Chapter 258 Entering the Mountains
The fact that the criminals were able to hide in the carriage in advance shows that they have already known about Ah Hao's identity, and they should know that a ransom of 10,000 taels is not a problem for the general's mansion.
So what is the purpose of the other party giving a three-day deadline?
Delaying time is a double-edged sword. It can certainly give the other party time to arrange a retreat, but it also gives the general's mansion time to prepare to rescue people.
If he was a bad guy, he would rather demand the ransom immediately and catch the general's mansion off guard, unless delaying the time would bring greater benefits to them.
What is that?
Qi Shuo couldn't think of it for the moment, but one thing was certain: it was right not to let the enemy get what they wanted.
Putting aside rational analysis, he couldn't bear to wait until three days later just out of selfishness.
He couldn't leave Ah Hao's safety to the bad guys, so he had to go into the mountains to look for Ah Hao.
"Of course we can't go in a large group to look for people. I will only take two or three skilled guards into the mountains to search quietly. As long as we are careful enough, we won't alert the bad guys." Qi Shuo said calmly.
His calmness convinced the old lady: "We really can't let the bad guys lead us by the nose. Three days is too long and it's too easy for something to happen. Just follow the prince's wishes and arrange three or four people to quietly go into the mountains to search for him, and be prepared for what will happen three days later. But the prince should not go into the mountains, there are too many dangers in the deep mountains."
"Don't worry, old lady. If we go into the mountains, it will only cause more trouble. I won't say anything. The General's Mansion will make preparations according to the villain's request. I will quietly go into the mountains to search for people. Making two preparations can guarantee Ah Hao's safety to the greatest extent."
"This..." The old lady hesitated for a moment, but she was too concerned about her granddaughter's safety to hesitate for too long. "Then the prince should ask the prince and princess for instructions."
Before leaving, Qi Shuo called Baozhu, whose eyes were swollen from crying, over and said, "Tell me everything that happened after Ah Hao left the house in detail. Don't leave anything out."
Although Baozhu was on the verge of emotional collapse, her mind was clear. She choked with sobs as she began to tell the story of how Lin Hao left the house.
"In other words, Ah Hao accompanied the Wen family father and son to the clinic to see a doctor, and then left after sending Master Wen home?"
Baozhu nodded. Seeing Qi Shuo was about to leave, she hurriedly called him back, "Sir, can I go with you into the mountains to look for the girl?"
Facing the little maid's pleading eyes, Qi Shuo decisively refused: "The bad guy has seen you."
Baozhu's eyes dimmed, and tears flowed uncontrollably: "Prince, you must rescue the girl."
Qi Shuo didn't look back, nor did he respond to Baozhu's words. He strode out of the general's mansion.
"What? Ah Hao was kidnapped by bad guys, and you want to go into the mountains to look for her?" Princess Jing was shocked after hearing Qi Shuo's words.
"Um."
"No, I won't agree!" Princess Jing's first reaction was to refuse. "It's not that mother is unreasonable. It's true that you care about Ah Hao, but you're already in poor health. What if you go into the mountains and get yourself into trouble? There are many skilled people in the palace and the general's mansion. It's much better to pick a few outstanding ones to go look for people than for you to rush in rashly..."
Qi Shuo listened silently and said calmly: "Mother, have you forgotten that your son's health has only been 'not good' since he came to the capital?"
Princess Jing was stunned.
It had been so long that she had forgotten that her son was pretending to be weak.
This did not change Princess Jing's mind: "But you have a heart disease, and you consulted a famous doctor last year."
"My son later asked Dr. Zhu for a follow-up consultation, and his heart disease has been cured."
"When did this happen?" Princess Jing was happy at first, but then became suspicious.
Qi Shuo lowered his eyes, his calm tone strangely convincing: "Just before our family went to the General's Mansion to propose marriage. My son thought that if my heart disease showed any signs of worsening, it would delay the marriage, so he asked Doctor Zhu to come and see me."
"Really?" Princess Jing stared at her son with burning eyes.
Qi Shuo nodded slightly.
Princess Jing clasped her hands together, her face full of joy: "God bless you!"
"Mother, let me go." Qi Shuo trembled his eyelashes slightly, and the pain in his eyes finally couldn't be concealed and flowed out.
It is still unknown whether his Ah Hao is alive or dead.
Princess Jing saw this, and it was as if a small drumstick was gently tapping on her heart.
As a mother, how can I bear to see my child suffer?
But that slight hesitation was quickly stopped by reason: "Even if you are in good health, you can't take this risk. Shuo'er, have you ever considered your mother and your father?"
Qi Shuo's eyes moved from Princess Jing to Prince Jing.
Princess Jing secretly pinched Prince Jing, who had remained silent.
Her son was going to go look for someone regardless of danger, so why was she, the mother, the only one who had to take the lead and be the bad guy?
Prince Jing coughed and said, "Yes, Shuo'er, what do you think?"
"Father, you should know that I'm not an impulsive person. I will do my best to bring Ah Hao back safely. But if I don't go this time, if anything happens to Ah Hao, I will regret it for the rest of my life."
He knelt on one knee and spoke earnestly, "I beg you two to understand and not let my son spend the rest of his life in regret. If that were the case, what would be the point of living to be a hundred years old?"
Princess Jing was silent, her expression changing constantly as she clutched the handkerchief in her hand.
After a while, a sigh sounded: "Forget it, go ahead."
"Your Majesty!"
"Thank you, father, and thank you, mother." Qi Shuo gave his parents a smile as bright as the moon, then stood up and strode away.
Princess Jing pinched Prince Jing fiercely and said angrily, "Why did you agree to this? What if something happens to Shuo'er?"
That was the son she gave birth to after ten months of pregnancy. To her, the most important thing was that he was safe, healthy and alive.
"Didn't you see Shuo'er walk so fast, afraid we might change our minds?" Prince Jing looked at the swaying door curtain, his eyes filled with worry no less than Princess Jing's. "Shuo'er is already an adult. It's impossible for him to obey us like a child. He has his own ideas now."
"But I'm afraid he's in danger—"
Prince Jing took Princess Jing's hand and held it tightly: "You have to trust Shuo'er. He is a responsible child, not only to Miss Lin Er, but also to us."
Perhaps the rough hand holding hers was too warm, Princess Jing struggled but failed to break free, and nodded silently.
As Qi Shuo walked out, he instructed Xuan Yi: "Arrange people to keep an eye on Master Wen and his son, as well as the clinic."
Xuanyi took the order and left.
When Qi Shuo and three guards quietly entered the mountain, Lin Hao, who was closing his eyes to accumulate strength, suddenly heard movement at the entrance of the cave.
She immediately opened her eyes and looked over.
The light at the cave entrance suddenly brightened, then dimmed again, and a person stumbled in.
It was a woman. The man who kidnapped Lin Hao followed closely behind her. He reached out and grabbed the woman who fell to the ground, then walked towards Lin Hao without saying a word.
The woman staggered as the man dragged her, whimpering in pain.
Lin Hao stared at the woman who was getting closer and closer, and his eyes suddenly widened.
It turned out to be Zhu Jiayu!
Zhu Jiayu is a close friend of Chen Yi, the eldest daughter of the Huai'an Earl's Mansion. She also became friends with Lin Hao and was also shocked when she saw Lin Hao.
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