Chapter 211: Where Was He?

“I won’t go even if you give me more silver. People will die when the mountain torrents rush down!” the boatman said with a steely face.

Su Jiu turned and looked at the turbid and turbulent river. She thought for a moment before asking, “Then are you willing to sell the boat? I will pay any amount of money you ask!”

“You are going to row across the river yourself?” The boatman stared at her in astonishment, and said, “Young lady, I advise you not to do it. The mountain torrents are not a joke. The river has been rising greatly these days. It’s more than dozens of yards wide now already. No one will save you if you fall into the water!”

“Just tell me how much you want for the boat.” Su Jiu’s eyes were bright and determined.

The boatman sized Su Jiu up and saw that she really seemed to have urgent matters across the river. He stopped dissuading her and only said, “I won’t cheat you. This is an old boat. I will give it to you for one tael!”

“Good!” Su Jiu hurried to reach for the silver. She took out a silver ingot and placed it in the boatman’s hand, saying, “It’s all yours!”

Then she turned around in a haste and walked toward the wooden boat.

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Holding the silver, the boatman was in a daze. He raised his head and shouted loudly, “Young lady, there is a floating board in the hull. Maybe you can use it to save your life if you run into the torrents!”

The floating board was a specially made wooden board that boatmen usually put in the boats. They could lie prone on it if the boat capsized.

“Thank you very much!” Su Jiu shouted back in appreciation.

She untied the boat from the tree and used the oars to push the boat into the river.

It was misty and murky on the river and Su Jiu couldn’t see the other side. The boat would stray off in the swift current if she slackened her grip.

On the other side of the broad river, another boat had just set sail as well.

Su Jiu never rowed a boat before. The more strength she exerted, the slower the boat went. Her middle coat was soaked with sweat even though she was rowing through the chilly mountain fog.

She slowly came to the middle of the river. The fog didn’t dissipate but became thicker. Su Jiu vaguely saw another boat coming from the other side, a dozen yards away.

Another person was crossing the river at this time, just like her?

Just as Su Jiu was in a trance, she heard thunder rumbling.

Instinctively, she raised her head to look at the sky, but couldn’t tell the weather because of the fog. Nevertheless, the roaring sound came closer and closer.

It was not thunder!

It was the torrents coming!

Su Jiu turned her head and saw the water upstream suddenly rise for three yards, surging ahead ferociously while carrying mud and stones. With an earth-shaking, rumbling sound, it was right in front of her in a flash.

The speed of the torrent was so fast that she didn’t have time to deal with it at all.

The big boat several yards away from Su Jiu was overturned by the water first.

Su Jiu seemed to see a red shadow fall into the water when the flood hit her. She stood there in a daze and forgot how to move.

The water struck at her from all directions and swept her into the river. Su Jiu’s head went blank for a moment before she suddenly opened her eyes and gripped the floating board, swimming towards the other boat with all of her strength.

Was it him?

Su Jiu was panic-stricken. She exerted the utmost strength to move closer to the place where the big boat turned turtle.

The big boat disintegrated after being hit by rocks. The person on the boat was sucked into the water and couldn’t even make a sound in the rushing flow.

“Ji Yuxian!” Su Jiu shouted. Her shaking voice was quickly drowned out by the reverberating sounds of the water.

The waves were surging and cresting. No one was struggling; no one was yelling for help. It was dead silent. At the moment, Su Jiu suddenly came to the despairing realization that people were powerless in front of nature.

“Ji Yuxian!”

Su Jiu held onto the floating board and cried out.

There was only the roaring sound of the water around her. The water’s mist extended to the horizon and she couldn’t see any trace of life. The dash of red was engulfed by the water like a helpless flower.

Su Jiu swam to the place where the boat had overturned. She searched again and again, but only saw pieces of wood that were smashed from the impact of the torrents down the river.

“Ji Yuxian!”

The fear in her heart became overwhelming. Su Jiu lay on the board and drifted with the current. She finally couldn’t help but cry out loud.

All of a sudden, the floating board stopped, held still by someone under the water.

