Chapter 43 The heat that had just subsided surged back up again...
Seventeen noticed his breathing had become heavier, and the heat he had just suppressed was rising again. He turned his head and covered the lower half of his face with the back of his hand, looking slightly disheveled, and explained, "It's really nothing, it's just that I didn't sleep well last night."
Mingyue was somewhat confused. Seventeen's condition was clearly very strange, but he refused to tell her. If His Majesty were in front of him, he would probably spill everything to her.
She even said she didn't sleep well last night... but she was clearly sleeping soundly in my arms, her soft cheeks pressed against my chest, like a sleepy little fat cat.
He was feeling down, but Seventeen didn't seem to notice anything, turning her head to reach for the food on the table.
"Brother Yue, shall we set off soon? Is His Highness awake?"
"I am not as lazy as Little Seventeen. I got up early."
Long Zhaoming's cheerful voice came from outside, and Seventeen said somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm sorry, Your Highness."
"Hey, no need to apologize. Little Seventeen is still young and growing."
Long Zhaoming walked into the room and casually picked up a piece of rice cake from the table and stuffed it into his mouth. As he was stuffing it, he noticed a gaze on him. He turned his head and saw Mingyue looking at him coldly.
Only then did Long Zhaoming belatedly realize that this was something he could eat. But he had already swallowed it and there was no way to spit it out.
Long Zhaoming could only chuckle awkwardly and say, "Little Seventeen, take it with you to eat on the way. It'll take us a while to walk there."
Seventeen nodded, stuffed the easy-to-carry items on the table into his pocket, and didn't forget to hand Mingyue a few coins.
"Brother Yue, let's break up."
He had just finished saying that when he belatedly realized there was someone else there.
"Has Your Highness had breakfast?"
Long Zhaoming's gaze was mournful. Did it matter whether he had eaten or not? He felt that these two didn't really care about him at all!
"Well, I've already eaten. Little Seventeen, take this in case you get hungry on the way."
The three of them packed up and went out. Xiao Mowen was left at the inn. When they had gone a little further away, Seventeen looked back and saw that the tall figure standing alone at the door looked like a fierce dog that had been abandoned.
Not knowing why she had such thoughts, Seventeen shook her head, feeling that her idea was too outrageous.
When the three of them leisurely arrived at the Yu family's gate, the two doormen who had been instructed in advance recognized them from afar. One of them went to lead the way, while the other ran back to call for them.
They didn't come in a big way today, so they didn't attract much attention. The doorman was also instructed to say that they were distinguished guests, without mentioning that this person was a prince.
"Greetings to our distinguished guests. Master gave instructions yesterday. Please follow me."
The doorman's round, chubby face was particularly cheerful, making him instantly likable.
Long Zhaoming nodded while waving his fan, looking nonchalant. The doorman didn't know his identity, but just from his demeanor, he didn't seem like an ordinary person.
Master Yu hurried towards the door, with Yu Huixin following closely behind. The doorman almost couldn't keep up with the two masters.
"This humble subject has met you..."
Before he could finish speaking, Long Zhaoming pressed his shoulder with the tip of his fan. When he looked up, he saw a half-smile on Long Zhaoming's face.
Having been in business for so many years and weathered the storms of the business world, Mr. Yu was naturally very good at reading people's expressions. He immediately stopped talking, turned around and smiled, "Distinguished guests, please follow me."
Yu Huixin followed behind her father and bowed respectfully. She had dressed up today and looked much more energetic than last night, quite like a young lady from a wealthy family.
Led by Master Yu, Seventeen and the others entered the inner room, which must have been specially prepared for discussing matters, since there were many people around and the walls could hear them.
Master Yu dismissed all the servants and personally served Long Zhaoming a cup of tea, while Yu Huixin also served tea to Seventeen and Mingyue.
"Master Yu, there's no need to be so polite. I've only come to ask about the bandit camp."
Long Zhaoming accepted the tea with a smile, his attitude very amiable, which put Master Yu's mind at ease.
"Your Highness, please ask away. You don't know this, but I heard this unfilial daughter tell me her story last night, and I was so frightened that I couldn't sleep a wink all night."
Seeing that Master Yu's face was almost wrinkled into a bitter gourd, Yu Huixin, who was standing next to him, lowered her head somewhat guiltily.
"Please sit down."
Since the prince had spoken, Master Yu sat down with Yu Huixin on one side.
"We're just asking, don't worry."
These words were meant to comfort Yu Huixin. Although she didn't seem to have been traumatized by the incident, it was still better to be cautious.
Yu Huixin nodded and said, "Your Highness, please ask whatever you wish. I will answer to the best of my knowledge."
"How did you end up at that bandit camp when you left home?"
Yu Huixin recalled for a moment and said, "After I escaped from home, I didn't know where to go. The thought of that den of thieves made me angry, and I thought I'd try my luck there."
She was quite confident in her skills. Although she couldn't compare to the guards on either side of the prince, she could easily handle a local ruffian.
The young girl, however, was spirited and bold, so she went up the mountain with her head down.
If even Seventeen and Mingyue were having a hard time finding the bandits, how could Huixin possibly be found? Sure enough, she got lost.
The mountain was very large. Although people often went up the front of the mountain to collect herbs or play, the back of the mountain had never been explored. As darkness fell, the faint chirping of unknown insects and the occasional strange cries of wild animals from who-knows-where made Yu Huixin regret her decision.
