Actually, Yao ngxian was just making a euphemistic statent! As for getting lost, Ji Yuying might have been aiming for the second courtyard from the start.
Kong Shuhuan, of course, read between the lines and agreed with Yao ngxian’s words.
"Miss! Is there sothing wrong? Where is Miss?"
Yiren hurried over to the pavilion, anxiously inquiring about her lady’s situation.
Kong Shuhuan, upon seeing Yiren, looked as if she had found a lifeline.
"Yiren, quickly go and inform mother, telling her that Miss can’t be found. But do not make it public; I’ve asked Miss Yao to help look for her."
Yiren was alard; this Miss is truly troubleso, and in the blink of an eye, sothing has gone wrong again.
"Yes, Miss! You and Miss Yao must be careful, and do not wander into the outer courtyard. I’ll inform Madam right away."
Yiren retraced her steps to report to Madam.
She needed to check if Miss had returned, so as not to cause a misunderstanding among everyone later.
Kong Shuhuan led Ying Yue in a different direction. They had no idea which path Ji Yuying might have taken, so they had to split up to search.
Yao ngxian, along with Lianxin and several others, went in separate directions to search; ti was of the essence as the banquet was about to start.
If Ji Yuying wasn’t found before the banquet, this matter would escalate.
Yao ngxian led Lianxin toward the outer courtyard. Along the way, Lianxin hesitated to speak.
After walking for so ti, Lianxin couldn’t hold back any longer and asked worriedly, "Miss, up ahead is the courtyard where the n are. Isn’t it inappropriate for us to go there? Besides, aren’t there gatekeepers in the courtyard? Surely Miss Ji can’t get out?"
Yao ngxian understood the logic. Ji Yuying, having not returned for so long, might have sneaked into the n’s courtyard while the gatekeepers were inattentive.
She couldn’t go to the second courtyard; she could only search along this road!
"Do what we must and leave the rest to fate. I won’t go to the second courtyard, just search along this road. If we reach the gatekeepers and still don’t find her, we’ll return and wait for Sister Kong at the pavilion."
She had no personal acquaintance with Ji Yuying, and wouldn’t be anxious on her behalf, only helping because of Sister Kong’s face.
If they really couldn’t find her, there was nothing more she could do.
Kong Shuhuan and maid Ying Yue headed down another path towards the second courtyard.
"Ouch!" suddenly exclaid Kong Shuhuan, as a sharp pain shot through her ankle.
"Miss, what’s wrong? Oh no, there’s a piece of rubble here. Is your ankle alright? What’s the matter with this mansion? How did they leave such a big stone uncleaned?"
Ying Yue quickly supported her lady and expressed her grievances.
Ying Yue glanced down to see a sizable piece of rubble under Kong Shuhuan’s foot.
Kong Shuhuan must have stepped on the rubble and twisted her ankle.
Kong Shuhuan silently cursed her bad luck. She moved her ankle and felt so pain.
Trying to take a few steps, she found that any step she took caused imnse pain, making it impossible to walk.
Young won usually wore soft-bottod embroidered shoes, suitable only for even surfaces.
"Ah! When it rains, it pours." She glanced around and noticed a stone table and three stone stools ahead.
"Ying Yue, we’re almost at the Hanging Flower Gate to the north. Go ahead and check the groves and corners to see if Miss is hiding there. I’ll wait for you here, as my ankle is injured and I can’t walk right now."
There would be gatekeepers ahead, and it wouldn’t be easy for Ji Yuying to get past them.
Not much ti had passed; she might still be hiding sowhere waiting for a chance!
"No way! I can’t leave you here alone, Miss. I’d worry."
Ying Yue was reluctant; if she left and sothing happened to her lady, she would be in serious trouble.
Kong Shuhuan grew anxious, "Go quickly! Prioritize the matter at hand. Check quickly and co back for ."
Ying Yue, feeling helpless, complied with her lady’s instructions and hurried forward.
A maid in a herbaceous green jacket saw Kong Shuhuan from afar, and upon seeing her, her eyes lit up.
The maid briskly approached Kong Shuhuan, who, hearing the footsteps and seeing it was a maid, considered asking her to find Yao ngxian for help.
Unexpectedly, the maid rushed over to her without greeting her, hastily dropped a note, and then ran back in the direction she ca from.
"Hey? Sister..."
Kong Shuhuan was puzzled, noting the attire suggested she was a maid from the Princess Mansion.
The maids at the Princess Mansion, unless they served directly beside their masters, all wore herbaceous green jackets; she had seen several such maids today.
Suddenly, she noticed a note on the ground and her heart skipped a beat.
She glanced around, seeing no one else.
Picking up the note and opening it, she read, "Need to discuss sothing with Miss Kong at Hanlan Pavilion to the north, please go quickly." It was signed by Zhu Pang.
Zhu Pang? Wasn’t that her fiancé? What matter could Zhu Pang have with her?
Kong Shuhuan was puzzled; could this be so kind of plot? Could soone be trying to fra her?
Zhu Pang’s father was a third-rank official, and her family had secured this marriage, which was quite a leap up.
Could soone be coveting her fiancé and trying to fra her?
But then she recalled previous rumors about her, hearing whispers that claid she had a pockmarked face, which had made her cry for several days.
Could it be that Zhu Pang misunderstood she truly had a marked face, and wanted to see her appearance?
No wonder Zhu Pang had glanced over at the ladies at the Hanging Flower Gate earlier, trying to see if she was marked?
Kong Shuhuan hesitated; should she go or not?
After thinking for a while, she decided not to take the risk.
Since the marriage was already set, even if Zhu Pang was unhappy, he couldn’t break off the engagent, and rumors would be dispelled on the wedding night.
However, she then thought, having heard that Zhu Pang was very stubborn, that if he indeed made a fuss and wanted to call off the engagent, she would beco the laughingstock of the Capital.
She wouldn’t be able to face life here afterward.
Kong Shuhuan was undecided, when unexpectedly, Gu Chengyu was encountering the sa situation on the other side.
Gu Chengyu originally intended to leave the pavilion and return to the Hanging Flower Gate.
But halfway there, he collided with a maid who was rushing along with her head down, who apologized repeatedly before hurrying away.
Gu Chengyu checked his pocket and other belongings, found nothing missing, and realized that the maid wasn’t a pickpocket.
She had probably just bumped into him and was afraid of his reaction, hence she ran off.
He shook his head, deciding not to pursue the matter—getting bumped wasn’t enough to make a fuss over.
However, he soon noticed a note at his feet, which he was quite sure was dropped by the maid just now.
Picking up the note, he read, "Requesting Mr. Gu to et at Hanlan Pavilion to the south for an important matter." At the bottom, it was signed Yao ngxian.
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