After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

Chapter 675 The Ouyang Family Comes to the Door

As the Fifth Prince had predicted, the Ouyang family arrived the very next day.

Of course, it would be an elder of the Ouyang family who would come; it wouldn't be enough for the clan head to be involved in something as trivial as a member of a collateral branch.

However, this elder of the Ouyang family was highly respected, after all, he and the Empress Dowager were cousins.

Also present were Ouyang Jue's parents. How could they not show up when it was their own son's business?

"Your Highness, people are here!"

"Please come into the side hall, serve some tea, and have someone wait a moment."

The Fifth Prince wasn't deliberately putting on airs or belittling the Ouyang family.

He was currently discussing matters with his subordinates, so naturally he couldn't put aside his own affairs to immediately meet with the Ouyang family, as that would make him seem anxious.

The people who should be worried now are the Ouyang family. I am the one who can help them, shouldn't I put on a little airs?

The clan elders of the Ouyang family and Ouyang Jue's parents were taken to a side hall of the prince's residence, where tea and snacks were served quickly.

However, the three of them had no interest in drinking tea or eating snacks; they were eager to see when the Fifth Prince would arrive.

The little eunuch leading the way didn't explain things clearly, only saying "wait a moment." How long would we have to wait?

Ouyang Jue's mother seemed to be sitting on pins and needles, constantly shifting her position, which was quite unlike the demeanor of a large family.

Elder Ouyang tapped his cane. "What are you thinking? This is the Prince's residence. Watch your words and actions!"

"Yes, I was too anxious. I don't know what the Fifth Prince is busy with. How long are we going to have to wait?"

"It's only been a short while since we came to ask for help, so please be patient."

The Fifth Prince and Ouyang Jue have a cooperative relationship, not a subordinate one. Even if the person disappears, we have no grounds to hold them accountable.

You two should adjust your mindset as soon as possible, otherwise, if the Fifth Prince becomes unhappy and refuses to provide any clues, you'll have no choice but to accept it!

"This……"

Ouyang Jue's parents were ashamed that the clan elders had seen through their desire to cling to the Fifth Prince.

"We understand. Your reminder is correct. This is indeed Jue'er's own problem, and it really shouldn't have been dragged into the Fifth Prince's hands."

"We're simply asking for help and clues today. Once we know which path Jue'er took, we can search for her along that route."

Ouyang Jue's father didn't want to lose face in front of the elders of the main branch of the clan, so he easily uttered some nice words.

After about two cups of tea's time, the Fifth Prince entered the side hall at a leisurely pace.

Upon seeing this, the three quickly stood up and bowed. The Fifth Prince's words and actions were never criticized, so he was the first to personally help Elder Ouyang up.

Of course, the other two ignored them completely, only saying, "You two don't need to be so polite," and wanted to help them up themselves.

The Fifth Prince said he was too busy.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

The first to speak was Clan Chief Ouyang; there was no way around it, as the couple's status was somewhat too low for the occasion.

He was an elder of the main branch of the clan and also the cousin of the current Empress Dowager, so he wouldn't be so insignificant in front of the princes.

"Your Highness, I have taken the liberty of visiting you today because of the disappearance of Ouyang Jue, a junior member of the Ouyang family."

Ouyang Jue has a partnership with Your Highness, and I heard you've also sent people out to search for them. Is there any progress?

"So Elder Ouyang came here for this matter? Even if you hadn't come, I would have sent a message to Ouyang Jue's family in a few days."

I've dispatched three teams to search along the route they initially took, but so far there's been no progress.

"Oh? I wonder if Your Highness could tell us the specific routes of these three routes, so that our Ouyang family can mobilize people to search for the person together."

After all, there's strength in numbers, and we can't put all the pressure of searching for the missing person on His Highness's residence.

The Ouyang clan elders were being polite, and the Fifth Prince was equally polite.

"Oh dear, that's exactly what I wanted! I've been blaming myself these past few days because I couldn't find the person I was looking for."

I shouldn't have agreed to let Brother Ouyang go with the group in the first place, but I couldn't stop him, sigh...

The Fifth Prince beat his chest and stamped his feet, seemingly filled with deep regret.

Elder Ouyang was very supportive of the Fifth Prince's performance, saying, "Oh dear, Your Highness, don't blame yourself too much. It was Ouyang Jue's own ignorance!"

Such a big thing as treasure hunting is not something a young master who can't lift a finger can do. He's just overestimating himself.

"Your Highness, please don't blame yourself. If you do, the entire Ouyang family will be utterly ashamed!"

The old man Ouyang spoke with such deep emotion that it was no less poignant than the Fifth Prince's "beating his chest and stamping his feet."

“It is truly fortunate that the clan elder is so understanding and righteous. However, I will see this matter through to the end, and I will draw up their route right now.”

The fifth prince walked to the desk, and someone came forward to lay out paper and grind ink.

In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, a simple map of the three routes was drawn.

"Elder, please take a look. My men have been on their way for a few days now. However, the Ouyang family can search the route again carefully, since it is hard to guarantee that my men will not be careless enough during the search and may have missed something."

Elder Ouyang took the map. “Thank you, Your Highness. We should keep in touch about this matter. While we are searching for Ouyang Jue, we will also help Your Highness find the missing treasure-hunting team.”

"It's only natural to share information. I'll come and let you know as soon as I have any news, so please rest assured, elder!"

"In that case, thank you very much, Fifth Prince. We have troubled you for a long time, so we will take our leave now! It will be good to go back and arrange for people to go south to search for the person as soon as possible."

"Well, then I won't keep the three of you any longer. Business is more important."

To show his respect, the Fifth Prince personally escorted the three to the middle gate and then had his personal eunuch escort them out of the mansion.

"I didn't expect the Fifth Prince to be so approachable, without any airs of a prince."

The couple, who had just stepped out of the palace gates and into their carriage, began to whisper among themselves, but the clan elder, whose ears and eyes were still sharp, overheard everything.

Elder Ouyang remained silent, only lamenting that the collateral branches had truly declined; the two men, who had lived for decades, couldn't even tell that the Fifth Prince was acting.

Sigh~ I've made a pointless trip. This map I have might not even be real. Looking for someone? How am I supposed to find them?

This is no longer a matter of luck. Elder Ouyang even felt that the Fifth Prince clearly knew where Ouyang Jue was, but was hiding it for some reason or purpose.

What exactly is their purpose?

At this point, the thinking of the elder Ouyang was no longer on the same level as that of Ouyang Jue's parents; the two families were thinking completely different things.

As for why Elder Ouyang didn't tell the couple the truth he had guessed, it's obvious; there's no need to say more to a smart person.

The same principle applies to... and there's no need to elaborate on this with fools.