Chapter 413: Master Hao is Taken

Chapter 413: Master Hao is Taken

With no evidence, Yu Yonghuai and An Ningxin were released after giving their statements to the Prefect of Shuntian.

Although the Countess of Qin'an was unwilling, she had no other choice.

Tears streaming down her face, she shot An Ningxin a resentful glare before rushing back to the Earl of Qin'an's residence.

The Yujia family returned home late at night. The old maid Wei Pozi quickly instructed the maid to prepare ginger soup, ensuring everyone drank a bowl to ward off the cold and evil spirits before allowing them to go to sleep.

Xingxing, being young, was already worn out. A thought crossed her mind on the way back, but she was too tired and fell asleep right after finishing the ginger soup.

By the time she woke up the next day, it was already quite late.

Wei Pozi and the others, knowing that Xingxing hadn't slept well the previous night, specifically instructed the maid not to wake her.

Rubbing her bleary eyes, Xingxing sat before the mirror, allowing the maid to gently comb her hair. Suddenly, she exclaimed, remembering the fleeting thought from the night before.

The Earl of Qin'an was dead, and the Earl's residence now only had the Countess's only daughter, with no male heir to inherit the title.

But... An Ningxin had Master Hao!

Master Hao was the only son left by the Earl of Qin'an!

Would the Earl's residence try to take Master Hao away?

Xingxing instinctively clutched the edge of her dressing table.

She needed to hurry and warn An Ningxin, so she could prepare in advance!

However, as Xingxing rushed to notify An Ningxin, the maid stopped her, her face filled with disapproval: "Miss, the old madam specifically instructed that no matter what, you must first drink a bowl of chicken soup to nourish your body after waking up. The soup is warming on the stove. If you want to go out, you must finish the soup first."

Biting back her impatience, Xingxing nodded and urged the maid to bring the chicken soup.

The young girl boldly lifted the bowl and gulped down the soup. But before she could finish the remaining half, the maid hurried in to report that Fan Pingfang had come to visit.

Xingxing immediately thought of Fan Pingfang: "Quick, invite her in."

Xingxing told the maid, then quickly finished the soup, changed, and rushed to the reception hall.

Xingxing bumped into Fan Pingfang right at the door.

Fan Pingfang, looking anxious, grabbed Xingxing's hand and got straight to the point: "I won't mince words!... The Earl's people have taken Master Hao and hurt An Ningxin. An Ningxin has fainted at home, and Xiao Qi is taking care of her. I came to seek your help to think of a solution!"

Xingxing smacked her forehead.

She knew it!

The Earl's residence wouldn't let Master Hao slip away!

Xingxing urgently pulled Fan Pingfang's hand and walked out: "...Earlier, I checked into the Earl's affairs. Right now, only the Countess has a daughter, and none of the concubines or maids have had children. The Earl's title can be passed down for three generations, and the current Earl is the second in line. He has no brothers. With the Earl gone, the title might be revoked—the old madam won't stand for that!"

Fan Pingfang's eyes welled up with worry: "Exactly! That's what the Earl's people said too. They claimed that the old madam, having lost her son in her old age, has fallen ill and is now longing for her grandson, insisting that Master Hao fulfill his filial duty by attending to her at her sickbed!"

Xingxing's mind raced to find a solution.

Fan Pingfang, seeing the young girl barely reaching her shoulders, furrowed her brows in thought, feeling a pang of guilt.

Xingxing's family had just moved to the capital. Even though Huai Geer was made General of the Western Garrison, their roots were still too shallow. How could they compete with an Earl's residence that had been rooted in the capital for many years?

But she was truly out of options. An Ningxin's body couldn't withstand any more strain, and the people who came today were particularly aggressive, shoving An Ningxin into a pillar. An Ningxin's head injury still required rest and recovery, but this incident worsened her condition, causing her to faint.

Both had suffered misfortune, and both were mothers. Fan Pingfang felt An Ningxin's pain deeply.

Just the day before, her daughter had been kidnapped, and her fate was still unknown. That night, the man she had just severed ties with died. Then, just half a day later, her son was snatched away.

For anyone, this would be one disaster after another.

Fan Pingfang had no choice but to turn to Xingxing for help.

Though Xingxing was just eleven or twelve, Fan Pingfang had a gut feeling that Xingxing could somehow fix things.

"I'll go home with you first to check on Madam An," Xingxing made up her mind. "Health is everything. If Madam An wants to find Xiao Ancheng and Master Hao, she must first recover her health."

Fan Pingfang nodded eagerly, completely agreeing.

Xingxing let her family know, grabbed her medical kit, and headed back to their small courtyard with Fan Pingfang.

The moment they entered the yard, An Ningxin woke up and bolted out the door, barefoot and frantic to find Master Hao.

Xiao Qi, eyes red, ran after her, sobbing and calling out, "Mistress!"

An Ningxin's body was like a cracked, patched-up jar, barely holding water, her life force seeping away.

She had barely taken a few steps out of the house before collapsing to the ground, dizzy and disoriented.

Yet, even sprawled on the ground, An Ningxin clawed forward, her eyes brimming with what looked like bloody tears, her voice rasping, "...Master Hao, Master Hao..."

Xingxing's eyes filled with tears as she and Fan Pingfang rushed to support An Ningxin on either side.

"Madam An—"

An Ningxin was too frantic to listen, thrashing to break free.

Xingxing had no choice but to slip a pill into An Ningxin's mouth.

Soon, An Ningxin went limp, collapsing into Fan Pingfang's arms, unconscious.

Xiao Qi glanced at Xingxing, at a loss for what to do.

While helping Fan Pingfang support An Ningxin, Xingxing explained to Xiao Qi, "Don't worry, it's just a pill to help her sleep and recover. Your mistress is too worked up right now, and it's bad for her health. It's better to let her sleep and regain her strength."

"I'll follow your instructions," Xiao Qi nodded repeatedly, quickly wiping her tears, and together with Fan Pingfang, they carried the unconscious An Ningxin back into the house.

After they managed to lay An Ningxin on the bed, Xingxing checked her pulse, her small brow furrowed in worry.

Xiao Qi's heart was in her throat, and she asked tearfully, "Miss Yu, how is our mistress's condition...?"

The doctor had come earlier and had spoken gravely about her condition. Xiao Qi didn't understand some of the medical terms, but she understood that if her mistress didn't take good care of her health, she could die!

Xingxing sighed and withdrew her hand, "...Madam An must take good care of herself and not exhaust her mind anymore."

Xiao Qi wiped her tears in despair, "...Sis Cheng has been abducted, Master Hao has been taken by the Earl of Qin'an's household. How can our mistress not exhaust her mind?"