Colored lanterns and silk ribbons were also hung under the eaves and in the corridors of the Prince Ning's Mansion. At first glance, it seemed a joyous sight, but compared to previous years, the mansion appeared even more desolate and empty this year.
"Your Highness, the heir didn't return to the mansion last night either. He stayed there again," a servant reported to the Princess of Ning.
After the upheaval that almost toppled the capital city subsided, the emperor bestowed the former Marquis Ding'an's Mansion on Ji Lingchuan as a reward for his meritorious deeds as the Grand General Protecting the Nation. Since the day Ji Lingchuan brought Qi Lei there and then let him go, he had never returned to the Prince Ning's Mansion.
The Princess of Ning heaved a long sigh. "This child is so stubborn," she said.
The Prince of Ning got up and put on his clothes. "Isn't he just like you?" he said indifferently. "The status of the Prince Ning's Mansion is so high that no one in the entire Yu Kingdom can match it. There's no need to consolidate our position through marriage. Instead, we should avoid attracting too much attention. Marrying a concubine's daughter as the heir's wife might actually make the emperor more at ease, indicating that the Prince Ning's Mansion has no ambition."
The Princess of Ning was furious. "Now you're being a Monday-morning quarterback. When the Empress Dowager arranged the marriage, why didn't you step in and reject it?"
"I'm too lazy to talk to you," the Prince of Ning said and left her courtyard with his hands behind his back. The Princess of Ning was so angry that she plucked several leaves off a plant.
Not long after, unable to sit still, she summoned Nanny Chen. "Send someone to tell the heir that he must come back to celebrate the New Year with us no matter what," she said.
Nanny Chen took the order and went to the former Marquis Ding'an's Mansion, but she came back empty-handed. It turned out that Ji Lingchuan had gone to the palace early in the morning to discuss the palace banquet with the emperor.
The fact that Northern Di spies had been lurking in the capital for many years and even kidnapped the Empress Dowager was a major incident. Therefore, the emperor didn't want to hold a grand palace banquet this year. Although it wouldn't be a grand affair, the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven and praying for blessings still had to be carried out. As the Grand General Protecting the Nation, Ji Lingchuan was naturally responsible for the emperor's safety during the ceremony.
The emperor and his general talked from night until dawn before finalizing the details of the ceremony.
Looking at the dark circles under Ji Lingchuan's eyes, Ji Zihuan said, "Cousin, how many days have you not slept?"
Ji Lingchuan didn't reply. He just sat there with his head down. Seeing his appearance, Ji Zihuan sighed. "Since you believe she's not dead, you should live a good life. You don't want her to see you in a decadent state when you finally find her one day, do you?"
Clearing his throat, Ji Zihuan said pointedly, "I've been finding Lord Gu more pleasing to the eye recently than you."
This remark finally elicited a reaction from Ji Lingchuan.
Looking up, Ji Lingchuan asked, "When is the wedding between Gu Yunzheng and Cao Jinyu?"
Ji Zihuan tapped his fan. "Don't go too far. I've already meddled in the affairs of the mandarin ducks for your sake and dashed Lord Gu's hopes. If you still ask about the wedding date, be careful that Lord Gu might defy the imperial edict. I won't be able to do anything about it then."
Ji Lingchuan heaved a deep sigh and rubbed his temples. He confided his innermost feelings to Ji Zihuan. "I always feel that she's hiding in a corner of the capital, watching me. But no matter how hard I try, I just can't find her."
Ji Zihuan remembered that bright and charming girl and couldn't help but feel a bit emotional. "She is indeed the most willful and scheming woman I've ever met in my life. If she really wants to hide, it will be quite a headache."
"I believe in your intuition, cousin. But in this matter, it depends on whether fate is on your side or hers."
"Anyway, the most important thing now is to find her."
When Ji Lingchuan left the palace, the continuous rain and snow that had lasted for several days finally stopped. The sun broke through the clouds and cast a golden glow on the ground. The sky finally cleared up.
It seemed like a good omen, but the bloodshot eyes in Ji Lingchuan's eyes were even more prominent than before as he bathed in the sunlight.
Fu Zhou stepped forward and handed him a pair of wrist warmers made of rabbit fur.
Ji Lingchuan took them and carefully put them on his wrists. He asked Fu Zhou, "How's the situation?"
Fu Zhou knew what he was asking. "The brothers searched further along the river but still couldn't find any trace of Miss Song Si. Warrior Qi goes out to the dock of the pleasure boats every day to set up a noodle stall. He rarely leaves his stall and doesn't interact with anyone. As for the Chicken and Dog Alley, there's been no movement for the time being."
Ji Lingchuan frowned and turned his horse around. "Let's go to the Chicken and Dog Alley."
The Chicken and Dog Alley.
Today was New Year's Eve. All those who had gone out to work in the fields or in the city had returned home. Laughter filled the air everywhere, making it a very lively scene. In contrast, Song Yihuan's small courtyard seemed even more desolate and quiet.
It had been raining and snowing heavily outside in the previous days, covering up all the traces and scents on the ground. The Black Armored Army hadn't come to search for several days, giving Song Yihuan a chance to catch her breath.
But Song Yihuan knew Ji Lingchuan well. She thought that with Ji Lingchuan's patience, today should be his limit. She might have to leave today.
She didn't have much in this small courtyard. There were only two sets of clothes and some silver coins, which were left by Qi Lei before. She didn't plan to take them. In order to buy herself some more time, she stuffed all these things into the stove and covered them with ashes.
After finishing all this, she put the candles, incense sticks, and paper money that Mrs. Wang had brought last night in a basket. Then she put on her things and left the courtyard with a walking stick.
The alley was full of dirty snow water. Song Yihuan walked very carefully, trembling.
She hadn't walked two steps when she saw a Black Armored soldier passing by. She took a look and then lowered her head as if nothing had happened.
Sure enough, just as she had expected, although Ji Lingchuan hadn't come in the past two days, he still left some men to patrol the area. Presumably, all the exits of the neighborhood were guarded.
As she had expected, when she reached the entrance of the alley, she was stopped by the Black Armored soldier on guard.
"Old woman, where are you coming from and where are you going? Do you have any identification?"
The Black Armored soldier was leading a hunting dog beside him. Song Yihuan had smeared strong medicinal liquor on her body as usual. The pungent smell made the hunting dog take a small step back.
Song Yihuan pinched her voice to sound old and hunched her back. "Huh? I've never heard that you need to prove your identity just to go out. I've lived here for decades. Everyone in the neighborhood knows me. Why do I need that?"
She raised her hand. "Today is New Year's Eve, and the rain has finally stopped. I'm going to the City God Temple to offer incense and pray for my son and husband who are away from home. I'll come back right after that."
The Black Armored soldier stepped forward to check the basket in her hand. Seeing that it contained incense, candles, paper money, and offerings, he didn't suspect anything.
"I see. It's been raining and snowing for several days. Be careful on your feet, old woman. Don't fall."
Song Yihuan walked through the entrance of the alley with her walking stick. "I know, I know. Thank you, sir," she replied.
After leaving the alley, she still didn't dare to let her guard down. No matter how anxious she was, she still walked very slowly, just like an old woman.
Just as she was about to cross the road and enter the next neighborhood, she heard a rush of horse hooves in her ears.