Chapter 273: No Way to Repay the Life-Saving Favor
Xiao Xixi followed the prince into the Dong family mansion, and the two young eunuchs followed in, while the Yulin Guards stayed outside the gate.
The group entered the flower hall.
The prince sat down on the main seat and Xiao Xixi knelt beside him.
Everyone else stood there with their heads lowered, not daring to move.
The maids brought the best tea and snacks in the house and placed them in front of the prince, then quietly retreated.
Xiao Xixi first glanced at the prince, and seeing that he had no intention of objecting, she reached out, picked up a piece of cake, and began to eat it with relish.
Dong Mingchun asked cautiously.
"Your Highness, you have suddenly come to my humble abode. Do you have any important instructions?"
Luo Qinghan glanced at his right arm.
Dong Mingchun's right arm was wrapped in gauze and hung in front of his chest. Combined with his pale and uneasy appearance, he looked quite pitiful.
Luo Qinghan said: "I already know what happened last night. I came to you specially this time, firstly to visit you, and secondly to ask you something."
Dong Mingchun was a smart man. He knew what the prince wanted to ask, so he winked at his sons behind him.
The three sons understood and immediately withdrew tactfully.
The two young eunuchs also quietly left the flower hall and stood on the left and right of the corridor, preventing others from approaching.
Only the prince, Xiao Xixi, and Dong Mingchun were left in the spacious flower hall.
Dong Mingchun knelt down again, supported himself with one hand, and kowtowed to the prince.
"Thanks to your highness's foresight, you asked General Zhao to bring people to secretly protect me in advance, which saved my life. I can't repay your life-saving grace. I am willing to work like a slave for you!"
Luo Qinghan said calmly: "There's no need to be a slave. First tell me why those killers targeted you."
Dong Mingchun straightened up and said with a bitter face.
"This matter begins with my humble wife..."
Dong Mingchun's wife's maiden name is Lin.
Lin had a kind and gentle personality and enjoyed a good reputation in the circle of ladies from aristocratic families. She and Dong Mingchun were a young couple and had a deep relationship.
Lin is good at everything except the belief in ghosts and gods.
She would often go to temples and Taoist temples to burn incense and worship Buddha on the first and fifteenth days of every month. If she wanted to do something important, she had to go to the temple first to draw a lot and ask the Bodhisattva for his opinion.
Not long ago, an acquaintance introduced Lin to a sect called Du Sheng Sect, and then she became addicted to it and ran out all day long.
At first, Dong Mingchun didn't take this matter to heart. He thought that Lin was just interested in him for a while, and that she would return to normal after the novelty wore off.
Who would have thought that Lin disappeared three days ago!
Dong Mingchun asked his servants to search the entire Shengjing City, but they could not find her whereabouts.
Just when Dong Mingchun was extremely anxious, he suddenly received a mysterious letter.
The other party said in the letter that if Dong Mingchun wanted Lin to return home safely, he had to go to Shili Pavilion outside the city alone with three thousand taels of silver. There would be a sign there, and he would reach his destination by just following the sign.
At that time, both parties will hand over the money and the person.
The letter also came with an earring of Lin, proving that Lin was indeed in the other party's hands.
Dong Mingchun was very worried about Lin's safety. He did not dare to report to the police for fear that Lin would be killed.
So he took the silver note and went to Shili Pavilion.
He found the arrow mark at Shili Pavilion, and followed the mark into the grove. Who would have thought that not only did he fail to meet Lin, but he also almost lost his life.
Speaking of this, Dong Mingchun couldn't help feeling scared.
Fortunately, Zhao Xian arrived in time, otherwise he would have been dead by now.
Luo Qinghan asked: "Since the other party is only seeking money, why would he want to kill you?"
Dong Mingchun shook his head: "I can't figure this out either."
Luo Qinghan thought to himself, if those assassins were really sent by the Dusheng Sect, it means that the Dusheng Sect is not simple. They not only seek wealth, but also dare to assassinate officials of the court. If this cancer cannot be removed, it will become a great disaster.
He asked, "How much do you know about the Dusheng Sect?"
Dong Mingchun thought for a moment before saying, "This is a sect that has only recently emerged. Many wives and daughters of officials are followers of the Dusheng Sect. Even some sons of aristocratic families have been attracted to it. My wife also joined the Dusheng Sect through an acquaintance's introduction."
He paused here and looked at Concubine Xiao cautiously again.
"It was Madam Xiao from the General Zhongwu's Mansion who introduced my wife to the Dusheng Sect."
Xiao Xixi paused while eating.
She raised her head, looking surprised: "My mother?"
Dong Mingchun was afraid of angering her, so he spoke very carefully.
"My wife and Madam Xiao have a good relationship. We often go to the temple together to burn incense and worship Buddha. Not long after Madam Xiao became a follower of the Dusheng Sect, she brought my wife in. My wife told me these things, and I am not very clear about the specific details."
Xiao Xixi didn't expect that Xue's family would also be involved in this matter.
Luo Qinghan asked: "Have you ever asked Madam Xiao?"
Dong Mingchun said with a strange look on his face.
"After I learned that my wife was missing, I immediately went to the General Zhongwu's residence to ask Madam Xiao about the Dusheng Sect. But Madam Xiao refused to say a word. She repeatedly emphasized that the Dusheng Sect teaches people to be good and that kidnapping and extortion would never happen. There must be a misunderstanding. After all, Madam Xiao is the general's wife. She refused to say anything, and I couldn't force her."
Luo Qinghan turned his head to look at Xiao Xixi and asked in a low voice: "Can you figure out the whereabouts of Mrs. Dong?"
Xiao Xixi: "I need her birth date and time."
Luo Qinghan asked Dong Mingchun to tell Lin's birth date.
Dong Mingchun was very confused and didn't understand why the prince suddenly asked about Lin's birth date, but he still honestly told him Lin's birth date.
Xiao Xixi closed her eyes and calculated silently.
She could feel the darkness and the sleepiness, and the fear and uneasiness that came over her like a tide.
These are Lin’s feelings at this moment.
Xiao Xixi opened her eyes, her face turned pale, and her body was shaking.
Luo Qinghan took the initiative to let her lean on him.
Xiao Xixi whispered in his ear.
"Outside Shengjing City, in a village at the foot of Qishan Mountain, Lin was hidden in a cellar in the village. It was very dark. She must have been drugged and has been in a coma, but she doesn't feel any pain, so she must not be injured. She is safe for the time being."
Luo Qinghan immediately asked someone to notify the Yulin Guards.
Since Zhao Xian was still recovering from his injuries, the person leading the team this time was Shang Kui, deputy commander of the Yulin Guard.
Shang Kui led two hundred Yulin Guards on horseback out of the city and headed straight for Qishan.
Xiao Xixi felt uncomfortable because of the aftereffects of empathy. She leaned on the prince and fell asleep involuntarily.
Dong Mingchun didn't understand why the prince sent people to Qishan. He didn't dare to ask anything and could only kneel quietly in the flower hall.
There was silence in the flower hall for a while.
About two hours passed.
Shang Kui returned with the Yulin Guards.
He strode into the hall and knelt on one knee.
"Reporting to Your Highness, I have led my men to search all the villages at the foot of Qishan Mountain, but have not found any Dusheng Sect."
(End of this chapter)
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