Chapter 98
Hearing the voice, Liu Ming didn’t feel embarrassed at all. He simply smiled and said to Wei Herui, "Young Master Wei, why not come inside and rest for a while?"
Liu Ming thought to himself, The Wei Family really doesn’t know how to raise their child. A perfectly fine boy has been reduced to this state. If I hadn’t recognized him, they wouldn’t have even been allowed through the gates of An Manor today.
Who knows, they might’ve even been chased away like beggars.
"Alright, I’ll rest here for a bit," Wei Herui replied, his stomach growling. He figured replenishing his energy at An Manor wouldn’t be a bad idea.
But if Xu Qingshi wasn’t home, where else could he go?
Liu Ming quickly had some snacks suitable for a boy Wei Herui’s age brought out.
Fortunately, since Xu Qingshi was the young master of the household, the manor always kept plenty of food on hand.
The masters of the house were generally kind-hearted, so Liu Ming wasn’t worried about displeasing them by offering Wei Herui something to eat.
Wei Herui’s eyes lit up at the sight of the food. An Manor really is nice, he thought. Too bad Xu Qingshi isn’t here. Otherwise, staying here would definitely be a comfortable arrangement.
The thought dampened his mood.
"Young Master Wei, is the food not to your liking?" Liu Ming asked with a smile, noticing Wei Herui’s sudden gloom.
"No, the food here is delicious. I just miss Xu Qingshi. I didn’t expect him to be away," Wei Herui replied, taking another bite of a small dumpling. Damn Xu Qingshi, why isn’t he home?
"When the young master returns, I’ll have him invite you over," Liu Ming replied cheerfully, pretending not to know that Wei Herui and Xu Qingshi were usually at odds.
"Steward Liu, may I borrow a place in the manor to freshen up?" Wei Herui asked hesitantly, glancing down at his disheveled clothes.
"Of course, Young Master Wei. Right this way," Liu Ming agreed warmly, leading him to a guest courtyard. He even had a servant fetch a set of Xu Qingshi’s clothes for Wei Herui.
Afterward, he reported the matter to The Old Princess.
"You handled it well. Send someone to inform the Wei Family, or they might start panicking looking for their child," The Old Princess said kindly.
The quarrels of children weren’t something adults took too seriously.
Helping the boy today was simply a gesture of goodwill.
Liu Family
Xu Heming watched as the unearthed gold bars piled up outside the courtyard, forming a sizable stack.
Liu Zongcheng, waiting in the front courtyard, could no longer contain himself. He sprang to his feet and rushed toward the back.
Fear and anxiety twisted in his chest.
Those things must never see the light of day.
"You old fool! What’s the hurry? Why didn’t you go to the Emperor and plead your case?" Madam Lou snapped, chasing after him.
She didn’t understand—what was in the back courtyard besides his useless papers? It wasn’t like they’d burn them.
But when Liu Zongcheng reached the courtyard, he froze at the sight of the gold bars stacked outside.
His gold!
Discovered!
It’s over. They’ve found it!
Liu Zongcheng staggered, collapsing onto the ground.
Cold sweat drenched his back, his mind blank with terror.
"Old man, why are you sitting on the ground?" Madam Lou demanded, finally catching up. She tried to help him up but noticed him staring blankly at something behind her.
Frustrated, she turned to follow his gaze—and nearly jumped out of her skin at the sight of the gold.
Where did all this come from?
This courtyard had always been off-limits.
Madam Lou’s eyes widened as she looked back at Liu Zongcheng’s dazed expression.
She wanted to ask, but no words came out.
Where did this gold come from?
She knew every bit of their family’s income—but this? She had no idea.
A chilling realization struck her.
It must be ill-gotten.
Her heart sank.
Our family is finished.
Would our daughter’s pleas even matter if the old man’s crimes come to light?
Wei Family
When Zhuzi returned to the room, he was shocked to find his young master missing.
"Young Master, I see you! Come out!" Zhuzi called frantically.
But no matter how much he shouted, Wei Herui didn’t appear.
Remembering Wei Herui’s injuries, Zhuzi hurried to all his usual hiding spots.
Yet after searching everywhere, there was no trace of him.
Panicked, Zhuzi ran to Wei Jing'an and Lin Ziyi.
"What? Herui is missing?" Lin Ziyi gasped, leaping to her feet. She had already been regretting how harshly she’d struck him earlier.
Now, with her son gone, her remorse deepened.
"Don’t worry, my lady. I’ll have the household searched. If he’s still here, we’ll find him," Wei Jing'an said, frowning. That boy is nothing but trouble.
First, he embarrassed him, and now he was making his wife worry.
If anything, I didn’t hit him hard enough. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have the energy to pull this stunt.
"Liuqing, take some men and search the estate," Wei Jing'an ordered sternly.
"No, I’m going too," Lin Ziyi insisted, a gnawing unease in her chest. She had to find her son.
Wei Jing'an had no choice but to lead the search with her.
But after combing the entire estate, there was still no sign of Wei Herui.
The gatekeepers swore they hadn’t seen him leave.
"That brat! Just wait till I find him!" Wei Jing'an fumed.
"It’s my fault… If I hadn’t hit him, he wouldn’t have hidden," Lin Ziyi sobbed.
"My lady, this is that unruly child’s doing, not yours," Wei Jing'an comforted, though inwardly exasperated. He hadn’t expected Wei Herui to dare disappear like this.
Soon, Wei Herui’s grandparents, the Wei Family’s elder couple, arrived in a panic.
"What’s going on? Why is the household saying Herui is missing?" Wei Taifu demanded, his brow furrowed.
An Manor
After freshening up and changing into clean clothes, Wei Herui felt much better.
Now, he was scheming—how could he convince them to let him stay?
"Young Master, do the clothes fit?" Liu Ming asked with a smile as Wei Herui emerged.
"Perfect!" Wei Herui replied without hesitation.
Just as he was about to ask if he could stay, he suddenly felt himself lifted into the air.
Liu Ming blinked, not comprehending what had just happened.
But when he saw the spot where Wei Herui had stood now empty, his blood ran cold.
"Help! There's an assassin!" Liu Ming cried out in terror, though he couldn't understand why the intruder had only abducted Wei Herui.
