The daily life of a concubine's daughter

Chapter 379: The Search Leads to the Xie Family

After a few words, Xie Jibai came back with a box of candied fruit in his hand. He saw that the bowl on the bedside was empty, so he asked, "Have you taken the medicine?"

Shi Yao made a bitter face: "I think it's getting cold, I can't wait for you to come back, so I ate it first, bring me the candied fruit quickly, this medicine is so bitter that it's killing me."

Aunt Liu Hua stood up, gave up her seat at the head of the bed, bowed to Xie Ji and quietly left the room.

Xie Jibai sat at the head of the bed and brought the candied fruit to Shi Yao.

There are small grids of candied fruits, about ten grids in total.

Shi Yao ate a few raisins and a candied date, and drank a few sips of boiled water: "That's enough, that's enough. I finally suppressed that deadly bitter taste."

Xie Jibai smiled and shook his head, put down the candied fruit box, and said, "Don't worry, tomorrow is the day you return home. Go back and ask, and you'll know everything."

Shi Yao nodded and pressed the dry corners of her eyes with an embroidered handkerchief.

Xie Jibai knew that she was not sad, but he did not dare to say it out loud. He comforted her step by step: "How about we play a game of hands?"

"it is good."

Just as Xie Jibai set up the chessboard, Nanny Zuo beside Jiang came to report in a panic: "Third Master, Third Madam, Prince Cheng has brought his troops to search! The prince specifically asked to see Third Madam!"

Shi Yao stood up suddenly.

Xie Jibai supported her arm and said gently, "Don't panic. It's impossible for our family to harbor Aunt. Madam, I'll support you. Madam Zuo, go to the front and tell them that Third Madam was too sad and fainted. She just woke up and changed her clothes and went right away."

Shi Yao immediately put her hand on her forehead and said softly, "Husband, I'm still dizzy."

Xie Jibai: "..."

He put his fist to his lips, coughed, and called the maids to change Shi Yao's clothes.

Shi Yao's outfit was too festive, so she changed into a light pink one. It had the festive feel of red, but wasn't so glaring that it would hurt Cheng Wang's heart.

The couple came to the main courtyard, Shanhuai Hall.

Along the way, the soldiers wearing armor and holding long swords guarding the place were terrifying.

The fourth prince Zhou Shao was sitting in the main seat. When he saw Xie Jibai coming in with the trembling and tearful Shi Yao, he stood up suddenly.

Yesterday Zhou Shao rode on a tall horse. Although he looked a little reluctant, he was still dignified and handsome like jade.

After just one night's absence, Zhou Shao looked shabby, with untidy beard and eyes that were dim and violent.

Xie Jibai thought to himself that the Fourth Prince was probably really sincere towards his sister-in-law. Look how anxious this guy is.

Zhou Shao couldn't wait to ask: "Second Miss, you and Zhuzhu have a deep relationship. Now she is missing. Do you know her whereabouts?"

Shi Yao's eyes held tears for ten seconds, and then two big tears fell down. She grabbed Xie Jibai's wrist, took two quick steps, and cried:

"Your Highness, King Cheng, my elder sister must not be dead, she must still be alive, she must be waiting for us to save her! Your Highness, please find her. I, Shi Yao, would like to thank you for your great kindness. I will serve you like a slave in the next life!"

After saying this, Shi Yao was about to kneel down and kowtow.

"No, no, just tell me if you have any clues." Zhou Shao didn't dare to touch Shi Yao and held Xie Jibai's arm.

Xie Jibai held Shi Yao's arm again.

Shi Yao couldn't kneel down, so she leaned against Xie Jibai, heartbroken, sobbing into her handkerchief, "My Lord, my elder sister has always been kind to others and has never offended anyone. I really can't think of who would harm my elder sister and hide her away.

This person is truly ruthless! If I knew who he was, I… I… I would tear his face apart and make him ashamed to face anyone for the rest of his life! Wuuuuu… Wuuuuu…”

Xie Jibai: "..."

