Su Qing was still crying and couldn't reply. Li Ke quickly answered, "We haven't touched any of the furnishings in the innermost room." Actually, there wasn't much to touch; besides a bed, a table, and a chair, there was nothing else in that room.
Long Er didn't speak; he walked into the room alone.
The room was exactly the same as when Su Qing and the others left. The chair was right under the window, but it was upside down. The window was wide open. It had already gotten dark outside, and the cold air from the mountain was blowing into the room.
Long Er quickly surveyed the room, finding very few items and little to see. He glanced around before his gaze returned to the window. The window was quite high; if Ju Mu'er wanted to climb it, she would have to use a chair.
He turned to look at the broken chair lying on the ground, thinking about how dangerous it would be for her to climb onto the broken chair and jump out the window, given that she couldn't see.
Looking out the window, Long Er was worried that Ju Mu'er might be injured because of the distance between the window and the ground.
He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself down. He couldn't panic; he had to think things through carefully. It was getting dark, the woods were dangerous, and the robbers were chasing her. She must have had a plan; she shouldn't have run away like this.
Did someone break in and take her away? Or did she already know what she would do after she got out?
Long Er quickly searched the room. There were no notes on the table, on the floor, on the chair, or on the bed. There were no marks or objects left by her in the room.
She wouldn't have left no mark. Just like in that carriage, she must have left something to tell him what happened.
But no.
Does this mean that what happened caught her off guard and she had no time to prepare? Or did she actually leave a message that he couldn't guess?
Long Er jumped out of the window and circled around. Ju Mu'er's bamboo cane lay not far outside the window. The robbers didn't even bother to pick it up.
Long Er picked it up and examined the bamboo cane carefully. There was nothing special about it; no inscriptions, no markings, nothing at all. But it was indeed the bamboo cane she used, the one she never parted with.
Suddenly, Long Er charged into the woods like a madman. He wanted to roar, he wanted to scream, he wanted to hang those robbers up and cut their flesh into pieces. But he knew that the most important thing now was to find Ju Mu'er.
Even a strong, unarmed man couldn't safely survive in the dark, deep forests, let alone a weak woman like her who couldn't see.
Long Er dashed into the woods like the wind, running frantically in search of the enemy. After running for a while, he heard the sounds of fighting ahead. He rushed over and saw his men locked in a fierce battle with the robbers. Long Er watched them leap and tumble in a desperate struggle, then nervously looked around, but couldn't see the thin figure. After circling around twice, Long Er suddenly realized he had run too far.
This distance is the distance a normal person's legs can travel, the distance a robber can cover while chasing someone, but it's not Ju Mu'er's.
He shouldn't think about her from a normal person's perspective; he should think about this from her perspective.
She let Su Qing and Ding Yanshan run ahead. Given their pace, they would reach the horse-circling area shortly after, just in time to make it up the mountain. The spot where he was standing now was about the same distance away as the horse-circling area; at Ju Mu'er's speed, she couldn't have gone that far.
Long Er turned back the way he came, calling her name all the way and looking in all the places where she could easily hide, but still couldn't find her.
He stood back outside where he had found the bamboo cane, trying to think about it more calmly. She always needed a bamboo cane to walk, so she never let it out of her sight. Why had she left it here? Had she fallen and the cane slipped from her hand? And was she afraid someone would chase her and she didn't have time to retrieve it?
Long Er carefully examined the ground. There were obvious signs of someone jumping down under the window, but there were no signs of anyone tripping on the muddy ground where the bamboo cane had been thrown. Long Er recalled the direction the bamboo cane had been on the ground, and then looked back at another grove of trees. He suddenly understood: the bamboo cane had led the robbers in that direction, but she hadn't gone that way. That was why she had chosen to abandon the bamboo cane.
Long Er returned to the main hall, where more of Long's men had arrived, including Yun Qingxian with his men from the Ministry of Justice. These bandits dared to kidnap even the daughter of the Minister of Justice; they certainly couldn't be let off easily.
The future second wife of the Long family and the second daughter of the Minister's family were not ordinary girls, so even the Prefect Qiu Ruoming arrived with his entourage.
Yun Qingxian and Qiu Ruoming were setting up the search area and direction. The yamen runners, along with the officials from the Long Mansion and the Ministry of Justice, worked together to coordinate the search. They quickly divided the search areas, prepared torches and lanterns, and set off.
Long Er watched as the crowd dispersed and they went into the woods to search bit by bit. His mind was still racing.
Did he miss anything? Where could she have run off to?
Could she possibly recognize the scents in the woods and know which bushes to hide in?
Thinking this, Long Er went into the woods in the opposite direction of the bamboo cane to search again. He closed his eyes and tried to think about what would happen if Ju Mu'er ran into the woods. He reached out and touched a tree trunk. He tried to walk forward, but after a few steps, he tripped over a branch on the ground.
Long Er suddenly opened his eyes. No, none of this is right.
She couldn't have run away on her own; she couldn't possibly have that ability. So, did someone really come to take her away? Was she kidnapped again, and she pointed with her bamboo cane in the direction the person took her?
