The ninety-sixth chapter.

"Are you telling the truth?" Although Zhang Xue did not quite understand the concept of "radiant youth," she certainly understood the term "beautiful girl." How could she not be happy when someone praised her as such?

"Of course it's true, truer than real gold," Wang Bo said, patting his chest. Seeing Zhang Xue's face glow, he hurriedly asked, "So, are you still angry?"

"Seeing as you are so sincere, this young lady will forgive you," Zhang Xue said triumphantly.

At this moment, Wang Bo felt more than ever that this girl was incredibly single-minded. He had felt like a prisoner awaiting sentencing, with Zhang Xue as the judge. He had offered only one compliment, and unexpectedly, the judge had waved her pen and granted him an unconditional release. Facing this outcome, Wang Bo felt extremely helpless; he had prepared a thorough explanation, only to find it entirely unnecessary.

"By the way, why are you out shopping by yourself?" Wang Bo asked curiously. "And dressed like that, too."

"My father went out today, so I finally had a chance to sneak out. Of course—" Zhang Xue was in the middle of her excited explanation when she noticed Wang Bo looking at her with an odd expression. "What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Didn't you just say that your father wouldn't mind as long as you wanted to go out? Why did you have to wait for him to leave, and why are you dressed as a man?" Wang Bo asked with a playful glint in his eyes.

"This... that..." Zhang Xue was suddenly incredibly embarrassed, not knowing what to say. She cursed herself for speaking too freely just moments ago. Seeing Wang Bo's expression, she felt even more conflicted. "You bad person, I'm not talking to you anymore!" She turned her head away again.

"Ahem!" Wang Bo, who had been smirking, was stunned by her words. "You were fine a moment ago, why am I a bad person again?"

"Wait, what did you say just now?" Zhang Xue suddenly asked.

"I said you were dressed as a man to go out. What's wrong with that?" Wang Bo replied, confused.

"Not that sentence, the one before that," Zhang Xue continued, acting erratically.

"Hmm?" Wang Bo thought for a moment and then said, "I asked why you were out shopping by yourself."

"Yes, that's the one!" Zhang Xue exclaimed.

Wang Bo asked, "What about that sentence?"

Zhang Xue didn't answer him, but instead ran off on her own. "Hey, what's wrong?" Wang Bo called out, but Zhang Xue had already disappeared around the street corner. Afraid that something might happen to her, Wang Bo quickly gave chase.

"What's the matter?" Wang Bo reached the breathless Zhang Xue and asked kindly. He saw her looking around anxiously, as if searching for someone.

"My maid, Xiaozhao, came out with me. I completely forgot about her!" Zhang Xue grabbed Wang Bo's arm and said anxiously.

"I knew it." Wang Bo wore an 'I-thought-so' expression. "This girl is truly thick-headed; it took her this long to remember."

"What kind of expression is that?" Zhang Xue said, clearly dissatisfied with his look. "You were the one who dragged me away just now. You have to take responsibility for this."

Watching Zhang Xue unreasonably push the blame onto him, Wang Bo felt utterly drained. *If it weren't for the fact that you're a beauty, I would have ditched you long ago,* he thought maliciously.

"I didn't know you had a maid with you," Wang Bo said helplessly.

"What should I do?" Zhang Xue looked extremely anxious, tears beginning to well up in her eyes.

Seeing her expression, Wang Bo hurriedly comforted her: "Don't worry yet. She might have noticed you were gone and is looking for you on the streets. I'll accompany you to look around; we might just find her."

Zhang Xue could only nod helplessly. "Alright then."

The sun was setting, and the once-bustling street had become somewhat desolate. Two people walked numbly along the road, looking around—it was Zhang Xue and Wang Bo searching for the maid, Xiaozhao. Zhang Xue looked anxious, while Wang Bo looked utterly numb.

"What should I do, what should I do? Xiaozhao is really gone," Zhang Xue muttered repeatedly in Wang Bo's ear.

Wang Bo rubbed his ears, feeling numb. He had been hearing this for an entire afternoon; anyone would find it hard to endure. "Stop worrying. Xiaozhao isn't a child; maybe she’s already returned to the Zhang estate to wait for you."

"No, that's not possible. Xiaozhao wouldn't leave me all by myself," Zhang Xue said firmly.

"But searching like this isn't a solution. It's getting late. Let me take you home first; what if Xiaozhao has already returned? Even if she hasn't, with the Zhang family's influence in Zhending, it won't be hard to find someone," Wang Bo consoled her.