Su Jiu raised her head immediately. With her tear-stained eyes, she saw a red shadow rising from under the water like colorful ink. A man came out of the water, his handsome face glistening and charming eyes smiling. He said, “I woke up immediately when I heard my lady’s voice in the water!”

Su Jiu burst into tears at the height of joy. She held the man tightly as her tears gushing out, and cried, “Ji Yuxian!”

“Don’t cry!” The man’s thin lips were pale and bloodless. He frowned in pain and raised his hand to caress her eyebrows. He looked deep into her eyes, said, “Jiu’er, I may not be able to keep you company in the future. But Ji Manor will still protect you. Shangguan will return to the capital city soon. So will Jin Feng. I already told them that you will take control of Ji Manor.”

“No. I don’t want that. I don’t want anything!” Su Jiu shook her head violently in fright and pulled Ji Yuxian onto the floating board as hard as she could, saying, “We will survive this. Ji Yuxian! Don’t you leave me! I will hate you! I will hunt you down to the King of Hades!”

“Jiu’er!” Ji Yuxian pressed his head to her forehead and said in a low voice, “You can go back to Xiao Lie if you want after I’m gone. Ji Manor has enough power to help you become the Empress!”

Su Jiu’s tears streaked down her face. She said, “Ji Yuxian, I’m not going anywhere! I only want to be your wife. I like you!”

“You like me?” Ji Yuxian’s bright eyes gazed at her earnestly.

Su Jiu nodded repeatedly. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. She said, “I like you. I will always like you! You’re the person I truly like even when I was with Xiao Lie. I thought I could fall in love with him, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t forget you. You don’t know how happy I was when I learned that I really am Su Yuejiu!”

“Is this true?” the man asked in a hoarse voice.

Under the water, Jin Feng stepped on a rock and held Ji Yuxian up as much as he could. Feeling his body turning stiff, he wanted to rise to breathe above the water, yet he was pressed down by the shoulders into the water again by the man on top of him.

Jin Feng held his breath and clenched his teeth tight. His young master was risking their lives just to listen to some whispers of love!

Su Jiu, choked with sobs, said, “Ji Yuxian, you’re always the one in my heart. You’re more important than anything!”

She couldn’t imagine how she would live on without him!

“I love you! Ji Yuxian, I love only you!”

“I love you too!” Ji Yuxian’s eyes were glowing. Filled with joy, a beautiful smile bloomed on his face and he kissed the girl with his cold lips.

Without warning, there was another burst of rumbling. Su Jiu lifted her eyes and saw even higher waves rolling toward them.

She pushed the floating board away and held the man tight.

Even if they died, they would die together!

The billowing waves ran in. Su Jiu hugged the man’s rigid and cold body tightly and closed her eyes. They were swept by the water downstream instantly.

The waves thrashed their bodies. Su Jiu lay on Ji Yuxian’s chest and wasn’t afraid anymore. Her incessant fear had disappeared.

She would rest at ease, even in death, as long as she was with him.

Jin Feng wriggled in the water like a flood dragon and swam in the direction Ji Yuxian and Su Jiu had been taken to.

The current became even more rapid all at once. The red shadow kept bobbing on the water.

Jin Feng started to feel anxious. His young master was in a haste to return to the capital city. He suffered a sudden attack of the Half Moon Devourer on his way and already fainted on the boat. They wouldn’t have risked sailing to the capital city today if not for hurrying to go back to find Doctor Gu.

Ji Yuxian’s body was very weak and he couldn’t use his martial arts either. It was extremely dangerous.

A loud rushing sound of falling water came from in front of him. Jin Feng’s face filled with panic. There was a waterfall ahead!

He used all his strength to leap forward and grasped the two people who were squeezed together. The torrents had already come up behind him. The three people fell down the cliff together.

…

Su Jiu felt like she had been dreaming for a long time. At first, she was in the water and shouting for help and struggling for her life. The dark fright in the depths of her memory crowded in on her again.

Just when she thought she was dead, her vision turned black and she couldn’t see anything anymore.

Not knowing how long it had been, she gradually regained her consciousness. She opened her eyes and could only see a vast expanse of white. She fumbled around like a blind person.

She felt empty and fidgety as if there was a hole carved on her chest.

