CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 58: SETTING OUT FOR GANNING

Cheng Yuanshan quickly returned to Cheng Mansion, not daring to stay at Fu Mansion any longer.

But how could Fu Shinian give up so easily?

If Cheng Yuanshan wouldn’t take her, wouldn’t she secretly follow him?

Fu Mingzhu thought Fu Shinian was just joking, just a momentary whim, so she didn’t take it seriously.

Fu Shinian managed to find out the time Cheng Yuanshan was leaving.

On the day Cheng Yuanshan set out, at two quarters past the hour of Si, Chunmian and Chunyu estimated that Fu Shinian should be awake, so they went into her room to call her.

Who knew that upon entering her bedroom, they found the bed empty.

"Miss?" Chunmian called out, searching all around the room at the same time.

But they saw no one.

"When did the young lady get up?" Chunyu was surprised, "Could she be in the courtyard?"

"It shouldn’t be. Haven’t we been guarding outside the lady’s bedroom door?" Chunmian wondered.

Still, the two went to look in the courtyard.

But the small courtyard was just so big, one glance and they could see everything, yet there was no trace of Fu Shinian.

"Even if she got up early, she would call us to help her dress and groom," Chunmian frowned.

"We should hurry and inform Madam," Chunyu said anxiously.

How could such a grown person suddenly disappear like that?

Chunmian was sure that even if Fu Shinian got up early, she would have called them for dressing and grooming.

The two quickly went to inform the people at Fu Mansion.

It still wasn’t confirmed where Fu Shinian had gone.

Chunmian and Chunyu were still thinking she might have gone to Madam Fu.

Who knew, when they got to Madam Fu’s place, Fu Shinian was not there either.

Naturally, the two told Madam Fu truthfully.

"Disappeared?" Madam Fu hurriedly got up, "How could she disappear?"

"Could she have gone to find the eldest young lady?" Chunmian’s words sparked a glimmer of hope among everyone.

Just then, Fu Mingzhu came to greet Madam Fu.

When they looked, Fu Mingzhu had come alone.

"Mingzhu, have you seen Shinian?" Madam Fu asked quickly.

"No, I haven’t." Fu Mingzhu was momentarily confused, "What happened to Shinian?"

Chunmian was about to cry, "Today, the servant estimated that the young lady was about to get up, so we went into the room to serve, but unexpectedly, we didn’t see the lady."

"We were guarding outside the young lady’s door since dawn," Chunyu said.

Fu Shinian never liked them watching overnight, so each time they would guard at the door at dawn, ready to wait for Fu Shinian’s call.

"Shinian didn’t come to me either," Madam Fu said, "I thought she would go to find you."

"She didn’t come to find me either," Fu Mingzhu said, "Where could she have gone? Have you looked in all parts of the mansion?"

"Not yet." Madam Fu instructed Nanny Yu, "Take Ting Qin and the others and search quietly, don’t make a fuss."

"Yes."

"Chunmian and Chunyu should not go, you are usually following Shinian, if you are also searching, it might arouse suspicion," Madam Fu said.

"Alright."

Nanny Yu took Ting Qin and several big maids around Madam Fu to low-key search for Fu Shinian in the mansion.

Fu Mingzhu was thinking deeply and suddenly thought of something that seemed impossible, even somewhat absurd, yet it felt like a "what if."

"Mother, Uncle is leaving today, taking a convoy to deliver supplies to the Northwest Army. Since he was planning to leave, he came over the day before yesterday to visit my aunt and me," Fu Mingzhu said, "At that time, Shinian suggested wanting to follow Uncle’s convoy, to see the outside."

"But Uncle deemed it dangerous and refused to agree, he left immediately," Fu Mingzhu continued, "Do you think Shinian might have..."

Madam Fu’s knees weakened, she fell onto the chair in an instant, and Fu Mingzhu hurriedly supported her.

Madam Fu felt coldness in her limbs, she tightly grasped Fu Mingzhu’s arm, "Shinian couldn’t... couldn’t possibly, right."

"It’s probably not possible." Fu Mingzhu comforted her, "I only thought of this matter, telling you just in case."

"Yes, Shinian’s courage shouldn’t be that great," Madam Fu murmured, but the anxiety in her heart grew heavier.

Meanwhile, as Madam Fu worriedly searched for Fu Shinian in the mansion.

Cheng Yuanshan felt like he was seeing things.

"Shi...Shinian?" Cheng Yuanshan rubbed his eyes, unwilling to believe what he saw.

Fu Shinian revealed a sweet smile, "Uncle Cheng."

"How did you...how did you sneak in?" Cheng Yuanshan said, both anxious and fearful.

Fu Shinian answered truthfully, "I sneaked out before dawn."

Cheng Yuanshan: "You...sneaked out? Your family doesn’t know?"

Fu Shinian looked up at the sky guiltily, "If they found out, they certainly wouldn’t agree."

"You do know!" Cheng Yuanshan stomped his foot in frustration.

"Uncle Cheng, don’t worry. It’s too late to worry now," Fu Shinian said, "We’ve come this far, shouldn’t we be arriving at Yonghe Town soon?"

"Even if you want to send me back to the capital now, it’s too late," Fu Shinian said, "Besides, even if you want to send me back, can you safely entrust just anyone to escort me back?"

Cheng Yuanshan: "..."

"Second young lady, you’ve really planned this all out!" Cheng Yuanshan said helplessly.

"Uncle Cheng, I promise, I won’t cause trouble for you during this journey," Fu Shinian said, "Moreover, I’m not afraid of hardship, I know you’re rushing with the supplies, I will definitely cooperate and won’t be a drag."

Coincidentally, she also hoped to reach Ganning quickly.

This time, she sneaked out without telling anyone.

Actually, if she had told Fu Changqin, Fu Changqin would have certainly followed.

But she couldn’t trouble others.

The future remains uncertain, she indeed planned to buy medicine along the way, but whether it would succeed, whether it could truly stop the epidemic, was uncertain.

Fu Shinian embarked on this journey with a resolute determination.

If successful, it would protect Xiao Chengyu more thoroughly and hold Xiao Fengxing in check. As long as he didn’t inherit the marquis house, he wouldn’t have the power to harm the Fu family.

But if Xiao Chengyu were to meet trouble in Ganning, now that the Fu family broke the engagement with Xiao Fengxing, they’ve offended Xiao Fengxing.

If Xiao Fengxing inherits the marquis house, the Fu family might be unable to escape the nightmare she envisioned.

If she cannot save Xiao Chengyu, she would merely die prematurely.

So she must make this trip.

Only by protecting Xiao Chengyu can she speak of the future.

"You..." Cheng Yuanshan simply had no solution.

Fu Shinian was right, now they’re already far from the capital.

This journey carries a heavy responsibility and can’t afford to delay.

If they were to divert people from the convoy to send Fu Shinian back, it would affect their logistics operation.

Moreover, he wouldn’t feel assured letting unrelated people escort Fu Shinian.

At least with Fu Shinian right in front of him, he could keep an eye on her and feel somewhat relieved.

"Alright." Cheng Yuanshan said, "But I need to send a letter to Fu Mansion."

"I’ve already left a letter!" Fu Shinian said.

She was just worried that the family would discover it too quickly, so she hid the letter a bit.