She couldn't help but feel sad. She really shouldn't have run away from home in a fit of anger. If she had died here, how heartbroken her father would have been!
But since things had come to this point, and she was still unsure of the situation on the mountain, she dared not go any further. So she wondered if she could try going back.
This departure was the last straw; she couldn't even find her way back.
Just as Huixin was in despair, she heard faint voices. Was someone here?
She immediately became alert. Had she stumbled upon a thief's camp by mistake?
When she quietly crept to the source of the sound, she found that it was two men who were quite far away. Yu Huixin did not dare to approach them and remained crouched in place.
After the two finished their conversation and started walking in a certain direction, Yu Huixin quietly followed them.
As she quietly followed behind the two people, suddenly, someone tapped her on the shoulder. Her heart pounded instantly, her eyes widened in terror, and she froze as if she were falling.
But the person behind her did nothing but cover her mouth to prevent her from making a sound.
"Who are you?"
The voice behind her was faint yet pleasant, like a clear spring flowing gently through her heart. Yu Huixin's violent heartbeat gradually calmed down, and she made two muffled sounds to indicate that her mouth was covered and she couldn't speak.
The man behind her released his hand from hers, but still restrained her body, preventing Yu Huixin from escaping.
“I am a local resident from the foot of the mountain. I got lost in the back of the mountain.”
Yu Huixin gave a stammering explanation, and it was unclear whether the man believed her or not. He waited quietly for a while.
The man then whispered to her, "Follow me."
Only then was Yu Huixin released, and the man walked up to her.
He was a man with delicate features and a very slender build, giving the impression that he might be blown away by the wind.
Yu Huixin gestured, feeling like she could beat this person up.
But the man seemed to be able to see through Yu Huixin's thoughts, and casually said, "If you want to get down the mountain alive, listen to me."
These words left Yu Huixin speechless, and she followed the man dejectedly.
The man seemed to be avoiding the people in the bandit camp. He led Yu Huixin through several turns and eventually entered the bandit camp. Then, he avoided the others and went into a house.
Yu Huixin stared at her and asked, "Aren't you a bandit?"
The man coughed lightly, his face growing paler with each cough, and Yu Huixin began to doubt whether he could even make it through the night.
Yes and no.
His mysterious remark left Yu Huixin completely baffled, but out of her survival instinct, she decided to listen to him for the time being.
"Okay, I don't understand, but you said you could take me down the mountain? Really?"
Yu Huixin didn't care what the man wanted to do; she only had one thought: to go home. She completely forgot about the bandits.
"Okay, I'll give you directions later, just follow the road."
Yu Huixin, who was supposed to go home that night, unexpectedly overheard the man's conversation with other thieves late at night. During the conversation, she learned that this band of thieves was not an ordinary mountain bandit group, but rather...
This startled her. Even though she considered herself to have traveled all over the country with her father and seen a lot of the world, this was not something she could talk about after dinner.
Yu Huixin still feels lingering fear: "When I heard them talking, I even thought about how I would die, but I never expected that Xie Qingyan would not reveal my whereabouts to that group of thieves, but instead hide me away."
"When I learned about this, I had a thought: maybe we could find something in this bandit's den, and then... if we do..."
Before she finished speaking, everyone present except for Seventeen understood.
A hint of admiration flashed in Long Zhaoming's eyes; Yu Huixin actually had such a belief in protecting her country.
Mr. Yu sighed softly, perhaps regretting raising his daughter to be too wild.
Seventeen was somewhat confused, but he didn't ask, planning to inquire later when he got back.
"Xie Qingyan disagreed with my decision. He said that his identity was special and that he was not really in cahoots with them. He would collect these things little by little, and when the time was right, he would send the evidence to Yejing and never let the thieves succeed."
As Yu Huixin spoke, she lowered her head. She had a lot of ambitions, but she hadn't accomplished anything, and she felt somewhat disappointed.
Long Zhaoming sighed softly and encouraged, "It is an honor for our Great Jing to have such a heart."
Master Yu quickly bowed and said, "Your Highness is too kind. My daughter has only been somewhat... somewhat..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Long Zhaoming.
"In my opinion, this woman is destined for great things in the future."
These words affirmed Yu Huixin's belief, and Master Yu also sensed something else in them, leaving him somewhat at a loss.
"What does Your Highness mean?"
Long Zhaoming didn't say anything more, only a faint smile appeared on his lips. Yu Huixin felt as if her life had undergone some great change, but she didn't quite understand why. Why was her father so excited? I hope he doesn't faint again!
She was dizzy half the night last night! She's not going to take care of me anymore!
"This humble subject, this humble subject will write a letter immediately, to tell my wife to return home at once!"
Whether it was excitement or something else, Mr. Yu was somewhat incoherent and didn't even know what to do with his hands and feet.
Long Zhaoming raised an eyebrow and asked, "Oh? Where is she?"
Master Yu clearly wanted to laugh, but felt it was against the rules, so he kept pressing down and then raising the corners of his mouth, making him look incredibly comical.
"My wife is traveling! This girl is just like her mother; she loves all the things men do!"
Although Master Yu spoke words of blame, he was clearly very proud on the surface.
After all, if he really didn't like Yu Huixin's personality, why would he have let her learn martial arts from a young age?
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