Chapter 11: King Xuan’s Handwriting

He Songning sent his subordinates to search for the missing person quietly, making sure not to create too much of a disturbance. After all, when a woman goes missing, it often gets tangled with concerns about her reputation.

Although he disliked Xue Qingyin, he didn’t want the Xue family to cause a scandal at such a critical time.

Half an hour passed.

An hour passed…

Two hours passed…

Still, no one had found her!

He Songning knew he couldn’t keep this a secret. When Xue Chengdong returned from the Ministry of Revenue, he went straight to him.

When Xue Chengdong heard the news, his face changed.

“Didn’t you find her?”

“No.”

“It doesn’t matter much, but I’m afraid it was the Crown Prince’s doing. After all, the Crown Prince knows who you are,” Xue Chengdong said calmly, his tone somewhat indifferent.

“That seems unlikely. It must be Qingyin upset with me, deliberately hiding away and refusing to return,” He Songning shook his head.

“Well… maybe she went to her maternal family. It’s best not to hide this from your mother. Let her send someone to the Xu family to check if Qingyin is there; that would be the safest approach.”

The Xu family was Mrs. Xue’s maiden family.

It didn’t take long before He Songning saw Mrs. Xue.

“What did you say? Your sister is missing?” Mrs. Xue took a deep breath. “You came back alone?”

“Yes…” He Songning hadn’t finished his sentence before Mrs. Xue slapped him hard across the face.

Mrs. Xue had never been willing to hit her children.

He Songning was stunned for a moment, a dark look flashing in his eyes.

“Go… find her. I’ll send someone to your maternal family to check,” Mrs. Xue squeezed the words out.

Before long, even Xue Qingyin’s maid noticed that something was wrong with the atmosphere in the house.

“I heard that today, the eldest son took the young lady out to fly kites.”

Xue Qingyin felt stifled at the mention of this, her face turning pale without saying a word.

The maid continued, “But I heard that when they returned, only the eldest son came back… the young lady seems to have… disappeared.”

Xue Qingyin’s heart skipped a beat.

“Maybe it’s for the best. Now that her engagement is about to be arranged, Madam must find a good match for her, while you will be left with someone less than ideal. The young lady will grow even more arrogant, and we’ll have no place left,” the maid sneered.

She secretly hoped a bandit would abduct her!

“Qiuxin, don’t speak carelessly,” Xue Qingyin interrupted.

“Still, our young lady is kind-hearted,” the maid sighed.

In one place, there were people filled with worry, while in another, Xue Qingyin was groggily helped up and fed some medicine.

The imperial doctor, as expected, was skilled in his craft.

Not long after, Xue Qingyin’s breathing steadied, and her vision cleared up.

“She’s awake! She’s awake!”

Xue Qingyin turned her head to see a young woman dressed as a maid, tall and clever-looking.

This must be a maid from King Xuan’s household?

She vaguely remembered hearing King Xuan’s voice earlier, saying something about not going to the medical clinic, but instead returning directly to the prince’s manor. He also had the imperial doctor prepare in advance…

Xue Qingyin propped herself up on the bed.

Then, someone nearby said, “Hurry, report to His Highness.”

The maid’s eyes flashed with displeasure as she spoke, her gaze toward Xue Qingyin becoming colder.

Xue Qingyin felt confused. Was I supposed to have made another enemy so quickly?

It wasn’t long before someone came to report.

“This is the prescription from the imperial doctor for Miss Xue. Here are the prepared medicines. If you feel any discomfort in your chest again, take one of these and follow the prescription to brew the rest.”

Xue Qingyin responded, “Please thank the imperial doctor for me.”

“Miss is too polite.”

“It’s getting late, I must return to my manor,” Xue Qingyin said, getting out of bed, but her sleeve fell to the ground.

“What’s this?” Xue Qingyin blurted out.