She heard vaguely the sounds of water ahead and directed her strength to run in that direction. Nevertheless, after a long time of running, the sound of water was still in front of her, not too far and not close enough.

Tired, she stopped to catch her breath.

She suddenly remembered that she was here to look for someone.

Who was she looking for?

Her husband.

Who was her husband again?

Su Jiu’s head was in excruciating pain. She struggled desperately to remember who her husband was.

The man’s handsome face was blurry and far away. Su Jiu kneeled on the ground and frowned in agony.

“Jiu’er!”

A low voice sounded. The fog in front of her dissipated as if a breeze blew by. A man dressed in red appeared, standing next to the water.

“Jiu’er!” He looked at her with his tender eyes. The waves behind him suddenly rose and sprang at him.

“Ji Yuxian!”

Screaming, Su Jiu sat up abruptly.

She sat there in a daze and gasped for breath. It was darkness all around her except for a dim oil light flickering on the table.

Soon, there was the sound of footsteps. Draping a coat over her shoulders, Eldest Mistress walked quickly to the bed and grasped Su Jiu’s shoulders. Looking worried, she asked, “Jiu’er, are you awake? How are you feeling?”

Su Jiu looked at Eldest Mistress in stupefaction and asked in a husky voice, “Where is Ji Yuxian?”

Eldest Mistress shook her head in bewilderment and answered, “I don’t know!”

Consternation rushed to Su Jiu’s face. Suddenly, she felt dizzy when she sat up and was about to get off the bed.

Eldest Mistress helped her sit up in a haste, saying, “Jiu’er, you injured your head. You can’t move right now!”

Su Jiu saw the familiar arrangement and decorations around her and felt disoriented. She had been looking for Ji Yuxian, then they had encountered mountain torrents in the river. She was carried away by the water along with Ji Yuxian. But what happened afterward?

“Mother, why am I home? Who sent me back?” Su Jiu asked anxiously.

“Jin Feng sent you back. Your head was wounded, and you have been unconscious for two days.”

Jin Feng sent her back?

Su Jiu frowned slightly. She had been in a coma for two days? Ji Yuxian must be fine if she was fine!

No. She couldn’t be at ease until she saw him with her own eyes!

Su Jiu sat up and walked outside.

“Jiu’er, where are you going? The sun hasn’t risen yet. You’re seriously injured. The doctor left word that you can’t get off the bed!” Eldest Mistress rushed to chase after her.

Su Jiu’s head was hurt quite badly. She felt pain and dizzy at the slightest movement. But she staggered out of the door and didn’t stop.

“Jiu’er, where are you going? I will take you!” Eldest Mistress grabbed her arm.

“Mother, I’m going to see Ji Yuxian!” Su Jiu said in a slurred voice.

“It’s still dark. How about we go after daybreak?”

“No. I have to see him now!” Su Jiu pushed Eldest Mistress away and stumbled to the stairs.

Eldest Mistress caught up to her again and held her arms, placating her, “Alright. We will go now. I’m going to ask someone to prepare the horse carriage. I will go with you!”

Both Peach and Nanny were roused up from sleep. They hurried to wake up the servants and took Eldest Mistress and Su Jiu to Ji Manor.

It was around three o’clock in the morning. The sky was inky black and there wasn’t a single soul in the street.

Su Jiu’s face was pale as a ghost. She held Eldest Mistress’s hand and said, “Mother, did you see Ji Yuxian when Jin Feng sent me back that day?”

The Eldest Mistress furrowed and said, “No, you were the only one in the horse carriage when Jin Feng came over. Jin Feng said you fell into the water and hit your head. Doctor Gu has seen the wound. He also gave me some medicinal ointment and asked me to change the dressing of your wound daily.”

It pained Eldest Mistress to see Su Jiu unconscious from her injury like that. She had been so concerned that she didn’t ask too many questions.

Su Jiu nodded and felt even more distraught. It took at least a day and a night to return from the Jinghua River to Shengjing City. If she had been unconscious the whole time, what about Ji Yuxian?

Why would he ask Jin Feng to send her back to the Su family?

Besides, she had been in a coma for two days, yet Ji Yuxian never showed up.

Was he badly injured too?

