CHAPTER 110: CHAPTER 110: ARE YOU LEAVING?

In the dead of night, suddenly, a series of urgent knocks sounded distant as if coming from the depths of memory.

Tang Xiaobai abruptly woke up and ran outside.

At the door, many people were crowding in.

The light illuminated each face with an eerie orange glow, yet not a single face was recognizable.

Tang Xiaobai didn’t care about many things and hurriedly asked, "Have you found Ah Xiao?"

Many voices clamored together in response:

"Found, found..."

"Found downstream..."

"The body is bloated..."

"Body..."

"..."

— Tang Xiaobai abruptly sat up, breathing heavily.

As her breathing steadied, she gradually escaped from that suffocating nightmare.

"Second Miss, were you having nightmares?" Cheng Zi, who was staying up with her, was startled by her movements, rubbed her eyes, and approached, patting her back. "It’s still early, why not sleep a bit more?"

With her support, Tang Xiaobai lay back down and suddenly asked, "Was there someone knocking at the door last night?"

Cheng Zi looked bewildered: "I didn’t hear it, should I call Tao Zi to ask?"

"No need..." Tang Xiaobai closed her eyes.

Fortunately, it was just a dream...

But now that she was awake, she couldn’t fall asleep again.

Lying with her eyes closed for a while, she finally heard voices and movements outside.

Because she woke up early, Tang Xiaobai arrived at the main room early today, unexpectedly finding Tang Ziqian and Tang Jiaojiao already there, standing outside Gu Family’s room chatting.

When he saw her, Tang Ziqian’s expression was a bit complex, not greeting her with a smile as usual.

But Tang Xiaobai, full of thoughts, didn’t think too much and asked courteously before hesitatingly continuing, "Brother, I—"

"After breakfast, I’ll accompany you downstream to search again." Tang Ziqian offered proactively.

Tang Xiaobai paused.

"No!" Tang Jiaojiao decisively refused, glaring at Tang Xiaobai, "Brother just returned after a busy night, if you keep pestering him to help you find someone, don’t blame me for being unkind!"

Tang Xiaobai was surprised by Tang Ziqian’s initiative, and was further startled by these words, hurriedly asking, "Where did brother go last night?"

Tang Ziqian’s expression grew more complex.

"Last night, the Crown Prince was critically ill, brother took Doctor Feng into the palace to treat him!" Tang Jiaojiao said with displeasure.

Tang Xiaobai’s face changed: "Was he saved?"

The Crown Prince had been ill for so many years, always treated by Imperial Physician, and no one dared to recommend a renowned civilian doctor, as no one dared to take the risk.

Doctor Feng had been at Duke Yan’s Mansion for over a year, and during several episodes of the Crown Prince’s severe illness, Duke Yan’s Mansion never considered recommending him.

Why this time?

What if they couldn’t save him—

"He was saved." Tang Ziqian looked at her deeply.

Tang Xiaobai didn’t understand that look.

If he was saved, he was saved, why look at her?

"But Doctor Feng will likely remain by the Crown Prince’s side thereafter." Tang Ziqian added.

"Then what about mother’s health?" Tang Xiaobai’s face changed again.

"Once the Crown Prince’s condition stabilizes, Doctor Feng will occasionally return to check on mother." Tang Ziqian said, once again looking at her deeply.

Tang Xiaobai still didn’t understand that look and urgently asked, "What if we find Ah Xiao and he’s severely injured? Can Doctor Feng be summoned from the palace?"

Tang Ziqian’s mouth twitched, guiding her inside: "We’ll talk once we find him!"

Tang Xiaobai recalled her sister’s words, turned to say, "Brother, you don’t need to accompany me today, just lend me a few people, I myself—"

"No need to say more." Tang Ziqian interrupted her, "I’ll accompany you to search for half a day!"

...

Returning to yesterday’s location, half the men scattered into the forest to continue searching, while the other half followed the riverbank downstream.

Tang Xiaobai looked around for a while, pointing at the forest on the opposite riverbank: "Brother, can I go have a look over there?"

Tang Ziqian’s brow twitched, suddenly pressing his temples and weakly saying: "Brother hasn’t slept all night, not very energetic, could you sit with brother for a while and wait until they’ve finished searching this side of the forest before heading to the other bank?"

Given her brother’s words, Tang Xiaobai, despite her impatience, could only comply, helping him to sit on a large rock, worriedly saying: "Brother, if you’re unwell, you don’t need to accompany me, I have so many people with me, nothing will happen."

Tang Ziqian looked at her with a faint smile, saying: "If I don’t follow, you’ll send all the people out searching, leaving you a little girl alone here, yet to find someone and being carried off by a wolf!"

He intended to scare his sister, but the little girl seriously replied: "I wouldn’t do that, I would definitely ensure my own safety first so that I can successfully find Ah Xiao!"

Tang Ziqian was slightly stunned by her words.

At this moment, a rider galloped over from downstream and, upon reaching them, quickly dismounted and reported: "Ah Xiao has been found—"

...

Brother said he’d accompany her for half a day, but before that, they’d already found him.

Yesterday, in the hour before noon, a villager by the downstream village had coincidentally found an injured and unconscious young man in the water—like a certain cliché plot.

But she had never liked a cliché plot as much as at this moment.

"Has he woken?" Tang Xiaobai asked.

"He hadn’t woken when found, but someone has gone to fetch the doctor!"

Unconscious? Was he severely injured?

Tang Xiaobai’s heart tightened, and she stumbled upon entering the house.

Tang Ziqian was behind her and caught her, but before she knew it, a pair of hands reached forward to steady her arms.

Those hands were unfamiliar, wrapped in thick bandages.

Looking at them, Tang Xiaobai suddenly felt tears welling up.

It’s enough that he’s alive...

After supporting her, those hands withdrew, hanging quietly at his sides as usual.

Tang Xiaobai looked up, seeing his face with some bruised scars and a bandaged head, but none diminished his beauty.

His skin was pale like translucent jade, his pupils dark as deep ink, and when he looked at her, his expression was particularly focused, his eyes momentarily shimmering with treasure-like light.

He stood there well, his posture like bamboo, handsome and upright, indicating he was not severely injured.

Tang Xiaobai stared at him for a while, suddenly turning to Tang Ziqian and saying: "Brother, you go out first, I have something to say to Ah Xiao!"

Her tone was slightly heavy, and Tang Ziqian momentarily faltered to refute, gave Li Mu a "take care" look, then went out.

With no third person left in the room, Tang Xiaobai carefully scrutinized him from head to toe once more.

Li Mu felt nervous under her gaze: "Second Miss—"

"Tell me, what happened?" Her tone had lost the tension and anxiety, now cold and a bit like interrogation.

Li Mu intuitively sensed something was off but couldn’t immediately come up with an excuse, forced to stick to the plan, saying: "I accidentally stepped wrong... I don’t remember what happened after, I woke up here."

Her gaze was tense, watching him for a moment, suddenly asking: "Are you about to leave?"