Searching for Lola

Prince of Qin's Manor.

The Shadow Guards searched the manor for Lola but found nothing. They decided to ask Sean Hayes and Mrs. Penny, who were close to Lola, if they had any idea where she might have gone.

Yesterday was Sean Hayes's wedding night. He was so happy at the banquet that he drank too much and slept in late. He was only woken up after the sun was high in the sky.

After getting ready, Mrs. Penny and Sean Hayes left their room. Outside, a guard reported, "Lola has been missing since early morning. We've searched the entire manor, but there's no sign of her."

"What? Lola's missing?" Sean Hayes and Mrs. Penny exchanged glances. Sean rubbed his aching head from the hangover and said, "I remember Lola was at the banquet yesterday, right beside the Princess Consort."

"Yes, but the Princess Consort said Lola left before the banquet ended and hasn't been seen since," the guard replied.

"That's odd. You go ahead and keep searching, I'll join you shortly," said Sean Hayes.

The guard went off to continue searching.

Sean Hayes and Mrs. Penny exchanged a look. Mrs. Penny said, "Lola usually keeps things to herself and rarely talks about what's on her mind. Why would she suddenly disappear?"

Sean Hayes shook his head. "I have no idea either."

Mrs. Penny asked, "Do you know if Lola has any favorite places she likes to go? Maybe she went there."

Sean Hayes scratched his head, thinking hard. "I don't think so. Lola's always with the Princess Consort and rarely goes anywhere alone... Mrs. Penny, why don't you go rest? I'll keep looking for Lola."

"Alright, that works," Mrs. Penny replied. "If you find Lola, let everyone know right away so we don't keep worrying."

Sean Hayes agreed and dashed out without even stopping for breakfast, racking his brain for places Lola might go. Suddenly, an idea struck him.

"Maybe Lola went there!" Sean quickly grabbed a horse and rode out of the manor.

Sean Hayes rode all the way to the outskirts of the city and stopped at a tall tower.

He had brought Lola here the first time they came to the capital. Lola loved standing on the rooftop, gazing at the stars.

Today, Sean Hayes had no idea where Lola might be, so he came here on a hunch.

Sean used his qinggong to leap onto the rooftop and searched around, but it was empty.

"Huh, she's not here?" Sean scratched his head, about to leave, when he suddenly heard a faint sound of breathing coming from the rooftop.

Sean Hayes's expression grew serious. He leapt onto the rooftop and saw several empty wine jars scattered along the ridge. Lola was sprawled on the roof, her brows furrowed and face twisted in pain, apparently fast asleep.

"Lola!" Sean hurried over and shook her.

But Lola didn't wake up; the smell of alcohol on her was overwhelming.

"Why did this little girl drink so much?" Sean looked helplessly and puzzled at all the wine jars. She'd never drunk before, and from the looks of it, she'd been drinking since last night and was still drunk now.

"Lola, wake up." Sean shook her again.

Lola's body shook with his efforts, her expression growing more pained. But her eyes stayed tightly shut—she was clearly too drunk to wake up on her own.

"Sigh, what a mess. Why do you always act like a child? You can't handle alcohol, so why drink so much? And on a rooftop, no less! If you fell off this tall tower while sleeping, you'd be shattered to pieces!" Sean muttered at the sleeping Lola, full of exasperation.