Isn’t this lying with open eyes?

From what he had heard, Shi Mingzhu had offended his wife who was crying miserably, had offended Princess Cheng Lin, had offended Princess Zhou Wan, and had some conflicts with Princess Jingyang, the prince's closest sister.

Besides, my wife's sisters-in-law don't seem to like the elder sister-in-law very much.

Shi Yao is currently the only person who, like Zhou Shao, firmly believes that Shi Mingzhu is not dead. Everyone else advises him to mourn, so Zhou Shao's affection for Shi Yao outweighs his annoyance at her crying at this moment.

After hearing what Shi Yao said, Zhou Shao's eyes became increasingly dim, but he was unwilling to fully believe what Shi Yao said.

Zhuzhu and Shi Yao have a deep sisterly love. Whether it is true or not, it is possible that Shi Yao secretly keeps Zhuzhu.

So, he said calmly, "Today, I am ordered by the Emperor to search the entire city. I have already searched the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, and the Xie family is no exception. Do you have any objections, Miss? Searching earlier can also clear Miss of suspicion. After all, you are Zhuzhu's only sister."

Shi Yao glanced at her father-in-law and mother-in-law who were standing silently beside her. When she saw her father-in-law nodded, she sobbed, "No objection, no objection at all! Your Majesty, just follow your orders. I really wish my elder sister could hide in my house."

"..."

Xie Jibai was nearly choked to death by the air.

He didn't dare to hide Shi Mingzhu secretly, because the violent prince in front of him could destroy the Xie family.

Zhou Shao waved his hand, and his men immediately took orders and left, searching the Xie family's house inside and out.

Because this was the husband's family of Mrs. Shi's sister, no one dared to search too harshly or damage anything, but they also sighed that the Xie family was indeed a big merchant family and was very rich.

Master Xie was not stingy either. He ordered the butler to seal ten thick red envelopes and stuffed them into the pockets of the search leaders, saying, "Thank you for your hard work, everyone. This is a token of appreciation from the master of the mansion. Please have some tea."

If the adults are satisfied, they won’t be jealous anymore.

Not long after, the commander of the army reported solemnly: "Your Majesty, the Xie family has not found any trace of Madam Shi!"

Zhou Shao knew this would be the result, but he still asked, "Second Miss, before the accident, did your sister really not tell you anything?"

It sounded like she suspected that Shi Mingzhu had run away. Shi Yao shook her head, tears streaming down her face: "No, I haven't seen my elder sister since the Dragon Boat Festival."

Zhou Shao's body seemed to be covered with a layer of dust. He said nothing and led his people away in a daze.

Shi Yao cried out from behind: "Prince, Prince, if you have any news about my elder sister, you must tell me as soon as possible!"

Zhou Shao ignored him.

Everyone in the hall breathed a sigh of relief.

Jiang sat down on the chair and murmured, "This scene is really scary." She raised her head and said, "Third wife, please accept my condolences."

She wanted to go to Shi Yao to comfort her, but her legs were not strong enough and she couldn't stand up.

The other members of the Xie family consoled him, saying, “Please accept my condolences.”

Shi Yao received so many condolences, the atmosphere was so tense that she had no choice but to continue pretending to be sad. She held Xie Jibai's hand and cried all the way back.

As she cried, she thought that the Xie family was still affected and she didn't know what kind of chaos the Duke's Mansion would be in.

Be messy, the messier the better.

*

Just as Shi Yao expected, the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion had been in chaos since last night.

First, a fire broke out in the backyard of the ancestral hall, which was the room where Shi Mingwei lived, but Shi Mingwei could not be found no matter what.

Then the guards who were fighting the fire used up all the water stored in the water tanks, and went to the well to fetch water. Their buckets would not sink, so they lit torches and looked inside, and were scared to death.