Chapter 329 Disappearance

Chapter 329: Disappearance

Qiu Heng was mixing a new fragrance for the happy event coming up, and many others both inside and outside the estate were quietly preparing congratulatory gifts for her as well.

That day, Xue Han invited Qiu Heng to go out for some fun, and at Cold Fragrance Residence, Fang Zhou and Qing Luo also wanted to go out.

"Nanny Yu, Qing Luo and I are thinking of browsing the shops to see if we can find something nice for Miss's dowry. Are you coming?"

Nanny Yu quickly wiped the pastry crumbs from the corner of her mouth and said flat out, "I'm coming."

She was determined to carefully select a gift for Miss Six's dowry that would beat everyone else's.

"Is Aunt Wang coming?" Fang Zhou asked Qiu Heng's wet nurse, Aunt Wang.

Aunt Wang replied with a chuckle, "If you all go out, that won't work. You go ahead."

"Sister Fang Zhou, Sister Qing Luo, I want to go too."

"Me too."

"And me."

The maidservants gathered around Fang Zhou and Qing Luo.

Qing Luo reached out and tapped the forehead of the young maid clinging to her arm. "Aren't you supposed to be doing your duties? If someone from another courtyard comes looking for Miss, and there's only Aunt Wang in the Cold Fragrance Residence, what kind of impression would that leave?"

Reluctantly, the young maid let go of her arm.

Qing Luo looked at the maidservants who were watching eagerly at her and Fang Zhou, then picked one more to come along.

Fang Zhou comforted those left behind. "It's rare for Miss to go out today, so we're taking the opportunity to go out ourselves. Otherwise Miss will find out and there won't be any surprise. You can go tomorrow."

In the past, Miss used to go out often, but ever since she got engaged, she had been cooped up in the Cold Fragrance Residence. This was a bit of a headache for Fang Zhou, as she also wanted to secretly prepare a gift for her mistress.

"We want to prepare secretly too," the younger maids chimed in. The atmosphere in the Cold Fragrance Residence was good; the senior maids did not push others around with their status, so the younger maids spoke without timidity.

Moreover, since Qiu Heng frequently gave out rewards, the young maids felt confident enough to talk about preparing gifts for their mistress.

Qing Luo let out a soft laugh. "You can go out two or three at a time, you know? Miss won't notice. Go do your own work now."

It was the eighth month, with crisp autumn air and clear skies. Fang Zhou and the other three left the Bo Mansion, chatting as they headed toward the bustling market.

The four of them visited a gold and silver shop, a cosmetics shop, an incense shop, a fabric shop... and before they knew it, half a day had passed.

Nanny Yu looked at Fang Zhou and the other two, sighing with envy. "It's true what they say—youth is best. My legs feel like they're going to fall off."

Fang Zhou smiled. "Since you're tired, Nanny Yu, let's rest at a teahouse."

"Sister Fang Zhou, the comb you picked out is really beautiful," said the young maid who came along with a hint of envy. "I wonder if Miss will like the Mo Le Le figurine I chose."

It was a half-moon-shaped ivory comb inlaid with gorgeous rubies. Truly beautiful, and truly expensive.

The young maid sighed inwardly.

"Don't worry, Miss will like it," said Fang Zhou, patting the young maid on the arm. "Miss has seen all kinds of fine things; the imperial gifts alone are almost filling up her storeroom. It's not about how expensive the gift is. As long as it's heartfelt, Miss loves it."

Only then did the young maid relax. "Sister Fang Zhou knows Miss best of all."

Fang Zhou grinned. "Of course. We grew up together, Miss and I."

"Was Sister Fang Zhou a household servant from birth?" asked the young maid.

Many people in the Bo Mansion had once been curious when Miss Six first arrived—how could her foster parents, who were from a rural village, afford to keep a maidservant?

The pain of the past, which Fang Zhou had been reluctant to speak of, had since subsided as her enemies were defeated. Now she could talk about it openly. "No. I was bought by Miss with money she saved up to buy a donkey. Miss was very young back then, and so was I. Time flies so fast. Miss is getting married soon."

