Rebirth of a Farming Wife

Chapter 495: Chapter 502: A Breakthrough
 

“Master, do these carvings represent some special meaning?”

These marks were quite hidden and looked as if they were unintentionally made, far from seeming to hold any special significance, which is why Qi Yun and his men failed to notice anything amiss when they were searching previously.

“These were left by madam,” Han Yu felt immensely grateful. When they had discussed secret guards in the past, they unintentionally mentioned the idea of secret marks. His daughter-in-law had whimsically created one specifically for the two of them. He still remembered the proud and confident expression on his daughter-in-law’s face as she boasted that even if others saw the secret mark, they would not be able to recognize it.

At the time, Han Yu secretly disdained the mark his daughter-in-law had made—it was indeed without any pattern and somewhat ugly. However, seeing his daughter-in-law’s joy, he didn’t want to discourage her and agreed to it. He never expected that what seemed like a thoughtless gesture would be useful one day.

Upon hearing that this was a secret mark left by madam, those present were somewhat surprised and their faces showed a trace of joy. Not only did Han Yu understand that the lone embroidered shoe and a few footprints by the shore couldn’t prove that Su Wenyue was definitely alive, but they were all aware of it too. However, out of respect for the master, they kept such thoughts to themselves, without saying a word. After all, who was the master? An extraordinary strategist, far more perceptive than they were. Whatever they could deduce, surely the master understood as well. He simply didn’t want to entertain that possibility. Now, with the secret mark left by madam, they had no more doubts.

“This is great, master! Madam is truly still alive. Has madam left any clues on who took her away?”

Han Yu shook his head. Although it was confirmed that his daughter-in-law was still alive, as long as he didn’t find her, he couldn’t predict what sort of changes might occur. Knowing his daughter-in-law’s character, she would have sent him a message if she had the chance, because she worried he would be anxious. He searched around the forest again and, other than the mark indicating his daughter-in-law was still alive, there was nothing else left behind. It seemed the situation at the time did not allow for it, and it was likely that his daughter-in-law was restrained and could only leave such a mark out of desperation.

“Master, Captain Qi and Master Feng Shao are searching for madam everywhere. Should we meet up with them? Perhaps they have already uncovered some information.”

Given the situation, besides doing precisely that, there seemed to be no other choice. Han Yu, despite his urgency, had to proceed step by step. Deep down, he wasn’t very optimistic. Those who kidnapped his wife and covered their tracks must certainly have taken precautions and were no ordinary people. His greatest fear was their association with the Imperial Court.

Han Yu rushed ahead to the nearest town to meet up with Qi Yun, leaving a team behind to search the area and see if they could find more of his daughter-in-law’s secret marks.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“Master, it is my fault. I was a step too late and failed to prevent madam from jumping off the cliff. I dare not shirk the responsibility and only ask that the master allows me to find madam first before I accept my punishment,” Qi Yun confessed his guilt to Han Yu as soon as he saw him, his face full of remorse.

Even though Han Yu was heartbroken for his daughter-in-law, he was not the type to vent his anger on others. At least it wasn’t Qi Yun’s fault; Qi Yun had rushed to the scene as quickly as he could. It was because Han Yu hadn’t expected Zhao Fan to stoop so low, targeting his wife and child because he couldn’t beat him on the battlefield. Because of his slow reaction, he failed to deploy Qi Yun earlier. How could he blame Qi Yun for that? Qi Yun had done his utmost both before and after the incident. If there was anyone to blame, it was himself for being too complacent. He must learn from this lesson. Thankfully, his daughter-in-law was still alive, and he would never again give his enemies even the slightest chance to harm her.

“This matter is not your fault. I, Han Yu, am not one to blame others irrationally or lash out blindly. You have fulfilled your duty, so there’s no need for punishment. However, madam is still in danger, and we must find her quickly. If you truly want to do something helpful, then devote more energy to finding the madam as soon as possible,” Han Yu didn’t mince words; he simply stated the facts, trusting that Qi Yun understood.

“I understand, master. I will do everything I can to track down madam, even if it means working tirelessly,” Qi Yun declared earnestly. Since Su Wenyue’s leap from the cliff, he had been consumed with guilt. In his search for her over the past three days, he barely rested, and his bloodshot eyes were inflamed with fatigue. Despite his exhaustion, none of it mattered to him; his sole focus was finding madam as quickly as possible.

Seeing Qi Yun’s pale complexion and his condition over the past few days, Han Yu sighed. While he was eager to find his daughter-in-law, he wouldn’t push his subordinates to their limits. Since there had been no choice before, and now that he was here to take over the search personally, Qi Yun didn’t need to continue exhausting himself.

“You haven’t rested properly in days. Go sleep and regain your strength before you continue searching for madam. In your current state, you might collapse before we even find her.”

With Han Yu insisting, Qi Yun didn’t contest it. The master’s words were indeed to the point. After pushing himself for several days, he was indeed worn out. Plus, with the master present, he could afford a little rest. Once he was fully rested, he would be more efficient in his duties.

Because Han Yu discovered Su Wenyue’s secret marks, if she had a chance, she would definitely leave more. He immediately ordered the search for this symbol. Indeed, a breakthrough came when a subordinate reported the discovery of such a mark on the wall of a room in an inn within the town.

Han Yu immediately took his men to the inn, confirmed that the mark was indeed left by his daughter-in-law, and summoned the innkeeper for questioning.

“Speak, who has stayed in this room? Have you seen a beautiful woman, about this tall…” Han Yu described Su Wenyue’s appearance, scrutinizing the innkeeper’s facial expressions and movements to detect any lies.

The innkeeper felt nervous upon seeing the demeanor of these men, especially recalling that a few days ago, a group of Jianghu people had checked into his inn acting secretive, insisting on fetching their own food and not allowing the guys to enter the rooms, as if they had something to hide. The innkeeper had muttered a few complaints at the time, but now, these individuals were looking for something, causing him to worry that the previous guests had embroiled him in some troublesome affairs.

Seeing the uncertainty in the innkeeper’s demeanor, Han Yu knew there was definitely something amiss. His aura intensified, filling the room with a ferocious and deadly atmosphere. His hand slammed on the table, “Talk! Reveal everything you know, without any omission. If you disclose what I seek to learn, I may spare your life. Otherwise, do not expect me to show any mercy!”

As he spoke, the bodyguards at his side also brandished their broadswords.