Inner Thoughts Exposed: Reborn General's Farming Daughter Has a System

Chapter 174: Chapter 174: His Name

"Elder Brother, what are you doing here?" Su Wan asked in shock.

Moreover, he was also wearing the same attire as the guards, disguising himself as one, wearing a mask.

Realizing her voice might have been too loud, Su Wan hurriedly covered her mouth and coughed. She looked around to see if someone was eavesdropping on their conversation and heaved a sigh of relief.

She cleared her throat. "Sorry, you look like my brother. I must have been mistaken."

Xiao Yuanwei twitched his mouth at her clumsy attempt to cover up the fact she almost announced his identity to the whole village.

"I will join the search," he told her in an expressionless tone.

Su Wan was a little surprised when she heard that, but then she nodded. Her imperial brother’s headaches have recovered a lot ever since he arrived here.

Lately, she found out that he had been spending time in a daze, and it was actually good he could spend time outside.

"Mrs. Zhou has helped a lot in solving a case for us. It’s only natural we help her back when she needs something," Xiao Yuanwei told her.

He pursed his lips. It sounded like he was making an excuse, unknown whether he tried to convince himself or others.

With his identity, he naturally didn’t need to go join the search himself.

His loyal guards naturally wouldn’t question him, and his younger sister...

Su Wan nodded, seemingly believing everything he said without doubting it in the slightest.

After that, Han Tingxun asked for some details from Su Wan. They also invited Zhou Shuran to add some details Su Wan might have missed. After all, Zhou Shuran was the family member.

Xiao Qingya was sleeping on her lap, looking very exhausted. Zhou Shuran hugged her and fixed her sleeping position so that it would avoid hurting her neck further.

The moment Xiao Yuanwei’s eyes landed on her, he happened to see the flash of redness on her neck.

He frowned, and he felt unhappy, even a hint of anger.

Then, his eyes landed on Zhou Shuran, and he assumed that she was the little girl’s mother. He averted his eyes, masking the strangeness in his emotion.

Zhou Shuran was feeling some trepidation from the numerous guards outside the house. She spoke softly, afraid of waking up Xiao Qingya.

"It was... " she lowered her head with some shame, but still didn’t hold back the details. "It was my mother who tried to kidnap Little Ya. We suspected that Yan’er got washed by the water currents when she was trying to help her little sister."

They all nodded and quickly headed to the river.

Xiao Yuanwei ordered in his stern voice. "If you see this old woman who has escaped from the yamen, bring her back. Dead or alive."

Although Han Tingxun couldn’t see his Master’s expression, he could detect that Xiao Yuanwei was angry. It was natural since the yamen was so incompetent they let a prisoner escape right under their nose.

"Yes, Lord Wei!" The guards chorused.

Zhou Shuran was startled at the voice, and she subconsciously looked at the leader. Why does he seem rather familiar?

The search lasted for an entire afternoon, and they still yielded no result.

Xiao Fenghao had to drag Xiao Yuxi back, who was kicking and struggling amidst her tears.

"Let’s go back!" Xiao Fenghao muttered helplessly, grabbing her collar and hands. Xiao Yuxi still looked devastated, desperately shaking her head.

"Second Brother, how about we go a few more minutes until it’s dark? Who knows if we met Yan’er..." Xiao Yuxi tried to pull her hand away from his grasp. "A few more minutes... Yan’er will be there."

She wiped her tears and pointed to the direction where the river water was flowing to.

Xiao Fenghao’s face darkened, and his tone became a little more stern. "Come back first. Mother will be worried about us. She is already extremely saddened by Yan’er disappearance. Do you want to..."

He didn’t continue. Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm himself down and pulled Xiao Yuxi away.

Actually, he was also unwilling, but Xiao Jingran entrusted Xiao Yuxi to him and warned they should return before the sky turned dark.

Xiao Yuxi stopped struggling and let herself get dragged away, sniffling. Xiao Fenghao glanced at behind him, and still didn’t see any traces of Xiao Jingran.

Their eldest brother was quicker compared to them, and he already followed the water current farther.

On the way, they met the group of the guards.

The guards continued to move despite passing by them, acting completely based on Xiao Yuanwei’s order. The siblings merely exchanged greetings with Han Tingxun briefly.

