The "weeping and wailing" at the foot of the cliff and the prince's grand plan to suppress the bandits
Zhao Jingyi, accompanied by his personal guards, searched the mountain where the incident occurred several times, like combing hair. They found nothing but scattered pieces of luggage and remains gnawed by wild animals. Hope gradually faded, and despair, like icy river water, overwhelmed his heart. Finally, everyone's gaze fell upon the bottomless, mist-shrouded cliff.
"Your Highness, the cliff is too deep and dangerous, and the situation below is unknown. Perhaps..." The lieutenant tried to dissuade him.
"Go down!" Zhao Jingyi's eyes were bloodshot, his voice hoarse, filled with an undeniable madness. "Even if it's the underworld, I'll go down and see! I want to see her alive, or... I want to bring her home!" He couldn't accept that Qin Yuti had simply vanished without a trace. Even if all he found was a cold corpse, he would accept it!
The rope was lowered, and ignoring everyone's attempts to stop him, Zhao Jingyi grabbed it and slid down little by little. The cliff was steep and overgrown with thorns; his palms were blistered and his luxurious robes were torn, but he was oblivious to it all, his mind preoccupied with only one thought: to find her!
After an unknown amount of time, he finally reached the bottom of the valley. At the bottom was a rushing river, its banks lined with lush trees. Like a headless fly, he frantically searched along the riverbank, calling out Qin Yuti's name, his voice echoing through the empty valley, a desperate sob.
Just when he was on the verge of collapse, he vaguely saw wisps of smoke rising from a bend in the river. His heart leaped, as if he had grasped at the last straw, and he stumbled and ran in that direction.
As he approached the simple thatched hut, he immediately spotted the familiar figure sitting on a small stool in front of the hut, helping Granny Shi pick vegetables! Although she was wearing coarse clothes and her face was a little pale, that profile was clearly Qin Yuti, whom he had been thinking of day and night and thought was gone forever!
Overwhelmed with joy, Zhao Jingyi instantly shattered all his strength and pretense. He could no longer contain himself; like a cannonball, he rushed forward and, before Qin Yuti could react, pulled her tightly into his arms, bursting into tears—a truly earth-shattering cry, tears streaming down his face.
"Yu Ti! My wife! It really is you! You're alive! You're alive! Waaah—I thought you were dead! I thought I'd never see you again in this lifetime! How could you be so cruel! Waaah..."
Qin Yuti was almost suffocating from his choking, and his unseemly crying made her eardrums tingle. Especially when she saw the utterly astonished expressions of Old Man Shi and Granny Shi beside her, their mouths agape as if they could fit an egg, she wanted to disappear into the ground! How utterly shameful! This was no Prince Yi, he was clearly a child who hadn't been weaned!
She tried to push him away forcefully, her toes digging into the ground in embarrassment, and said in a low voice, "Zhao Jingyi! Let go of me! What kind of behavior is this! Crying and wailing like this!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Jingyi cried even more aggrievedly. Instead of letting go, he buried his head in the crook of her neck, wiping his face with her tears and snot, and sobbed, "You scolded me! You actually scolded me! I almost lost my wife! I searched for you so hard, crossing mountains and valleys, without eating or drinking, and look how haggard I am! I've lost weight! And you still complain about me! You have no conscience! Waaaaah..."
Qin Yuti: "..." She looked at the man in front of her, whose hair was disheveled, clothes were tattered, and whose face was streaked with black and white. He had indeed lost weight and looked quite haggard, but he was crying so unceremoniously that he had no regard for his image. For a moment, she didn't know whether to be angry or amused. She sighed helplessly, gave up struggling, and let him hold her, just burying her head low and pretending not to recognize this guy who was holding her and crying so loudly.
Old Man Shi and Granny Shi finally snapped out of their shock. Looking at the young nobleman who had suddenly rushed out, calling himself "this king," and crying his eyes out while holding Miss Qin, they exchanged bewildered glances and finally realized that Miss Qin's status was probably much more noble than they had imagined.
After Zhao Jingyi had finally finished crying, he sobbed as he released Qin Yuti, but he still clutched her sleeve tightly with one hand, as if afraid she would disappear if he let go. Qin Yuti blushed (half from embarrassment, half from anger), briefly explained how she had been rescued, and solemnly introduced her savior to Zhao Jingyi.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Jingyi immediately prepared to bow deeply to the old man and his wife, startling the elderly couple who quickly stepped aside. He choked back tears and said, "You two elders saved my princess, which is to say, you saved my life! From this day forward, you are my great benefactors! Please, make any requests you may have!"
After learning about the elderly couple's worries, Zhao Jingyi patted his chest and assured them, "Leave Brother Shi Lei's matter to me! I'll send people to investigate as soon as I return to the capital! Even if it means turning the entire capital upside down, I will definitely help you two find your son!"
Escorted by a roundabout but safe route pointed out by Old Man Shi and his wife, Zhao Jingyi, carrying the reunited Qin Yuti, hurried back to the capital. Along the way, Zhao Jingyi doted on Qin Yuti, treating her with utmost care, practically holding her in his hands, his gaze glued to her, leaving Qin Yuti both amused and helpless.
Upon returning to the capital, Zhao Jingyi didn't even go back to the Prince's residence; he went straight to the palace to meet the Emperor!
He knelt before the emperor with a thud, no longer the shameless rogue he had been when he filed his complaint, but with genuine fear and anger, he said in a strong and resolute voice, "Father! Your son begs Your Majesty to issue an edict, allowing me to personally lead troops to wipe out that audacious band of bandits who dared to abduct and kill the Princess Consort! Such villains must be eliminated to appease my anger, and to uphold the law of the court! They almost cost me my wife, Father!" As he finished speaking, his eyes reddened again, clearly recalling the terror he had felt at the time.
The emperor looked down at his youngest son, who seemed to have grown up overnight, his eyes now showing more determination and responsibility. He then glanced at his daughter-in-law, who, though thinner, was unharmed. He felt both heartache and relief. After a moment's contemplation, he said in a deep voice, "Granted! I grant you three thousand soldiers. You must wipe out this gang of bandits in one fell swoop, as a warning to others!"
"Your subject obeys the decree! Thank you, Father Emperor!" Zhao Jingyi kowtowed heavily, his eyes burning with a fierce fire of revenge (and a desire to prove himself).
How dare they touch Zhao Jingyi's princess?
Be prepared to face Prince Yi's wrath!
In this campaign to suppress the bandits, he not only wanted to avenge his wife, but also to let the whole world know that Prince Yi's beloved is untouchable!
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