Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 628 - 630: Sinking Boat (5)

Madam Shen listened, feeling as if cold water had been poured over her, and couldn’t help but shiver.

At the entrance of the alley, Fourth Master Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, his breath cold as if frozen, Tianjing reported from the side: "This alley is a shortcut from Shen Mansion to South Arch. It’s a secluded area, typically not frequented, and the surrounding residents only noticed Shen Mansion’s carriage passing by a couple of times in the afternoon, but no abnormalities were seen."

Fourth Master Xiao asked coldly, "Have the people who went to the city gate returned?" From behind Tianjing, someone stepped forward and replied, "They went to the city gate and were told that Shen Mansion’s carriage indeed went out in the afternoon." After a pause, he added, "I’ve already sent people outside the city to investigate."

Fourth Master Xiao squinted his eyes, letting his gaze fall once more on the empty long alley.

Though it’s deserted, the smell of blood on the ground is unmistakable.

Behind him, the sound of approaching hoofbeats was heard, and someone leapt off their horse and knelt behind Fourth Master Xiao, reporting: "Great Governor, Shen Mansion’s carriage was found outside the city. Three women were found inside; they’re unconscious!"

Fourth Master Xiao turned around and looked at the person kneeling on the ground: "Where are they?"

"Outside the alley!" Before the person finished speaking, Fourth Master Xiao had already stepped out of the alley, indeed seeing Shen Mansion’s carriage parked by the roadside. The exterior of the carriage was intact, even the horses were calm, and someone reached out to open the carriage curtain for him, allowing Fourth Master Xiao to see Chunliu and Bihuai and Biwu lying inside.

"When we found it, there was no one around, the carriage was just parked by the door of the temple outside the city." After a pause, he continued: "I led a group to search the surrounding area, but found nothing suspicious."

Fourth Master Xiao tightly clenched his fists and coldly ordered: "Send them to the clinic on West Street, find Nurse Zhang!"

Someone received the order, jumped onto the carriage, and drove towards West Street.

Just then, a group of more than ten riders approached in the distance. The leading person was Shen Ji, who dismounted in front of Fourth Master Xiao and asked, "Any clues?"

Fourth Master Xiao gave him a cold look and turned around to leave.

Shen Ji rubbed his nose awkwardly, but knowing Fourth Master Xiao’s temper, he turned to ask Tiancheng. Tiancheng knew their relationship and recounted the recent events to him. The more Shen Ji listened, the more suspicious he felt, and he quickly caught up with Fourth Master Xiao, asking: "I think this matter isn’t simple, if it were mere robbers, these three maids wouldn’t have been left alone. Yet now they’ve returned unharmed, as if the robbers knew Fourth Sister-in-law and were targeting her."

These things Fourth Master Xiao had already considered, but seeing Shen Ji say nothing, he added: "Fourth Brother, should I lead people to search house by house?"

"No need!" Fourth Master Xiao replied deeply: "The opponent’s methods are sophisticated, even if they are in the city now, you won’t easily find them." Shen Ji, watching him closely, anxiously asked: "Then what should we do now!"

The Grand Dowager awoke, grabbed Mrs.’s hand and asked: "Has Xiqiu returned yet?"

"Not yet, Fourth Brother has gone to look." Mrs. replied, and the Grand Dowager frowned, asking: "The dozen maids from Shen Mansion, three girls by Xiqiu’s side, none have been traced? Though the Capital is vast, if such numbers were hiding there would surely be traces, has the Fourth returned at all?"

Mrs. shook her head.

"Xiqiu bears no grudges, and the Fourth has been dutifully working these past two years... There aren’t many in the Capital capable of such audacious acts!" The Grand Dowager supported herself on Mrs., intending to sit up, but Xiao Yanyi strode in from outside, his face equally grim: "They said Fourth Sister-in-law disappeared?"

"Second." The Grand Dowager immediately ordered: "Find a few reliable people to search, no matter what, Xiqiu must be found."

Xiao Yanyi’s face changed, for the first time he didn’t wait for the Grand Dowager to finish speaking, he flung the curtain open and rushed outside.

The Grand Dowager wanted to speak further, but Ziwei hurriedly entered from outside, reporting to her: "Grand Dowager, Manager Rong from Prince Manor has come, saying they’re delivering something for Second Madam."

"Call a couple of maids to move it!" Right now, the Grand Dowager had no mind for these matters, impatiently waving Ziwei to handle it.

At 7 p.m., Xiao Yanyi returned from outside, bringing back the three girls, Chunliu among them, their faces were pale and tinged with dark blue, supported by maids as they entered. The Grand Dowager immediately asked them: "Quickly, tell us what happened, where is your mistress!"

Chunliu choked up as she recounted the events they encountered after leaving Shen Mansion: "...Before the carriage exited the city, seven or eight maids entered, gagged us with handkerchiefs... When we awoke, we had been rescued." After pausing, she added: "Those people had their faces covered, ferocious-looking, we couldn’t see their faces, even the maids all had masks!"

In other words, when Shen Mansion’s carriage left the city, Xiqiu likely was already not inside.

"More than ten masked individuals!" The Grand Dowager squinted at Xiao Yanyi: "It seems, these people have roots much more complex than we imagined."

Bihuai and Biwu collapsed on the ground, Chunliu incessantly kowtowed to the Grand Dowager and Xiao Yanyi: "Grand Dowager, please Marquis, save our mistress." She cried heart-wrenchingly.

Xiao Yanyi silently stood at the door, suddenly turned and went outside, leaving a word: "I’ll take people to search again." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Everyone left behind looked despondent.

A few children standing at the green gauze cabinet door began crying in fear...