The coachman of the Gu residence was brought before Gu Sinian in a state of panic. "Young Master! It's bad, the Duchess has been abducted." The coachman was so terrified he was stammering, reverting to his old way of addressing Gu Sinian and Madam Qin.
"Speak slowly," Gu Sinian said calmly. "When, where, how many people, and which direction did they go?"
His mother had left early that morning to fulfill a vow at a temple.
Before Zhenzhen's delivery, his mother had gone to the courtyard to offer incense, praying to Buddha and the Bodhisattvas for Zhenzhen's smooth childbirth.
Originally, his mother had said she would go to the temple to fulfill her vow the day Zhenzhen gave birth, but she had kept postponing it until today.
Gu Sinian had intended to escort her himself, but something urgent had come up just before he left, delaying him.
He hadn't expected such a thing to happen.
Gu Sinian's composure gradually calmed the coachman's emotions.
However, apart from the location where the incident occurred, the coachman could not recall any other useful information.
This was because he had been knocked unconscious.
As for Madam Qin's maidservant, she had also been knocked unconscious and had not yet woken up.
Gu Sinian hurriedly returned to the inner courtyard to inform Qi Zhenzhen, then rushed out.
Instead of heading directly to the scene of the incident, he went to find Xie Chen.
"They didn't kill anyone, but abducted her. This indicates that the other party intends to use your mother to threaten you," Xie Chen analyzed calmly. "Otherwise, they wouldn't have left survivors to inform us as quickly as possible. How about this, I'll take my men to the scene, and you investigate who might be responsible. The abductors won't stay quiet; they will definitely contact you."
Xie Chen's analysis was exactly the same as Gu Sinian's thoughts.
"I've already analyzed it on my way here," Gu Sinian said.
"Li An."
"Li An."
They both spoke almost in unison.
"My people are keeping an eye on Li An," Xie Chen said. "I'll contact them immediately. You go into the palace and inform His Majesty, tell him I said that if Li An makes any move to harm Tingxue, please ask His Majesty for forgiveness."
Xie Chen's expression remained unchanged, but his heart was already burning with rage.
With the fall of the Lu family and the general unease among the old aristocratic families due to the Lu family's purging, Li An, instead of lying low, was actually making a move against Tingxue. It was utterly foolish.
Xie Chen could understand that this was because Gu Sinian refused to cooperate with him.
It was also because Gu Sinian had made significant contributions to the fall of the Lu family.
Li An harbored resentment towards Gu Sinian for disrupting his plans.
It wasn't that Xie Chen was arrogant and looked down on people, but Li An's so-called schemes were truly laughable.
He relied on despicable means to win over officials, not strength. How could such methods garner genuine support?
What was the point of a prince who lacked legitimacy, even if he possessed some talent?
Were not all of His Majesty's princes dragons among men?
If he were clear-headed, relying on his talent and His Majesty's guilt, and served as an official properly, perhaps in the future, His Majesty might soften his heart and restore his status. At that time, if he still had ambitions, he could contend openly.
But now?
"I don't want my mother to be harmed," Gu Sinian said.
"Don't worry, I wish for your mother's safety even more than you do," Xie Chen said with a serious expression.
"I'm counting on you." Gu Sinian cupped his hands towards Xie Chen and left in a hurry.
Xie Chen quickly contacted the people monitoring Li An and confirmed that it was indeed Li An's men who had abducted Qin Tingxue.
However, after abducting her, what was Li An's intention in sending her to the Duke's mansion?
After confirming that Qin Tingxue was temporarily unharmed, Xie Chen did not act rashly. Instead, he went directly to the palace gate to wait for Gu Sinian.