mirked smugly as he took a sip of his wine. He was waiting for Wen Lu and her daughter to apologize to him with their heads bowed. But when he turned around again, Wen Lu and her daughter had already...Half a month later, a dust-covered man in gray robes arrived at Li Mansion's side gate and greeted Li Renyu, bringing news that was not good.
"What You're saying Zizu is missing"
Li Qin, who came in haste, raised her voice. Standing beside her was a small attendant from the study who had not stopped her.
"What are you yelling about! Are you afraid no one can hear"
Li Renyu said unhappily.
Li Qin immediately bowed, then lowered her voice and asked:
"Grandpa, what does this mean Could it be that our ancestor went to another place"
Li Renyu saw the anxious expression on his wife's face, so he stopped scolding her and nodded to the person beside them, letting them continue speaking.
"To my Lord and Lady, I have only been able to find that the young master did indeed go to the south of Yangtze River, but he never sought out Miss Wu, his cousin."
I went specifically to the county town where the Wu family lived. After Master Wu passed away due to illness, there was an additional vacant position. They observed three days of mourning before burying him. Because Miss Wu was young and there were rumors that she was very wealthy, the servants of the Wu family feared that someone with ill intentions might target her. So, they directly sold the two-entry courtyard house and established a female household, moving to the small manor house to observe filial piety for three years for Wu Youcai.
Little spent some money and went to the county office specifically to inquire. Under Miss Wu's name, there is currently only a rice shop, a noodle stall, plus the hot spring villa she lives in now. She's self-sufficient enough. If you really want to say what assets she has, it's not much at all.
I inquired with the neighbors near Wu's family, from the time of Wu Youcai's death to his burial, and even after Miss Wu moved out of the old house. Now the house has been sold, and I haven't seen any trace of Young Master Li. There hasn't been anyone resembling a distinguished guest visiting to offer condolences.
What do people who stayed in Xiancheng say
Li Renyu directly asked, "He only left his own family of three there to watch over the Wu mansion. He also wanted to keep a few more people, but he couldn't afford it."
If he knew that the family had been watching Wu Youcai for three years, from daily surveillance at the beginning to now only visiting Wu's house every ten or half a month, just going through the motions, he would definitely be so angry he would faint.
“The little one went to look for them according to the address given by the old master. They said they hadn't received any news of the young master entering the city. According to what they said, if the young master had arrived in the city, he should have sent a message. Li Youfu didn't receive any messages, and he even asked me, could it be that the young master took another route”
Li Renyu heard this, his brows furrowed, while Li Qin beside him was completely on edge. She stepped forward and said:
"Master, I've been having nightmares these past two days. Don't you think so"
"Shut up, is there anyone who curses their own children like that"
Lee Renyu's face immediately fell, while the man in gray robes lowered his head even further.
Perhaps the ancestor was too fond of play and got delayed.
Li Renyu said in a low voice, which was also a kind of self-comfort.
"Li Shun, you start from the capital and retrace the path your ancestor took. Don't miss any clues. I don't believe he vanished into thin air. He has guards with him, and if anything happens, he would have called for help."
Li Renyu finished speaking and directly took out a silver note worth one hundred taels from his bosom and gave it to his men.
"Investigate this as quickly as possible. If you truly cannot find anything, report to the authorities at the point where the trail goes cold."
"Yes, I'll do it right away."
Li Shun received the investigation fee and immediately left the study with agility.
"Although his ancestor was usually a playful person, he wouldn't dare to be so reckless in serious matters."
Li Qin gave her son a new name.
“I know, so I'm preparing to send more people to Jiangnan to inquire directly from the Wu family. After all, they sent us a condolence notice according to the rules, and our Li family didn't even send someone to handle the funeral, making us seem rude. In the future, if we want to control that girl, we won't have the position.”
Lee Renyu said.
"The old master is right!"
Li Qin responded absentmindedly, "Now all she cares about is her own son. She doesn't even think about a little girl she's never met."
Hot Spring Mountain Lodge
Zheng, the head of Zhenyuan鏢局, was still quite capable. Shortly after Wu Zhong straightened out the affairs at Zhuangzi, he brought his wife and daughter to Zhuangzi.
Wu Zhong immediately knew that these two women were female warriors hired by Zheng Biaotou. He immediately led them into the hall and then went to inform his young mistress.
The ripples had already finished her herbal bath, practiced a set of Eight Sections Brocade, changed into new clothes, and was enjoying breakfast. Upon hearing Wu Zhong's report, she finished the rice porridge in her bowl, wiped her lips, and went to the front hall to greet the guests.
Zheng, the head of the鏢 (a security escort service), was whispering something to the mother and daughter when a young girl, escorted by the house manager and maidservants, entered the main hall. He immediately stood up and bowed:
"Greetings, Miss Wu! My name is Zheng Tong."
His stylishly dressed mother and daughter beside him also bowed and greeted him, but they did not introduce themselves.
"Thanks to Head Zheng for making the trip, he found a suitable master for me."
Ripple smiled happily.
"That's right, this time I was fortunate enough to find the widow and daughter of my old friend. They also happened to want to leave the escort business. I told them about Miss's request, and they came with me to meet her first."
Chengtong was very tactful, explaining the situation in just a few words, and arranging a meeting for both parties to choose each other.
The elderly woman, seeing the ripples turn her gaze towards their mother and daughter duo, stood up first and bowed with a martial arts greeting before speaking.
“My name is Lu, and my family name is Zhou. My daughter's name is Zhou Minmin. Our family are all鏢師 (bodyguards). My late husband was a brother-in-arms with Zheng the Head of the Biao team. Two years ago, when he was escorting goods, my husband was seriously injured protecting the elderly master of the house. Now there's only me and my daughter left.”
I escorted my daughter for two years, but the silver we received each time wasn't much. My daughter is also growing up and it's not suitable for her to continue escorting anymore. I have saved some silver in my hands, plus my deceased husband's pension, which is enough to buy a house and land. However, there are only two of us after all, so we want to find a reliable master to depend on.
Just as Master Zheng happened to know our plans, he recommended Miss Wu's place. So we made an excuse to leave the鏢局 and met with Master Zheng and Miss Wu together.”
Ripples took a look. The mother and daughter were both practical and capable in appearance. Wen Nu's words were also crisp, and although they couldn't be considered beautiful, they had a certain spirit. Her daughter, who was about the same height as her, probably inherited her father's features. She was also imposing and handsome, not like the graceful Jiangnan women.
"Little Zhou Minmin has met Miss Wu."
Zhou Minmin, after her mother's words, also clasped her hands and bowed.
"No need for formalities. I presume Zheng Biaotou has told you my situation. I would like to request instruction from the female martial arts master, not only because I wish to learn some self-defense skills, but also because as a woman, having female bodyguards close at hand would be more suitable."
"Yes, Head Zheng briefed us on the general situation."
The wen nü zi nodded.
"I want to see your abilities first, then I'll decide your pay, how about that"
"Naturally!"
Wenlu's straightforwardness, they practice martial arts to make a living, even if Miss Wu didn't mention it, she would bring it up herself.
“My late husband practiced internal boxing, and Minyin inherited her father's strength. Her boxing is exquisite and suitable for accompanying the young mistress to gatherings of female companions. I practice the Blooming Flower swordsmanship, which emphasizes agility and speed, making it suitable for outer perimeter protection.”ound, sobbing and saying:"Mother! Ripples is your granddaughter! How could you sell my flesh and blood for your younger brother!"Zhang Hui's mother was the first to stand up and scold.“Song, you wicke...