"Master! Mistress!"
Duke Bao Biming who is currently feeding herbs concoction to his wife stops as he heard the commotion. Both husband and wife are looking at each other because they recognize that voice.
Lu Huo burst into the room and immediately kneels down as she bows her head on the floor.
"What is it? How dare you make a commotion here? Aren't you supposed to be with Baiyu?"
Lu Huo with her head still on the cold floor answers, "Master! Forgive this servant, but eldest miss is nowhere to be found together with Diqiu and Yangzi."
Duchess Fen Liling immediately stands up from her bed before Duke Bao Biming holds onto her arm to support her.
"Lu Huo... What do you mean? I've just been told that she has just woke up. Where is she? Everyone! Search for eldest miss this instance! She is still an uncultivated child for goodness sake!"
Seeing that his wife is worried about their daughter's safety, Duke Bao Biming immediately instructed his head guard to lead the search. He then looks at the young maidservant still kneeling on the floor.
"Lu Huo, tells us what had happened?"
Lu Huo then answers, "Master, Yangzi went to check on Bai Laohu but he has escaped from his enclosure. When she reported to the eldest miss, she decided to go out to search for the tiger cub. Diqiu and Yangzi decided to follow her in the search as well."
"Aren't you Baiyu's head maidservant? Why did you let her leave?"
Lu Huo continuously bows her head in response before she answers, "Master, I was not there when it happened. Yushui and the others tried to stop eldest young miss but she is adamant on searching her pet tiger on her own. Soon after they left, Yushui immediately reported the incident to me."
Duchess Fen Liling who is usually a calm individual seems to be breathing in and out as if to calm herself down. She then turns her head to look at her husband before she says, "Husband, please... You have to find her fast! If something happens to her, the Quanheng Sect and His Majesty will blame us. Baiyu is still an ordinary child as well... People with bad intention will take advantage of her! Please... My daughter needed to be saved."
Seeing his poor wife being so affected by the disappearance of their daughter, he immediately calls for his other two concubines to be with his wife.
When both Second Madam Du Qingrou and Third Madam Jing Ruili arrived, the distraught looking Duchess Fen Liling suddenly cries. Second Madam Du immediately went to her side to calm her down. Third Madam Jing looks at both women before she turns her attention to the handsome man and the young maidservant still kneeling on the floor.
"Lord husband... Why did you summon us to be at first madam's courtyard?"
Duke Bao Biming look at his second concubine before he looks back at his wife who is hugging his first concubine as she cries.
"Ruili, something has happened to Baiyu. She is currently missing from the residence. I will be looking for her but I need both of you to assist Ling'er while I'm not here."
Third Madam Jing nods her head but did not say a word. Second Madam Du then softly says, "Lord husband, be rest assured that this concubine will watch over madam. Lord husband, please bring Baiyu back soon. The day is getting darker..."
Duke Bao Biming smile and nods his head before he walks out of the room. Seeing that he is gone, Lu Huo stands up and respectfully curtsy in front of the three madams.
"Mistress, Yushui and I will be searching for the eldest miss as well. Madams, Lu Huo will leave now."
Lu Huo turn around and calmly walk out of the room but, once she steps outside the room, she turns her head to look at the Duchess and the concubines. She nods her head and walks away out from their sights.
Third Madam Jing Ruili stares at the young maidservant and thought that she is acting somewhat peculiar. Bao Baiyu has gone missing? Where on earth has that spoiled brat has gone to? Creating all these troubles and making Duke Bao Biming goes out to search for her. She better return unscathed or, better yet, not returning back for good. Either way, one less trouble for her face on a daily basis. She then turns her head to look at the hateful woman who weeps next to Du Qingrou. She wanted to say something but stops herself when Du Qingrou gives her a glaring stare.
"My lady, calm yourself down. This concubine is confident that Baiyu will be alright."
Third Madam Jing Ruili covers her mouth with her sleeve as she mockingly smiles.
Meanwhile, back in Bao Baiyu's courtyard, Lu Huo immediately dismisses all the other maidservants and guards by saying that they need to thoroughly search for their eldest miss within the enormous Bao Residence. All of them leave and do what they have been instructed to do.
Seeing the last one of them have left the courtyard, Yushui walks towards Lu Huo and says, "Lu Huo, our eldest miss asked us to meet near the Rumi Forest area."
"Have you packed the necessary items?"
Yushui nods her head and answers, "We did. Diqiu already brought some gold and silver coins. Eldest Miss told us not to bring any bank notes as it will be easily traceable. Yangzi had put tiger cub inside a secured rattan bag so that she can easily carry him on her back. I've packed some food and drinks."
"Good, I will bring some extra clothing for all of us. The day is getting darker and it will be colder soon. Let's go."
Diqiu smiles and nods before they intended to leave the residence using the back entrance. This particular door is quite far from the other courtyards and the guards rarely check the secluded area. But as they run towards it, they hear voices not far from them. They immediately run as fast as they could before they leap-off the high wall of the opulent residence before they jump down to the ground. They then continue to run fast to leave the area.
As the search for Eldest Miss Bao is going on full throttle, the Emperor is immediately notified by one of his spies. He smiles contentedly and sits back on his throne and laughs.
"Good! Good! Listen well! Make sure that Bao Biming will not be able to find his daughter! Find her first and kill her!'
The spy respectfully bows before he vanishes. The Emperor continues to drink his wine as he laughs not realizing that his first son is hiding behind one of the marble pillars.
First Prince Li Youshi then quietly walks out from the Dragon Hall without being noticed by others. He then softly sigh and look up at the blue sky and thought, "It seems that imperial mother is correct after all. Imperial father actually hates Duke Bao. But, to order his spies to kill Elder Miss Bao is a bit..."
"Xiu..."
A burly man dressed in black-coloured outfit suddenly appears behind him, "Your Royal Highness, what is your order?"
"Search for Eldest Miss Bao immediately without being noticed by others. If someone intends to kill her, save her."
Without a word, the man vanishes from sight too leaving the First Prince alone as he continues to stand there and look at the sight before him. Bao Residence stands proudly just outside the imperial palace as it is the largest residence within the imperial city. As he watches, there is a sudden heavy feeling inside his heart.
He takes a deep breath and says in a low voice, "Calm down, Youshi. Think clearly ahead of you. You have a vision to be fulfilled. It will take years but you will get there."
Suddenly without any warning, he can hear an eerie voice whispers in his ear, "She has returned. Things will change... Your fate and hers will no longer be intertwined."
He abruptly turns his body and look his surrounding only to see that no one is there with him. The eunuchs and the maids keep saying that the imperial palace is haunted for years. Is this what they are implying to?
"Hahaha! First Prince Li, this old woman cannot wait what changes will be done by her. Interestingly, she did not chose to hate. Instead, she chose to separate herself from those who have failed her. Well... I have to lingers around then. Words of advice, the Emperor is a rotten man. Be more vigilant and not be influenced by him. I may be a creature of the dark but I do not wish to see her suffer again. Not in this lifetime."