Lord Zhang's Estate.
A maid came to the dining room in fear and trepidation. "Lord, the Princess Consort is missing."
"What?" Lu Lizhang was furious. "When did she go missing?"
The maid, her body trembling and overcome with fear, fell to her knees, "It appears no one has slept in the princess consort's bed. She must have vanished last night."
Prince Lu Lizhang, consumed by his fury, delivered a fierce slap to the maid, "Incompetent! She went missing last night, and only now you come to report it?"
Struck hard, the maid's head buzzed, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, as she tried to explain, "Your Highness, the princess consort wished for some solitude last night and instructed us not to enter. We stood guard outside, hearing nothing out of the ordinary."
In a fit of rage, Lu Lizhang kicked the maid, sending her crashing against the wall, "Useless!" He stormed out.
