As she pondered, for some reason, a most unlikely thought suddenly popped into Lu Yinxi's mind. Could the missing youngest son of the Kong family be related to Feng Wan?
Thinking it was far - fetched, the young girl blurted out her thoughts. Immediately afterwards, there was a sudden outburst in her ear.
"What are you talking nonsense about!"
As if being poked at a sore spot, Feng Wan's face instantly contorted, and it seemed as if she had bristled all over.
"Have you heard something?"
Caught off guard, Lu Yinxi's wrist was tightly grasped. A sharp pain swept through her body, and she could clearly feel Feng Wan's fingernails digging into her flesh.
However, compared to the pain in her hand, the young girl was more concerned about Feng Wan's reaction, which undoubtedly confirmed her random speculation!
Her light - brown pupils unconsciously constricted. Her upper and lower eyelids rapidly fluttered open and closed many times, but she still couldn't convince herself to accept this fact. Finally, she could only stiffly utter a few words.
"Really, was it you?"
The young girl's voice was like a basin of ice - cold water on a winter day, drenching Feng Wan thoroughly. Only then did she realize how inappropriate her reaction had been.
Releasing her hand, Feng Wan stepped back repeatedly, putting distance between herself and Lu Yinxi. At the same time, she took this opportunity to adjust her emotions. When she spoke again, she had become the proper Kyoto young lady once more.
"Miss Lu Si, everything must be based on evidence. Even though you are the daughter of Prime Minister Lu, you can't make unfounded accusations!"
"I have something else to attend to. I'll take my leave first!"
Before the young girl could react, Feng Wan had lifted her skirt and run into the distance. The maids of the two families, who had been following far behind, thinking something had happened, quickly trotted over.
"Miss, has something happened?"
Looking at the gradually disappearing figures of the Feng family's mistress and servants, Lu Yinxi felt heavy - hearted. She wanted to follow, but her reason told her not to.
"Hongmei, does your mistress know about the disappearance of Kong Jiao's youngest son?"
Hongmei didn't know why the Fourth Miss had brought up the topic of Kong Jiao, but she still told the truth, "My mistress has never mentioned it to me."
"Can you immediately send a message to ask her if she knows who kidnapped the youngest son of the Kong family?"
The gentle breeze caressed her face, and her sluggish brain started to function again. Lu Yinxi calmed down and began to analyze the current situation.
If her guess was correct and it was really Feng Wan who had caused Kong Jiao's disappearance, then the most urgent question to answer was whether Kong Jiao was still alive.
Her older sister had been slandered and had died to prove her innocence, while the culprit was still alive and even wanted to harm her.
Trying to put herself in Feng Wan's shoes, Lu Yinxi had to admit that if she were in such a situation, she would never let Kong Jiao die, but would make his life a living hell.
Considering Feng Wan's previous reaction, Lu Yinxi inclined to believe that Kong Jiao was still alive.
This, however, gave rise to more questions. Where was Kong Jiao? How had Feng Wan, a weak woman, managed to subdue and even imprison him for so many days? Also, was her hasty departure just now related to Kong Jiao?
A series of questions made the young girl's head throb. She really didn't like things that required too much thinking.
Seeing the increasingly solemn look on the Fourth Miss's face, Hongmei didn't dare to delay. After escorting her back to the area of the Lu family, she immediately found a secluded corner and disappeared from sight.
When the two elders saw Lu Yinxi return, they immediately sent someone to inquire. The young girl casually made up an excuse to dismiss them, but uneasiness welled up in her heart again.
"Hongrui!"
She instinctively called out, but only after the words left her mouth did she realize that Hongrui had been sent by her to protect Xu Siyan.
Before Lady Mei came, Xu Siyan had been in the mood to pick flowers on a whim. Worried about her safety, Lu Yinxi had sent Hongrui to accompany her.
"Sister Hongrui has gone to serve Miss Xu. Does the Fourth Miss have any instructions?"
A young maid volunteered to come forward. The young girl glanced at her and recognized her as someone from her own courtyard.心烦意乱, she waved her hand, "No, go about your business."
Meanwhile, as troubled as she was, was also Minister Kong of the Ministry of Rites.
With the people sent by the Assistant Regent, he rode non - stop straight out of the city.
Even though he had never ridden a horse before, and even though the horse almost jolted him so hard that he felt like vomiting his internal organs, he stubbornly insisted on going.
He had already sent people to search in the capital for many days, but there was still no news. Now all his hopes were pinned on this team of the Assistant Regent.
Having served Shang Mozheng for many years, Kong Ren knew that he had many capable subordinates. Otherwise, he wouldn't have pleaded with him.
The early - summer sun was shining brightly. The sunlight spilled on the black hair, emitting a charming glow that made people reluctant to look away.
A gentle breeze blew, and the long hair on her shoulders was carried to the front, playfully rolling on her side face. However, its owner seemed not to notice, and her eyes still stared straight ahead.
This was the scene Shang Luoshu saw when he dismounted. People nearby immediately started whispering and discussing at his appearance.
After the incident of the Assistant Regent's house catching fire, His Highness the Prince Jing seemed to have figured something out and had started to actively participate in government affairs.
Two days ago, his plan to prevent floods during the upcoming rainy season in the south of the Yangtze River in June and July had received a lot of praise, and it had spread throughout the capital in the past few days.
It seemed to be a signal, telling everyone that the once - famous Tiger - Dragon General was back. Only this time, his battlefield was not on the frontier but in the court.
"Miss Lu Si, we meet again."
The man strode up to Lu Yinxi. His manner was open and upright. Even though the two were already familiar with each other in private, in public, the proper etiquette could not be neglected.
Hearing his voice, the young girl then realized that someone had come beside her. When she saw that familiar face, her surprise was beyond words, "Why are you here?"
She had thought that at most Shang Luoshu would just send a message about this matter, but she didn't expect him to come in person.
Hearing this, the man looked puzzled, "You knew I was coming?"
He had come here today purely because after finishing his official business, he remembered that the young girl seemed to be attending a spring - outing gathering recently, so he had made a last - minute decision to come and take a look. He didn't expect to be anticipated by her.
"Wasn't it Hongmei...?"
Just as she was speaking, Hongmei walked back from another direction. When she saw her mistress's figure, she was also surprised. Was her mistress really that fast?
The man immediately realized that there might be some misunderstanding, "Have you encountered something?"
Lu Yinxi nodded imperceptibly. Just as she was about to say something, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the people around them, and then sensitively changed the topic.
"Hongmei, tell Mother that I'm going for a walk with the Assistant Regent and will be back soon."
In public, it was not considered improper in this dynasty for a man and a woman to walk side by side with a space between them.
Noticing that there were fewer people around, the two stopped. Lu Yinxi immediately told Shang Luoshu what had just happened and her speculations.
"The daughter of General Feng?"
Shang Luoshu had heard about Kong Jiao's disappearance, but he had been busy with government affairs recently and hadn't paid much attention. He didn't expect it to be related to the Feng family.
"What do you think of this matter?"
The man pondered for a moment, then slowly looked up and said, "Uncle Regent can't hold back any longer and has finally taken action!"