Long Er ran back into the woods. Just then, several of Long's men returned, escorting a few bandits. Long Er ignored them and went into the woods, grabbing a scout who was searching and asking if there were any clues. The scout shook his head, saying he hadn't found anything, and the bandits also said they hadn't seen anything.
Long Er was frantic. It was already dark, and how was he supposed to find her in this vast mountain forest?
Long Er darted back and forth through the woods, asking the various search parties twice, but no one had found anything, and he himself hadn't found anything either. Long Er knew this wasn't working; he needed to be more level-headed, more composed. His Mu'er was clever; she would definitely help him find her.
Long Er returned to the robbers' house. The lights were on in all the rooms. He searched every single one but found nothing. Two other rooms had bloodstains and signs of a struggle, but Ju Mu'er's room was the only one without any. Long Er stood at the door of that room for a long time before returning to the main room.
Yun Qingxian wasn't there, so he went to search himself. Qiu Ruoming was sitting in the main room, waiting for news of the yamen runners' search of the mountains and forests. He saw Long Er sit down and wanted to comfort him but didn't know what to say. He also didn't dare tell Long Er that the other two kidnapped girls had already died.
Ryuji didn't look at him, or at anyone else; he was still trying to think.
He glanced at the cup on the table and suddenly remembered when they first met, Ju Mu'er said she had a way to get him out of social engagements. She said she could give him a perfectly legitimate reason, and those who were clinging to him would have to see him off. At the time, he had considered many possibilities, but he never expected that she would use the simplest, most direct, yet very effective method.
Yes, that was her little scheme. She was blind and couldn't do many things, so she had to use the simplest method she could manage.
The only way she could achieve this was through the simplest method.
Long Er stood up and walked back towards the room where she had been imprisoned. He entered the room and stood there looking at the furnishings. Then he walked to the bed and sat down.
This is the only place to sit in this room, so she must be sitting here.
She sat there, facing the door. The door was locked, and outside stood a group of fierce-looking, martial arts-skilled robbers.
Su Qing and Ding Yanshan left. The window was open, and a chair was placed beneath it. The robbers would occasionally come to check, and when they opened the door, they would find someone was gone. She was left alone. What could she do?
Long Er stood up with his bamboo cane, walked to the window, and stood next to the chair.
Are you climbing out using a chair with a broken leg?
He sat back down on the edge of the bed.
He stared at the door. He imagined the whole process.
The door opened, and the room was empty. The window was open, and a chair was placed under the window, so the person must have run away. The bamboo cane was outside, lying in a certain direction, so the person ran in that direction.
So the robbers gave chase in that direction.
Long Er walked to the window again. He closed his eyes, crouched down a bit, about Ju Mu'er's height, and felt around the window frame with his hands. Then, he tossed the bamboo cane out the window at an angle. Opening his eyes, in the bright moonlight, he saw the bamboo cane land outside, in the same direction as when he picked it up.
Long Er turned around and looked at the room again.
For his Mu'er, what is the simplest way to evade the robbers?
Long Er pondered for a moment, then took a candle from the broken wooden table and walked towards the wooden bed. The bed was made of broken planks pieced together, and the floor was very low, but it shouldn't be impossible for someone to hide inside.
Ryuji placed the lamp on the ground, then lay down and looked under the bed.
It was pitch black under the bed. The candlelight illuminated very little. Even so, Long Er could still vaguely see someone curled up and hiding at the very back of the bed. The corner was dark and he couldn't see clearly, but he could tell that the person was petite and a girl.
Ryuji's eyes suddenly stung with tears. He tried to speak, but his voice was choked with emotion. He said, "It's me. I've come."
The person inside seemed to move slightly, yet also seemed unable to move. Long Er added, "Su Qing and Ding Yanshan are both alright; they were both rescued."
The person inside stirred again, then seemed to struggle to speak, managing only a very faint sound after a long while: "Second Master..."
“It’s me, don’t be afraid.” Long Er took a deep breath and felt much better. He said, “You don’t need to move, don’t be afraid, I’ll move the bed board.”
After he finished speaking, he straightened up, raised his hand, lifted the bed frame of the broken bed, and threw it aside.
Now that the light was no longer obstructed, he could see her more clearly. She was huddled in the innermost corner under the bed, curled up on the floor, covering her head, covered in dust, trembling, looking as disheveled and pitiful as could be.
Long Er stepped to her side immediately. He dared not make any sudden movements for fear of hurting her, so he simply took her hand gently and called her name, "Mu'er." Her hand was icy cold, which pierced his heart.
Ju Mu'er tried to move, but her body was stiff and she couldn't move.
Long Er gently pulled her up, patted her back, waist and arms to help her stretch and relax. He found that she was also frighteningly cold. He couldn't help himself and hugged her in his arms, calling out again, "Mu'er".
Ju Mu'er trembled slightly as she replied, "Second Master."
41. Mutual support and protection in times of hardship – true affection
Long Er didn't know how to describe his feelings upon hearing that call. He hugged Ju Mu'er tightly, feeling his hands trembling slightly.
