A Shocking Dream

Chapter 174

Kanan sat aside, her thoughts beginning to wander. She recalled her past with Lin Wunian, the days when they had relied on each other, facing countless difficulties and challenges together. But this crisis seemed particularly thorny. She wondered if Lin Wunian had found any clues outside, or if he was in some kind of danger.

Time passed slowly, and Kanan remained alert, her eyes constantly glancing towards the door, hoping Lin Wunian would appear soon. Every slight movement would make her heart leap into her throat, yet each time it was just a false alarm.

Guards outside the door paced back and forth, their faces solemn, as if they had something important to report. At this moment, a suppressed silence reigned within the Pingding Marquis's residence. In the hall, Pingding Marquis Xie Yuan sat on the armchair that symbolized his family's honor and majesty, his gaze deep and stern, as if he could see through the truth behind the thick fog.

"Why are you so flustered?" Pingding Hou Xie Yuan's deep voice broke the silence. The guard at the door hurried forward and knelt on one knee. "My Lord, I discovered this peerless beauty while checking the inn."

When the guards discovered Lin Wunian and Qian Qian, they quietly left and came back to report. Xie Yuan had always been fond of beautiful women.

"Really?" Xie Yuan's eyes lit up when he heard the word "peerless beauty".

"My Lord, I saw it with my own eyes. The two women were so beautiful that they could be called stunning beauties. Their temperaments were extraordinary and they shone like pearls among the crowd." The guard described them vividly.

Xie Yuan's lips curled up into a playful smile. "If there really are such beauties, don't scare them. Send someone to find out their identities, but don't let them get into trouble like that unlucky guy last time."

With that, he waved his hand, and the attendant departed. Xie Yuan lazily leaned back in his chair, the images of the two beauties emerging in his mind. He knew full well that in this capital, any stranger could harbor hidden secrets, especially a woman so beautiful and whose appearance was so strange.

"Haven't you found Lu Yao's hiding place yet?" Xie Yuan asked the other guards softly. Although his voice was soft, it revealed an unquestionable majesty, and there was a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

The guards all bowed their heads in silence, the atmosphere so heavy it felt like water could drip out of them. Xie Yuan frowned slightly as he paced slowly through the hall, his steady footsteps seemingly hammering at everyone's heart.

"Lu Yao is just a woman, yet she disappeared without a trace right under my nose. You are a bunch of trash!" Xie Yuan's voice suddenly rose and he scolded angrily.

The guards knelt one after another. "Forgive me, Lord Marquis! We have searched the entire city and every possible hiding place, but we have found no trace of Lu Yao. It's as if she has vanished from the face of the earth, and even those close to her have disappeared."

Xie Yuan stopped, took a deep breath, and tried to suppress his anger. "She couldn't have disappeared without a reason. Someone must have been secretly helping her. Have you checked who she had close contact with?"

"My Lord, Lu Yao usually stays at home and rarely comes into contact with the outside world."

"With so many people, you can't even find a seriously injured woman by searching according to the map. You are really useless! Pass the order down, increase the number of manpower to search, and don't let go of any pharmacy, inn or dock!" Xie Yuan roared with gritted teeth, his face slightly distorted with anger, and two flames seemed to be burning in his eyes.

The guards knelt on the ground trembling with fear, not daring to raise their heads, and responded in unison: "My Lord, please calm down. We know we are wrong and will do our best!"

Xie Yuan took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. He knew that this matter could not afford to fail. Although the woman was a woman, she knew many secrets of the Marquisate. If she was rescued and used by others, the consequences would be disastrous.

Lin Wunian wore a hat that covered most of his body and quietly moved among the bustling crowd.

She had sharp eyes and could see at a glance that the officials and the Marquis of Pingding's men were busy running around in the streets and alleys. They all had serious expressions, holding portraits tightly in their hands, and carefully looking at the passers-by.

Lin Wunian's heart tightened, and she immediately realized that this was definitely not the time to show up in public. She quietly disappeared into the denser crowd, her steps light and swift as she walked deeper into the alley.

She was well aware of the delicate and dangerous relationship between herself and the Marquis' Mansion. Once it was discovered, she would be in dire straits.

Lin Wunian turned around and around in the alley and decided to return to the inn first.

At the same time, in the Marquis' Mansion, Xie Yuan was sitting upright on the armchair in the study, his eyes fixed on the information on the table. Xie Yuan was very satisfied with the information about Lin Wunian.

Xie Yuan smiled, determined to meet these two peerless beauties. "Come, bathe and change, and send a message to Brother Yang and Brother Zhou's residences, saying that I invite them to admire these beauties."

The attendants took their orders and hurried away. Xie Yuan walked to the window, his heart filled with anticipation for the beautiful woman he was about to meet.

He thought that a woman who could be praised so highly by the guards must be extraordinary. If he could take her into the Marquis's mansion, she would not only be pleasing to the eye but might also become an advantageous chess piece in the treacherous social scene of the capital.

Not long after, Xie Yuan, wearing a gorgeous brocade robe and a jade crown on his head, exuding nobility, left the marquis's mansion, got on a carriage, and headed to where the beauty was.

"Kan-Kan, they've sent more people to search for people according to the map. Now's not the time to be gathering information." Lin Wunian walked into the room, his expression solemn and his words rapid. Kan-Kan poured her a cup of hot tea and handed it to her, patting her shoulder in a reassuring gesture.

"Sister, don't be anxious. Drink some tea and take your time." Kankan comforted her, but her brows were slightly furrowed, and it was obvious that she was also full of worries.

"How is Miss Lu?" Lin Wunian took the teacup but did not drink it. She just paced back and forth in the room, her eyes full of concern and worry.

"I added sleeping pills to her medicine, and she is still sleeping soundly." Kankan responded softly. She knew how much Lin Wunian valued Miss Lu, and everything she did was with Lin Wunian's permission.

Lin Wunian nodded slightly and slowed down his pace. "That's good. She was frightened and slightly injured, so she needs to rest well. But the people from the Marquis' Mansion are chasing us everywhere, so we can't stay here for long."

Wan Wan walked over to Lin Wu Nian and stood shoulder to shoulder with her. "Wunian, I understand your concerns. But Miss Lu's current condition doesn't warrant traveling. Let's first find a more secluded place in the capital, and then make plans once her injuries have healed."

Lin Wunian sighed softly, "It can only be done this way. However, Yingzhou may appear prosperous, but in reality, it is fraught with danger. The Marquis's power is deeply intertwined, and completely escaping their pursuit is extremely difficult."