"But..." Zhang Xue still looked reluctant.

"No more 'buts,' let's go." Wang Bo pulled Zhang Xue toward the Zhang estate.

While Wang Bo was accompanying the anxious Zhang Xue toward the estate, the Zhang residence itself was in a state of chaos due to her disappearance.

Zhang Zhong, the current head of the Zhending Zhang clan and Zhang Xue's father, stared deeply at the servant kneeling in the hall. His mood was heavy; though he said nothing, the authority of a family head was clear. The entire room was filled with his oppressive presence, and the servant trembled on the floor. The house was dead silent.

*Bang!* Zhang Zhong slammed the table. "Tell me, where exactly is the young miss?"

The sudden movement startled the servant, who nearly collapsed. "I... I really don't know, Master."

"What did I tell you before I left? I told you to look after the young miss. How is it that she is gone now?" Zhang Zhong stared at the servant, his face dark and terrifying.

"I really don't know, Master!" The servant, with tears in his voice, kept kowtowing to Zhang Zhong.

"If you don't know, who would?" Zhang Zhong slammed the table again. "I entrusted you with the young miss, and you neglected your duty, you damn slave. Do you want to die?" Zhang Zhong raised an eyebrow, a flicker of murderous intent in his gaze.

"Master, spare my life! Please, Master!" The servant was sobbing, kowtowing repeatedly. He knew Zhang Zhong was not joking.

"Spare you? You couldn't even watch one person; what use are you? Someone come—" Just as Zhang Zhong was about to call for his men in a fit of rage, Uncle Zhang rushed in from outside. Without even glancing at the servant on the floor, he walked directly to Zhang Zhong and whispered something in his ear. After hearing it, Zhang Zhong's face grew even darker, his anger intensifying.

Looking at the servant on the floor, Zhang Zhong felt an unspeakable disgust. "Get out."

Hearing this, the servant was overjoyed. "Thank you for sparing my life, Master! Thank you!" he repeated while kowtowing.

"If the Master told you to get out, then get out!" Uncle Zhang gave a subtle gesture, and the servant scrambled to his feet, dragging his exhausted body out of the room. Watching that panicked figure, it was clear how terrified he had been. After all, he had walked through the gates of hell; it would be hard for anyone to remain calm.

Once the servant was gone, Zhang Zhong said to Uncle Zhang, "Fine, bring Xiaozhao in."

"Yes." Uncle Zhang bowed and went outside. A moment later, he led a youth into the room.

Seeing Uncle Zhang bring in a youth, Zhang Zhong was momentarily stunned. "Uncle Zhang, who is this? Isn't it Xiaozhao?"

"This is Xiaozhao," Uncle Zhang said, pointing to the youth behind him. Upon being pointed out, the youth took a noticeable step back.

"Look up. Tell me exactly what happened," Zhang Zhong said in a softened tone. Though they were all servants, there was a difference among them. Xiaozhao had grown up with Zhang Xue; while they were mistress and maid, their bond was like sisters. Zhang Xue had always treated her well and never scolded her harshly. Zhang Zhong, out of love for his daughter, had also never lost his temper with Xiaozhao.

"It happened like this, Master..." Xiaozhao explained the fact that Zhang Xue had dressed as a man to escape, and reported that she had since gone missing.

"What? Xue'er is missing?" Hearing that his daughter was gone, Zhang Zhong was shocked. His face was filled with panic, lacking his previous overbearing aura. He looked like a father in distress, like an old man nearing the end of his years. He hurried to Xiaozhao and grabbed her.

"Tell me, what exactly happened?" Xiaozhao clearly couldn't handle his sudden movement; her eyes turned red, and she began to weep.

"Why are you crying? I'm asking you a question! Where did the young miss go?" Seeing her cry, Zhang Zhong's anger flared up again. He shouted at her.

Hearing his roar, Xiaozhao became even more terrified, and her crying grew louder.

"All you know is how to cry! I asked you where the young miss went, answer me!" Zhang Zhong shook her, his face twisted in a ferocious expression.

"I really don't know, Master!" Xiaozhao was so frightened by his expression that she was at a loss, staring at him in terror.

Seeing the situation, Uncle Zhang hurriedly pulled Zhang Zhong away. "Master, getting angry won't help. The top priority now is to arrange for the servants to search."