He suppressed his emotions and looked Ju Mu'er up and down to make sure she wasn't injured. But her face was pale, her body was stiff, and she could barely speak. After managing to call out "Second Master," she couldn't say anything more.
This startled Long Er, and he disregarded everything else, carrying her out in his arms. The people outside were all astonished to see him carrying a living person out of what should have been an empty house.
Long Er didn't have time to explain slowly. He directly told Qiu Ruoming that he would take Mu'er back to the manor first, and that he, as the prefect, would take care of capturing the robbers.
Before Qiu Ruoming could respond, Long Er hurriedly carried Ju Mu'er out. Su Qing chased after him, jumping and shouting, but couldn't catch up. Finally, she stomped her feet and cried, "Let me see my sister! You bastards, why are you all taking my sister away..."
Li Ke watched awkwardly from the side. This girl was calling her master a "bastard." As a loyal and upright guard, he should at least do something to show his respect.
Li Ke went over to help Su Qing up from the ground, but the little girl was fierce and shook off his hand. Helpless, Li Ke tried to help her up again. This time, he said, "The ground is cold."
Su Qing was throwing a tantrum when someone conveniently showed up at her door, so she glared at them and said, "Mind your own business!"
Li Ke awkwardly withdrew his hand; he didn't care about her, he wasn't her bodyguard. But in the blink of an eye, Su Qing was about to run down the mountain, and Li Ke quickly grabbed her: "Where are you going?"
"I'm going down the mountain to find my sister, then I'll go home. My mother must be so worried."
"It's already dark, how can you go down the mountain by yourself?"
"Then Brother Li, please give me a ride," Su Qing said without any hesitation.
Li Ke was taken aback. There were still many things to do on the mountain. The robbers had not been caught yet, and everyone was still searching for them. He had to stay here and guard the place. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I'll find someone else to take you. Don't wander off."
Su Qing nodded and stood still. Li Ke walked towards the house, intending to find two guards from the Dragon Mansion to escort her, but turned back to look at her again as he reached the front of the house.
The little girl was looking down the mountain with a forlorn expression. Li Ke's heart stirred; this girl's courage was truly extraordinary. Not only did she risk her life to protect Ju Mu'er in this situation, but she also dared to lead a group to escape, and even dared to steal horses and fight the bandits. Then, leading them up the mountain, she even explained the layout of the house, the number of bandits, and even planned how they could attack from both sides, rescuing Ju Mu'er while simultaneously launching an attack. She said it was to prevent those villains from taking Ju Mu'er hostage.
Li Ke shook his head. If he hadn't investigated it himself, he really wouldn't have believed that she was just a flower girl.
Are all the young girls these days this capable?
Li Ke went inside, and after a while came out and said to Su Qing, "Let's go."
Su Qing was somewhat surprised: "You're someone else?"
“I’ve changed my mind. The situation is under control now, Lord Qiu is here, and I’ve already given instructions to the other brothers, so I’ll see you off myself.”
Su Qing nodded, thinking it was a good idea. After all, she knew Li Ke; she had just escaped death, and no one else could reassure her as much as Li Ke.
Li Ke led her to the place where the horses were kept, pulled up a horse, and was about to ask Su Qing if she could ride it when Su Qing tilted her head back and said loudly with a proud look on her face, "I can ride a donkey."
Li Ke was taken aback, then wanted to laugh, but Su Qing's expression made him swallow his laughter. He coughed lightly, beckoned Su Qing over, mounted his horse, and then lifted her onto it. The two of them, on horseback, sped down the mountain.
Down the mountain, Long Er was deeply troubled because Ju Mu'er's condition was deteriorating.
Perhaps because she had recovered from the extreme shock and relaxed, or perhaps because she had been lying on the cold, damp ground for too long, Ju Mu'er's face began to turn an unnatural red as she came down the mountain. Long Er touched her face with his and found it frighteningly hot.
Long Er had come on horseback, but given Ju Mu'er's condition, he dared not take her back on horseback in the wind. Just as he was getting anxious, he turned his head and saw the government office's carriage parked to the side; it was the one Qiu Ruoming had ridden there.
Without a second thought, Long Er waved his hand and ordered his men to seize the carriage. The servants at the government office dared not say a word and could only watch helplessly as their master's carriage was "requisitioned" by Long Er.
Long Er instructed one of his subordinates to ride back to the manor quickly and inform the household to find a doctor. Then he carried Ju Mu'er into the carriage and hurriedly headed towards the Long residence.
Along the way, Long Er felt a pang of heartache seeing Ju Mu'er's delirious state. He couldn't help but blame himself for not thinking things through sooner, for not realizing she was hiding under the bed. With something so obvious, where else could she possibly be hiding?
He then blamed himself for pacing back and forth in the room without calling her. The outside was chaotic and noisy; she was so frightened and panicked that she couldn't understand what was happening and naturally dared not move. But if he had called her, she would have heard his voice and known she was safe, and would have made a sound to lead him to her.
He was only focused on his own anxiousness; he should have been smarter. He's the one who caused her so much suffering.
If he had thought of it sooner, she would have suffered less from the cold and less from the fear.