Chapter 429: So Where Exactly Did She Go?
While father and daughter were having a peaceful moment, chaos erupted inside Zhang Yuan’s blacksmith shop.
“You’re certain you dropped her off at the Second House Teahouse?”
Yu Zhengqing, usually composed, was visibly unsettled.
Zhang Xi, seeing Yu Zhengqing like this, felt uneasy.
After all, during their forced exile, Yu Zhengqing had been the unofficial leader of their group. If it weren’t for him, the Zhang family might not have survived to reach the wilderness.
So Zhang Xi quickly nodded, retracing the events of that night to confirm.
“I’m sure I personally escorted Lady Lan to the entrance of your Second House Teahouse.
“There were quite a few people inside.
“Even though it was already dark, the streets still had some foot traffic.”
“Father, we should go to the Second House and ask.”
Seeing that the Zhangs were adamant and not lying, Yu Xiaoxuan urged Yu Zhengqing to act quickly.
“Lord Anrong, my second brother is telling the truth.
“We actually thought that since Second House is more closely connected to your family, it would be safer to send Lady Lan there.
“I’ll go with you to check.”
“I’ll go too!”
Before Zhang Yuan could finish speaking, Zhang Xi hurriedly volunteered, afraid he might be suspected.
With no better option, Yu Zhengqing had no choice but to head to the Second House Teahouse.
When they arrived, it was already midday.
Due to the harsh winter and the recent destruction of Feng City, business had become increasingly slow—not just in Luo City, but across the wilderness.
Because of this, the teahouse, along with other businesses on the street, looked desolate.
A few scattered guests sipped tea—some were wandering martial artists, while others were Luo City guards taking a break.
With business declining daily, Liu Lan had been in an awful mood.
As the group stepped inside, they immediately overheard her scolding her daughter-in-law.
Though she was trying to keep her voice down, everyone inside could hear her clearly.
At first, Liu Lan assumed they were new customers.
Just as she put on a welcoming smile and looked up, her eyes locked onto Yu Zhengqing’s darkened expression.
She was so startled that she almost stumbled, quickly rushing from behind the counter.
Yu Zhengqing no longer wore the tattered rags from his early exile.
Now, he stood before them in luxurious silk robes, his hair adorned with a jade crown—as if he had walked out of the past, bringing back the once-glorious Yu family.
Even Yu Xiaoxuan, beside him, had swapped his old clothes for a nobleman’s attire, exuding an undeniable air of prestige.
Liu Lan’s eyes widened with shock—and then, eager flattery.
“B-Big Brother?!
“W-What brings you here?!”
The sound of “Big Brother” immediately caught the attention of Yu Shanhai, who had been working in the backyard.
He hurriedly dropped the firewood he was carrying and rushed out.
Even Yu Liang, who had been leisurely drinking tea by the fire, curiously wandered into the main hall.
Just like Liu Lan, their eyes lit up at the sight of Yu Zhengqing.
He was dressed far too well—far better than anyone else in Luo City.
Could it be…?
Yu Liang hesitantly asked, his voice filled with hope.
“Big Brother…
“Did you… come to bring us back?
“Has the capital… pardoned the Yu family?
“Can we finally… return home?”
Liu Lan’s gaze darted around the room, her excitement barely contained.
Though life in Luo City had been decent, she still longed for freedom—longed to return to their ancestral home.
Her business had prospered at first, but recent events had taken a toll.
With the frozen winter and the collapse of Feng City, customers had vanished, and profits had plummeted.
Of course she wanted to leave this place.
The moment Liu Lan posed her question, every eye in the room turned to Yu Zhengqing, filled with expectation.
Yu Zhengqing took in their hopeful expressions, but his mood only grew heavier.
Yes, if it hadn’t been for them, the entire Yu family wouldn’t have been dragged down.
Especially the Third House, who had never even benefited from the Yu family’s prestige.
Guilt gnawed at him.
But his expression remained firm.
“No.
“I came today to ask you something.
“Did Lan Shi ever come here looking for you?”
“Lan Shi?!
“Why would she come to us?”
Liu Lan’s face twisted in confusion.
“Wasn’t she captured by Yu Luo?
“And your mother—along with Meiyao—
“They were hung at the city gates for days!
“We were helpless to do anything.
“You know how Yu Luo is!
“She doesn’t even respect me, her own aunt!
“Even if my father had spoken up for them, it wouldn’t have mattered….”
As Liu Lan rambled, pushing all the blame onto Yu Luo, Yu Zhengqing’s eyes darkened.
He was losing patience.
He already knew what had happened after he left.
Chen Shi and Yu Meiyao had told him everything when he returned from the capital.
They had cried about how Yu Luo had tortured them.
How she had humiliated them.
Even Yu Xiaoxuan had confirmed it.
But after the incident where Chen Shi lied to him, almost dragging him into a trap, Yu Zhengqing had realized something:
Everything that happened to Chen Shi and Meiyao…
They brought upon themselves.
Yu Luo hadn’t even killed them.
She had only made them work—a far lighter punishment than what they actually deserved.
So today, when he came to bring Lan Shi back, he chose to be respectful.
Because deep down, he knew his family was at fault.
But now…
Even the Second House claimed not to have seen Lan Shi?
Then… where had she gone?
“You’re sure she never came?”
“But—but I personally escorted her to your teahouse!”
Zhang Xi, growing panicked, spoke up again.
“It was late at night, and the city gates were probably closed.
“I left her right at your door—just two or three steps away from entering.
“So…
“How could she not have come inside?!”
Zhang Xi’s voice shook with uncertainty.
If Lan Shi had truly disappeared, the Zhang family might be blamed for it.
They had already betrayed Yu Zhengqing once before.
If Lan Shi was lost under their watch, how could he clear his name?
Realizing the severity, Zhang Yuan grew anxious as well.
“This is the wilderness, where women are as valuable as gold.
“Lady Lan was defenseless.
“If she didn’t come inside, then…
“Where could she have gone?”
At that moment, Liu Lan caught sight of Yu Zhengqing’s increasingly dark expression—and she, too, began to panic.
(End of Chapter 429)
