Chapter Nineteen: Just How Starved for Love Is This Child?

“All right, all right! Eldest Brother, Second Brother, after all, we grew up together—there must be some misunderstanding here!” The young gentleman standing behind them, refined in appearance and dressed in a white robe embroidered with golden edges, hurried to interject, “Eldest Brother, you were truly too impulsive just now!”

“Impulsive, you say?” Chen Hao let out a laugh, as if the notion was utterly absurd. “If I were truly impulsive, I would have put my blade to his throat by now and forced him to reveal Xueqing’s whereabouts!”

Though their tempers still ran high, at least the fight seemed to have subsided for the moment.

Yang Yuanyi, ever eager, leaned close to Yunshuang and whispered excitedly in her ear, “That gentleman is Chang Zijun, the last of Lady Luo’s childhood betrotheds, and the youngest of the three. Because his capabilities didn’t match the other two, Master Luo didn’t rely on him as much once he grew up. It’s said Lady Luo always doted on him as though he were her younger brother, and the two shared a close bond.”

Yunshuang found the information intriguing, but her mind was far more occupied with worry for Goudan. She nodded absentmindedly, then turned toward the boy who was still being held by Jiang Xiao. She saw that he was sitting rigidly in Jiang Xiao’s arms, his whole body tense—like a kitten caught by the scruff of its neck by fate.

Yunshuang was amused despite herself, coughed lightly, and said, “General Jiang, thank you for saving Goudan. Um… you can put him down now.”

Jiang Xiao seemed only then to realize what he was doing. He glanced down at the small figure, stiff as a wooden block, said nothing, and set him gently on the ground.

The moment Goudan’s feet touched the floor, he seemed to snap back to himself and at once darted behind Yunshuang, peering warily at Jiang Xiao from behind her, only half his face visible.

He’d never had much experience interacting with adult men. The men in the village had always either looked down on him and Er Ya or, if they were nice, their eyes would be glued to his mother. A man so powerful, yet free from any hint of distaste or ulterior motive, was a kind he’d never encountered before.

Yunshuang couldn’t quite understand Goudan’s reaction and turned, intending to coax him out. “Goudan, General Jiang saved you. You should at least thank him.”

But Goudan stubbornly refused to come out, his little mouth pressed into a tight line.

Jiang Xiao withdrew his gaze and said coolly, “No need, it was nothing.”

Yunshuang was left with no choice. If Goudan didn’t know his manners, as his mother, she could not be remiss. She lifted her eyes to Jiang Xiao, her fair and delicate face at last showing some genuine sincerity. “Thank you, General Jiang.”

Though this man always carried himself with distant hauteur, he was, in truth, not unkind.

Jiang Xiao’s eyes lingered on her for a few moments before he looked away, replying with a faint “Mm,” as if her gratitude scarcely mattered to him, his attention already focused once more on the others.

Yunshuang was speechless.

Forget it. Were it not for these unusual circumstances, she’d have preferred not to interact with him at all.

Meanwhile, the argument among the other men continued.

Chang Zijun spoke up, exasperation clear on his face: “Eldest Brother! We’ve all seen with our own eyes how Second Brother has always treated Sister Xueqing. How could her disappearance possibly be his doing? If anything, he’s the one most anxious about her!”

“Then let him explain the matter of the coffin!” Chen Hao demanded.

“Second Brother already said it was just a misunderstanding!”

Yunshuang, listening nearby, couldn’t help but knit her brows.

“Then why, after Xueqing’s disappearance, did he refuse to let anyone enter their room?” Chen Hao pressed on, gritting his teeth. “Lianxin told me that after Xueqing went missing, this fellow started acting all furtive. Just what were you up to in your room with Xueqing that you didn’t want anyone to see?”

Fan Youliang’s brows were tightly furrowed, but then he let out a despondent sigh. “Eldest Brother, it’s one thing for Lianxin to misunderstand me, but how can you think that of me? When did I ever forbid people from entering our room? Right after Xueqing disappeared, the county officials came to search for clues—they entered our room several times. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Magistrate Ding.”

