Chapter 91

Chapter 91: Lai Fu Goes Missing

“Missing?” Sheng Zhi Wan frowned.

Lai Fu always loved food more than exercise. If not for a tempting chicken leg yesterday, it wouldn’t have stepped outside for a stroll—so how could it disappear?

“Check every corner,” Sheng Zhi Wan said worriedly, quickly wiping her mouth and joining the search around the courtyard.

Yet, after looking everywhere, there was still no sign of Lai Fu.

Instead, one of the maidservants found half an oily chicken leg right outside the gate of Pinglan Residence.

“Elder Sister An Zhi, this chicken leg is still warm!” the maidservant said, immediately sensing something odd.

The small kitchen hadn’t even started cooking chicken yet, so where did this leg come from? Upon closer inspection, the earth by the wooden gate seemed freshly disturbed.

An Zhi immediately guessed—someone had lured the gluttonous dog out with the chicken leg!

“Lai Fu!”

“Lai Fu?!”

Everyone at Pinglan Residence quickly spread out across the manor, searching desperately.

The rear flower garden, front courtyard—even the main kitchen was turned upside down, but Lai Fu was nowhere to be found.

Seeing the untouched water bowl, Sheng Zhi Wan felt increasingly uneasy.

“Princess, don’t worry. Lai Fu is so adorable—someone probably just took it out to play for a bit. I’m sure it’ll come back soon after it’s had its fun,” An Zhi tried her best to comfort Sheng Zhi Wan.

Yet, An Zhi herself felt anxious. Over the past month, everyone in Pinglan Residence had genuinely come to adore Lai Fu.

“You might be right,” Sheng Zhi Wan tugged the corners of her lips upward. “That little traitor goes wherever there’s good food.”

Despite her joking words, they continued the search relentlessly, from daylight till dusk.

As night drew near, Sheng Zhi Wan’s unease deepened. She couldn’t shake a bad feeling.

“An Zhi, Ting Lan, stop looking for now,” Sheng Zhi Wan suddenly stood up. “If we were going to find Lai Fu, we would have by now. It’s probably been hidden away by someone.”

Recalling yesterday’s events, her first suspicion naturally fell upon the people at Endless Courtyard.

She immediately led her people straight there.

Inside Endless Courtyard, lanterns illuminated the bustling movements of maids and nannies. Ever since Meng Yang took over managing the household, the previously quiet courtyard was now busier than Sheng Zhi Wan’s own.

Qi Shu Xian stood with a deeply furrowed brow in the courtyard.

“She’s awake! My Lord, the Concubine has woken!” Qing Liu’s excited voice rang from within.

Qi Shu Xian’s expression instantly relaxed as he strode inside.

Meng Yang’s eyes fluttered open, misty and unfocused. After a moment, she finally recognized Qi Shu Xian’s face. Her lashes trembled, and tears fell like pearls. “My Lord! Oh, my Lord, I thought I’d never see you again…”

She struggled to sit up.

Qi Shu Xian quickly leaned forward, gently lifting her from the bed.

Noticing the heavy scent of blood, his lips tightened grimly. “Clean that up.”

“Yes,” Qing Xing, face pale, hurriedly picked up the basin from the floor, barely daring to glance at its contents.

“My Lord, what’s that?” Meng Yang asked weakly, as if only now noticing the smell.

“Nothing,” Qi Shu Xian reassured gently. “You were frightened. Are you feeling better?”

As if recalling something terrifying, Meng Yang buried herself trembling in his embrace. “I had a horrible dream, My Lord… a dog with red eyes kept chasing me…”

“It was just a dream, don’t be afraid,” Qi Shu Xian soothed her back.

Meng Yang nestled closer. “You’re right—such a frightening dog couldn’t possibly exist. It must have been Qing Liu’s injuries that unsettled me.”

“Oh, Qing Liu! My Lord, I must see how Qing Liu is doing!” Meng Yang tried urgently to rise.

Afraid she might hurt herself, Qi Shu Xian scooped her up gently, stepping outside to comfort her along the way.

At precisely this moment, Sheng Zhi Wan arrived.

Seeing this scene, a chill flickered through her eyes.

Qi Shu Xian was visibly surprised, pausing momentarily before demanding irritably, “Why are you here?”

“Don’t worry. I’m not here to interfere with your tender moments with Concubine Meng. I’m only looking for my dog. I thought I’d come here and ask,” Sheng Zhi Wan said coolly, her eyes quickly scanning the courtyard.

“What dog?” Qi Shu Xian pursed his lips slightly, averting his gaze. “There’s no dog here. Yang’er is ill—don’t cause trouble.”

Sheng Zhi Wan narrowed her eyes.

Meng Yang was ill?

Looking carefully, Meng Yang indeed appeared pale and fragile. Yet Sheng Zhi Wan asked calmly, “I wonder, what ailment does Concubine Meng suffer from?”

Qi Shu Xian was about to reply when Meng Yang gasped softly.

Immediately concerned, Qi Shu Xian looked down anxiously. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell again?”

“No… It’s just Bao Er acting restless.” Meng Yang bit her lip, her pale face tinged with embarrassment as she struggled to leave Qi Shu Xian’s embrace. Even as she did so, she nervously glanced toward Sheng Zhi Wan, seemingly afraid to upset her.

Hearing this, Sheng Zhi Wan laughed lightly, “Concubine Meng need not fear. If the two of you aren’t ashamed, you could strip and roll around together—I wouldn’t mind at all.”

“You!” Qi Shu Xian flared angrily.

However, Sheng Zhi Wan’s attention was suddenly caught by something behind them. Without another word, she rushed forward!