Cui Qizhou was about to respond to what she said when suddenly he heard a familiar voice.
"I think this jade pendant looks somewhat familiar. Wasn't it always with the eldest young master a few days ago?"
Qiao Meng came late. She covered her mouth as if just realizing she had said something she shouldn't.
"Maybe, maybe I was mistaken. Everyone, don't take it to heart."
There's no smoke without fire. Since someone has started this, things must not be that simple.
Cui Qizhou frowned, stepped forward and grabbed the jade pendant in his hand. The big character "Shi" on it was very eye - catching, and the others present could see it clearly.
"This is really the jade pendant that the eldest young master always carried with him. He never left it. Could there be some hidden story?"
"What hidden story could there be? The eldest young master always carried it with him. Ordinary people couldn't even get close. Maybe he was just too hasty and accidentally dropped it."
This remark caused quite a stir among the crowd.
Everyone looked at each other. Although they didn't dare to openly discuss it, they all had their own speculations in mind.
Seeing the strange looks from the people around, Shi Muyuan knew that this matter must be resolved here. Otherwise, her elder brother's reputation would be ruined by outsiders tomorrow, and he might even be labeled a thief.
She coughed twice, and the people who were talking gradually quieted down.
"Didn't the national master just say that it's very likely that the thief deliberately left these things here to frame my elder brother? There might even be a more shocking conspiracy behind it. Don't jump to conclusions. I hope this matter will be cleared up here today. If anyone spreads this matter tomorrow, don't blame me for being ruthless."
She scanned everyone present and waved her hand, indicating for Xiao Xiao to write down all their names.
Seeing this, even if people had more thoughts, they could only shut up.
"We will follow the empress dowager's order."
After the onlookers had all dispersed, Cui Qizhou was finally able to speak: "This matter is actually easy to prove. As long as the empress dowager can summon the eldest young master and confront him face - to - face. According to the agreed date, tomorrow is the time to settle this matter publicly. Could it be that the eldest young master hasn't returned yet? In other words, the empress dowager doesn't know the whereabouts of the eldest young master, right?"
The young girl's eyes were gloomy. Her calm gaze landed on the man's face.
"The national master had better not speak carelessly without evidence. Otherwise, if these words spread, the whole world will misunderstand my elder brother."
"In that case, the empress dowager might as well summon the eldest young master first."
The man pressed on step by step, and Shi Muyuan didn't know how to respond for a moment. Just then, there came the hasty sound of footsteps from outside.
"Your Majesty, something's wrong! General Qin is seriously injured and unconscious."
"What?"
No longer caring that the man was still there, the young girl was only concerned about her elder brother's safety.
Qin Feng left with her elder brother. Now that he was in trouble, what about her elder brother?
Thinking of this, she quickened her pace. But when she arrived, it was like a bucket of cold water was poured over her head.
Only Qin Feng was lying on the bed. No matter how much Shi Muyuan rummaged through the room, she only found him.
Seeing this, the young girl could hardly control her emotions.
"Where's elder brother? Why is there only General Qin?"
The soldier who came to report his head down and didn't dare to meet her eyes.
"Your Majesty, only the general came back. As for the eldest young master, he's missing."
"What? Then why don't you go out and look for him? Are you just going to wait for my elder brother's corpse here?"
While the young girl was scolding, the man on the bed let out a groan: "Quick! Save Shi An! He's in danger."
"What?"
Hearing her elder brother's name, the young girl rushed to the bedside like the wind.
"What's wrong with elder brother? Tell me."
Qin Feng opened his eyes with difficulty: "Shi An and I were both ambushed. Concubine Rui..."
His voice stopped there, and he fell into a deep coma again.
The young girl got anxious: "What's going on exactly? Qin Feng, finish your words."
But no matter how loudly she shouted, the man on the bed didn't move at all.
Xiao Xiao looked at the people who had followed and quickly stepped forward to support her mistress.
"Mistress, calm down first. Let the doctor come and take a look."
The young girl calmed down. The people who followed behind looked serious.
"What's going on exactly? The empress dowager should know the whereabouts of the eldest young master. Why don't you make it clear?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Does the empress dowager really not know? Where on earth has the eldest young master gone? There aren't many people in this world who can hurt him and General Qin."
The young girl didn't answer directly but kept thinking about what Qin Feng had said before he fainted.
"Concubine Rui? Didn't she escape long ago? Why would she appear here?"
"The empress dowager still hasn't answered my question."
The man felt a bit annoyed that he had been ignored. Since just now, all she had been thinking about was Shi An.
For some reason, this realization made him feel a bit uncomfortable.
Shi Muyuan came back to her senses when she heard his angry voice.
"My elder brother went out for something important. As for what it is, it's not convenient for me to say. But Concubine Rui's sudden and strange appearance, shouldn't the national master investigate it properly?"
"Indeed. Concubine Rui has been missing for many days, and she just showed up when we were here. It's very likely that it has something to do with the gold and silver jewels. She must have set her eyes on them long ago and has been waiting for the right opportunity."
This made sense, but now Concubine Rui was in the dark, and Shi An was missing. They had to find Shi An's whereabouts as soon as possible.
Shi Muyuan voiced all her thoughts, and the man had no objections. But suddenly Qiao Meng spoke up.
"Why did the eldest young master disappear at this critical moment? Don't you think it's strange? But maybe I'm overthinking it."
She lowered her head, hiding her expression. The man thought for a moment: "Meng'er, the eldest young master has no reason to go to such lengths just for the gold and silver jewels. There must be something we don't know. Don't think too much."
"It's my fault. I just said this in order to find out the truth. The empress dowager won't mind, right?"
She seemed to really think so and even stepped forward to hold Shi Muyuan's hand.
However, the young girl only felt disgust towards this woman and nothing else.
"Miss Qiao is just a commoner. It's better not to get involved in these matters. Xiao Xiao, send Miss Qiao down to rest."
"Yes, Miss Qiao, this way please."
The man beside them lowered his head in thought and was unmoved by the scene. Qiao Meng's pleading look was also ignored. She was angry but helpless and could only leave with an ugly face.