TPATTHU Chapter 47
by VolareChapter 47 But It Wasn’t a Good Dream Either
Zhao Jianji, upon hearing that Xiao Zhinian had come to visit and offer condolences, was so moved that tears streamed down his face. He rushed straight from the courtyard and performed a grand salute to Xiao Zhinian.
What opportune timing.
“…” Xiao Zhinian straightened his face and cleared his throat lightly. “This official is already aware of the matter in your residence.”
“Your Honor, you must help this humble man find my son! My wife was bedridden with illness for many years and only left me with this one child. If anything were to happen to him, I wouldn’t want to live either!”
“Master! Master! You must hold on!”
Zhao Jianji grew more and more agitated as he spoke. If the servants beside him weren’t supporting him on either side, he probably would have fainted from crying.
Xiao Zhinian, annoyed by his clamor, said, “Whether he can be found or not, this official can’t guarantee. Tell me, when and where was the last time you saw him?”
“This humble man… this humble man doesn’t know!”
Zhao Jianji was heartbroken, and waved his hand for the steward to answer. “Ever since the madam passed away, the young master has often displayed strange behavior, but only after he falls asleep. When he wakes up, he forgets everything he did in his sleep.”
That much was true.
Xiao Zhinian had witnessed it himself during his night visit to the Zhao residence.
“Get to the point.”
“Yes, because the young master has this strange habit, we consulted many doctors, but none could figure out the reason. So, we left it at that. Usually, we have servants watch him closely, but it wasn’t a big deal. Who knew that the servant on duty that night would sneak off to relieve himself, and when he returned, he found the young master was gone!” The steward continued, “According to that servant, the last time he saw the young master was around… was at the beginning of Hai hour, in the young master’s room.”
That wasn’t right.
Xiao Zhinian remembered very clearly that Shen Zhejiang was already sound asleep when he left. He had deliberately glanced at the water clock, and it was the first quarter of Zi hour. He thought at the time that he should be able to return before Mao hour, so that Shen Zhejiang would see him as soon as he opened his eyes.
Who knew that those things would happen later? It was truly unexpected.
Xiao Zhinian asked, “So, you only discovered that he was missing after the Zhao residence caught fire?”
The steward replied, “We hadn’t searched before that. When the residence caught fire, the servants searched all the rooms but couldn’t find him.”
“What about the study?”
“No.”
Shen Zhejiang had already gone over the events once before Xiao Zhinian arrived, and analyzed it for him. “Xiao Si went missing at the beginning of Hai hour, and the fire didn’t start until nearly Chou hour. There’s a long gap between them. Could it be that he left on his own?”
Xiao Zhinian shook his head.
He saw Zhao Xiaosi in the study around the third quarter of Zi hour. That was only a quarter of an hour away from Chou hour. How could Zhao Xiaosi possibly avoid everyone’s gaze and leave the Zhao residence alone in his sleep? Impossible.
“Have you searched all the places he might have gone?”
Shen Zhejiang said, “I’ve had people search everywhere, but we still can’t find him.”
“Did anyone die in the fire this time? Are any of the bodies Zhao Xiaosi?” Xiao Zhinian frowned and asked.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing the word “bodies,” Zhao Jianji wailed and burst into tears, as if he had suffered a great shock. “Xiao Si! Your father has always treated you so well. How could you bear to leave your father behind! How am I supposed to live without you? Come back, and your father will never force you to study again!”
His mournful voice echoed through the sky.
Xiao Zhinian, annoyed by his crying, was about to order the steward to take him away, but before he could issue the command, the group surrounding Zhao Jianji instantly descended into chaos.
“Master has fainted! Quick! Quickly call for a doctor!”
The servants immediately lifted Zhao Jianji’s arms on either side, their faces filled with anxiety, and hurriedly pinched Zhao Jianji’s philtrum to revive him.
The steward, both anxious and apologetic, said to Xiao Zhinian and Shen Zhejiang, “Too many changes have happened in the residence. The master is probably unable to accept it all at once. Please forgive him, Lord Xiao and Master Shen.”
Shen Zhejiang nodded, quite understandingly, and said, “Please take Lord Zhao to his room to rest first. As for Xiao Si, I will certainly do my best to find him.”
“This one thanks you both on behalf of the master!”
After the crowd had noisily carried Zhao Jianji away, Xiao Zhinian withdrew his gaze from the patrolling guards in the distance and softly told Shen Zhejiang his thoughts in detail, intentionally glossing over the fact that he was injured, and then said, “If Zhao Xiaosi didn’t die in the fire, it’s highly likely that he was kidnapped by the black-clothed man’s accomplice that night.”
Shen Zhejiang agreed with a hum, his eyelashes fluttering slightly. He looked up at Xiao Zhinian and asked, “Tell me the truth, were you injured when you fought the black-clothed man?”
It had come back around again.
Hearing this question, Xiao Zhinian’s heart beat faster. He had clearly concealed many details, but he didn’t expect Shen Zhejiang to be so perceptive. So, he shifted his gaze guiltily and said, “You really can’t hide anything from Master’s discerning eyes, hahaha!”
Shen Zhejiang tapped his forehead with his fingertip, with a hint of annoyance. “I’m talking to you seriously, and you’re still being flippant.”
“Okay, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t be like this,” Xiao Zhinian immediately put away his smile, took his hand, and kissed it lovingly, smiling warmly. “The injury isn’t serious, just a knife wound. I’ll let you examine it when we get home. I promise it’s the truth.”
Shen Zhejiang pulled his hand back, determined not to let him succeed so easily again, and said coldly, “Whether the injury is serious or not has nothing to do with me. Anyway, you haven’t even told me you were safe these days.”
Even though he was being scolded by Shen Zhejiang, Xiao Zhinian seemed to feel a warm current flowing through his heart. He stubbornly chased after Shen Zhejiang and took his hand. “I made you worry, I know. This time was truly an accident. I didn’t expect that the black-clothed man would be so despicable and coat his sword with poison.”
“Poison?”
“Don’t worry, it’s already been neutralized. Look, I’m standing right here in front of you, perfectly fine.”
How could Shen Zhejiang not worry? He pressed Xiao Zhinian for details, his voice involuntarily tinged with a hint of sadness. “It must have hurt a lot.”
Seeing that Shen Zhejiang’s mood was gradually falling, Xiao Zhinian pretended to relax his face and said with a laugh, “It didn’t hurt. I even saw you in my dreams, Master. That’s great.”
But it wasn’t a good dream either.
Xiao Zhinian didn’t dare to say it.
“…”
“The most important thing now is to find Zhao Xiaosi. The account book was burned, and both incidents are definitely related to that black-clothed man. As long as we track down the black-clothed man and follow the clues,” Xiao Zhinian’s ability to change the subject was becoming increasingly skilled, “Maybe by then, Master’s matter can also be brought to light.”
As expected, Shen Zhejiang fell for it and followed his line of thought. “What method do you have?”
Xiao Zhinian pulled Shen Zhejiang towards the gate of the Zhao residence, saying, “I haven’t thought of one yet. Let me go back and think about it slowly.”
Human lives were at stake, and Shen Zhejiang dared not be negligent. So many days had passed, and there was still no news of Zhao Xiaosi. Naturally, he was also anxious.
If Zhao Xiaosi really fell into the hands of the black-clothed man, he was probably in danger. But Shen Zhejiang quickly realized another problem—
What was the purpose of those black-clothed men kidnapping Zhao Xiaosi?
To seek wealth?
But so far, there had been no news of Zhao Jianji being blackmailed, so at least that possibility could be ruled out.