Chapter 154 She may be taken away, but only her corpse can be taken.

“She’s still a child!” Duan Wu couldn’t help but retort.

"General Duan, are you trying to teach me a lesson?" Lord You's face darkened, and he turned to the maid, ordering, "You, give General Duan three slaps!"

"Yes, sir." The maid stood up and swung her arm, slapping Duan Wu three times.

Duan Wu looked shocked.

Although the little maid wasn't very strong and the blows didn't hurt much, the feeling was still unpleasant.

He had just been trying to defend her, and she still hit him?

"No...you..." Duan Wu stared dumbfounded at the little maid in front of him.

But seeing the fear creeping into her eyes, Duan Wu couldn't bear to blame her. After all, Lord You was her master, and she had no choice in the matter.

“Lord You,” Xiao Qidi began, changing the subject, “you seem to have a knack for disciplining servants; even such a young maid is completely obedient to you.”

Lord You looked smug. “Of course. After my training, not one of the maids here is disobedient.”

Xiao Qidi continued to probe calmly, "You just told me that she has been here for many years, but she looks only about ten years old to me. Could it be that you adopted her when she was a child?"

"Adoption? Hahahaha!" Lord You seemed to have heard some kind of joke. "Do I look like such a kind-hearted person to you?"

Xiao Qidi looked puzzled. "Then what is this...?"

"Come, come, let's drink!" Lord You picked up his wine cup. "Have a drink with me first!"

Xiao Qidi and Duan Wu could not refuse, so they had no choice but to raise their glasses, toast each other, and then drink it all in one gulp.

Watching the two drink, a barely perceptible, sinister smile flashed in Lord You's eyes.

Duan Wu smacked his lips. "This wine tastes really good. It has a floral and fruity aroma and a mellow taste. But... there seems to be a slightly strange taste as well."

Xiao Qidi pondered this in his heart, and it was indeed as Duan Wu had said.

Before the two could think it over, Lord You explained, "This wine is brewed using fresh flowers and fruits from around this hot spring residence. It needs to be aged for many years before it can be drunk. Of course, it is mellow and has a floral and fruity aroma. As for the strange taste you mentioned, it is because some water from the hot spring was added during the brewing process. Although it slightly affects the taste, it is good for your health."

Duan Wu nodded, "This humble general has indeed heard that hot spring water has unique nourishing effects."

"This wine can't be found anywhere else, General Duan, you must drink more," said Lord You. "Come, drink three more cups."

"This humble general is used to being rough and clumsy, and I'm not comfortable using a small wine cup. Please don't take offense, Lord You." Duan Wu picked up the wine pot directly. Such a rare and good thing, of course he had to drink his fill.

Lord You smiled broadly, "Do as you please."

Xiao Qidi raised his hand and pressed down on Duan Wu's arm, "General, don't drink too much. If you get drunk and cause trouble, you'll cause trouble for Lord You."

He had a vague feeling that something might be wrong with the wine, but it was just a fleeting intuition and he had no concrete evidence.

Moreover, he and Duan Wu acted very well from beginning to end, without revealing the slightest flaw. Logically speaking, the other party would not have poisoned the wine.

However, it's best to drink less to be on the safe side.

Although Duan Wu was tempted by the fine wine, he reluctantly put down the wine pot since it was the emperor who dissuaded him.

Lord You reassured him, "You two can rest assured, this wine is not intoxicating. I usually drink it like water."

After saying that, he drank the entire pot of wine on the table in front of him.

My face didn't turn red at all after I drank it.

"What, are you two disrespecting me?" Lord You stared at the two who had stopped drinking, putting pressure on them with his eyes.

"No, no," Duan Wu said, worried that the other party would suspect him. He steeled his heart and picked up the wine pot again. "This humble general will not stand on ceremony. However, this staff member of mine has a very poor alcohol tolerance. I will drink for him and make sure you enjoy yourself to the fullest!"

Xiao Qidi couldn't stop him, so he could only watch as Duan Wu drank two jugs of wine in one go.

"Excellent! That's bold!" Lord You clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Truly worthy of being a border general, so forthright!"

After drinking for a while, Lord You slowly said, "General Duan, Brother Su, aren't all my maids beautiful? Have you two taken a fancy to any of them?"

Duan Wu and Xiao Qidi looked around.

Not only were the maids serving him exceptionally beautiful, but the women waiting in the distance were also all beauties.

