âSince Yan Luo Hall knows who they are, then weâll start from there, and investigate who exactly are these people?â Du Yun Han said.
âNo use.â Han Ming Yi negated this idea and said, âI once interacted with that Yan Luo Hallâs master before. They have the secrecy of their clientâs information maintained very well, and wonât easily leak it out. Moreover, they are unmoved by force or persuasion. If we go to them to ask for their clientâs information, they definitely wonât say. This is also why many people feel reassured in hiring them.â
The favors and grudges of the pugilistic world were even more complicated than that of the imperial court. Things like people hiring assassins to kill were more than many. The recruits that Yan Luo Hall wanted were precisely assassins, and the jobs they accepted the most were precisely assassinations. However, aside from killing, Yan Luo Hall also attended to some other things, for instance, selling information.
âOh right, earlier, I also heard them saying, kidnapping me was for the sake of distracting you all, borrowing this to ruin the competition between the countries.â Du Xiao Li recalled the words she previously heard.
âYouâve also been frightened today. When we return, properly rest up. As for investigating the culprit, just leave it to us.â Du Yun Han said.
Du Xiao Li nodded. Soon after, she chatted with them about some other things.
When the horse carriage reached the city, the city gates were already closed. Leng Yi took Han Ming Yiâs plaque to go let the soldiers guarding the gates open the gates. After having Du Xiao Li and them sent back to the Du Manor, Han Ming Yi just left.
Du Xiao Li got down from the horse carriage, but before entering she saw a horse carriage parked not far from the entrance. Borrowing the moonlight, she recognized that it was the Fu Manorâs horse carriage. Before she could open her mouth to inquire, she saw two figures come out from inside. It was precisely Fu Ya Lan and her servant girl.
âXiao Li, youâve finally come back! Are you hurt? Quickly let me see!â Fu Ya Lan came before Du Xiao Li and looked to her with a face full of worries.
âIâm fine. Itâs already this late, how come you still havenât gone back? Todayâs the day of your coming-of-age ceremony, at night there should also still be celebrations, right?â Du Xiao Li asked.
She remembered that at night, when Fu Ya Lanâs brothers return, they were going to also celebrate her birthday too.
âAfter learning that you disappeared, how could I still sit at home. After explaining to my mother, I just came out. Thankfully, youâve safely returned, else I would feel guilty to death.â Fu Ya Lan said as she was about to cry.
Today, when Leng Er went to find her to ask about Du Xiao Liâs situation, she just knew Du Xiao Li went missing. She impatiently waited for a while at home, but when the people she sent out didnât return with any news, she just directly went to the Du Manor to wait.
âDonât worry, arenât I perfectly fine right now? With it being this late, I donât even know whether to invite you in for a sit, or let someone send you back.â Du Xiao Li patted Fu Ya Lanâs hand and said.
âNo need to trouble you. I can just go back on my own. You also need to rest.â Fu Ya Lan said.
âEn, with it being this late, if you still donât go back, you mother will need to worry about you again.â Du Xiao Li said, âIâll go look for you all tomorrow.â
âAlright.â
âIâll let someone send you back, else Iâll also be worried.â
Du Xiao Li called for some guards to send Fu Ya Lan back, and afterwards, she and Du Yun Han entered the gates. Not long after entering, Du Yun Han was urgently called away by Zhong Mei Qingâs servant girl.
Before Du Xiao Li was able to tell Du Yun Han about Du Ke Xinâs matter, he was already taken away. Seeing Du Yun Hanâs departing figure, Du Xiao Li decided to first let them mess around for a while. Since ordinary doctors are unable to take care of it, theyâll eventually come looking for her.
âYounger sister.â Du Xiu Heng came into the courtyard and walked to her side, âAre you alright?â
âIâm fine. Big brother, what are you doing here?â Du Xiao Li looked to Du Xiu Heng and smiled.
âI went to your courtyard and saw that you werenât here. On the way over, I saw Miss Fu Ya Lan. She told me you went missing. Although I know you have martial arts, I was still very worried, thus waited here.â Du Xiu Heng said.
âBig brother encountered big sister Ya Lan?â Du Xiao Li asked.
âYes, I let her come into the courtyard to wait for you, but she wasnât willing, saying that at the entrance, sheâll be able to see when you return.â Du Xiu Heng recounted, seemingly also having a bit of heartache in his eyes.
Du Xiao Li suddenly recalled, Du Xiu Heng once asked her about Fu Ya Lanâs situation before. It was that time after theyâd gathered before mid-autumn. Because heâd also asked about the others, she didnât take it to heart. Thinking back to it now, that time, heâd asked the most about Fu Ya Lan. Thinking about it now, this was him being interested in Fu Ya Lan?!
âBig brother, what do you think of big sister Ya Lan?â
Suddenly hearing Du Xiao Li ask this, Du Xiu Heng instantly became unnatural and coughed twice, âSheâs very good, gentle and virtuous, talented and outstanding, and also very good to others. Today, she was very worried about you.â
âPfftâââ Seeing Du Xiu Hengâs appearance, Du Xiao Li instantly burst out laughing.
This was him being shy!
âYounger sister, what are you laughing for?â Du Xiu Heng shot a glare at Du Xiao Li.
âKeke, Iâm not laughing!â Du Xiao Li knew her older brother was somewhat awkward, thus she quickly denied, âSince big brother feels big sister Ya Lan is this good, then why donât you marry her back to be my sister-in-law!â
âMarry, marry back?â Du Xiu Heng blankly stared at Du Xiao Li.
âThatâs right! Since you feel big sister Ya Lan is this good, then bring her back to be your wife, and my sister-in-law.â Du Xiao Li nodded, âRight now, big sister Ya Lan has already reached marriageable age, so she can also marry! If you like big sister Ya Lan, and sheâs also interested in you, then can let father go propose marriage for you.â
âBut I feel she isnât interested in me.â Du Xiu Heng unconfidently said.
âIf you donât ask, how would you know?â Du Xiao Li said, âI feel she also has some special thoughts about you. Previously, when we went to the estate, she even asked why you didnât go!â
âReally? She really asked about me?â
âYes, they even let me talk about things from our childhood, and hearing those embarrassing matters of yours, big sister Ya Lan laughed the happiest.â Du Xiao Li recalled the past, discovering that she really was a bit slow in realization. Although Du Xiu Heng and Fu Ya Lan didnât behave very obviously, but compared to others, it was still considered special. To think she actually didnât notice earlier! âHow about this, tomorrow, Iâll go look for big sister Ya Lan to sound out her opinion, see whether or not sheâs interested in you. If sheâs interested, hehe, then just let father go propose marriage, how about it?â