Fang Zhou patted the pouch holding the gift and said with a smile, "On the day we prepare the bridal room, I'll make the pastries for the banquet—"

Her words trailed off, and her eyes widened in disbelief.

Without a word to Nanny Yu and the other two, she pushed past Qing Luo, who was in front of her, and ran after them.

The sudden turn of events left Nanny Yu and the other two stunned for a moment before they snapped out of it.

"Fang Zhou, where are you going?"

"Sister Fang Zhou—"

The three of them hurriedly chased in the direction Fang Zhou had run, but the street was crowded with people, and Fang Zhou had already disappeared into the crowd.

"What do we do, Nanny Yu?" asked the young maid.

Though anxious, the three were not too panicked.

The capital's always had good public order, especially since the new emperor ascended the throne. Everyone knew they had to make a good impression on him, so the patrols, following their bosses' instructions, were more diligent than before.

"Judging by how Fang Zhou looked, she must have seen someone she knew," said Nanny Yu, making a calm decision. "I'll go back to our original spot and wait, in case Fang Zhou comes back and we cross paths. You two keep searching. If you haven't found Fang Zhou in half an hour, come back to me."

Qing Luo and the young maid nodded in unison. "Alright."

Nanny Yu returned to the original spot, getting more anxious by the minute.

Who did Fang Zhou see that made her run off like that?

"Nanny Yu—" The young maid came running back.

"Didn't you find Fang Zhou?"

The young maid shook her head.

"You wait here for Qing Luo. I'll head back to the mansion to report."

The young maid grabbed Nanny Yu's arm. "Nanny Yu, you wait here for Sister Qing Luo. I'm a fast runner. I'll go back and deliver the news."

"Alright. Don't dawdle on the way."

The young maid ran like the wind, not stopping until she reached the Yongqing Bo Mansion, where she happened to bump into Xue Han, who was walking Qiu Heng home.

"Miss!" the young maid cried out as she saw Qiu Heng, staggering over while holding her sides and panting.

"Huan'er, have you just come back from outside? Why are you in such a rush?" Qiu Heng let go of Xue Han's hand and looked at the young maid with concern.

"Miss, I, along with Nanny Yu, Sister Fang Zhou, and Sister Qing Luo, went out shopping. Sister Fang Zhou seemed to see someone she knew and ran after them... We searched for over half an hour but couldn't find Sister Fang Zhou. Nanny Yu told me to come back and report..." The young maid was articulate and quickly explained the situation.

If it had been anyone else acting like Fang Zhou, Nanny Yu and the others wouldn't have been so frantic. They would have searched for a while and then hurried back to report. But everyone in the mansion knew that although Fang Zhou was nominally Miss Six's maidservant, she was like a sister to her, so no one dared take it lightly.

Qiu Heng felt her heart jolt. "Someone she knows?"

Fang Zhou had come with her from the south to the capital. What acquaintance could she have that would make her ditch Nanny Yu and the others and chase after someone in the street?

"Did Fang Zhou say anything?"

The little maid shook her head. "No. We were chatting when Sister Fang Zhou's expression suddenly changed. Before she even finished speaking, she ran off. Judging by her reaction, she was really shocked..."

Qiu Heng glanced at the sky.

It was still quite a while until dark.

The capital was bustling and lively. The night market closed only at the third watch and reopened at the fifth watch, with lanterns burning all night. What sustained such a grand scene was not just people having money to spend, but also the scarcity of criminals bold enough to commit evil in the streets.

Yet for some reason, Qiu Heng felt inexplicably uneasy.

Xue Han noticed her anxiety. He squeezed her hand. "A Heng, don't worry. I'll have the marquis's guards split into several teams to search around, and I'll also notify the Inspection Bureau."

Qiu Heng nodded. She dispatched most of the Yongqing Earl's Mansion's guards as well. Suddenly, the streets filled with people hurrying about.

Night fell completely. Lights came on in thousands of homes. Qiu Heng stood on the street, feeling only the chilly autumn wind.