Chapter Forty: Hiding

"Could it be that they've already returned home?" Pei Min recalled that during his late-night conversation with Gongsun You, she had mentioned the purpose of their journey to Ji City: they were entrusted to escort a young woman here to seek refuge with her uncle. Both sisters were orphans, with no relatives in this place, so it was only natural for them to return home once their task was complete. Their belongings were tidied up, making it even more likely that they had left. Given the sisters’ swordsmanship and martial skills, Pei Min truly couldn’t imagine anyone capable of making them disappear without a trace.

Wu Xuan pondered aloud, "That was the innkeeper's first thought as well. The sisters hadn’t checked out, but their deposit more than covered their expenses, so he didn’t raise the issue. But not long after, a group came demanding to know the sisters’ whereabouts. The innkeeper sensed something was wrong and mentioned it to me—not quite a formal report. This morning, I went to investigate the city gates for records of the sisters leaving. For several consecutive days, Gongsun You, the elder, would leave every morning and return by evening. But after entering the city two nights ago, she vanished. There are no records of either sister leaving through any gate. The Xiju invasion retreated barely a month ago, and the Grand Marshal has been purging the remnants of Li Wuyi's faction, enforcing strict orders more than ever. For the sisters to slip out of the city unnoticed is highly unlikely."

At this time, the missing persons protocol was somewhat similar to later eras: a case would only be filed after a certain period had passed. The sisters’ disappearance hadn’t lasted long enough for an official investigation, but the local officials of this era were far more diligent than those of later times. A good magistrate was often hailed as a "parent-official," as beloved as a father or mother to the people.

The innkeeper of Three Heroes Inn was an old neighbor of Wu Xuan's. He merely mentioned the matter, but Wu Xuan, as the county constable, had already begun investigating.

Pei Min mused, "I haven’t seen Gongsun You since we parted at the inn over ten days ago. Gongsun Xi, the younger, is much the same; she sparred with me a few days ago, but since then, we've had no contact. Where they've gone, I really don’t know." His brow knit in concern—for whether it was Gongsun You’s gentle wisdom or Gongsun Xi’s spirited innocence, both had left him with a good impression. The idea that something might have happened to them troubled him deeply.

Wu Xuan saw Pei Min's expression and knew he would get little more out of him. His own information about the sisters was scant: the elder spent her days leaving the city; the younger spent hers seeking bouts and sparring. Beyond that, he knew nothing, and had no leads. The only useful piece was that Pei Min and Gongsun You had spent a joyful night in conversation. With Pei Min offering no clues, Wu Xuan truly didn’t know where to begin.

"Wait!" Pei Min suddenly remembered something. "The Gongsun sisters once offended Jiang Bo—perhaps this has something to do with him?"

Wu Xuan’s expression changed, and he glanced at Zhang Chao.

Zhang Chao’s face stiffened at the mention. Jiang Bo’s identity as a smuggling merchant was widely known. As a proper local official, Zhang Chao opposed such lawless, unscrupulous business, and had tried repeatedly to investigate, but had always been overruled by his superiors. He still didn’t know who protected Jiang Bo. Only one explanation remained: Jiang Bo’s patron held power far beyond his reach. Jiang Bo himself was shrewd; in his five or six years of rise, he had committed no obvious misdeeds nor abused his backing. Zhang Chao had let him be.

Zhang Chao understood Wu Xuan’s intent and said, "Avoid direct conflict with Jiang Bo. Assign someone to monitor him, and conduct a personal inquiry to exert pressure. If he is involved, this will constrain his actions and prevent recklessness. In my estimation, the Gongsun sisters have sensed danger and are hiding, rather than falling into anyone’s hands. With no evidence, this is all I can do." The latter words were clearly addressed to Pei Min.

Pei Min agreed with Zhang Chao’s assessment. Thinking back on last night’s events, he said, "Gentlemen, do you think last night’s incident might be connected to the sisters? They have no family in Youzhou, and besides the girl they escorted, I am the only one who openly interacted with them here. If someone targeted them, perhaps they sensed it and fled first. The assailants may have suspected I hid them and thus sneaked into Yuan Manor, checking each room—even locked ones. They were searching for people, not valuables, and nothing was missing."

Wu Xuan said gravely, "That makes sense. Burglars entering Yuan Manor not for money or goods—such a thing is rare. In light of all this, it fits together."

Zhang Chao clapped his hands together and declared, "If the meat is already in the wolf’s mouth, it’s hard to get it back. But if it hasn’t been bitten yet, forcing them to give it up is much easier. Xiao Wu, go to Jiang Bo now, make our stance clear. Let him know: he may have powerful patrons, and I cannot touch him, but he must not wreak havoc in my jurisdiction or disregard the law."

Wu Xuan took the order and left.

Pei Min bowed respectfully to Zhang Chao, expressing his admiration: Zhang Chao was indeed a worthy official. Appearances can be deceiving—how true were the words of the ancients.

Zhang Chao waved his thick hand, telling Pei Min not to stand on ceremony.

Leaving the magistrate’s office, Pei Min’s mind was still occupied with thoughts of the Gongsun sisters. With Zhang Chao and Wu Xuan pressing Jiang Bo, he himself—a man without rank—could do little. The only real way to help them was to find them. Yet Ji City was an ancient metropolis, perhaps not as grand as Chang’an or Luoyang, but still vast. To find two people hiding within it was no easy task.

Wait—a thought struck him. Ji City was under martial law; neighborhood wardens would be especially alert to unfamiliar outsiders. If a pair of strangers were lurking furtively in any ward, surely someone would report it. Moreover, the sisters were strikingly beautiful; even disguised as men, their extraordinary bearing would be hard to conceal. To hide unnoticed would be no simple matter.

Where could one find shelter in Ji City, free from the wardens’ oversight—somewhere people could hide and live?

Was there such a place in Ji City?

As Pei Min walked and pondered, he suddenly halted, an idea coming to him—a place that fit the criteria exactly.

Without hesitation, he hurried back to Yuan Manor, informing Yuan Luqian and Yan Gaoqing that the matter was resolved and they needn’t worry. He dined and chatted with them for a while, then retired early to his room. With a lamp lit, he read until midnight; when silence fell all around, he quietly slipped out of Yuan Manor and headed south.