in2ebook Chapter 363 Where is Zizhou?
Chapter 363 Where is Zizhou?
Madam Gui's expression was also not very pleasant. She forced a smile and said, "It's only natural for men to marry and women to marry when they're of age. It's nothing shameful. But it's really inappropriate to spread rumors before things are settled. Madam Yang, don't you think?"
Madam Yang smiled and said, "I was just making this up; I didn't mean anything by it."
The Crown Prince's wife then wondered, could it be that the Gui family spread the word?
She had assumed that the Gui family was determined to force her into marriage. If that were the case, she would have to reconsider the marriage.
Just then, a maid rushed over: "Your Highness, Your Highness, Your Highness, something terrible has happened."
The eldest princess was somewhat displeased: "What's the matter that you're in such a panic?"
"Your Highness, Young Master Feng and Miss Gui entered the West Garden one after the other, and haven't been seen coming out for a while..."
The Crown Prince's wife's mind went blank.
The maidservant made it very clear: both Zizhou and Guiyuan entered the West Garden, and who knows what might happen there. If they encountered something unclean, the two of them might hide together…
Even if nothing had happened, just that one sentence would have destroyed Zizhou and Guiyuan's innocence.
Before she could speak, Madam Gui exclaimed in surprise.
"What did you say? Yuanyuan dared to be with another man without permission! How dare she! When I see her, I'll break her legs!"
The Crown Prince's wife frowned and looked at her.
I used to think Madam Gui was a very good person, dignified and composed, which is why she raised two excellent daughters. But now I think she cares too much about her reputation.
At this moment, the safety of the two children is the most important thing; everything else can wait.
Without time to think, the Crown Prince's wife said to the Princess and Princess Consort He, "Your Highness, Your Highness, please allow me to go and look for the person first."
The eldest princess also stood up: "I will go with you."
Although Princess He disliked Feng Zizhou, he was, after all, a child she had watched grow up, and she couldn't harden her heart and ignore him.
He immediately called out to people and hurried to the West Garden to look for them.
The group arrived at Xiyuan and, not far inside, saw a courtyard with its gate wide open.
A bold palace maid stepped forward to look, but exclaimed in surprise, "Ah, Miss Gui, what's wrong?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Gui quickly ran over to take a look.
They saw Gui Yuan tied to a tree trunk with vines, unable to move. She was dressed, but not properly, and her belt had been removed and used to gag her, making it impossible for her to make a sound.
Several ladies rushed over to help, rescuing her from the tree, and asked her questions with concern or gossip.
"What happened to you, Second Miss? Who... did this to you?"
Gui Yuan was filled with shame and indignation, and buried her face in Madam Gui's arms, sobbing, "Mother, Mother... I don't want to live anymore, I don't want to live anymore!"
Madam Gui was extremely anxious: "Yuanyuan, what's wrong? Oh dear, don't cry, tell your mother, what happened?"
However, Guiyuan only cried and refused to say anything.
"You said...didn't you say you were with Feng Zizhou? Where is he?" Madam Gui's eyes flickered slightly as she gritted her teeth and continued, "Was it him who made you like this?"
Her clothes were disheveled and she was tied up. Although it was unclear whether she had been violated, she looked terrible and must have been taken advantage of by a man.
The Crown Prince's wife's eyes darkened.
She didn't believe Zizhou would do such a thing, and what displeased her was that Madam Gui was clearly trying to deliberately steer the whole thing towards Zizhou.
Of course, now that Guiyuan is in trouble, she can't be too harsh on her, so she just said...
"Someone, tidy up Miss Gui and help her to sit inside."
Upon hearing that they were to go inside, Guiyuan's expression changed drastically, and she shook her head repeatedly, "No...no...Mother..."
The Crown Prince's wife noticed something amiss and immediately sent her attendants inside. Soon after, someone came out carrying an incense burner that was half-burnt and had been extinguished.
"This contains acacia fragrance, which is usually only found in places like that."
The Crown Prince's wife frowned and shook her head, saying, "Zizhou hasn't matured yet; this isn't his."
Madam Gui's voice became somewhat shrill: "Feng Zizhou is twenty-two years old. It's impossible for him to tell you, his elder sister-in-law, everything. How do you know it's not his?"
The Crown Prince's wife glanced at her but said nothing.
Princess Gui advised, "Madam Gui, I understand how you feel. It's understandable that your daughter is upset about what happened. But we need to investigate to find out the specifics."
Madam Gui pinched Gui Yuan with her hand and gestured with her eyes, but Gui Yuan only cried and ignored her completely.
Madam Gui was very anxious, thinking to herself, "Gui Yuan is usually very good at reading people, what's wrong with her today? Has she really lost her virginity?"
She was furious. How could this child do this? He just followed others and ran off to a secluded place!
The young master's wife instructed the servants, "Hurry up and go find out where the fourth young master is!"
He then walked up to Guiyuan and said slowly, "Second Miss, if Zizhou really did something wrong, our Duke's Mansion will never sit idly by. The most important thing right now is that he is alive. As long as he is alive, everything is fine. May I ask if you know where Zizhou is?"
Gui Yuan shrank back, seemingly a little scared.
When the Crown Prince's wife saw that she refused to speak, she was at a loss for what to do.
The eldest princess comforted her, "Don't worry, I've already sent people to look for them. I also sent someone outside to ask other people if they know anything about their situation."
As they were speaking, they heard the voice of Prince Ning from behind them.
"Your Highness, Princess Consort."
Upon seeing Prince Ning, the Crown Prince's wife immediately rushed over: "Your Highness, Zizhou is missing! Zizhou..."
Seeing her so out of control, Prince Ning reached out to support her, his tone softening with a touch of humanity: "Madam, don't worry, I will do my best to find her."
After saying that, he glanced at Madam Gui, who was about to leave with Gui Yuan, and said indifferently, "Madam Gui, the disappearance of Young Master Feng may be related to Miss Gui. Miss Gui cannot leave now."
If it were anyone else, Lady Gui would have certainly argued, but Prince Ning's indifferent tone and cold attitude made her swallow her words of argument.
Prince Ning acted swiftly, not going anywhere else in the West Courtyard, but going straight to the deep pit.
Before we even got close, we could hear sounds coming from inside.
The accompanying guards were somewhat afraid, after all, they had heard the rumors about this place.
Ah Song nervously grabbed Prince Ning: "Your Highness, that place is haunted..."
"In broad daylight..." The guard swallowed hard, glancing at Prince Ning's expression, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Shall we all attack together?"
Prince Ning did not believe in ghosts and gods. He listened intently and suddenly his eyes widened: "It is Zizhou."
He quickly went up to the edge of the pit and peered down.
However, the pit was too deep, and because it had been neglected for many years, it was overgrown with weeds and trees, making it impossible to see what was below.
All that could be heard was Feng Zizhou's weak, intermittent voice: "Help... Is anyone there? Help!"