Chapter 497 — Missing

"Where do you think he could have gone? Seventh Uncle is nearly frantic with worry," Lady Ji wept. "Everything was fine before. As for the matter of the adoption, we only agreed after he himself consented. Seventh Uncle treats him like his own son..." As she spoke, she clutched tightly at Dou Zhiwei's hand. "Tell me, could he have been carried off by wicked men? After Seventh Uncle packed a chest of silver notes for you when you married, word spread that the Dou family was the richest in all of Beizhili—nay, in all the realm..."

Dou Shi knew the truth. She drew out a handkerchief to wipe Lady Ji's tears and said, "Does the Hanlin Academy know of Twelfth Brother's disappearance? Whom has Twelfth Brother been closest to these days? Perhaps that person knows his whereabouts. Isn't Wu Shan on good terms with Twelfth Brother? They are both from the same hometown and passed the examination in the same year—have Sixth Uncle and Father sent anyone to ask him?"

Her calm, steady voice soothed Lady Ji's flustered heart. Wiping her tears, Lady Ji said, "Seventh Uncle has already gone to ask at the Hanlin Academy, and Wu Shan is even helping Seventh Uncle search for him! But there's not a single clue yet..."

Dou Yan, listening, secretly blamed Wu Shan in her heart.

If he did not explain matters to the elders now, then once the affair blew up, what face would Dou Huaide have to return to the Hanlin Academy?

Still, kidnapping was a fine excuse.

She very much wanted Sixth Aunt to announce to the world that Dou Huaide had been kidnapped. But she feared Sixth Aunt would take it for truth and be frightened out of her wits, so she simply said, "I think it would be best to let the Heir Apparent handle this matter; he has experience."

Lady Ji was as one who had found a savior; her eyes lit up several degrees, and she said "Good, good" again and again, impatient for Dou Yan to go find Song Yan. "Why didn't I think of that myself!" she said.

Too much worry had made her lose her head, that was all.

Dou Yan kept Lady Ji for the midday meal, and sent someone to reassure the households in Yunqi Temple Lane and Mao'er Lane, and dispatched someone to inform Song Yan.

Lady Ji had not closed her eyes for two days and two nights; now that she had someone to lean on, her exhaustion showed at once. Dou Yan ordered the little maids to clean up the guest room and coaxed Lady Ji into going to sleep awhile.

Meanwhile, Song Yan had Liu Zhang carry a message to Dou Yan: "That Miss Ji of the Ji family has gone missing as well. Rest easy—they cannot have gone far. By tomorrow night at the latest, they will be found."

Dou Yan was reassured.

Ji Yong came running over, and Zixi, following at his heels, was lugging a bamboo pole bristling with pinwheels.

The seven-colored pinwheels whirred and clattered in the courtyard. A magnificent sight.

He must have bought out the whole pinwheel seller's stock, pole and all.

Dou Yan did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Yuan Heng, though, was delighted, clapping his hands again and again.

Ji Yong said smugly, "Isn't it more fun with your uncle?"

Yuan Heng nodded without cease, calling out "Uncle!" in his clear, piping voice.

Ji Yong was pleased. Smiling, he gathered Yuan Heng into his arms, let him pick out the pinwheel he liked best, then handed him back to Zixi: "Take the young master off to play with the pinwheels."

Zixi answered respectfully, "Yes," and led Yuan Heng over to the covered walkway, where he seized the chance to plant pinwheels along the railing.

Yuan Heng ran to and fro, beside himself with excitement.

Ji Yong nodded in satisfaction and said to Dou Yan, "Could Dou Huaide have eloped with my cousin? My cousin is missing too."

Dou Yan could not help sighing inwardly.

Ji Yong was far too clever.

"It is too early to say." What she feared most now was Ji Yong doing something rash. "Yuan Heng's father has already sent men to investigate."

Ji Yong nodded, then shouted to Zixi in the distance, "Stick a few on top of the rockery—the wind is stronger over there."

Zixi answered and, carrying Yuan Heng, climbed the Taihu rockery.

Ji Yong turned back to Dou Yan. "I am going to ask Wu Shan—those two have been close as brothers since childhood, and I refuse to believe Wu Shan knows nothing." Here he shot a glance at Dou Chu. "He probably thinks he is doing a good deed!"

What business is that of mine!

Dou Yan muttered a word or two to herself, then said, "My sixth aunt is here with me. Would you like to go comfort her?"

"What is there to say?" Ji Yong said dismissively. "If the person is not found, she will only weep, and I will only spout useless words. Better to wait until they are found." He left Zixi behind to play with Yuan Heng and went out of the Yingzhen Ducal Estate alone.

Fortunately Dou Yan had long since grown used to his various eccentricities, and she explained matters to Lady Ji with perfect ease and arranged for Zixi to return to the estate...

Song Yan did not come back until the middle of the night.

The courtyard full of whirring pinwheels made him stop in his tracks. "Where did these come from? Did you go out today, my lady?"

"No." Songluo lowered her eyes. "The Ji family's uncle bought them for the young master."

Song Yan stood in the courtyard a while before he lifted his foot and went into the inner chamber.

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Sisters and brothers, here is today's update.

o(n_n)o~