He seemed to have had a Half Moon Devourer poison attack when he fell into the water. How was he doing now?

In growing anxiety, Su Jiu wished she could meet him right away.

The gate of Ji Manor was closed tightly at the time. The guards who kept watch were dazed with sleep. They woke with a start when they heard the knocking sound and asked, “Who is it?”

“The Young Mistress is back!” Er Mao shouted.

The guards recognized Er Mao’s voice and quickly opened the door. Wearing a cloak, Su Jiu hurried through the door at full speed, her head wrapped in gauze.

Eldest Mistress followed her right away.

The guards stood there, dumbfounded, and didn’t know what had just happened.

Su Jiu walked into the main courtyard and saw the bedroom and the study room both dark. With her eyebrows tightly knitted, she walked to the bedroom, shouting, “Mo Yu!”

Su Jiu pushed the door open and went into the inner room. She lifted the bed canopy and saw that the bed was neatly made and completely empty.

Her heart sank in fright.

“Young Mistress!” Mo Yu was startled out of his sleep. Drowsy and bleary-eyed, he entered the room with the outer robe draped over his shoulders and lit up the candles in the room.

Su Jiu spun around and asked, “Where is Ji Yuxian?”

Mo Yu was stunned for a moment before he answered, ” Eldest Young Master went to Jingzhou and hasn’t come back yet!”

Su Jiu gaped in astonishment and asked, “Then, where is Jin Feng?”

“Jin Feng left with Eldest Young Master!” Mo Yu said.

Su Jiu’s brows were deeply furrowed. What happened?

Jin Feng obviously sent her back to Shengjing City. But what about Ji Yuxian?

Where did they go?

“Jiu’er, don’t worry. Yuxian will be alright!” Eldest Mistress hurriedly held Su Jiu’s arms, seeing how pale her face turned.

Su Jiu was in a trance. Her memory of the day at the Jinghua River became blurry. Could it be that she never saw Ji Yuxian that day?

Was it all a hallucination?

No. It was real. She fell into the water. It was also true that Jin Feng sent her back!

But where did Ji Yuxian go?

Su Jiu’s eyes darted from side to side. She walked out quickly and dashed to Old Gu’s courtyard.

Eldest Mistress knew something must be wrong, so she followed her immediately.

Old Gu was still sleeping. He heard the door suddenly open with a crash and sat up, asking, “Who is it?”

“Old Gu, where did Ji Yuxian go?” Su Jiu asked anxiously, pulling him up from the bed.

It was still dark outside. Old Gu stared at Su Jiu in bewilderment. After a while, he asked, “Did you go looking for him?”

“I…” Su Jiu didn’t know how to explain.

“I met him at Jinghua River. Then we both fell into the water. After that, Jin Feng sent me back home. But Ji Yuxian is not here.” Su Jiu spoke rapidly.

Old Gu clutched on his middle coat and shook his head, saying, “Then I don’t know either!”

“You must know!” Su Jiu gripped his collar tightly. Her pale face looked ferocious in the darkness. She said, “Ji Yuxian had a Half Moon Devourer poison attack. Jin Feng must have brought him to you!”

Old Gu looked at her in frustration and replied, “You think I would hide Ji Yuxian from you? Where can I hide him?”

“I’m only asking if you have seen him!” Su Jiu asked, biting her lips.

“No! I swear to God!” Old Gu replied seriously.

Su Jiu let him go and suddenly didn’t know what to do.

Ji Yuxian didn’t come back to Shengjing?

Where would he go? He clearly had a Half Moon Devourer poison attack. Why didn’t Jin Feng take him to Old Gu?

What happened after they fell from the waterfall?

Su Jiu’s brain was muddled. She became increasingly frightened.

“Jiu’er!” Eldest Mistress pressed on her shoulders, saying, “Let’s go home first. Yuxian will certainly come back once he is okay!”

Hopeless and despondent, Su Jiu nodded slowly.

Su Jiu didn’t get off the horse carriage after arriving at home. She asked Peach to help Eldest Mistress back to her room, saying, “Mother, not knowing where he is makes me agitated. I can’t stay still even for a short moment. I should at least do something now.”

“The wound on your head has not healed yet. Can’t you wait till you regain your health first?” Eldest Mistress looked at her with teary eyes.

