Cui Huan had just returned from the Lanshan Temple with Luo Xunlong and the others after the day's work. Seeing Wei Dongling going out, she quickly followed.
Wei Dongling said with a gloomy face, "Huanhuan, your young master is angry with me. Could you go to the Yu Mansion and check if he's back? " She was worried that he might impulsively go back and agree to marry He Yao! That would make her cry her heart out.
Cui Huan covered her nose, rolled her eyes, and sneered, "He threw me out of the window last night. My nose got bruised and still hurts! Whoever wants to find him can go. I'm not going!"
Wei Dongling was so anxious that she was sweating. She stamped her foot, mounted Little Red, and rode away.
Jingzhe quickly followed.
Cui Huan said helplessly from behind, "Fine, I'll go. But you owe me two meals of barbecue!"
Wei Dongling rode at full speed all the way to General Qi's Mansion.
At the main gate of the Qi Mansion, the servant who had gone in to announce her arrival returned with a bitter face and reported, "Young steward, the second young master of the Qi family is discussing matters with the general. It seems he won't be able to come out to see you for a while."
Wei Dongling thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "Call Zhang Sheng to see me!" The servant turned around and went in.
Zhang Sheng was the second young master of the Qi family's servant. Soon, he was brought out by the servant. From afar, he bowed when he saw Wei Dongling and said, "Good day, young steward!"
Wei Dongling waved her hand and asked quickly, "Zhang Sheng, was it you who came to the Su Mansion to look for me today? Let me ask you, has something happened to Lv Kou?"
Zhang Sheng glanced at the guards at the gate, pulled Wei Dongling to a quiet corner, and then replied, "Young steward, Miss Lv Kou has been sold out of the mansion."
Wei Dongling's face changed. She asked anxiously, "I did reward Lv Kou with a gold ring today. She has served the Qi Mansion whole - heartedly for many years, and her good character is well - known. How could she be wrongly accused and sold?"
Zhang Sheng sighed and reported truthfully, "Today, after Miss Qi Jinxuan brought Miss Lv Kou back to the mansion, she flew into a rage and insisted that Lv Kou had stolen her gold ring."
It was Qi Jinxuan? Wei Dongling stood there stunned.
Zhang Sheng continued, "Miss Jinxuan dragged Lv Kou to kneel in front of General Qi and scolded her for being a thief. She even had someone slap Lv Kou hard a few times. Only then did Lv Kou cry and say that the ring was given by you."
Wei Dongling was furious. She gritted her teeth and said, "I did give the ring to Lv Kou! " She felt indebted to Lv Kou and wanted to make up for it, but she never thought this would make Qi Jinxuan intolerant of her.
This humiliation of Lv Kou was clearly an excuse to vent her anger! It had only been a few months. Where was the once - calm, generous, gentle, and kind Miss Qi? She had become so unreasonable that she wouldn't even spare a maid!
The angrier Wei Dongling thought, the more her head buzzed with pain.
Zhang Sheng sighed, "General Qi immediately had someone find a human trafficker and intended to sell Miss Lv Kou. The second young master of the Qi family quickly sent me out to look for you to find out the truth. But by the time I got back to the mansion, it was too late. She had already been sold..."
Wei Dongling was both angry and regretful. Her face turned ashen with anger. She turned around and bid farewell.
It was completely dark.
Wei Dongling and Jingzhe came to the South Gate Market, which was the largest trading market in the capital.
During the day, the huge market was bustling with noise. But at night, with the cold night wind, the market became quiet and eerie. There was no one there.
The nearby shops had all closed. By the dim candlelight from the few shops that hadn't closed yet, Wei Dongling led Jingzhe around, feeling extremely regretful. Her momentary kindness had led Lv Kou to such a tragic end.
Wei Dongling was heart - broken. She lowered her eyes and said to Jingzhe, "Let's come back and wait here before dawn tomorrow to look for her!"
"Okay." Jingzhe replied calmly.
At this moment, a voice suddenly came over, "Steward Wei, is that you?"
Wei Dongling looked over. A lantern - selling shop with a candle lit inside was about to close. The chubby shop owner heard her voice and poked his head out. Isn't this the shop she used to frequent when buying lanterns for the Qi Mansion? Wei Dongling bowed and smiled, "Hey, Boss Tang! It's been a long time! How's business lately?"
The chubby Boss Tang smiled, "Thanks to you, business has been okay lately! Why are you here so late, Steward Wei?"
Wei Dongling stepped forward quickly to exchange greetings and then carefully asked if there had been any human trafficking by human traffickers today.
Boss Tang frowned and said, "The market is so big. There are so many people being bought and sold in a day! I've been busy with my business and haven't noticed. I don't know which girl you're looking for."
Hearing this, Wei Dongling was a bit worried. She quickly said, "That girl was wrongly accused at noon today. She should have been brought here in the afternoon!"
Boss Tang waved his hand and said, "Steward Wei, you may not know. Buying and selling servants should be done early. Business is much worse in the afternoon! Could the girl you're looking for be brought out for sale early tomorrow morning?"
Wei Dongling nodded and said, "You're right. I'll come back early tomorrow." As she was about to bow and say goodbye.
Boss Tang suddenly called out to her, "I just remembered. When we were chatting this afternoon, Old Liu next door said that Limping Li made some silver today and then went gambling!"
Wei Dongling asked in confusion, "Which Limping Li?"
Boss Tang quickly said, "The human trafficker! I heard he sold a girl to a brothel. Could it be the girl you're looking for?"
A brothel?
Wei Dongling was so anxious that she broke out in a cold sweat. She quickly asked, "Where does Limping Li usually gamble?"
Boss Tang pointed to a dimly - lit place in the distance and said, "Go over there and look for him."
Wei Dongling thanked him and rushed over.
After searching around, Wei Dongling couldn't find Limping Li at all. After inquiring, she learned that the man had lost all his money in the afternoon and had gone home. Moreover, no one knew where he lived.
Wei Dongling was at a loss and paced around anxiously.
Jingzhe coughed lightly beside her and reminded, "Young Master Yu has a wide network of connections."
Wei Dongling said anxiously, "I don't even know where he is now!"
Jingzhe added, "Miss Ruochen beside Young Master Yu has informants everywhere."
Wei Dongling was shocked and asked, "How do you know?"
Jingzhe replied, "When we were selling milk tea in Hanzhong City a few days ago, the brother who raises birds told me. He said that if I need to inquire about something in the future, I can mention his name and ask Miss Ruochen."
Wei Dongling: ...
Wei Dongling led Jingzhe straight to the Xiaoxiang Pavilion. From afar, the madam saw her rushing upstairs and hurriedly shouted from behind, "Miss Wei, you can't! Miss Ruochen has a guest in her room!"
Wei Dongling didn't care about her shouting. She lifted her foot and was about to kick Ruochen's door.
Jingzhe behind her had a look of dismay on his face.