt, tied it around her waist, and began climbing the tree, aiming to look into the tree hollow from where the kitten had entered.

Liu Ge'er, who was about to enter the house, turned around and saw Xingxing climbing the tree, nearly startling him.

Liu Ge’er rushed over and caught Xingxing before she climbed two feet.

"I'll climb," Liu Ge'er said, setting Xingxing aside. He lifted the hem of his shirt and began to climb the withered tree. "What are you looking for up there?"

Xingxing replied, "Brother, take a look from the branch and see if you can spot anything in the hole in the tree."

Liu Ge'er nodded and began climbing.

Though a bit rusty, he managed to climb up nonetheless.

The spot wasn't too high; Liu Ge'er reached it in just a few steps.

He looked down into the hole in the tree and hesitated for a moment:

"...There's someone hidden in this hollow tree. I can't tell if they're still breathing."