The youngest is around ten years old, and the oldest is estimated to be only twelve or thirteen.

Being too young is one thing, but dressing so revealingly made the two of them genuinely uncomfortable.

“Thank you, sir,” Su Mu said solemnly. “I have never been interested in women, but General Duan prefers adult women.”

Lord You revealed a lewd smile, "How do you know you won't like this wonderful thing, like a tender bud, if you haven't tried it?"

Xiao Qidi and Duan Wu felt nauseous for a moment, but could only try to remain calm.

Seeing that the two men were indeed not interested in these beauties, Lord You said, "Brother Su, you were able to easily plunder the magistrate's treasury in Hewan County and find the human trafficking gang. You must be a very clever person. Haven't you guessed where these maids here came from?"

Xiao Qidi said, "If I'm not mistaken, they were all given to you by those human traffickers."

Duan Wu's pupils suddenly trembled.

So... if the little girl Your Majesty is looking for is sent here and no one rescues her, she will end up like... these maids?

Even if Duan Wu were incredibly thick-skinned, he would have noticed that this prefect had some kind of disgusting preference.

“You’re right,” Lord You nodded slightly, looking quite pleased with himself. “The reason these women are so beautiful is because they were carefully selected by those guys. If they were even slightly less attractive, I wouldn’t want them. And the reason these women are so obedient is because they were sent here when they were around four or five years old, and I personally disciplined them. They are absolutely obedient to me; they do whatever I tell them to do.”

Duan Wu couldn't hold it in any longer, so he leaned on the table, lowered his head, and vomited.

Lord You frowned and said, "General Duan has such a poor alcohol tolerance?"

"No...no..." Duan Wu waved his hand.

Lord You narrowed his eyes. "Could it be that General Duan finds what I've done disgusting?"

Duan Wu was at a loss for words.

Xiao Qidi calmly defused the situation, saying, "The general is used to eating coarse food and drinking wine at the border. Suddenly eating such exquisite food and drinking such fine wine, he is not used to it. Please don't be offended, Lord You."

"Ah...yes, yes, yes," Duan Wu wiped his mouth and forced a smile, "I'm just a lowly person, I can't enjoy the kind of good fortune Lord You has."

Lord You smiled and said, "It's alright. Once you're with me, you'll be able to adapt. In fact, you must adapt, otherwise it would be a waste."

"My lord, I have already eliminated those human traffickers, yet you do not blame me. Do you intend for me to take their place and serve you from now on?" Xiao Qidi further probed.

"I told you you were a smart man, and you were right again," Lord You said, shaking his head. "Your abilities far surpass those of those guys, and with General Duan also serving me, it will only be more convenient to traffic people in the future, and you can find more people to my liking to send over."

Duan Wu lowered his head, clenched his fist, and cursed the damned beast in his heart.

Xiao Qidi calmly asked, "What conditions would suit your taste, sir? Do you have any ready-made ones to show us?"

Lord You pointed with his hand, "It's people like them."

Xiao Qidi shook his head. "According to the adults, the girls sent here are all very young. As the saying goes, girls change a lot as they grow up, so it's hard to tell what they looked like when they were four or five years old from their appearance."

“Not bad, not bad,” Lord You nodded approvingly. “I really like your rigorous and serious attitude. I happen to have one that was recently sent to me. I haven’t started disciplining him yet. Let me show it to you.”

"Bring that little thing to me, someone."

At Lord You's command, Xiao Qidi couldn't help but tense up.

He had already confirmed that An'an had fallen into Lord You's hands. After much effort, he finally gained his trust and successfully entered the secluded house. Then came another round of probing, also in order to see An'an with his own eyes.

A moment later, a maid came over leading a little girl.

Xiao Qidi outwardly remained calm as he sized him up, but in reality, his heart skipped a beat for a moment.

That's right!

That little girl must be Xiumei's daughter—An'an!

I've finally found her!

Fortunately, it was done in time; otherwise... the consequences would have been unimaginable!

"Well, isn't this little thing adorable?" Lord You's eyes gleamed with an unsettling light as he licked his lips and said, "It's just that she's too thin now because of her poor family background. Once I raise her well, she'll definitely be a beauty in the future."

An'an looked over timidly, but when she saw Xiao Qidi, her big, watery eyes widened even more. She shook off the maid's hand and ran towards them, calling out, "Big brother, big brother!"

