Chapter 34 Robbery

Until my gaze followed the figure in the illusion, and I saw him and Gu Jinzhao walk hand in hand through the years.

From initial excitement to a sense of security, and finally to mutual support in old age.

Chen Yanyun took in the full picture of her previous life's happiness and fulfillment, and only then did her tense shoulders slowly relax. Finally, she was willing to gently withdraw from the illusion constructed by the Stone of Her Past Life.

In reality, Chen Yanyun did not experience the peace and tranquility of the fantasy world.

He seemed to have all his strength drained away, his whole body sinking into the brocade quilt, his face as pale as paper, his eyes tightly closed in a deep sleep, even his breathing was slightly weak and labored, he had been sleeping like this for three days and three nights, and there was still no sign of him waking up.

Chen Li stood guard by the bedside, his eyes sunken, the bloodshot veins under his eyes impossible to conceal.

He looked at his master's unresponsive face, feeling both anxious and regretful.

Upon receiving the news, the Emperor immediately dispatched the two most outstanding imperial physicians from the palace. However, after examining the pulse, they could only stroke their beards and sigh, saying that the pulse was weak and floating, yet contained an inexplicable stagnation. Unable to find the root cause, they had no way to proceed and could only leave helplessly.

Madam Chen has come at least five times in the past few days, and each time Chen Li has persuaded her to return home on the grounds that "the master needs to rest."

She finally couldn't hold back any longer and rushed into the inner room with her cane. Seeing her son's lifeless appearance, she burst into tears. She tremblingly grabbed Chen Yanyun's hand and choked out, "My son... what happened to you? How could you suddenly fall ill? My Chen family has always been virtuous and kind. What sins have we committed to make you suffer such pain!"

Chen Li stood in the corner, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he didn't dare to say a word.

The fact that his master had entered the illusion of the Stone of Past Life was a huge secret. If it were revealed, it would likely bring even greater trouble. He could only endure it and let the old lady's cries echo in the silent room, making his chest feel heavy.

Just as Madam Chen's sobs faded into the distance with the sound of footsteps, Chen Li was hanging his head, suppressing his anxiety, when hurried footsteps sounded outside the door—it was the scout sent to Suzhou who had returned in person, saying he had important news to report.

Chen Li's heart tightened, and without asking any more questions, he immediately ordered someone to bring the spy to Third Master's bedside.

The scout had followed Chen Yanyun for many years and had been tracking him in Suzhou for several days. He had long since guessed his master's feelings for Gu Jinchao. Now, seeing Chen Yanyun lifeless on the bed and Chen Li standing there with his head down, he didn't know how to speak.

Chen Li was already in a bad mood and had no patience to waste any more time. His tone was somewhat urging: "What is it that made you come all the way from Suzhou back to the capital? Tell me quickly!"

The scout then raised his head, a hint of embarrassment on his face, and lowered his voice: "Brother Li, it's...it's the Seventh Young Mistress..."

"How is the Seventh Young Mistress?" Chen Lixin's heart sank suddenly. He thought that Gu Jinzhao had made a mistake in Suzhou, and hurriedly asked.

“It’s not that something happened,” the scout quickly waved his hand, swallowed hard, and continued, “It’s that the Seventh Young Mistress is pregnant.”

"What!"

Chen Li's exclamation exploded in the room. He froze on the spot, his eyes filled with disbelief. The news came too suddenly, leaving his mind blank for a moment. He could only think about how to stop Third Master from doing anything after he woke up.

But before he could even get a clue, Chen Yanyun on the bed suddenly stirred!

His chest heaved violently, and a mouthful of bright red blood gushed from his mouth, splattering onto the plain white brocade quilt—a horrifying sight.

Immediately afterwards, a faint but clear voice escaped from his chapped lips, filled with endless complexity and trembling: "She's pregnant..."

"Jin Chao...is she really pregnant?"

Chen Yanyun's voice was hoarse, as if he had just recovered from the brink of death, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from his throat.

Seeing this, Chen Li quickly stepped forward and carefully helped him half-up from the bed. He then subtly gave the scout a look, signaling him to leave quickly so as not to further agitate his master.

The scout understood the meaning, took a light step, and was about to turn around and leave when he was stopped by a suddenly raised voice: "Stop!"

