Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 332 - 321: One More Update

Chapter 332: Chapter 321: One More Update

Duke of Qing was somewhat startled upon hearing his wife’s words and looked towards Eldest Madam Zong.

"Don’t start with your wild guesses again."

"Oh, what wild guesses? Now not a single person can be found in Prince Duan’s Mansion. If it isn’t true, then where have all the people gone?" Eldest Madam Zong said anxiously, unable to understand why her words weren’t believed, "The gatekeeper saw Yunqian and Princess Chao Ren leave with his own eyes. It’s so late now; even if something had happened, someone should have returned to inform us."

On a regular day, Duke of Qing rarely cared about others, and his only concern was the incomplete ancient qin music that occupied his day. Therefore, he didn’t think there could be a significant problem with Yunqian and all those maids and servants accompanying him.

"What’s the hurry? I will send someone reliable to check it out. What kind of serious trouble could there possibly be?" Duke of Qing said, reluctant to set aside the ancient qin music score in his hand, as he frowned.

"My lord, Madam, outside, outside—" As they were speaking, an elderly servant burst in.

"Why the panic? What’s happened?" Duke of Qing demanded sharply.

"Master, this old servant has heard the sounds of government officers outside, nearly a hundred of them." The old servant replied. In recent days, the aristocratic families had gradually started returning home, and at such a sensitive time.

As Mage Yu Sheng was still at Zong Sheng Residence, and being a fellow disciple from Qiandao Temple, Old Lady Zong had the additional privilege of attending palace scripture sessions, so they had not planned to leave just yet.

"Are they coming to our mansion?" Duke of Qing immediately asked, stepping forward with a hint of panic.

"No, no, not to ours, master. They passed hastily by our mansion gate. Something must have happened."

Duke of Qing became pensive and silent. At this hour, the soldiers coming from this direction ought to be the Crown Prince’s. This indicated that the Crown Prince had been alerted, which surely meant it was no small matter.

"Let’s go, let’s go and see," said Duke of Qing, as he stood up, and Eldest Madam Qing quickly nodded in agreement, wanting to take a look.

Just as Duke of Qing was halfway there, the person he had sent to scout for news returned midway. Upon seeing the carriage with their family’s emblem, he immediately threw himself in front of it.

"Master, master, the Princely Heir and Commandery Princess are missing, both of them are missing." The servant had first gone to Golden Spirit Mountain and only found people around the Earth Spirit River with torches moving slowly. He approached the nearest guard and declared his identity.

The guard didn’t waste any words, roughly explained the situation, waved his hand, and sent the servant away.

After hearing this, the servant was completely at a loss. The Princely Heir was missing? And the Commandery Princess too? He found it hard to believe. The Princely Heir and Commandery Princess were not children, after all. He walked a few more steps and inquired with a few government officers up ahead, only to receive the exact same news.

The servant immediately panicked, unable to find Gu Dao or Xi Feng. With so many people along the riverbank, where could he possibly start looking? After considering the situation, he decided the best course of action was to return and report back first.

Upon hearing this, Duke of Qing was startled, sensing that the situation was not so simple. Zong Yunqian was not a three-year-old child; he had traveled many mountains and rivers and had never encountered any mishaps.

"Quickly, let’s go—" Duke of Qing didn’t have time to think further. His son was missing, and no one had informed him. How could there be absolutely no news from their Zong Sheng Residence until now?

When Duke of Qing arrived with his men, the scene was just as the servant had described it. His heart sank a little further. Loyal Warriors of the Wen Family, house servants from Prince Duan’s Mansion, and guards from the Crown Prince’s Mansion were eerily all together, cooperating and working systematically, without any confusion.

Duke of Qing asked around and, half a shichen later, found Prince Duan and Zheng Haoyuan, who were still looking along the second tributary.

Duke of Qing approached and was about to speak when Prince Duan clearly had no intention of acknowledging him. A fire slowly began to rise in him, but as he stepped forward, two guards quickly stood in front of him, blocking his way.

"Prince, Your Highness, the fifth group of guards has just come up, and they haven’t found anything. Leader Lu is asking if we should search downstream."

"Proceed downstream—" Prince Duan instructed, helping Housekeeper He and casting a glance in the downstream direction. Downstream was pitch-dark, and with even more tributaries to search through, the difficulty and the manpower needed were greatly increased.

Additionally, as time passed, both Prince Duan and Zheng Haoyuan were slowly realizing that they simply couldn’t stop. The more time they wasted, the smaller the chance of Zheng Nianru’s rescue. And even if they did find her...

After the guards left, Duke of Qing tried to step forward to ask, but Prince Duan gave him a look devoid of any expression before turning away, ready to continue forward.

"Zheng Boding, stop right there—" Duke of Qing was fuming; after all, Zong Yunqian was also missing. Not only were they not informing him, but now that he had arrived, he was met with such an attitude.