Sir Song, do you want to pledge yourself to me?

"From last night till now, it seems that the other members of the Zhang family don't know about it. But it's hard to say. We'll have to wait until Song Huai comes to know everything." Ji Nuan said, looking towards the road down the mountain.

In the distance, Song Huai was using his lightness skills to rush towards them, and soon he arrived in front of them.

"Sir, Madam," Song Huai saluted, then reported, "I was watching Zhang Lei last night and discovered he had two women imprisoned in the cellar. Upon interrogation, I discovered they were the daughter and maid of a wealthy family in the town ahead. Two days ago, they came to the Feng Temple to seek marriage, but on their way down the mountain, they were harassed by an old woman selling tea, which delayed their return. So, they spent fifty coins to stay at Zhang's house. Zhang Lei took advantage of them sleeping soundly that night, knocked them unconscious, and imprisoned them in the cellar in the backyard."

"They're young and inexperienced, so they don't know how treacherous people can be," Ji Nuan sighed. Then, she asked, "It seems Zhang Lei is a repeat offender. What about that old woman selling tea? Did she just happen to be entangled with these two, or is she an accomplice of Zhang Lei?"

Song Huai replied, "Madam, your guess is correct. That old woman is Zhang Lei's accomplice. There's also a scoundrel named Zhang Laitou in their village. The three of them are in the same group. Most of the people who go to Chaofeng Temple to seek marriage are young women. They specifically kidnap those women who are alone or looking for a place to stay on the way up the mountain and then sell them to a woman named Ruan Niang."

Ji Nuan frowned and said, "So, if women keep disappearing around here, then no one's reporting it? If people keep disappearing, won't the county magistrate investigate?"

Song Huai said, "We checked. We did catch two people before, but Zhang Lei and the other two only started committing crimes in the past two months. They learned from the mistakes of the two before them and are acting more covertly. If Zhang Lei hadn't been so bold as to try to attack Xue Bi yesterday, we wouldn't have caught them."

"Does this matter have anything to do with Prince Qi? I suspect these three people are also organized." Song Jinbai pondered.

He thought of the things that Prince Qi had done. The court had no direct evidence to prove that those things were related to Prince Qi. Moreover, if Prince Qi was just a womanizer and behaved a bit absurdly, the emperor would turn a blind eye to it because he was a member of the imperial family, and at most give him a few words of reprimand before letting it go.

Song Huai clasped his fists and said, "I have already handed the person over to the authorities, and one of Shadow's men is keeping an eye on him. I believe we will find Ruan Niang soon."

"Well, let's go. Let's go to Chaofeng Temple first."

Song Jinbai helped Ji Nuan up, and the four of them continued to climb the mountain.

When the abbot of Chaofeng Temple heard that some pilgrims were willing to donate silver to build a golden statue of the Dragon Girl, he personally brought people out to receive Ji Nuan and his group.

After Song Jinbai explained his purpose, he took out a thick stack of silver bills from his arms and handed them to the host master. The host registered them according to the regulations and asked Song Jinbai to sign and seal them.

After completing the silver donation ceremony, the presiding master led the four people to the main hall with a smile to burn incense for the Dragon Girl.

Ji Nuan and Song Jinbai knelt devoutly on the cushion, clasped their hands together, and prayed silently in their hearts.

Song Huai and the other person who were waiting on the side huddled together and whispered.

"Guard Song, I heard that praying for marriage at the Dragon Girl Temple is very effective. The master made a wish here, and later he got married. You secretly like Miss Ji Wei, why don't you go and ask Lady Dragon Girl for help? Maybe after you go back, Miss Ji Wei will agree to marry you." Xuebi winked at Song Huai playfully and joked.

Song Huai subconsciously touched the wishing ribbon he had written long ago and had hidden on his chest. He sipped his Sprite and pretended to be angry and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Xiaowei is still young. Don't ruin her reputation."

Xue Bi crossed her arms, looking like she was saying, "I've seen through you!" and laughed, "Oh, oh, oh, anyone with a discerning eye can see through your little tricks! You run to the new workshop whenever you have a free moment, and now you're worried about ruining her reputation? Then why don't you ask the lady to arrange a marriage for you? Once the engagement is confirmed, you can go find her openly."

"Little girl, do I still need your guidance?" Song Huai blew the loose hair on his forehead in a pretentious manner, took a step back, looked Xue Bi up and down, and said teasingly, "But you, you are not young anymore. Why don't you take this opportunity to pray to the Dragon Girl? Maybe the Dragon Girl can give you a perfect husband!"

Xue Bi was choked by Song Huai's words, her cheeks flushed slightly. She stamped her feet and said angrily, "You... I'm still young, so I don't need to ask for a perfect husband! You're already in your twenties, and Miss Ji Wei hasn't even reached college yet. You should worry about yourself first, and be careful that others will think you're old!"

Song Huai covered his chest, feeling as if he was hit by an invisible knife.

This girl is worthy of being one of our own. She really knows where it hurts!

What he was most worried about was the age issue. He was nearly ten years older than Ji Wei. If Ji Wei disliked him for this, he would have nowhere to complain.

Song Jinbai and Ji Nuan stood up after they finished their greetings. Ji Nuan turned to look at them and asked with a smile, "Do you want to light some incense too, to pray for a good marriage or something?"

Song Huai quickly clasped his fists and said with a serious face: "Madam, I am not young anymore, and I need the Dragon Girl to bless me with a good marriage."

When Sprite heard this, she couldn't help but burst out laughing, but Song Huai glared at her and she was so scared that she quickly covered her mouth.

"Then we'll wait for you outside the hall."

Ji Nuan looked at the two of them with amusement, then she and Song Jinbai followed the abbot out of the Dragon Girl Hall, leaving Song Huai and Xue Bi in the hall, one of them speechless and the other trying to hold back her laughter.

Outside the temple, the presiding master smiled like Maitreya Buddha and chanted Buddhist words, "Amitabha, the two donors are sincere and have found this auspicious match. Besides being effective in seeking marriage, the Dragon Girl Temple's vegetarian meals are also very popular among pilgrims. Why don't you go to the kitchen and have a vegetarian meal before leaving the mountain?"

Ji Nuan stood by the stone railing and looked down. The mountain road was winding and rugged, villages were scattered in an orderly manner, smoke from cooking fires curled up, and the years were peaceful and tranquil.

When she heard what the abbot said, she turned and looked at Song Jinbai.

Song Jinbai understood what she meant and replied to the abbot with a smile, "Thank you for your hospitality, Master. We will stay and try the vegetarian food here."

The abbot's face remained smiling as he looked at Ji Nuan and said, "Madam donor, could you please let me read your palm?"

"Master, can you also read faces? Then do I look like a person who will be rich, have a prosperous husband, have a lucky charm, or be smart?" As she said this, she stretched out her hand generously.

Song Jinbai knew many of her secrets, so she was not afraid that the abbot would find out anything.

"Strange, really strange! I have practiced for many years and met countless people, but I have never seen a fate like that of the female donor..." The abbot shook his head, frowning, with an appearance of being unable to understand or comprehend, which made Ji Nuan and Song Jinbai feel a little surprised.