Chapter Eighteen: She Clearly Chose You

Husband candidate?

Before Yun Shuang could voice her question, Yang Yuanyi, who stood beside her, shook his head and said, "Lady Yun, you are newly acquainted with this case and probably unaware of its circumstances. The person Old Master Luo cherished most in his life was Lady Luo. Thus, from the time she was very young, he adopted three boys, intending that one of them would become her husband. A child raised by himself would surely be more trustworthy than any outsider."

Yun Shuang frowned and quickly glanced at Gou Dan by her side. The boy obediently held her hand, silent and following closely. Sensing her gaze, he looked up at Yun Shuang, as if asking—Mother, what’s wrong?

Yun Shuang pressed her lips together and secretly tightened her grip on his small hand.

She truly didn’t want him, at such a tender age, to be exposed to so many messy affairs.

But now, alone and without support, she had no other person to entrust him to.

Thankfully, this child was so sensible, so much so that it made one's heart ache.

Feeling Yun Shuang’s strengthened grasp, Gou Dan immediately held her hand even more tightly.

Yang Yuanyi continued, shaking his head, "Old Master Luo had Lady Luo grow up alongside these three boys, personally educating them from childhood. When Lady Luo came of age, he let her choose the one she favored most as her husband. In the end, the chosen one was Young Master Fan, Fan Youliang."

Lianxin nodded, her jaw clenched, her face full of hatred. "That’s right! Fan Youliang came to the master’s side at eight, always appearing obedient and gentle, always yielding to Lady Luo. Yet, who would have thought it was all an act—he kept up the facade for over a decade! If… if Lady Luo hadn’t gone missing this time, everyone would still be fooled by him!

After Lady Luo disappeared, he pretended to be anxious, even insincerely wrote and posted a hundred missing notices everywhere. But I fear he’s been secretly rejoicing all along!

This Lady…"

Yun Shuang spoke calmly, "My surname is Yun."

"Lady Yun, don’t blame me for warning you. That Fan fellow claims he’ll offer a thousand taels of silver as a reward, but if Lady Luo’s disappearance is truly connected to him, then the thousand taels are nothing but a smokescreen!"

"It doesn’t matter," Yun Shuang suddenly raised her brows and smiled. "The missing notices are already posted, and the reward is written in black and white. As long as I can find Lady Luo, no matter what sort of person Young Master Fan is, he’ll have to pay the silver, whether he wants to or not."

Lianxin stared at Yun Shuang, stunned.

This lady was truly peculiar.

She spoke as if she already had confidence, as though she knew exactly where Lady Luo was.

Even the county officials couldn’t find her—did Yun Shuang really have the ability to do so?

While they spoke, they arrived at the Luo residence.

The Luo family’s mansion was naturally grand—high walls, green tiles, and the beast-headed vermillion lacquered doors alone made Gou Dan stare in awe.

He had never seen such a large house in his life! It must be dozens of times bigger than their home!

It stood on Anping Street in Shanyang County, where the elite families of the county all resided.

At this moment, the Luo family’s gate stood wide open. The gatekeeper paced anxiously at the entrance. When he saw Lianxin and the others approaching, he froze for a moment, then hurried forward. "Gentlemen, you’re just in time! Just now, Young Master Chen ran in, furious, and began beating the son-in-law. No one in the household can restrain Young Master Chen. If this continues, the son-in-law… the son-in-law will be beaten to death!"

"What!"

The attendant who had followed Lianxin to the county office was immediately shocked, forgetting even Jiang Xiao and the others, and rushed inside.

Earlier, Lianxin had told them this servant was Fan Youliang’s longtime attendant, named Changping.

Lianxin looked surprised as well, "Young Master Chen is here?"

She spoke as she hurried inside.

Yun Shuang followed, glancing inquiringly at Yang Yuanyi beside her.

She didn’t know his true abilities, but he was certainly familiar with the case.

A pleasant sense of being recognized welled up in Yang Yuanyi’s heart; his eyes gleamed with excitement as he explained, "This Young Master Chen, full name Chen Hao, is one of the three adopted husbands Old Master Luo found for Lady Luo. He is taciturn and not skilled in socializing, but learned martial arts from a young age. After growing up, he regularly helped Old Master Luo transport goods across the country…"

Before Yang Yuanyi could finish, Yun Shuang heard the sound of fierce fighting from the front hall, and the panicked shouts of servants trying to intervene.

Holding Gou Dan’s hand, she reached the entrance and was about to enter when two figures suddenly crashed toward her. Her heart skipped a beat and she instinctively stepped back, but the two, still grappling with each other, abruptly changed direction and lunged toward Gou Dan.

Yun Shuang hurried to reach for the frightened Gou Dan, but another pair of hands was quicker. In the next instant, Gou Dan was lifted up and held securely in a broad, strong chest.

A deep, cold voice sounded, "Yan Fang!"

Yan Fang, who followed closely behind, immediately strode forward, forcibly wedged himself between the two fighting men, grabbed one by the collar and pressed the other hard to the ground. He shouted sternly, "How dare you cause a scene before the General!"

Everyone present was startled and quickly saluted Jiang Xiao, "We greet the General!"

The two who had been fiercely fighting were also shocked, but had to suppress their emotions and stand to salute.

Jiang Xiao looked at them coldly, "What’s going on here?"

"I… I wish I knew!"

The man Yan Fang had pinned to the ground wore a sapphire brocade robe, his once fair and handsome face now covered in bruises and wounds. His right eye couldn’t fully open, forcing him to squint in distress. He turned angrily to the man beside him and gritted his teeth, "Just now, Chen Hao rushed in and attacked me! Like a madman…"

The man next to him was tall and rugged, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. Already seething, he couldn’t help but roar, "Is it me who’s mad, or you?! Fan Youliang, you—she chose you! Why didn’t you cherish her? Why!"

"Chen Hao!"

Fan Youliang, struggling to suppress his anger, said, "I know you’ve admired Xueqing since childhood, but you must also know that my feelings are the same—I too care for Xueqing! How could I possibly harm her?"

"Don’t talk nonsense! If you truly cared for Xueqing, how could you, when she’s only been missing for five days, be so eager to inquire about coffins? Tell the truth—does her disappearance have anything to do with you!"

Fan Youliang’s face flashed with panic, "I…"