The Lucky Heiress

“I’m not consulting you, but I want you to do something for your older brother,” Mrs. Yun said decisively.

“You mean, you want me to pay off the rent for my elder brother’s house in the provincial city?” Wei Ruo gave a slight smile.

“Yes.” Mrs. Yun said, “You don’t have to feel cheated, your grandparents have given you plenty of presents, your elder brother has treated you well, and this family has supported you as well. You should at least contribute something for this home.”

Then Mrs. Yun added, “I wouldn’t ask you for money if we didn’t lack savings. I promise you when the farm and shop profits come in this year, I’ll return this money to you.”

This time Mrs. Yun was both polite and sincere.

Wei Ruo thought for a moment and said, “I’ll lend the money, but on one condition.”

“What condition?” Mrs. Yun looked at Wei Ruo, suspicion flashing in her eyes, instinctively feeling her daughter was about to make an unreasonable demand.

“I want to accompany you when you go to the provincial city to rent a house,” Wei Ruo said.

“Why?”

“I’ve never been to the provincial city and would like to see it.”

“Do you have the time?”

“I’m getting some free time starting from a few days.”

The hardest part of running disaster relief efforts was the beginning. Once things were running smoothly, Wei Ruo’s work eased up.

After a month of hard work, Wei Ruo had successfully gotten the whole operation running smoothly.

So, even though she was still busy from dawn till dusk, most of her time was spent on her own affairs rather than disaster relief efforts.

Not telling people at the Military Prefecture was also for convenience.

“I have no objection, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your work, you can go,” Mrs. Yun said.

“Then, in two days, I’ll go with you to the provincial city.”

“Alright,” Mrs Yun agreed.

This was probably the most straightforward and successful conversation they had as mother and daughter.

There was no argument or extra courtesies. It was more like a business negotiation than just everyday mother-daughter chat.

###

Two days later, Wei Ruo prepared her belongings and set off for the provincial city with Mrs. Yun.

Mrs. Yun temporarily handed over tasks at home to Wei Qingwan. Wanwan had been helping her manage home affairs for a long time and was experienced, so she had no worries whatsoever.

Wei Yichen stayed home all these days, unaware of the transaction between Mrs. Yun and Wei Ruo. All he knew was that his mother had gone to the provincial city with his elder sister to find him a place to live.

That evening, Wei Qingwan did not return home at the usual time.

Feeling worried, Wei Yichen ordered a servant to check on her whereabouts at the Tongzhi Prefecture.

However, Wei Qingwan had not returned by the time the servant came back.

The servant had asked people at the Tongzhi Prefecture. Just like any normal day, all the young ladies, including Wei Qingwan, had left on time.

This was strange. Wei Qingwan had left the Tongzhi Prefecture on time but hadn’t arrived home at the Military Prefecture as expected.

Furthermore, it was already dark, and knowing his sister so well, Wei Yichen was sure she wouldn’t just stay out overnight.

“Get all the people who are free in the prefacture to go out and look for our second young lady,” Wei Yichen immediately ordered.

Then he personally left the house with his followers to search for her.

Thanks to the successful disaster relief efforts, there were virtually no refugees and victims left in the Government City, making it much safer than it was more than a month ago.

Wei Yichen looked around and couldn’t find Wei Qingwan. Instead, he found Wei Qingwan’s maid, Cuihe, and the carriage Wei Qingwan usually travelled in.

The carriage was parked in an alley, and Cuihe was standing timidly by the side of it.

“Where’s Wanwan?” Wei Yichen rushed to Cuihe and asked.

“I…I…” Cuihe shrank back, not daring to meet Wei Yichen’s gaze.

“Speak!” Wei Yichen said sternly.

“I don’t know… Elder young master, I don’t know where the young lady has gone…” Cuihe replied fearfully.

‘ ‘Aren’t you always with Wanwan? How could you not know where she has gone?”

“The second young lady usually goes to the shop across the road to learn embroidery from the embroidery lady. She is only away for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. However, today, she didn’t come out even after quite some time. Out of anxiety, I went to inquire. The people in the shop said they didn’t know,” Cuihe recounted shakily.

Wei Qingwan was missing, and Cuihe was very scared. For a while, she didn’t know what to do. She didn’t dare to go back, fearing that Wei Qingwan might not find her if she returned. So, she waited by the carriage until evening.

“Is that the embroidery shop?” Wei Yichen pointed at a shop and asked.

Cuihe nodded ferociously.

The shop was closed by this time. Wei Yichen, along with his guards, forcibly broke the door down.

The shopkeeper looked terrified. “Sir, what’s the matter?”

“My sister disappeared in your shop, and you’re asking me what happened?”

“Forgive me, sir, but I honestly don’t know where your sister went.”

“My sister comes to your shop every day to learn embroidery from one of your seamstresses. Are you telling me that you have no idea?”

“That’s not true, sir! A young man rented the room behind my shop by giving me some silver. The young lady would come every day to meet this young man in that room- there wasn’t any seamstress present,” the shopkeeper exclaimed innocently.

“What nonsense are you spouting? What utter nonsense! If you continue to make such false accusations about my sister, I’ll have you brought before an officer!” Wei Yichen was enraged.

Such nonsensical behaviour wasn’t something his sister, Wanwan, could be expected to do; the shopkeeper must be mad!

“I’m not making things up! All I said is true! If you don’t believe me, Sir, you can inquire in the nearby shops. I sell ready-made things in my shop and I’ve never hired any seamstress!” The shopkeeper tried to defend himself.

“All I want from you are your excuses. I want you to produce my sister right now!” Wei Yichen shouted angrily.

“I truly am clueless about this, Sir. After the young lady entered the room, not long after, there were rumbling sounds. I felt something was wrong. When I went in to have a look with my assistant, there was no one there. The room, however, was in complete chaos. If you don’t believe me, I can take you there, Sir. The room hasn’t even been cleaned up yet!” The shopkeeper explained.

The shopkeeper, too, was tremendously scared at the moment, not knowing what had transpired.

He had originally thought that young people were merely using his venue to express their emotions to each other, but he never expected to face this issue.

Wei Yichen brushed past the shopkeeper, leading his people into the shop. The room was located at the back of the shop.

Upon entering, they found the room in a disarray, as though a fight had broken out. The tables and chairs were toppled over.

The room’s window was open, leading directly to a small alley outside. It seemed as though someone had escaped through the window.

This sight sent Wei Yichen’s heart racing and terrifying thoughts crossed his mind.