The maid’s expression immediately grew more peculiar. She gritted her teeth and said, “This is His Highness’s sleeve. Miss was unwilling to let go when she arrived, so we had no choice but to cut it off with a sword.”

Xue Qingyin clicked her tongue, relieved that King Xuan appeared broad-minded and didn’t ask her to pay for it!

The servant holding the prescription said, “Everything’s been arranged. If Miss is able to walk, we can leave now.”

With that, he looked toward the maid, “Ziying, come help Miss.”

Wow!

Quite thoughtful!

But the maid Ziying’s displeasure deepened.

Xue Qingyin didn’t wait for her. She stood up and walked, asking as she did, “Where’s my coachman?”

She didn’t want to scare him to death.

“We’ve given him some hot tea and a silver melon seed to calm him down. He’s waiting outside now.”

Xue Qingyin nodded.

King Xuan’s manor really is generous!

… But do I have to repay this silver melon seed?

The prince’s manor was huge, built in a style similar to a smaller version of the imperial palace. Xue Qingyin didn’t walk far before she felt exhausted.

The servant, seeing this, hurriedly said, “Miss, you might not have fully recovered.”

He quickly had a soft sedan brought for her.

Just as she had entered in a soft sedan, she had been dazed and unclear about everything. Now, sitting in it again, she realized just how comfortable it was!

Turning her head, she saw that Ziying’s discontent had grown even deeper.

Xue Qingyin noticed and immediately shifted position, lying back more comfortably.

She was already beautiful, and now with her carefree gestures, she radiated an effortless charm.

Ziying: … She clenched her teeth, thinking how badly Xue Qingyin behaved, yet no one could control her!

When they reached the door, the coachman was waiting. He immediately greeted Xue Qingyin with joy before helping her into the carriage.

Along with him stood an elderly wet nurse.

The wet nurse smiled, “I’ll escort Miss Xue back to her manor.”

Xue Qingyin found it strange.

Why such a grand arrangement? Was she being sent back like this because they feared she might faint again on the way?

The carriage arrived at Xue’s residence, and it was already getting late.

The servants were reporting to Madam Xue: “The young lady isn’t at the Xu residence…”

Mrs. Xue was frantic, nearly breaking her nails, “Then where could she be?”

“Isn’t there the coachman?” Xue Chengdong spoke to comfort her, “Don’t worry, Madam.”

Mrs. Xue pushed him away, about to argue.

A servant rushed over, “The young lady… the young lady is back!”

She’s back already?

Mrs. Xue burst into tears, hurriedly heading out.

The others stayed behind.

“Qingyin! My precious daughter!” Mrs. Xue kept calling.

But when they reached the door, the first person they saw was the wet nurse.

Mrs. Xue froze for a moment. “Where’s my daughter Qingyin?”

The wet nurse nodded slightly, “I’m here on behalf of the princess to escort Miss Xue back.”

“Princess?” Mrs. Xue was stunned.

Xue Qingyin was equally confused.

She clearly returned from King Xuan’s manor. How did it become that the princess sent her back?

Mrs. Xue looked at the wet nurse with astonishment, “Is it… Nurse Cui from the princess’s side?”

The wet nurse nodded again, “Indeed.”

Madam Xue, both surprised and confused, asked, “How did this happen?”

“The princess and Miss Xue hit it off at the poetry gathering. Today, when the princess saw Miss Xue’s old ailment flare up, she quickly brought her back to the manor and had the imperial doctor treat her. The princess was concerned that you might worry, so she ordered me to bring Miss Xue back immediately,” the wet nurse explained graciously, giving the Xue family face.

Xue Qingyin finally understood.

If word got out that the Xue family’s young lady had been missing for so long, people might think she had been out meeting a lover! Especially with how many people didn’t like her.

Now, with the princess’s intervention, any rumors would be dispelled.

But… how could such a powerful person like the princess step in? Xue Qingyin didn’t think her original self had such strong connections. It must be…

King Xuan’s hand writing?!