Chapter 170 Can't Get By

"This..." Bai Su was clearly at a loss for what to do.

Shi Meng, being the commander of the naval fleet, was familiar with the seas: "Judging from what Lord Jiang described, the other side must have planned this for a long time, and it took them many days to plan the scheme to run aground on the warship where the Second Young Master was staying. The pirates are most skilled at plundering at sea. Once they succeed, they can disappear without a trace in the vast ocean and there will be no way to find them."

"Are they after the Second Young Master?" Mu Xi thought with a chill.

Shi Meng nodded: "It seems so. We have been training in this area for half a month. Not to mention that there may be pirates spying from afar, there are also pirate spies among our fleet."

"Informants? They have informants, but don't we have spies too?" Mu Xi desperately tried to get her brain working again; only in this way could she save Mu Xun.

Bai Su continued, "We also have spies among the pirates, but this incident came so suddenly, without any warning. Thinking about it this way, perhaps this operation was originally aimed at the Crown Prince, and it's fortunate that the Crown Prince has never gone to sea."

Shi Meng shook his head: "No, the pirates' methods are always very targeted. If they were targeting the young master, they would have known beforehand that he was only on the coast. If they wanted to rob him, they would have taken advantage of the night to force their way ashore and make a quick victory. They would never have circled around at sea and specifically targeted the second young master's ship to lure him into running aground. They must be very familiar with the reef area."

Mu Xi couldn't stand these useless words and was anxious: "Think of a way, think of a way, we can't delay for a moment, I don't want the Second Young Master to be in that kind of place for a moment."

Bai Su managed to come up with another possibility: "In the vast ocean, even if we send out all our ships, we might not be able to find them in a short time. They kidnapped the Second Young Master, so they must make demands of the Crown Prince. Perhaps we can wait for the pirates to..."

"No... I said, I can't wait a moment longer..." Mu Xi was about to explode if she didn't do something. "Right, didn't they say the pirates' ships were going to land in the Dark Harbor to resupply? Where are they? Are they there today? Maybe we can send someone up there to gather information."

The reason why the "dark harbor" was always left open for the pirates to resupply was to leave a way out for Zhu Mingjun, and also to leave a way out for the spies of both sides. Now this way out has come in handy.

Bai Su immediately responded, "Yes, Your Highness is right. Pirate ships should arrive at the shore tonight. I will make the arrangements immediately."

Mu Xi added: "Make more arrangements. There are both men and women among the spies. Aren't they lecherous? Send more decent-looking men and women to disguise themselves as people supplying water and food and brothels. In short, they must infiltrate and find out the whereabouts of the second young master as soon as possible."

She had known for a long time that there were shady business dealings between the southern land and the pirates, including food, clothing and daily necessities, as well as romantic relationships; otherwise, there would be no such thing as a "floating brothel" at sea.

But ever since Mu Xi was stationed at Liaowang Bay, he has ordered the cessation of these gray areas.

But now that Mu Xun has been kidnapped, he doesn't care about anything else; he'll use any means necessary as long as it's fast.

"Yes." Bai Su agreed without hesitation and went to carry it out.

Shi Meng also withdrew.

After the two left, the military tent suddenly became empty.

Mu Xi felt suffocated again, unable to breathe at the thought of Mu Xun, as if an invisible hand was gripping her throat.

Just as Mu Xi was on the verge of fainting and retching repeatedly, Jiang Meng, wrapped in bandages, rushed in again and knelt down, crying, "Your Highness... Your Highness... Zhu Mingge... Zhu Mingge..."

"Zhu Mingge? You...you know that Zhu Mingge has a way?" Mu Xi suddenly saw another glimmer of hope, and her breathing immediately became smooth again.

Jiang Meng had clearly just thought of it too: "This subordinate is not sure... but before coming to the Southern Border, the Second Young Master met with Lord Shen. At that time, Lord Shen repeatedly instructed the Second Young Master to pay attention to the movements in the Southern Border and to immediately seek help from Zhu Mingge if anything happened. This subordinate was just thinking... thinking... after all, the Marquis is very resourceful, and Zhu Mingge's spies may have penetrated deep into the pirates..."

“You’re right…” Mu Xi didn’t wait for Jiang Meng to finish speaking before she was about to act quickly. “You know how to contact Zhu Mingge and Lord Shen as soon as possible, right? Go and contact them quickly. If you are seriously injured and need help, call the guards around me. Go as soon as possible.”

The bodyguards around Mu Xi were all arranged by Mu Xun, so Jiang Meng naturally knew this.

Without saying a word, Jiang Meng mustered his strength, got up from the ground, and took his leave.

Zhu Mingge, Mu Xi thought of Shen Lun. She didn't know if distant water could quench immediate thirst, but it was definitely a way. No matter what method she used, she was willing to try it now.

That night, Mu Xi did not return to the mainland, but instead sent someone to bring over Doctor Luo and Bao Fan.

If it weren't for the fact that women were not allowed to enter or leave military camps, Mu Xi would have preferred to have as many people around her as possible.

Doctor Luo gave Mu Xi a calming pill, which temporarily relieved her anxiety and worry.

However, it was of no use.

Mu Xi stared wide-eyed until dawn, until Bai Su brought back the news.

None of the spies sent infiltrated the camp.

"Why? How could this happen?" Mu Xi felt dizzy and fell directly into her seat.

Bai Su knelt on one knee, his voice low: "Your Highness... I have failed in my duty. The spies I sent were indeed both men and women, but for some reason, the 'ghost hand' in charge of purchasing only wanted men and not women. The spy disguised as a prostitute failed to get in."

"What about the man?" Mu Xi's heart sank uncontrollably.

Bai Su suppressed his physical disgust: "Men...men...they also thought the men weren't pretty enough, so they didn't make it in either."

"Bang..." Mu Xi slammed her fist on the table. "Perverts, perverts, perverts! They're a bunch of perverts... I'm going to tear them to pieces..."

Bai Su also joined in the indignation: "Yes, Your Highness, please take care of yourself. I will definitely tear those perverted pirates to pieces."

Aside from verbal abuse, Mu Xi felt increasingly lost: "What's the use of just talking? General Bai, who else can I rely on besides you? Who else can I rely on? Do you know? Mu Xun is... he... I can't live without him... I can't live without him..."

Bai Su didn't know how to answer, so he could only say dryly, "I know that the young master and his brothers are very close, and I will do my best. I have already discussed this with General Shi Meng and have mobilized all the elite troops that can be mobilized. As soon as we have news, we will set off with all our might to rescue the second young master."

Mu Xi had been oscillating between despair and hope, heartache and fear all night long, and she didn't even dare to imagine what she would do if something happened to Mu Xun.

At this point, whatever Bai Su said would be of no use.

They waited another day and night in this agonizing state, but still received no reliable news from Bai Su's spies.

On the third day, a messenger suddenly reported from outside the tent: "Report... Lord Jiang is requesting an audience with two shamans."