Long Xuanmo glared at Lv Luo in fury, "What happened?" His cold, indifferent face turned frosty, a tremor clearly present in his deep voice.
The others were also staring intently at Lv Luo.
It was known that Yang Mengchen had brought Hai Tang and three others into the palace today. Now that Lv Luo had burst into the Imperial Study Room covered in blood, could it be that something had happened to Yang Mengchen? But wasn’t Yang Mengchen in Cining Palace? Who could have injured Yang Mengchen and her maids?
"Reporting to Prince, this afternoon, Yuan Bao sent news that the Sixth Young Master encountered a mad horse on his way to the market, was thrown from the carriage, and is unconscious," Lv Luo replied truthfully. "The princess heard the news and was frantic. She excused herself on the pretext of urgent matters at home, leaving Sister Jin to wait for Prince, and after bidding farewell to the Empress Dowager and Empress, she left the palace with us four to rush to Huimin Hospital. However, shortly after leaving the palace, a group of masked men in black suddenly appeared from all sides, wounded us, and abducted the princess. Hai Tang, despite being injured, continued to pursue the men in black, while I came to report to Prince."
The complexions of the few in attendance changed dramatically, and before anyone could speak, a gust of cold wind swept through, and Long Xuanmo had already vanished from the hall.
"Emperor, I am concerned about Jiujiu’s safety and request to lead a search for her!" Grand Prince said urgently.
Prince Ning and several others also volunteered.
The Emperor’s expression was as somber as the foreboding grey of skies before a snowstorm, sending a bone-chilling dread from the bottom of one’s heart spreading to every limb, with the piercing imperial aura radiating from him causing everyone to shudder in fear.
"Grand Prince, Prince Ning, Prince Qi, prince consort, heed my decree. Each of you take a thousand soldiers and search thoroughly for Jiujiu’s whereabouts. You must bring her back safe and sound! I want to see who has the audacity to commit such a brazen act, to actually kidnap my daughter-in-law?"
At the banquet a few days ago, he declared that no one shall harm a single hair on his daughter-in-law’s head, and now, just a few days later, someone had dared to flout his decree, clearly showing no regard for him as the Emperor—this was an unforgivable offense!
Together, the men replied in respectful unison, "Your subjects will obey the decree!" Then they promptly departed.
Lv Luo accompanied them.
"Go to Cining Palace. If the Empress Dowager learns of Jiujiu’s plight, she will certainly be worried!" The Emperor, accompanied by Sun Chuanmao and others, hurried to Cining Palace, knowing well that such matters could not be concealed and that the Empress Dowager with her advanced age could not withstand such a shock.
Meanwhile, Long Xuanmo had just arrived at the Inner Palace Gate, where he happened upon Yang Chengyou walking out of the palace, his expression anxious and solemn, with the injured Hong Ling following behind.
The two men exchanged a glance and as soon as they left the Inner Palace Gate, Mo Yun had the horses ready. They mounted swiftly and galloped away like lightning.
Outside the palace gate, Lin Zheqi, the Ministry of Justice’s vice minister, silently watched as Long Xuanmo and Yang Chengyou sped away. Shortly thereafter, Grand Prince and his group emerged in similar haste, their jade-like faces cold and detached, their dark eyes shimmering with a profound and inscrutable darkness.
A follower whispered in a low voice, "Young Master, Princess Chen has been kidnapped by unknown assailants; should we take this opportunity..." His right hand made a cutting motion across his neck.
"Princess Chen has the entire Qing’an Country behind her. Right now, my father does not have the power to contend with Qing’an," Lin Zheqi shook his head. "On the contrary, we must find a way to win over Princess Chen and make her the most powerful ally for my father’s cause."
Even though they were enemies, he still deeply respected Princess Chen, for the four crops she cultivated truly benefited the common people of Qing’an Country, making her a person worthy of respect.
"Young Master, Princess Chen and Prince Chen have a deep bond, and the Emperor has his eyes set on Prince Chen, can Princess Chen really be of use to us?"
Lin Zheqi understood the underlying meaning in his attendant’s words, the Emperor was very likely to pass the throne to Prince Chen, and then Princess Chen would become the Empress, the mother figure of the nation. Naturally, she would not give up such immense wealth and power, not to mention her brilliant intelligence, which undoubtedly made her a formidable opponent. In that case, there would be no choice but to eliminate her.
"The time is not right yet." Lin Zheqi wasn’t sure why, but he didn’t want to harm Princess Chen, especially since every time he encountered Grand Prince, he felt an inexplicable desire to get closer.
That attendant slightly lowered his eyelids, seemingly obeying Lin Zheqi’s command, but a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes.
Another attendant, standing quietly at Lin Zheqi’s other side, heard him say this and saw the confusion and contemplation deep in his eyes; a strange curve appeared on the corner of his lips.
As soon as the sound of footsteps faded, Yang Mengchen, who was feigning unconsciousness, slowly opened her eyes. She saw that the space was filled with cobwebs and dust, and ragged cloth pieces of indiscernible color hung from the beams, their hems lightly swaying with the breeze. Directly in front of the main door was a gray, decrepit statue of a Buddha—clearly this was a deserted temple outside The Capital, as there were no temples within the city.
Yang Mengchen stood up, somewhat relieving the numbness in her hands and feet. She then walked in front of the Buddha statue, knelt down to offer three sincere bows, before sitting on a stone stool in front of the statue, quietly waiting for the person behind the scenes to arrive.
About a quarter of an hour later, the sound of numerous footsteps, some light and some heavy, approached from the distance. Yang Mengchen’s expression remained composed as she watched the tightly shut door, the dark pupils of her eyes deep and unfathomable, like a black hole at the edge of the universe that could swallow everything, or the ice and snow atop the highest peak that could never be scaled, her whole being exuding an intrinsic and noble air.
"You all stay back."
With a petulant voice ringing out, the door was pushed open, and a woman with a slender figure, veiled in black, walked in first. Upon seeing Yang Mengchen actually sitting in front of the Buddha statue, and looking deeply at her, she couldn’t help but exclaim, "You’re awake already?"
The six masked men in black, who followed the woman, had a rare flicker of unusual expression in their otherwise dead and icy eyes. freeweɓnovel-cøm
They had received information that Princess Chen was skilled in medical arts. To prevent her from waking up during the kidnapping, they not only used a specially made anesthetic but also pressed her unconsciousness point. She shouldn’t have woken up so quickly, yet here she was, both conscious and able to move freely. What was going on?
"To have the audacity to kidnap me, yet not dare to show your true face, Wu Wenlan, you’re really nothing special." Yang Mengchen spoke in a calm tone laden with mockery and scorn.
Having met this vile woman only once, she recognized her instantly. Shocked, Wu Wenlan understood that there was no further need to hide, so she removed the black veil from her face, revealing features that were sultry and glamorous, yet also sinister and fierce.
"Prince Chen belongs to this princess. You dared to compete with me for him, you truly deserve to die!" Wu Wenlan stared at Yang Mengchen with eyes full of deep-seated venom and jealousy. "Come, seize her and make her take the aphrodisiac, then let those beggars in to give her a taste of enjoyment. Once she turns into a spent bloom, a withered willow, let’s see how she can still charm Prince Chen?"
To her surprise, the six masked men in black made no move.
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