"We still haven’t found any traces of my second sister," Xiao Fenghao explained, his voice faintly trembling.

Xiao Yuxi sniffled again, definitely not in a condition where she could speak and explain things to others, so Xiao Fenghao took charge.

"Mr. Han, our eldest brother, has gone farther down there," Xiao Fenghao pointed in a certain direction.

The moment Xiao Yuanwei glanced at Xiao Fenghao, his pupils contracted imperceptibly. This young man had a slight resemblance to him...

Meanwhile, the Xiao siblings were too anxious that they wouldn’t pay any attention to a random guard. They merely thought that Xiao Yuanwei was Han Tingxun’s colleague and didn’t pay him another thought.

Until the siblings were gone, Xiao Yuanwei was still deep in thought.

"Master?"

Han Tingxun’s voice snapped him out of his daze. Xiao Yuanwei nodded as though nothing had happened and motioned to them. "Let’s continue."

The group of guards also met Zhou Wenzhi and Zhou Anran on the way. However, their speed was much slower compared to them.

When Han Tingxun suggested leaving some guards with them, the two refused.

"Mr. Han, we really appreciate your kindness. Please help us look for Yan’er," Zhou Anran had said as she avoided looking straight into a certain masked man.

She had recognized him from his build.

Since she and Zhou Wenzhi refused, they continued again until they met the Xiao siblings.

Xiao Fenghao and Xiao Yuxi met their mother and grandfather on the way. Despite Zhou Anran’s stubborn insistence to continue searching on her own, the siblings persuaded her until she gave up.

"Mother, you are still feeling unwell. The night wind isn’t good for you..." Xiao Yuxi still tried to console her despite her hoarse voice.

"Eldest Brother has gone quite far. Let’s wait for news from him, Mother." Xiao Fenghao took Zhou Anran’s cold hands and led her back.

Zhou Wenzhi also persuaded Zhou Anran, saying they could continue with the search tomorrow.

In the end, the group went back with heavy hearts. Xiao Yuxi tried to hold back her tears, but she occasionally still let out muffled sobs. Xiao Fenghao clenched his fist, feeling utterly helpless.

The moment they arrived at home, Xiao Qingya was already waiting at the door. She obediently stayed at her place and didn’t run to them like she usually did, hugging Xiao Xue tightly.

[System... what should I do?] Xiao Qingya muttered in dejection.

Zhou Shuran stood behind her, making sure she wouldn’t run out. Zhou Anran immediately quickened her steps and swooped Xiao Qingya to her arms, hugging her tightly.

Xiao Xue let out a squeak. It was pressed in between them.

"Elder Sister, we have prepared dinner. Have a bite first." Zhou Shuran told them.

Earlier, she had cooked in the kitchen with the help of Su Wan’s maidservants. Zhou Anran nodded, and they stepped inside.

Su Wan had dinner with them before she and her people excused themselves and returned home, giving time for both families to organize their thoughts and emotions without the presence of outsiders.

For the next three days, they kept on searching for Xiao Yuyan’s whereabouts. Unfortunately, even with the help of the ghosts, they still couldn’t find her.

Once they arrived at a certain point, outside of Qingshan county, there was news that a flood had passed that area. They quickly concluded that Xiao Yuyan might have been washed by the flood.

The situation didn’t look good... after all, so many days had passed.

Everyone naturally assumed that Xiao Yuyan was beyond saving.

Su Wan had visited for a few days in a row, keeping the Xiao family company. At this moment, there was only Zhou Shuran.

Her elder brother and his guards also haven’t returned, so she was waiting for them anxiously. They haven’t heard the news about the flood yet.

"My elder sister has lost her husband..." Zhou Shuran bit her lip. "May Yan’er be found soon."

Su Wan’s curiosity was suddenly perked up. "Sister Anran’s husband?"

Zhou Shuran nodded, and she sighed sadly. "Speaking of my older sister’s husband. Your older brother’s name is so similar to him..."

After spending time with Su Wan for a while, now she knew that she was probably a noble. Her surname was also Su, so she didn’t link him to Xiao Wei at all.

Su Wan asked carefully, "If you don’t mind, may I know his name?"

"Everyone in the village already knows his name." Zhou Shuran nodded. "My brother- in-law’s name is Xiao Wei."