Su Jiu shook her head. “Don’t worry, Mother. I will take care of myself!”

Su Jiu then ordered Er Mao to drive away the carriage.

At the crack of dawn, Ah Shu and Hu Dapao arrived at the Bodyguard Agency and waited for Su Jiu’s instruction.

“Send out a message. Help me find Ji Yuxian!” Su Jiu’s bright eyes were full of determination. She said, “You have to find him no matter what!”

“Yes, Chief!” Ah Shu and Hu Dapao responded sternly.

The Dragon Conqueror Gang was no longer what it used to be. They operated in almost all the large counties of Daliang Country and were able to rally multitudes at Su Jiu’s call. Soon, a country-wide search was launched.

Su Jiu herself led a team to Jinghua River again. They searched for a day along the riverbanks, downstream, and even sent people to the nearby villages as well. Nevertheless, they didn’t hear anything regarding Ji Yuxian after several days.

It was almost as though Jin Feng and Ji Yuxian had vanished from the earth.

Su Jiu really thought it was only a dream, but Eldest Mistress had told her that it was indeed Jin Feng who sent her back home.

Qiao An also wrote to a couple of governors and asked them to keep an eye out for news about Eldest Young Master Ji. Nothing came back either.

The wound on Su Jiu’s head wasn’t allowed to heal properly and she was exhausted after hustling for days on end. One day, she felt dizzy and fell headfirst from her horse just as she returned to the Bodyguard Agency.

A black shadow flew out from the front hall and took her into his arms. Looking at her emaciated face, the man’s eyes were full of sorrow.

Holding the girl tightly in his arms, Xiao Lie caressed her hair dampened by the rain.

“Do you really like him this much that you don’t even care about your own life anymore?”

Blood saturated the gauze on Su Jiu’s head. Her face was pale, and lips were chapped. Her body had slimmed down a lot and she weighed almost nothing in his arms.

Xiao Lie held her close to his chest and felt his heart aching.

Ah Jiu!

Would you love me so if we didn’t break up?

…

Su Jiu didn’t wake up until a full day later. She opened her eyes and saw blinding sunlight outside the window. She felt dazed for a moment, then sat up abruptly.

Ji Yuxian!

She had to go to find him!

“Ah Jiu!” The man who was stooping over her bed woke up with a start. He stretched out his arms to hold her down, saying, “The imperial doctors said your head wound is severe. You will be in trouble in the future if it’s not properly treated now!”

Su Jiu pushed him away, saying, “I’m fine. It’s better already!”

While speaking, she lifted the blanket and was about to get off the bed.

“Ah Jiu!” Xiao Lie pushed her back down. “I will send people to look for him for you. Can you just lay down and rest for one more day?”

Su Jiu wasn’t fully awake until now. She looked at the palatial room and asked in confusion, “Why am I in the palace?”

“You passed out!” Xiao Lie’s voice was mournful.

Su Jiu frowned slightly and struggled to get up again, saying, “I need to get out. Maybe Ah Shu and other people already heard something.”

“They didn’t hear anything! Maybe Ji Yuxian already died there or sunk to the bottom of the river!” Xiao Lie gripped her shoulders and bellowed.

Su Jiu stared at him blankly, tears streaming down her face. “It’s impossible! He can’t die!”

“Then why can’t you find him?” Xiao Lie’s deep and unfathomable eyes gazed at her, he said, “You sent all those people out to find him. Where could he be? He must know you’re looking for him if he’s still alive. The only reason he doesn’t show up is that he can’t show up anymore!”

Tears were welling in Su Jiu’s eyes. She shook her head in distress.

“Ah Jiu, stop searching! There is no antidote to the Half Moon Devourer poison. His body has reached its limit. He won’t come back!”

“You’re lying to me!” Su Jiu shoved Xiao Lie away with all her strength. She said with tears rolling down her cheeks, “Ji Yuxian won’t leave me. Maybe he lost consciousness and can’t come back. That’s why I have to find him!”

