RPAGF Chapter 414 Speculation (2)
Chapter 414 Speculation (2)
Leaving the mansion secretly was not difficult; the difficulty lay in Shen Fuhan's limited mobility.
He is getting sicker day by day, and today he is almost unable to walk.
After studying it, Qian Lao told him that this was normal. After taking the bone-corroding powder three times and enduring half a month of torment, there was no cure and he would surely die.
Taking it once will also cause suffering, although the symptoms will be milder and the duration will be shorter.
However, there is no definite record of how many days the illness would last.
But since he's almost reached the most serious stage, either the illness is about to be cured, or...
Life and death are left to fate.
With the help of his guards, Shen Fuhan stood up. It was a simple movement, but he was almost exhausted.
Shen Funian almost cried when she saw how weak he looked.
In her heart, her older brother had always been extremely reliable since childhood. Even if the sky were to fall, her older brother would be there to hold it up, and she only needed to run wild in his strong arms.
She had never seen him so weak and dying, as if he would faint if she made the slightest movement.
Shen Funian covered her mouth and choked up, saying, "Brother, why don't you tell me what you want to say, and I'll go to the Duke of Qi's mansion for you."
Shen Fuhan shook his head: "How can I let you do everything for me... cough, this is a small matter, I can handle it."
If the Duke of Qi does not cooperate, he will resort to his trump card of rebellion, and he is not afraid that they will not confess.
Therefore, he had to go there in person.
Shen Funian had no choice but to say, "Then I'll go with you."
She rubbed her hands together, eager to get started, and said, "If a fight is necessary, I'll take it! I'll give the Duke of Qi's fine son a good scolding!"
She had a good impression of the family, but she never expected that you can't judge a book by its cover. The son had already learned to seduce married women, so how good could the father be?
Shen Fuhan didn't argue with her over such a trivial matter and let her be.
After leaving the mansion, the carriage traveled smoothly through the streets and alleys, and after a while, it slowly stopped at the inconspicuous side gate of the Duke of Qi's mansion.
The guards went to explain their purpose, and soon entered the Duke's mansion.
Shen Fuhan walked in with difficulty, and before meeting the Duke of Qi, he instructed, "Third sister, you stay outside."
Shen Funian argued back, "Are you afraid I'll start a fight? I'm not afraid at all. They did something like that, why can't I argue..."
Do you want everyone to know the cause?
A single sentence cut off all of Shen Funian's words, and after thinking it over, she had no choice but to shut her mouth.
"Okay, I'll listen to my older brother."
Shen Fuhan nodded before entering the flower hall.
The Duke and Duchess of Qi sat in the main seats, their expressions not showing majesty, but rather some sadness.
Upon closer inspection, the eyes of the Duchess of Qi were still red, as if she had just been crying.
Duke Qi asked, "I heard that Lord Shen is still ill. Why have you come to the Duke's mansion with your sick body?"
Shen Fuhan coughed and said, "I have something to ask you two. Please dismiss everyone else."
The Duke of Qi waved his hand, dismissing his servants.
Shen Fuhan sat down and slowly asked, "Is it true that the young master and Miss Pei went missing the day before yesterday?"
The Duke of Qi and his wife exchanged a glance, both seeing the astonishment in each other's eyes.
How did the Marquis of Jing'an find out about this news, which was kept so well hidden?
Shen Fuhan didn't expect them to admit it, and continued, "When they left, they also took my wife with them."
The two were even more shocked.
They had long seen through their daughter's thoughts, but they never interfered; on the contrary, they were happy to see it happen.
If she could win Pei Huaijin's heart, her daughter would become empress once he became emperor.
I thought my daughter had no hope, which is why she eloped with Pei Huaijin. I never expected that Madam Shen was involved.
Shen Fuhan suppressed his cough and said, "I know you're also looking for someone. We have the same goal, so let's not hide anything. Do either of you have any leads?"
After weighing the options, the Duke of Qi felt that he could be honest with him.
To protect his reputation, Marquis Jing'an would certainly not reveal the news of his wife's disappearance.
Therefore, the matter of abducting Madam Shen had to be dropped.
They are not afraid of retaliation, since they will be on the opposite side sooner or later anyway, so it doesn't matter if it's sooner or later.
Thinking of this, the Duke of Qi said, "I sent guards to search for them these past two days, but with little success. They must have already left the capital and disappeared without a trace."
This answer was exactly what Shen Fuhan expected. He nodded and said, "I wonder if your daughter has mentioned any places she likes?"
The Duke of Qi and his wife exchanged a glance, not understanding what this meant.
Shen Fuhan explained, "They couldn't have just been wandering aimlessly after leaving the capital. The places that interested the three of them might be their final destination."
It's not hard to guess what Pei Huaijin likes, and he wouldn't choose it anyway.
Wen Jiayue was a hostage, and Pei Huaijin wouldn't ask her where she wanted to go, fearing she might try to pass on a message.
The things Pei Shijing likes are the most unpredictable.
If you follow the path, you might find some clues.
Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, he'll still do it.
Lady Qi had Pei Shijing's personal maid brought over.
The maid racked her brains and said, "Miss likes to read storybooks and travelogues. She says she likes almost every place she sees. I don't know why."
Shen Fuhan said, "Then bring over her favorite travelogue."
A short while later, the maid brought over a book.
Shen Fuhan quickly flipped through it.
What you look at isn't the words, but the creases, annotations, and dirt on the pages.
He narrowed it down to several locations: Junzhou, Yongzhou, Yangzhou, Tongzhou, and Xuanzhou.
Upon returning to the Marquis's residence, Shen Fuhan instructed his guards to search every possible route that led to these five locations.
Watching him tirelessly working despite his own health, Shen Funian hesitated for a moment, then cautiously asked, "Brother, what if we still can't find it?"
She was worried that her older brother would despair, so she asked him what he thought beforehand.
Shen Fuhan was resting with his eyes closed. After a moment of silence, he said, "I'll think of another way."
It's normal that he couldn't find it; it was just a sudden inspiration.
Shen Funian clasped his hands together and murmured, "Please bless my sister-in-law to return safely."
Strangely enough, she used to suspect Wen Jiayue of having an affair, but now that she's really gone, she feels that Wen Jiayue wouldn't do such a thing.
Shen Funian was still a little angry, angry that she had doubted her sister-in-law for no reason. Without thinking, she slapped her mouth a few times, realizing she was such a jinx!
Fortunately, good news came two days later.
"My lord, I have found a hairpin in an abandoned temple dedicated to the God of Love!"