The voice still carried the weakness of someone recovering from illness, yet it exuded an undeniable authority. The scout froze, frozen in place, too afraid to move.

Chen Yanyun leaned against the headboard, the sharp pain in his chest still coming in waves, but this physical pain was nothing compared to the turbulent waves churning in his heart.

He gazed at the scout's retreating figure, his voice trembling yet exceptionally resolute: "How...has she been in Suzhou these past few days?"

The scout slowly turned around, then knelt on the ground, lowering his head even further, and replied in a steady voice: "Reporting to Third Master, the Seventh Young Mistress felt unwell three days ago. At first, she thought it was just a cold, but later, when Seventh Young Master invited the best doctor in the area to examine her pulse, he learned... he learned that the Seventh Young Mistress was more than a month pregnant."

"More than a month..."

Chen Yanyun repeated these words in a low voice, his pupils suddenly contracting.

More than a month!

That should have been his and Jinzhao's child, the child he had longed for for so long!

But now, his child, his child with Jinzhao, has become his grandson... This realization is like a poisoned knife, stabbing deeply into his heart, making even his breath taste bloody.

Chen Yanyun suddenly braced himself against the edge of the bed, trying to get out of bed. In his haste, he knocked over the medicine bowl beside the bed. The celadon bowl crashed to the ground with a "bang," and the medicine splashed onto his clothes, but he was completely unaware, his eyes burning with anxious fire.

"Third Master! Your health is paramount!" Upon seeing this, Chen Li and the scouts quickly stepped forward and pressed down on his arms from both sides.

When my fingertips touched the coolness on his arm, I realized that his inner clothes were already soaked with cold sweat, and his face was even paler than when he was unconscious, but the stubbornness in his eyes had not diminished in the slightest.

"Let go!" Chen Yanyun struggled forcefully, his voice hoarse but filled with an undeniable ruthlessness, "I can't wait any longer! That unfilial son Chen Xuanqing, he wants Jinzhao to have his child? Absolutely not!"

The image of Gu Jinchao teasing the child in the illusion kept replaying in his mind, and he also thought of Xuan Lin from his previous life—that must have been his child!

If Gu Jinchao really gives birth to Chen Xuanqing's child in this life, then where will his Xuanlin go?

This thought was like a fire, instantly consuming all his reason: "I can't let that child be born! Absolutely not!"

"Third Master!" Chen Li pressed down hard on his shoulder, looking at the bloodshot eyes and his almost frantic appearance. His heart ached with pain and anxiety, and his voice choked with sobs. "Please calm down! You can't even get out of bed now. Even if you go to Suzhou, what can you do? You'll only ruin your health!"

The scout whispered a word of advice: "Yes, Third Master, we're still keeping an eye on Suzhou, but there's no movement yet. You should take care of yourself first before making any plans."

Chen Li and the scout's persuasion finally calmed Chen Yanyun down a bit from the brink of madness.

He slowly sat down, supporting himself on the headboard, but his eyes remained sinister—he couldn't go to Suzhou himself, but there were plenty of people who could go for him.

“Chen Li,” he suddenly spoke, his voice low and icy, “You go to Suzhou yourself and bring Gu Jinzhao back. Then… make sure she doesn’t give birth to the child in her womb.”

"What?"

Chen Li's eyes widened suddenly, thinking he had misheard, and he subconsciously took a half step back.

He was ordered to kidnap the Seventh Young Mistress and ruin an unborn child? Has Third Master truly been driven mad by his obsession?

The scout stood to the side, his face turning deathly pale. His hands, hanging by his sides, clenched tightly, and he dared not even breathe too heavily.

Chen Yanyun looked up at Chen Li, his eyes showing no hesitation.

When Chen Li met his eyes, which were filled with obsession, he felt as if a huge rock was pressing on his heart.

He had followed Chen Yanyun for many years and had never disobeyed his orders, but this time it was not only insubordination, but also a heinous crime.

But seeing Chen Yanyun's resolute expression, he finally lowered his head in silence and slowly nodded: "Yes, Third Master."

After saying that, he turned and left the study with the pale-faced scout.

As they walked down the corridor, the scout finally couldn't help but whisper, "Brother Chen Li, are we really going to do this? That involves the Seventh Young Mistress and her unborn child..."

