Chapter 1478: The Marquis Seems Especially Irritable Today

Feng Fuce was drinking tea, and upon hearing these words, he immediately placed the tea cup on the table.

It was originally a very light sound, but everyone around was startled.

Marquis Wan, when angry, is expressionless, yet exudes immense pressure!

"If a criminal intends to kidnap you, would he ask if you are a commoner or an official?" Feng Fuce asked this question.

Everyone present was silent.

Prime Minister Wen realized what was happening and hurriedly picked up the booklet he had just been inspecting to confirm once more.

"No mistake, compared to the disappearance of men, far too many women have gone missing during this period!"

Although this booklet records the situations of some of these women.

Some families suspected that the missing women had eloped, but the men who were close to them remained in the Capital, unaware of where the women had gone, and the investigation halted with no further developments.

Some families believed their daughters disliked poverty and ran off with some officials and nobles.

There’s also one case where her disappearance was not reported by her family.

It was actually a neighbor who was familiar with her, not having seen her for several days doing laundry, asked her family, and found out she hadn’t returned home for a long time, so the neighbor helped report it.

Prime Minister Wen decisively said, "So many women disappearing at the same time must be the handiwork of a kidnapping gang!"

Just as he spoke, Feng Fuce stood up.

"Marquis! Where are you going?"

Feng Fuce slightly turned his face, his profile cold: "Send someone to the Guan Residence to bring something belonging to Guan Yue, there’s no time to lose, let the hounds start searching for people."

With that, Feng Fuce left.

"Yes, yes! I’ll arrange it right away." Prime Minister Wen hurriedly gave the orders.

One of his subordinates approached, whispering: "Prime Minister, don’t you feel that today the Marquis is particularly irritable?"

Usually, even if Marquis Wan is angry, he doesn’t bother to say a word, instead he fixes a cold gaze on someone, causing them to involuntarily kneel to admit fault.

But today, Marquis Wan was throwing the booklet and the tea cup.

It was truly frightening!

Prime Minister Wen thought this too.

But he still angrily reprimanded: "Stop gossiping about Marquis Wan! Do you realize what time it is? If you have nothing to do, rush over to the Guan Residence and retrieve the item!"

The little official accepted the scolding and ran off dejectedly.

That night.

Various government officials sent out patrol officers, holding torches and posting notices everywhere.

The populace gathered in front of the notice boards discussing.

"What’s going on? So many young women are missing all of a sudden!"

"Alas! It must be human traffickers! My grandfather told me, twenty years ago, the Capital also experienced similar unrest, back then over a hundred girls went missing, all at the age of blooming beauty. The former dynasty ignored it, until one honest official defied public opinion and spent three to four years, eventually finding them! Most of those girls were sold, some died, and others are still missing to this day."

"If kidnapped, one can only imagine what happens, pity those girls."

"Alright, families with daughters should keep a close watch, don’t let your girl go missing."

The next day.

Bai Zhi’er was on her way to class at Mingyang Academy, and heard about this incident.

She had just gotten off the carriage when she heard a cheerful call—

"Sister Zhi’er!" Fang Wushen, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, ran over.

Bai Zhi’er waved her hand: "Brother Wuxi, you’re here so early, huh? Where’s Sister Youzhen?"

Fang Wushen’s spirit was high: "My sister is being watched by my father today, not allowed to go out! There have been too many kidnappings lately, they say it’s a gang job, even a female martial arts instructor went missing!"