Chapter 7: 7.第7章 爹娘不见了？

Qinglong immediately led him toward the carriage.

Luo Bingluan hurriedly stepped down from the carriage, performed a slight *wanfu* salute, and smiled, "This little girl offers her greetings."

The man raised his hands in a salute, though his eyes were filled with suspicion and scrutiny. "Thank you, Miss, for resolving the situation."

"It was merely a small effort. Please, sir." Having said this, Luo Bingluan walked toward a nearby teahouse together with the man.

The man was not impolite; he nodded and followed her into the teahouse.

Upon arriving at a private room in the teahouse, she signaled for Qinglong and Xuanwu to stand guard outside. Luo Bingluan bowed and said, "Please, sir."

The man cupped his hands and took the seat opposite her.

"May I ask how to address you, sir?" For some reason, sitting across from this middle-aged man always gave Luo Bingluan a faint, intangible sense of pressure, even though his expression was clearly kind and friendly.

"I am Huang Shan. I am deeply grateful to the Miss for resolving the situation." Though his words were polite, they lacked sincerity.

Luo Bingluan smiled faintly. "Mr. Huang is too kind. Although Luan'er has only just met you, I feel that we are quite kindred spirits."

With that, the two began to talk about everything under the sun, and the conversation opened up. Unknowingly, the sky gradually grew dark, and a sliver of the setting sun still shone in through the window.

"Miss Luan'er is truly bright and clever. I wonder, in your heart, what do you think of the current Emperor?" Huang Shan took a light sip of tea, asking as if casually.

The current Emperor, Qingxi? She had never met him, but...

"The current Emperor ascended the throne at the age of six. He eliminated the corrupt regents who conspired for rebellion, quelled the various regional lords, recovered the precious islands, repelled the Mos Country to the north, and conquered the Great Mongolian Grasslands. One could say his civil and military achievements make him an emperor for the ages." Luo Bingluan thought about the history and novels she had studied before and praised him without stint.

"Oh? May I ask, in your eyes, how is the current Tianqing Empire?" Huang Shan continued to ask with great interest.

"The four seas are at peace, the nation is prosperous, and commerce flows freely. One could say it is very powerful." As she spoke, Luo Bingluan couldn't help but think of the princes in the later years who formed factions to vie for power and the corrupt officials who imposed heavy taxes; she couldn't help but shake her head slightly.

"Has the Miss thought of some deficiencies?" Seeing Luo Bingluan shake her head slightly, Huang Shan couldn't help but ask.

Luo Bingluan smiled, looking somewhat helpless. "The current Emperor cares for the people and is well-versed in both ancient and modern ways; he is truly a sage and wise ruler. If there are any slight deficiencies, it is merely because he is limited by this era."

After listening, Huang Shan nodded thoughtfully. "I, Huang, truly regret meeting the Miss so late. Unfortunately, I have some important matters to attend to today and cannot stay longer. I must take my leave first."

After speaking, Huang Shan paused and added, "Mm, I wonder if I might borrow something from the Miss?"

"Since Mr. Huang has matters to attend to, Luan'er will not detain you. Does the gentleman wish to borrow a horse?" Luo Bingluan smiled.

"The lady is truly bright and clever. Thank you, Miss." Huang Shan gave a slight bow of his fists.

"You are too kind." She immediately turned to the girl, Zhuque, beside her. "Prepare a fine horse for the gentleman."

Having finished speaking, she stood up to see Huang Shan off.

"Have your parents ever lived in the Imperial Capital?" Just as Huang Shan was about to walk out of the private room, he suddenly asked.

"My father did visit the Imperial Capital when he was young. May I ask why the gentleman asks this?" Luo Bingluan did not understand his intent.

Huang Shan smiled but did not answer.

Leaving the teahouse, Huang Shan took the reins, mounted his horse, and cupped his fists toward Luo Bingluan. "To have met the lady today is truly my good fortune. I shall take my leave now; we shall meet again in the future."

With that, Huang Shan cracked his whip and sped away into the distance.

"Alright, let's head back as well, lest Father, Mother, and Master worry, and to save you four from being scolded." Although Luo Bingluan was slightly puzzled by Huang Shan's final words, she didn't take them too much to heart. Extraordinary people do extraordinary things, after all! It had to be understood.

However, she still had Xuanwu notify the members of the Hidden Department to track and investigate this man in secret.

By the time the group rushed back to the Luo family estate, night had already fallen.

However, Luo Bingluan's parents and Master were not asleep; they were still waiting for her.

Passing through the living room and seeing her parents and Master all waiting there, Luo Bingluan couldn't help but secretly stick out her tongue. "Sigh! It looks like I'm going to get a lecture today!"

Sure enough, seeing Bingluan enter, her father spoke up: "You girl, if it was late, you should have stayed in Hangzhou. What if something happened while traveling so late? Honestly, this child!"

Luo Bingluan hurried forward, shaking her mother's arm while wearing a charming, playful smile. "Wasn't Luan'er just wanting to come back early to see Father, Mother, and Master? Besides, with Qinglong, Baihu, Zhuque, and Xuanwu there, nothing would happen to me. Moreover, haven't I returned safely? Father, don't be angry with Luan'er. Mother, look, Father is being fierce to me."

Unfortunately,

Her mother, who usually pampered Luan'er, did not indulge her this time. Instead, she said seriously, "Luan'er, you are a young lady now. Setting aside the mission you carry, just considering your status as the daughter of the Luo family, how many people will be eyeing you? Your father is right; you must be extremely careful from now on."

Seeing that her mother wouldn't help her, Luan'er pouted and said dejectedly, "Luan'er knows. I will be careful in the future."

Early the next morning,

After finishing her washing and grooming, Luo Bingluan was preparing to have breakfast with her parents, but she did not see them in the dining hall.

Luan'er ran to her parents' bedroom, only to find the door open and no one inside.

"Eh? Where are they?" Just as Luan'er was wondering and about to call someone to ask, she looked up and saw the old butler in the courtyard not far away.

She hurried forward and asked, "Grandpa Qian, where are my Father and Mother? Where did they go?"

Old Butler Qian turned around, saw it was Luan'er, and smiled. "Oh, good morning, Miss. The Master took the Madam out very early this morning. As for where they went, he didn't say. He wouldn't let anyone ask."

"Where did Mother and Father go? How mysterious!" Luo Bingluan was slightly stunned upon hearing this.

"Are there any servants or guards following them?" Luo Bingluan asked.

Before the old butler could say anything, Baihu-niu walked in from outside the courtyard. She bowed to the old butler before saying, "Miss, the Master and Madam did not allow guards to follow. The four of us discussed it and privately had Xuanwu's people follow them in secret. We failed to ask for your instructions, Miss; please punish us."

Luo Bingluan nodded. "You did the right thing. Everything must be done with the premise of ensuring the family's safety. In the future, if you encounter a time-sensitive situation or cannot ask for instructions in time, the four of you may act after discussing it among yourselves."

"Yes, Miss."

Returning to her own room, Luo Bingluan felt a bit bored and decided to get up to visit the Heavenly Mystery Hall.

However, at that moment, Baihu-niu moved like the wind, rushing toward Luo Bingluan with a "whoosh!"

"What is it? What happened? Why so urgent?" Luo Bingluan's beautiful brows furrowed slightly.

"Miss, Xuanwu's people lost sight of the Master and Madam..." Baihu-niu said anxiously.

"What?!"

"Don't worry, Miss. Qinglong and Xuanwu have already personally set off with the tracking elites from the Hidden Department. I believe news will arrive soon." Baihu-niu said she wasn't worried, but looking at her expression, she was clearly anxious herself!