Chapter 409: Sis Cheng Has Been Kidnapped

Chapter 409: Sis Cheng Has Been Kidnapped

Cen Yueyi wasn’t the fiery type. She was tough yet gentle, and even when faced with such incidents, she never thought of seeking revenge, just tried to be extra careful.

At this moment, Xingxing heard Cen Yueyi reassuring her with words like "things will get better after the New Year," and couldn’t help but ask, "...Sister Cen, haven’t you ever thought about fighting back?"

Cen Yueyi touched Xingxing’s little head, her smile tinged with sadness, but she said nothing.

What could she do? Get back at her by ruining her stepsister’s reputation and making it impossible for her stepmother to remarry?

But what good would that do for her?

If her family’s reputation was ruined, would she be able to hold her head high after marrying into the Yujia family?

Cen Yueyi simply arched her brows and changed the subject, smiling as she took out a handkerchief embroidered with apricot blossoms and a few delicate petals, as if caught in a swirling breeze.

"I embroidered this for you, do you like it?"

Xingxing took the handkerchief, the silk was soft, and the embroidery was delicate and precise, showing how much care the person who made it had put into it.

Xingxing pressed it to her cheek, finding it very comfortable, and treasured it, her eyes sparkling as she looked earnestly at Cen Yueyi: "Thank you, Sister Cen, I really like it. You’re so kind to me."

Cen Yueyi couldn’t help but laugh again: "Just a handkerchief, and you’re saying that? Compared to the medicine you got for me, what is this?"

Xingxing said earnestly: "It’s the thought that counts."

Cen Yueyi smiled with her lips pressed together, but in her heart, she thought, such a good little girl, no wonder the Yujia family adored her.

A couple of days ago, Cen Yuehua came by with her snide comments, saying that everyone knew the Yujia family spoiled Yu Xingxing rotten, and that since ancient times, sisters-in-law can be a handful. She said that even though Xingxing is nice to you now, once you marry into the family, you’ll see how annoying such a sister-in-law can be.

Cen Yueyi just smiled at the time, not taking Cen Yuehua’s provocative words to heart, and dismissed her with a few words.

Now, Cen Yueyi herself was thinking that after she married into the Yujia family, she’d choose one of the profitable, easy-to-run estates from her dowry to give to Xingxing.

Although she knew Xingxing might not need an estate from her, for a girl, the more dowry, the better.

After leaving the Marquis of Jiangtai’s estate, Xingxing had the coachman take her to Fan Pingfang’s shop.

Fan Pingfang had recently transformed the shop she bought into a business specializing in women’s cosmetics and fragrances, and it was thriving. She wanted to help An Ningxin, and since An Ningxin didn’t want to live off her savings, they clicked, and Fan Pingfang brought An Ningxin on board.

When Xingxing arrived, Fan Pingfang and An Ningxin were attending to customers. Xingxing joined in to see what was going on, and when a female customer tried on a new shade of rouge, Xingxing exclaimed, "Wow, this color really suits you. Look, when you apply it, it blends like the clouds in the mountains, and your complexion instantly brightens."

The customer couldn’t help but look at Xingxing, who was cute and charming, a true beauty. When she spoke, her almond-shaped eyes curved, making her words very convincing.

Plus, Xingxing’s attire and demeanor clearly showed she was a pampered girl from a wealthy family, so her praise must be genuine.

The customer was delighted and waved her hand: "I’ll take it!"

The customer also tried some kohl, and Xingxing praised her eyebrows, saying they were like the emerald mountains of spring, like the tears of Xi Shi. The customer was overjoyed: "I’ll take that too!"

In the end, the customer bought a box of cosmetics.

Fan Pingfang was beaming: "I really want to make a golden cage to keep our Xingxing in the shop. Just let Xingxing help me with the business."

Xingxing chuckled and then looked at An Ningxin, sincerely remarking: "An Ningxin, you look so much better now!"

Compared to her frail and pale state after the miscarriage, An Ningxin now looked like a completely different person.

More importantly, An Ningxin’s eyes, which had once been dull and shrouded in gloom, now seemed to have been reborn.

Xingxing was chatting with Fan Pingfang and An Ningxin when they saw the maid Xiao Qi, who had been left in Fan Pingfang's small courtyard to take care of the children, running over in a hurry with a look of anxiety on her face.

Xiao Qi, out of breath, urgently called out, "Mistress!"

An Ningxin's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly went up to her: "Xiao Qi, what's wrong? Catch your breath and speak slowly."

Xiao Qi didn’t even have time to catch her breath, her face extremely pale: "Cheng Jier, Cheng Jier has been kidnapped!"

An Ningxin's body swayed, and she clutched Xiao Qi's arm tightly: "How could that be?! Who, who kidnapped Cheng Jier?!"

Xiao Qi gasped for breath, on the verge of tears: "Mistress, I don't know. I just carried Master Hao back to the room to put him to sleep, and I heard Cheng Jier, who was playing in the yard, let out a short scream. The sound was abruptly cut off, as if someone had muffled her mouth. I scrambled out of bed and dashed outside, but Cheng Jier was gone. At the courtyard gate, only one of Cheng Jier's shoes was left—"

Xiao Qi, pale-faced, knelt down in front of An Ningxin, "I shouldn't have let Cheng Jier play outside alone! It's all my fault!"

An Ningxin's body swayed.

These days, she had resolved her inner conflicts and tried to accept Cheng Jier, striving to be a qualified mother. But it had only been a few days, how could Cheng Jier have been kidnapped?!

If it was the Earl of Qin'an who kidnapped her, he should have kidnapped Master Hao, his own son, why would he kidnap Cheng Jier?!

Could it be, human traffickers—

In an instant, countless tragic fates of kidnapped girls flashed through An Ningxin's mind. Her face turned ashen, and she nearly collapsed.

Fan Pingfang and Xingxing supported An Ningxin on either side.

Fan Pingfang comforted her: "Don't worry, I'll close up the shop immediately and accompany you back to find little An Cheng."

An Ningxin, like a drowning person clutching at a floating log, nodded in a panic: "Yes, yes!"

She whispered to herself, trying to reassure herself, "Nothing will happen. The capital is supposed to be safe, how could anything happen? Nothing will happen."

Xingxing, for some reason, suddenly remembered the news about the bandits that her uncle had heard on the estate. She hesitated, ultimately choosing not to bring up the bandit news to An Ningxin.

She only said: "I'll go help too. I brought some servants, let them help search nearby."

An Ningxin nodded in a panic.

The group rushed back to Fan Pingfang's small courtyard. The courtyard gate was tightly locked, and it was only after Fan Pingfang called out that the old servant woman left in the courtyard quickly opened the door.

Ling Jier and Master Hao were still asleep in bed, but only one small shoe of Cheng Jier's remained.

An Ningxin didn't dare to think too much and quickly divided the search with Xingxing and the others, calling out Cheng Jier's name everywhere, asking passersby if they had seen her.

They searched tirelessly until dusk descended, An Ningxin's voice hoarse from calling out, but there was still no sign of Cheng Jier.

An Ningxin returned to the courtyard in despair, looking at the shoe Cheng Jier had left behind. She could no longer contain her grief and broke down in tears, clutching the small shoe to her chest.