"Rou Niang, tomorrow is the Lantern Festival. There will be many beautiful lanterns in the capital. Would you like to come with me to see them?" Mo Bei invited.
Liu Rou Niang had never seen it either and was very curious. She nodded happily, "Perfect, let's take the children with us, they've never seen it either."
"Okay, let's book a private room then. The kids can look out the window and see the bustling street below; it'll be very lively," Mo Bei said.
After the two finished discussing it, all three children shook their heads in unison: No way!
“Mother, I’ve made plans with Bizhu to have dinner together,” Yu Rong said. Zhao Bizhu was a new friend she had recently made in the capital. The two hit it off immediately and felt like they had known each other for a long time.
“Mother, I made plans with Duobao to go out and play together,” Yu Yan said.
“Mother, I promised my brother the Crown Prince that I would watch the lanterns with him in the palace,” Yu Jin said.
Rou Niang sighed helplessly. It seemed her daughters were all very busy. "Alright, but you all need to be careful. You must have guards and maids with you. You can't go out alone. And you must return to the manor when it gets late, understand?"
The three nodded quickly, and that's how they each made their own arrangements for the Lantern Festival.
Mo Bei was overjoyed to hear this, as he and Rou Niang could finally spend time alone together!
"Rou Niang, if the two of us don't go, let's meet at the Marriage Bridge. We can stroll around first, and then go eat when we're tired," Mo Bei said.
Rou Niang nodded, and the two agreed on a time. Mo Bei was still a little excited, as this was their first date alone since they came to the capital.
However, on that day, Mo Beique was late!
Mo Bei had packed everything up and even prepared a small gift, intending to leave early to wait for Rou Niang.
However, just as he was about to leave, a servant suddenly came to report that the old master was ill!
Yes, it's Old Man Mo.
Actually, back in Fucheng, Old Man Mo had already felt his health deteriorating day by day. After arriving in the capital, his condition worsened even further, but knowing everyone was busy and not wanting to burden Mo Bei, he kept quiet about it.
He just spends his days sunbathing in his yard and doesn't like to move around much. Mo Bei thought that this was normal for older people. The two of them were eating and chatting together yesterday, and my dad didn't show any strange changes. I never expected him to suddenly faint.
"Father, what's wrong, Father? Butler, quickly go find a doctor!" Mo Bei shouted anxiously.
He carried Old Man Mo to the bed and waited for the doctor. He learned from the servants that his father had been in poor spirits lately. He cursed himself for being too careless and not noticing it during his daily greetings!
The doctor took Mo Bei's pulse, then led him outside and said, "General Mo, Old Master Mo is old and very weak. If he is properly nourished with tonics, he may have another three to five months to live."
Mo Bei was shocked. He refused to believe it: "How could this be, doctor? My father has always been fine, he hasn't been injured or sick, how could this be?"
"Alas, Old Master Mo's health is likely due to years of accumulated problems. He was a healthy man, otherwise he would have been gone long ago. General Mo, please accept my condolences." The doctor was also helpless; with his lifespan nearing its end, there was nothing anyone could do to save him.
Mo Bei was very frustrated. He suddenly thought of the imperial physician, who might have a solution!
He rode to the palace, met with the emperor, and told him about it. The emperor was also shocked and immediately ordered the imperial physician to accompany him to General Mo's residence.
The imperial physician prescribed excellent medicine, but the result was the same: his lifespan was nearing its end, and there was nothing that could be done to save him!
However, since the emperor ordered the medicine to be obtained from the palace, it should last for about another year and a half.
Mo Bei thanked the imperial physician, and only then did Old Man Mo slowly wake up. He knew he couldn't hide it anymore.
"Father, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Mo Bei said sadly.
"I know my own body best. Telling you would only cause you more worry. Fortunately, Xiaoshan has become the Crown Prince, General Mo is still alive, and you are doing well. Once you marry Rou Niang next year, I will have no more worries and can close my eyes in peace," said Old Man Mo.
"Father~" Mo Bei didn't know what to say, and he was very sad!
Suddenly, he remembered Liu Rou Niang. "Oh no!"
Mo Bei hurriedly got up and ran outside, shouting as he ran, "Father, I made an appointment with Rou Niang to meet today, but I forgot! I'm going there now!"
"You brat!" Old Man Mo said helplessly, but he wasn't worried that Rou Niang would be angry about it. He knew Rou Niang; as long as Mo Bei explained things to her, the girl would probably worry about him too.
Mo Bei rushed to the agreed-upon bridge, but did not see Rou Niang. He searched around but found no one. He then went to the restaurant where he had made the reservation, but the waiter said that Rou Niang had not gone there.
Mo Bei was a little anxious, worried that Rou Niang would be angry, so he hurriedly ran to the princess's residence to apologize. However, Ming Yue looked surprised and asked, "Didn't the princess agree to meet you, General?"
This is why she hasn't returned. At this moment, Mo Bei began to worry: "Who are your princess accompanied by?"
Mingyue shook her head: "I only brought Chunhong with me. I originally planned to go with the general and not bring any guards, so I didn't bring any."
"This is terrible!" Mo Bei briefly explained that he had stood her up, and Mingyue was also anxious after hearing this. "Could she have gone to the Liu residence?"
"Yes, yes, I'll go check right away!" Mo Bei was also anxious.
However, Rou Niang did not go to the Liu residence at all. This made the Liu family anxious, and they hurriedly sent people to search for her.
When the three princesses returned to the manor, Rou Niang still hadn't come back. Only then did everyone realize that it wasn't just that the princess was in a bad mood; something must have happened!
As the crowds on the street gradually dispersed, the bustling atmosphere turned into a desolate one, and Mo Bei's heart sank deeper and deeper, becoming increasingly flustered.
"Rou Niang, where are you!"
When Liu Rou Niang regained consciousness, her hands and feet were tightly bound, her eyes were covered, and her mouth was gagged with a cloth.
"Ugh! Ugh~" Rou Niang struggled for a moment.
"Waaah!"
Rou Niang listened intently and realized it sounded like Chun Hong. Thankfully, the two of them were together!
Rou Niang shifted again, listened intently, and seemed to be listening to someone else.
That makes things much easier!
Logically speaking, with Liu Rou Niang and her two weak women bound like this, they would be at the mercy of others.
But man proposes, God disposes; she has a spatial ability.
After confirming that no one was in the space, Liu Rou Niang slipped inside and, using her absolute control over the space, retrieved a dagger and used it to cut the ropes...
After exiting the space again, Rou Niang looked around. It was a room with the windows boarded up on the outside. It was either a woodshed or an empty room. Apart from her and Chun Hong, there was a bare floor and no furniture.
"Chunhong!" Rou Niang said softly, and hurriedly stepped forward to untie Chunhong's ropes.
"Princess~" Chunhong, now free, hurriedly grabbed Rou Niang. Rou Niang was trembling all over, but she still comforted her, "Princess, don't be afraid. Even if we disappear, someone will surely find us!"
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