“Ah Jiu, you have to calm down! Your body is very weak right now. You have to recover from the injury first!” Xiao Lie kneeled in front of the bed. He looked at her with sorrowful eyes and coaxed her in a soft voice, “Just rest for one more day. Can you do that? I will send people out. I will help you to find him! I will let you know the moment I hear anything back!”

Pressing her hands into the bed, Su Jiu held her body up and gasped for air.

“Just one day! You won’t miss anything if you leave tomorrow. You will only faint and fall from your horse again if you go out now. You won’t be able to see Ji Yuxian if you fall ill, even if we found him.” Xiao Lie continued to persuade her gently.

Su Jiu understood that she was too frail right now. She raised her head and asked, “Are you really going to help me look for him?”

“Yes, believe me one more time,” Xiao Lie said earnestly.

Su Jiu nodded slightly and returned to the bed.

In a moment, a palace maid brought in the medicine. Xiao Lie clasped her in his arm and fed her slowly.

Su Jiu’s brain was drowsy and muddled. She passed out soon after drinking the medicine.

Xiao Lie washed the handkerchief in hot water and carefully cleaned her face and combed her hair. He sat by the bedside and watched her for a long time before standing up and putting down the bed canopy to let her sleep.

Xiao Lie asked the servants to bring all the memorandums to the sleeping chamber. He didn’t leave the sleeping chamber for a whole day.

Su Jiu woke up once and fell asleep again after eating some porridge.

It was almost nightfall when she woke up again.

The fragrance of incense used in women’s clothing lingered. Su Jiu slowly opened her eyes and saw Lan Zhihui sitting at the bedside.

“The Emperor had some urgent matters to deal with. He asked me to take care of you!” Lan Zhihui smiled. Seeing Su Jiu trying to sit up, she hurried to place a pillow behind her.

“Do you want to drink water?” Lan Zhihui asked.

Su Jiu nodded gently.

Lan Zhihui stood immediately and poured a cup of water at room temperature, carefully delivering it to Su Jiu’s lips.

She put the cup aside after Su Jiu drank it up, then asked with a furrowed forehead, “Have you not heard about the Eldest Young Master yet?”

Su Jiu’s eyes were lackluster as though covered by a layer of fog. She shook her head slowly.

“Don’t worry. Heaven will keep the righteous out of harm’s way. He will be alright!” Lan Zhihui consoled her.

“Yes!” Su Jiu nodded firmly.

“Su Jiu…” Lan Zhihui tucked her in and said hesitantly, “If, I mean, if you can’t find the Eldest Young Master, would you stay in the palace?”

Su Jiu’s eyes turned cold. She said, “You don’t have to worry. There is no chance between Xiao Lie and me. I won’t be a threat to you anymore!”

Lan Zhihui shook her head immediately, saying, “No. You misunderstand. I’m not afraid of you staying in the palace. I was never a real concubine anyway. I will leave the palace in a few days. The Emperor only asked me to stay for a few more days so that those ministers who keep asking the Emperor to marry again can shut up. The Emperor granted me a house outside of the Palace. I will move there soon.”

“I know you love Xiao Lie. I can talk to him on your behalf you want to stay,” Su Jiu said.

After all, she was the one who had gotten Lan Zhihui involved. She felt responsible for Lan Zhihui now that Yu Long was dead.

“No need! The Emperor only has you in his heart. It doesn’t matter if I stay or not!” Lan Zhihui chuckled. Her eyes were honest, free of jealousy. She said, “The Emperor… He has never touched me. Even when we were in Crown Prince Manor, he only slept in my room to trick Yu Long. He slept in the outer room the whole time. The few times that he talked to me was always about you!

The Emperor really loves you. He won’t take concubines or appoint an Empress because he is waiting for you. Didn’t he ask countless craftsmen to repair a beaded bracelet for you? So, if you can’t find Ji Yuxian, would you consider being with the Emperor?”

Su Jiu shook her head without hesitation and said, “Xiao Lie happened to enter my life when I was confused about my feelings. I was moved by him and I deeply appreciate his affection. But now I know for sure that I love Ji Yuxian. There won’t be anyone else.”

“Yes. It’s me who spoke out of turn. Please forgive me!” Lan Zhihui smiled gently.

A distinguished figure stood outside the wooden door. He was going to step inside, yet he stopped there and couldn’t move upon hearing the young woman’s words.