Hearing Uncle Zhang's words, Zhang Zhong realized he had been a bit too extreme and lost control. But he couldn't help it; Zhang Xue was his unparalleled treasure. How could he remain calm? He took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to settle down.

"Immediately mobilize all the servants and go out to search. Also, notify all the Zhang family shops in Zhending; you must find the young miss before dark," Zhang Zhong ordered.

Uncle Zhang nodded and was about to turn away when Zhang Zhong's voice came from behind. "Also, have someone take my token to visit the Prefect and the city gate guards. Ask them to pay close attention to anyone resembling the young miss. Even if you have to turn Zhending City upside down, I must find her before nightfall." Mentioning the Prefect, a hint of unnaturalness appeared on Zhang Zhong's face, but he said it nonetheless.

Meanwhile, Wang Bo was walking along the road to the Zhang estate with Zhang Xue, both believing they were on the right path. Neither of them knew that Zhang Xue's disappearance had already caused a massive uproar in Zhending City.

"Why isn't it here yet? Are we really on the right road?" Wang Bo looked left and right, finding no sign of the Zhang estate.

"How would I know? This is my first time out of the house alone. I thought you knew," Zhang Xue said with such righteousness that Wang Bo felt completely helpless.

"So what do we do now?" Wang Bo looked at the surroundings numbly, not recognizing a single thing.

"What do you mean 'what do we do'? You have to take me home," Zhang Xue replied thoughtlessly. Wang Bo felt like grabbing his head and crying.

"What's wrong? Don't tell me you don't know where my house is either," Zhang Xue asked, noticing his strange expression.

"What do you think? It's your house, not mine. How would I know?" Wang Bo glanced at her.

Zhang Xue hurriedly grabbed his arm, asking pitifully, "Then what do we do?"

Looking at her pleading eyes, Wang Bo felt a surge of heroic spirit. *A beauty in hand, the world is mine. Truly, a hero has trouble passing the test of beauty,* he thought smugly. "Don't worry, with me here, I will definitely help you find your home."

"Are you telling the truth?" Zhang Xue asked, full of hope.

"Of course, just relax," Wang Bo nodded firmly at her. "Alright, let's go. We'll ask someone. With the Zhang family's influence in Zhending, someone is bound to know."

"Okay," Zhang Xue nodded.

"Then let's go. Maybe we can still get you home before dark."

At this moment, at the Zhang estate in Zhending, Zhang Zhong was pacing back and forth in the room, looking anxious and having lost all the composure of a clan head. Just then, Uncle Zhang walked in. Seeing him, Zhang Zhong hurried over. "How is it? Have you found Xue'er?"

"Master, all available servants and clansmen have been sent out, but there is no news of the young miss yet," Uncle Zhang replied respectfully.

"Tell them to keep looking! No one is to return until they find her!" Zhang Zhong roared in a fit of rage.

Having served as the steward for so many years, how could Uncle Zhang not understand Zhang Zhong's mood? He hurriedly advised, "Master, please rest assured, we will do our utmost to find the young miss. However..." Uncle Zhang changed the subject, "Because the young miss is dressed as a man, it is difficult to identify her, and she won't be found in an instant."

"Enough, I know that. Is there anything else? If not, get out," Zhang Zhong waved his hand, looking impatient.

"There is one more thing," Uncle Zhang said, ignoring his attitude.

"Speak."

"According to reports from the servants, they went to the street where the maid Xiaozhao said the young miss went missing. They discovered that the young miss was seen with a youth shortly before she disappeared. It seems something happened, and the youth ended up dragging the young miss away."

"What did you say?" Zhang Zhong shouted in shock. "You mean someone took Xue'er?"

"According to the information, that seems to be the case. The young miss has never left the estate and shouldn't have any acquaintances. Plus, the fact that the youth grabbed her and fled makes me think it was premeditated."

*Bang!* Zhang Zhong slammed the table again; the force was considerable. "If I find out who kidnapped Xue'er, I will peel his skin and eat his flesh. I'll make him realize the consequences of crossing me!" Zhang Zhong said through gritted teeth. "Fine, go! You must find the young miss. As for the person who took her, bring him back to me, dead or alive."

Wang Bo, who was currently accompanying Zhang Xue toward the Zhang estate, had no idea he had become the perpetrator of a kidnapping. He was happily walking with Zhang Xue. He had just successfully asked for the address of the Zhang estate and was chatting and laughing as they approached. Looking ahead, he could vaguely see the grand gates of the Zhang estate.