Enemy Steals the Child

The commotion here startled Su Li. While having her family search the house and surrounding area for the child, she immediately went to inform Xiao Zetian.

"The child is missing?" Xiao Zetian was shocked.

"I reckon it’s most likely a kidnapper sneaked in and took the child!" Su Li was frantic, grabbing Xiao Zetian’s sleeve. "Xiao Chouchou is my godson, you absolutely must find him!"

"Don’t worry, my lady." Xiao Zetian patted Su Li’s hand and immediately went out to make arrangements. After a moment, he returned and said, "My lady, don’t worry. I’ve already ordered my men to search everywhere for the child. We should have news soon."

Su Li covered her mouth, tears streaming down as she murmured, "How could someone sneak in to steal a child? Damn those kidnappers! Those who traffic children should be taken alive and boiled in oil!"

Xiao Zetian wiped her tears with his finger and said, "I don’t think this is as simple as a kidnapper stealing a child."

Su Li was stunned for a moment and asked, "W-what do you mean?"

"What I mean is, most likely someone has set their sights on Xiao Chouchou and planned to steal him today. And the kidnapper might not be just a simple kidnapper." Xiao Zetian pulled Su Li to sit down. Just as he was about to continue, Zhang Mu burst in, face icy: "Yuanbao, my son has been kidnapped!"

"I know." Xiao Zetian stood and looked at Zhang Mu.

Zhang Mu had fallen asleep drunk but was forcibly woken and told his son was missing. Now he was full of guilt and anxiety, panicking wildly as he said, "Lend me your horse, I’m going to find my son!"

Zhang Mu rushed out but was grabbed by Xiao Zetian: "You’re still drunk. Riding like this, do you want to break your neck? Everyone’s already searching. Don’t go making things worse!"

"My own son is missing, how can I sit still!" Zhang Mu frantically shook off Xiao Zetian’s arm.

"Zhang Mu, stop!" Xiao Zetian chased after him a few steps, pulled him back, and forced him to sit down. "I suspect the kidnapper isn’t just a simple kidnapper. With so many people coming and going today, stealing a child would be difficult. Kidnappers wouldn’t choose a place like this. They’d go after easier targets. That suspicious woman today seemed to know a lot about our household. She probably already figured things out, which made it easy for her to take the child. Zhang Mu, think carefully. Have you offended anyone recently? Could an enemy have kidnapped your son to get revenge?"

Zhang Mu held his head with both hands, trying to recall. At that moment, Wu Caiwei rushed over, grabbing Zhang Mu and crying loudly: "Brother Zhang Mu, my son is missing, how am I supposed to live!"

Su Li helped the distraught Wu Caiwei up and said, "Caiwei, don’t cry just yet. Chouchou might have been taken by your enemies. Think carefully, have you offended anyone?"

"Enemies?" Wu Caiwei’s mouth trembled as she sat beside Zhang Mu, clutching his sleeve. Her eyes wandered blankly before she burst into tears: "No, my husband and I run our business honestly and peacefully. We haven’t offended anyone!"

Zhang Mu also said, "Yes, we treat all our clients politely and maintain good relations. We have no enemies!"

"Hmm, that’s strange then." Su Li looked puzzled. Normally, someone as sharp as Xiao Zetian saying it’s likely enemies means it probably is. But since Zhang Mu and his wife say they have no enemies, it’s odd.