It turned out she was only touched by him!

The man felt an unutterable sadness in his chest. It felt like a tidal wave threw him into a freezing abyss. Even breathing was painful.

He was unwilling to resign himself to defeat!

At least he would still have been with Su Jiu if he didn’t marry Xia Yu Long. Maybe she would have become his wife a long time ago.

He would have a lifetime for her fall in love with him.

But everything had come to naught now!

Was he destined to live in loneliness for the rest of his life?

What good would it be if he had the whole world but lost her?

The man’s face was sullen, and eyes were contained fathomless emotions. He slowly glanced at the inner chamber, then turned around and left.

Xiao Lie returned to the Royal Study and looked for Ding Fei, the current commander of the Forbidden Army. He asked, “Do you have news regarding Ji Yuxian?”

Ding Fei shook his head and replied deferentially, “No. People have been searching for Eldest Young Master Ji almost everywhere in Daliang. No one has heard anything!”

Xiao Lie walked back to his desk at a slow pace. He rested his chin on his hand and looked outside from the window. After a while, he squinted his eyes.

“I think I know where he is!”

Su Jiu left the palace the next morning and returned to Ji Manor.

Everything was the same as usual in the manor. But the man still wasn’t back.

Su Jiu sat on the stairs outside the study room and raised her head to look at the sky. Her eyes were bright and determined. He knew she was waiting here. Surely, he would come back.

It was late spring. The pink petals from the peach blossoms fell on the young woman’s head and shoulders.

The window behind her was still half-open as if he was still sitting there and looking at her tenderly with a bright smile.

Su Jiu lay on the stairs facing the sky. She closed her eyes. Her delicate face was full of sorrow.

The young girl became a woman, fell for a man, and now tasted the bitterness of love.

As lovesick as she was, she didn’t regret knowing him in the first place.

After a long time, the young woman was covered with a layer of petals. The fragrance still lingered though the petals had already turned into mud.

Old Gu walked inside and said in confusion, “The servants said the girl was back. Where is she?”

Su Jiu suddenly sat up and demanded anxiously, “Do you have news about Ji Yuxian?”

“Hah!” Old Gu was startled. “Are you burying yourself to die for love?”

“F*ck off!” Su Jiu kicked him and said with an icy look on her face, “Ji Yuxian didn’t die!”

“Yes, he didn’t die.” Old Gu stepped back in a haste and laughed. “I just heard that there are some clues about the Half Moon Devourer poison in Feng City. Maybe Ji Yuxian went there to find the antidote!”

Su Jiu jumped up instantly, asking, “Is it true?”

“Of course, I never tell lies!”

“Then I’m going right now!” Su Jiu got up and walked outside.

“Hey, don’t blame me if he’s not there!” Old Gu said, dragging her back.

Su Jiu shook her head, replied, “It will be good if I can find the antidote even if I can’t find him there!”

She then sped out of the courtyard.

An elegant figure wandered by after Su Jiu was gone. He stood behind Doctor Gu and chuckled, “Eldest Young Master won’t appreciate how you torture the Young Mistress!”

“She will only understand what love is after suffering hardships!” Doctor Gu raised his eyebrows complacently.

“But Eldest Young Master asked you to look after Young Mistress. You will have to shoulder the blame alone if he gets upset!” Shangguan said.

“Don’t worry! I will take the blame alone!” Old Gu snorted. Suddenly, his eyes sparkled, and he turned around, asking, “He wouldn’t do anything to me if he gets upset, would he?”

Shangguan Yundun shrugged in reply. “It’s hard to say!”

“I’m not afraid!” Doctor Gu spoke with a leer. “He’s barely alive. We don’t even know if he can come back. Besides, I can’t bear to watch the girl being sad, so I gave her something to do!”

Shangguan smiled and nodded, saying, “As long as Doctor Gu has an excuse when Eldest Young Master looks into this in the future!”

Doctor Gu uttered a snort and left.

Shangguan Yundun went back to the study room. Looking at the pile of ledgers, he let out a deep sigh and said to himself, “I came back right away to clean up your mess, even before cuddling with my woman. We will settle the score after you’re back. So, you definitely have to come back! Don’t even think about leaving your woman to me. I have my own woman!”