Chen Li rubbed his tight temples, his face pale, but he only said in a deep voice, "Do as Third Master says, and don't ask any questions."

He knew in his heart that once he took this step, no matter the outcome, there would be no turning back.

Inside the room, Chen Yanyun slowly lay back down on the bed.

The maidservant brought in warm water as Chen Li had instructed, intending to help him wash, but he was like a numb wooden man, letting the warm cloth wipe his cheeks and arms without any reaction.

The storm raging in my mind never ceased.

*

Gu Jinchao's baby was over a month along, and her belly was still flat without any visible marks. However, she had been a little sleepy lately, and her appetite had improved.

As autumn slipped away, a chill crept into the air, but the afternoon sun remained warm, bathing Chen Xuanqing's residence in Suzhou in its warm rays.

To make Gu Jinchao feel comfortable, Chen Xuanqing specially built a swing set with soft cushions under the osmanthus tree in the yard.

The swing set was sturdy and surrounded by soft cloth railings. Gu Jinchao loved to lie on it every afternoon, basking in the sun while listening to the maid read stories. Occasionally, when he felt sleepy, he would fall asleep to the fragrance of osmanthus. He lived a peaceful and comfortable life.

Early that morning, Chen Xuanqing went out to handle official business.

Normally, he would return around noon to have lunch with Gu Jinchao, but today he was busy until evening. As his return date approached, his right eyelid suddenly started twitching, and a sense of panic welled up inside him—this feeling of unease made him unable to concentrate on the remaining matters.

"We'll discuss the rest tomorrow." Chen Xuanqing hurriedly finished instructing his subordinates, then picked up his robes and hurried back, even the carriage seemed too slow, he practically ran all the way.

His mind kept flashing back to Gu Jinchao's image. Sometimes it was her lying on the swing laughing, and sometimes it was her frightened expression. His heart was filled with more and more panic, and his steps became more and more hurried.

When he finally rushed to the gate of the mansion, he saw the maid packing things in the courtyard from afar, but he did not see Gu Jinzhao.

His heart tightened, and he quickly stepped forward to ask, "Where is Madam? Why isn't she on the swing?"

When the maid saw him return, she quickly bowed and replied, "Your Highness, Madam was sunbathing here half an hour ago, but then she felt a bit chilly and went back to her room to rest."

When Chen Xuanqing pushed open the door and entered the room, his unease deepened.

He softly called out "Jin Chao," but the room was so quiet that he could only hear his own breathing; there was no response whatsoever.

He strode through the outer room and lifted the curtain leading to the inner room.

The bedding on the bed was piled up haphazardly, and the pillow was askew, indicating that someone had just lain down there, but now the bed was empty.

Chen Xuanqing's heart skipped a beat; he knew Gu Jinchao's habits all too well.

Even when she was pregnant, she would always make the bed herself after getting up, never letting the maids do it for her. Such a messy appearance was definitely not normal.

"Jin Chao!"

His voice was strained as he quickly searched the room, checking the wardrobe, dressing table, and even behind the screen, but still couldn't find Gu Jinchao.

The person disappeared right under his nose!

"Someone come here!" Chen Xuanqing turned around abruptly and rushed out of the inner room, his voice filled with barely suppressed anger.

Upon hearing the commotion, the maids and servants guarding outside the courtyard rushed to him in a flustered manner, bowing respectfully: "Master, what are your orders?"

"Where is Madam?" Chen Xuanqing stared at them, his eyes sharp enough to devour them. "Who saw Madam leave her room just now?"

The maids and servants looked at each other, their faces full of confusion.

A maidservant guarding the outer room replied in a trembling voice, "Reporting to Master, Madam hasn't come out since she returned to her room. We've been guarding the courtyard gate the whole time, and we haven't seen anyone go in or out..."

"No one has been seen going in or out?"

"Where is she? Did she just vanish into thin air?" Chen Xuanqing looked around the familiar courtyard, his gaze sweeping over the shadows in the corner and the woods outside the courtyard, his heart filled with a mixture of anger and panic.

Someone must have taken Jinzhao away while he was away! And who else could do such a thing besides that person in the capital?

"Investigate immediately!" Chen Xuanqing's voice was as cold as ice. "Send men to the city gates to inquire, check the nearby inns and carriage shops. Even if you have to turn the whole of Suzhou upside down, find Madam!"