Hiding behind Jiang Xiao all this time, Magistrate Ding was startled to be called out. He hurried forward, fist to lips as he coughed and nodded, “Yes, that’s true. At the time, Mr. Fan only asked us to be careful, as Lady Luo didn’t like others touching her things. He just hoped nothing would be disturbed, lest she return and be upset.”

It sounded for all the world like the concern of a devoted husband.

Fan Youliang’s mouth curved in a bitter smile. “You hear that, Eldest Brother? In the days following Xueqing’s disappearance, I was so worried about her that I asked the servants not to enter our room until she returned. I… just wanted her presence to linger there a little longer.”

He then turned to Jiang Xiao and bowed deeply. “I would never dare be dishonest before you, General. I hope you will see the truth.”

His bearing was upright and honorable.

Yang Yuanyi whispered again, “Tsk, tsk. If Fan Youliang is acting, he’s doing a masterful job. After Lady Luo went missing, all his displays of longing for her became the talk of the town. There was even a constable’s wife who quarreled with him, saying that if she went missing, her husband wouldn’t bother preserving her presence—he’d be in a rush to find a new bride! Honestly, I was suspicious of Fan Youliang at first too, so I tailed him for a few days. But after Lady Luo disappeared, he was at home almost constantly. We found nothing.”

Yunshuang gave a quiet sound of acknowledgment, glancing at the man beside her.

Yang Yuanyi grinned back at her, flashing a set of white teeth.

Yunshuang was at a loss.

Just how starved for affection was this boy? All she’d done was make use of his information network, and he looked as delighted as a child with a ten-year supply of sweets.

At last, Fan Youliang sighed helplessly, “There’s nothing improper in our room. If you don’t believe me, Eldest Brother, you can see for yourself.”

Magistrate Ding, eager to prove himself before Jiang Xiao, immediately stroked his goatee and declared solemnly, “I was just thinking of searching Lady Luo’s room more thoroughly today to see if there are any clues we missed.”

With that, he sought Jiang Xiao’s approval, then led the group, grandly and with much ceremony, toward Lady Luo’s quarters.

Yunshuang quickly took Goudan’s hand and followed, with Yang Yuanyi trotting along happily behind her.

At the very back, Yan Fang couldn’t help but mutter, “Mistress Yun is truly impressive. In just half a day she’s turned that boy Yang Yuanyi so dizzy he can barely stand upright. No wonder Wu Qi said yesterday that, were it not for her two children, she’d have been married off long ago…”

As he spoke, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He turned instinctively and met the icy, penetrating gaze of his own commander. Goosebumps prickled his skin.

“Don’t gossip behind people’s backs,” Jiang Xiao said coldly before striding ahead.

He’d been watching the woman closely. He hadn’t reached any firm conclusions about her, but one thing was clear—she was genuinely investigating the case. Those bright, keen eyes had been carefully observing everything since her arrival, missing not even the smallest detail.

This both surprised him and made him study her anew.

If one called her an ordinary village woman, her actions set her far apart from the rest. Yet if one suspected her of being a spy from Jinmeng, her curiosity always seemed to land on the oddest things.

Soon the group reached the door of Lady Luo and Fan Youliang’s room. Fan Youliang stepped forward and opened the door himself, standing aside with an open and honest air.

Yunshuang gave him an indifferent glance and entered with the others.

Perhaps because Fan Youliang was so forthright, everyone moved quietly, as if afraid to disturb any lingering trace of Lady Luo.

Even Chen Hao looked hesitant. Once inside, he stood in the small parlor like a wooden post, lips pressed tightly together.

A faint scent of orchids filled the room, which was kept in perfect order. The curtain over the door was a soft powder pink, and it was clear the decor reflected Lady Luo’s tastes. With her absent these many days, the room inevitably felt cold and empty.

Suddenly, from the inner chamber, Yang Yuanyi called out excitedly, scarcely able to contain himself, “General! Magistrate Ding! There’s something odd in the room!”