The man mumbled a few words of dissatisfaction, then returned to the seat and continued to balance accounts.

Feng City was not far from Shengjing City. It was only a two-day roundtrip. Su Jiu came back to Shengjing empty-handed after five days.

She didn’t have the energy to get even with Old Gu.

Travel-worn and weary, Su Jiu led her horse onto the street. She was slumped like a lost traveler among the crowds, not knowing where to go next.

It had been so long. Ji Yuxian really seemed to have vanished from the world.

She knew that God was punishing her for taking Ji Yuxian for granted.

Therefore, she wouldn’t give up even if she had to search for him throughout the entire Daliang Country or even the entire continent for the rest of her life.

The setting sun shone on the young woman’s face. She strolled down the street with her horse, thinking about leading another group of people to Jinghua River again tomorrow.

He disappeared there and should have left some traces behind. Maybe she was too anxious when she was there before and missed something.

Just as Su Jiu was thinking, she heard a familiar voice ahead.

She raised her head and saw Shangguan Yundun walking out of the Jing Qin Restaurant with some other shopkeepers. He looked urbane and refined, chatting and laughing with them.

Su Jiu’s heart skipped a beat. She walked to him slowly.

After Shangguan Yundun sent off the guests, Su Jiu caught up to him and blocked his way. “Shangguan!”

Shangguan Yundun was startled. He smiled instantly and saluted her, “Greetings, Young Mistress!”

“When did you come back to the capital city?” Su Jiu asked.

“It’s been five or six days!” Shangguan Yundun replied softly. “I should have visited Young Mistress a while ago. But I didn’t go since I heard you left the city. I’m very grateful that you helped me with the matter about Jinming last time!”

Su Jiu’s eyes squinted. She said with a trembling voice, “Forget about that! Let me ask, you know where Ji Yuxian is, don’t you?”

Shangguan Yundun’s eyes flickered. He replied calmly, “I don’t know!”

“You’re lying to me!” Su Jiu shot him an icy look, saying, “Why would you suddenly return to Shengjing City if not for a letter Ji Yuxian sent calling you over?”

Shangguan paused for a moment. He said, “I won’t lie to you. Eldest Young Master wrote to me last month and asked me to come back and help Young Mistress to take over Ji Manor. I had something to take care of in Jiangnan and only came back to the Shengjing City after several delays. I didn’t expect that…”

“What else did he say in the letter?” Su Jiu pressed urgently.

“Nothing else!” Shangguan answered.

Su Jiu bit her lower lip. Somehow, she always felt like Shangguan Yundun was lying to her.

Why wasn’t Shangguan Yundun surprised that Ji Yuxian wanted her to take control of Ji Manor when Ji Yuxian wrote him a letter like that?

Based on their friendship, Shangguan would rush back immediately if he knew Ji Yuxian had an accident. He wouldn’t delay this long.

Su Jiu darted a meaningful look at Shangguan Yundun, asking out of the blue, “Is he still alive?”

“Eldest Young Master…” Shangguan Yundun stopped abruptly. He only continued to speak after a moment. “I don’t know where he is. I really don’t know about his situation!”

Su Jiu slowly nodded.

“Do you have time these days? I can help you go through the accounts of Ji Manor in each county!” Shangguan said.

“Not for now. I will have to trouble you to take care of it for the time being.” Su Jiu said.

“My pleasure!”

Su Jiu nodded and left with her horse.

She went back to the Su family first and let Eldest Mistress know she was safe. She returned to Ji Manor after having dinner with Eldest Mistress.

Su Jiu was on her way to settle the score with Old Gu but found that he was not in his courtyard.

Did he flee to escape punishment?

Su Jiu rolled her eyes. She didn’t send a servant to look for him and returned to the main courtyard to rest.

She laid in bed after a bath. The blanket, the pillow, the air was filled with the familiar smell of her man. Su Jiu covered her face with the blanket. Her shoulders shook slightly.

Ji Yuxian, you bast*rd. Where on earth are you?

Don’t let me catch you. Otherwise…

Otherwise, I will never let you go!