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Time seemed to stretch endlessly until a frantic voice broke the tense silence, calling out urgently.
"Madam, Madam, where are you?"
Gu Wan Ning slowly lifted her face from where it was buried in her arms, gazing blankly towards the courtyard gate.
Li Mama had just stepped out to relieve herself and, upon returning, noticed that Li Ruo Feng was missing. She hurriedly began searching for her.
Ever since Young Master Gu Yu Xuan had gone missing, Madam had been consumed by grief over the loss of her child. The blow to her spirit was profound; shortly after the young master’s disappearance, both the master and the young lady had insisted on bringing Chen Die into their home. This had further unsettled Madam's already fragile state of mind. She often wandered aimlessly in the courtyard, clutching a wooden pillow and mumbling to herself.
Usually, Madam would spend most of her time in Young Master Gu Yu Xuan's courtyard. Tonight, after searching for half the evening without success, she ordered several young maidservants to discreetly look around the estate to avoid alarming the old madam and the master.
If they disturbed the old madam and the master, they would surely face punishment, and Madam would suffer alongside them.
After searching for a long time without finding Li Ruo Feng, when Li Mama finally arrived at Xue Zhu Courtyard and peered inside from a distance, her failing eyesight nearly caused her to faint.
In the dim light, she could vaguely see someone squatting motionless at the threshold, resembling a ghost and frightening enough to make her quickly lift her weary legs to flee.
Hearing a familiar voice call out, Gu Wan Ning managed to stop Li Mama just as she took two steps away.
Upon recognizing the Third Miss's voice, Li Mama trembled slightly and halted. After taking a deep breath to steady herself, she turned around with some reluctance and said, "I did not mean to disturb you, Third Miss. I—"
"Why are you here in my courtyard at this hour? Is something wrong?" Gu Wan Ning asked with concern as she regained her composure.
Li Ruo Feng often took advantage of her kindness to borrow money for her son's treatment; although she had never done anything excessively wrong or malicious towards Gu Wan Ning, she still felt sympathy for her plight.
Li Mama sighed deeply and replied, "My lady is missing. I wonder if you have seen her come by Xue Zhu Courtyard?"
Gu Wan Ning shook her head. "I have been here all night and haven't heard any sounds." She urged Li Mama to continue searching elsewhere.
A maidservant had already approached Gu Wan Ning earlier to remind her that night had fallen and suggested she rest. However, she was waiting for Xiang Ling to arrive and chose to remain seated at the threshold while sending everyone else away to rest.
The servants could do nothing but leave reluctantly.
After receiving Gu Wan Ning's answer, Li Mama did not press further. She gave a slight bow before departing from Xue Zhu Courtyard in search of Madam elsewhere.
Gu Wan Ning continued sitting at the threshold when suddenly she heard a rustling sound. Slowly rising to her feet, she called out towards the noise, "Yin Sha?"
Just as she finished speaking, she felt a chill at her neck followed by dizziness as she collapsed onto the ground.
"Are you sure it's her?" one of the newcomers asked skeptically as they looked down at the unconscious Gu Wan Ning lying on the ground.
The intruders had been paid merely to set fire to Xue Zhu Courtyard; if they could burn away its occupant in the process, they would receive ten times their payment once their task was complete.
Someone struck him on the head and scolded, "Idiot, didn’t you hear that old woman? Xuezhuyuan, Third Miss! Has a dog eaten your brain? You’re not allowed to eat!"
In less than a quarter of an hour, a red glow erupted from the Zhongyuan Marquis's residence, with Gu Waning, who had been knocked unconscious, lying amidst the flames, completely unaware.
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