A clear, childlike voice, tinged with tears, echoed throughout the hall.

Xiao Qidi knew in his heart that something was wrong.

In his eagerness to save lives, he was so focused on seeing An An safe and sound that he forgot about the possibility of this situation.

"You know each other?" Lord You was taken aback for a moment, then became wary and stood up to grab An'an.

Duan Wu knew without asking that this was the little girl the emperor was looking for, and he immediately rushed out and grabbed An'an in his arms.

Lord You paused, his eyes turning exceptionally dark. "General Duan, young brother Su Mu, don't you two have to give me an explanation?"

"Big brother...big brother!" An'an squirmed in Duan Wu's arms, reaching out her hands to Xiao Qidi. "I'm so scared...I don't want to stay here, I want to go home, I want my mother, my father, my grandmother! Waaah..."

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid," Duan Wu reassured in a very soft voice. "Your older brother and I are here to take you home. Be good, don't talk for now."

After a moment's thought, Xiao Qidi realized that the situation was not favorable for him. Moreover, he needed to leave with An'an safely, so he had to try to dispel the prefect's vigilance. He stood up, clasped his hands, and said, "Sir, I have indeed met this child once before, and she recognizes me."

"Oh?" Lord You's expression shifted between light and dark. "I thought you were all family."

Xiao Qidi said frankly, "No, but we are acquaintances after all. I was even entertained by her family before. I have a favor to ask, may I—"

"Heh heh heh!" Lord You interrupted with a cold laugh, "You want me to release this child?"

Xiao Qidi bowed his head slightly, "I hope Your Excellency will show mercy."

Lord You put his hands behind his back, paced slowly, and always had a sinister smirk on his face. He looked at Xiao Qidi and then at Duan Wu, who was holding An'an, and then said in a deep voice: "The person I have taken a liking to will never be let go. I advise you two not to be delusional."

Xiao Qidi's brows gradually furrowed.

Duan Wu glanced furtively at the doorway, secretly gathering his strength.

"Put that little thing down for me!" Lord You roared. "Don't think that just because I want to bring you under my control, you can act with impunity!"

Duan Wu's forehead was covered in a few beads of sweat as his gaze fell on Xiao Qidi.

As soon as the emperor gives the order, he will immediately carry An'an and run out.

Just then, the maids in the hall pulled out knives from the corners and surrounded them, while a group of attendants with knives appeared at the door, watching the situation in the hall intently.

"Hmph!" Lord You sneered. "Do you really think this place is a place where you can just come and go as you please? Although I'm eager to win you two over, I still have to be careful! I can see that you're here for this child, aren't you?!"

The current situation is even more unfavorable for Xiao Qidi and Duan Wu.

Duan Wu dared not make any rash moves.

Xiao Qidi could only continue to maneuver and look for an opportunity to escape safely with An'an.

“Your Excellency has misunderstood,” Xiao Qidi said as he pondered. “I did not know beforehand that the child was in your possession. It was purely by chance that I saw him today. I have offended you in a moment of impulsiveness. Please forgive me.”

Lord You stared intently at him. "Really?"

“It is absolutely true,” Xiao Qidi said. “General Duan and I were only after money. By chance, we were able to gain your favor and become your helpers. It is a great blessing. How could we dare to hide anything?”

Lord You said slowly, "So you don't want to take this child away?"

Xiao Qidi said, "If Your Excellency grants my permission, I will naturally wish to do so and will be grateful for Your Excellency's kindness. If Your Excellency does not grant my permission, I will pretend that I know nothing about it."

“You certainly know how to talk,” Lord You stroked his chin. “I can grant you permission to take this child away.”

Duan Wu was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Thank you, sir!"

Lord You suddenly revealed a sinister smile, "However, you can only take the body."

Xiao Qidi's expression darkened slightly, and he gritted his teeth inwardly.

Duan Wu was stunned. "A corpse? That won't do, sir."

"Still trying to bargain with me?" Lord You said with a sidelong glance. "I'm already giving you the opportunity to take the body away; that's my bottom line."

"Then... let's forget about it." Duan Wu thought to himself, at least now he knows An'an is here, and after he leaves, he will immediately lead his soldiers to rush in and rescue her.

Lord You's sinister look deepened. "You think you can just let it go like this? No way! I demand that you two kill this child! Otherwise, neither of you will leave here alive!"