Chapter 113 Missing
Lou Jin and Ye Xunyang had just returned to the mansion and were about to change their clothes when Shan Lan hurriedly walked in, her face unusually solemn.
He held a small bamboo tube tightly in his hand.
“My lord, Your Highness,” Shan Lan’s voice carried a barely perceptible tension, “an urgent report from the southwest: the people sent to support Young Master Ye have sent back a message.”
Lou Jin's heart skipped a beat. He took the bamboo tube and quickly pulled out the thin silk inside.
Ye Xunyang immediately stepped forward, a strange sense of foreboding rising in his heart.
The handwriting on the thin silk was hasty and illegible, clearly written under extremely urgent circumstances.
"Seven days ago, we went up the mountain to meet them. When we reached the agreed valley, we only saw traces of a fierce battle. The blood had dried, but there were no corpses or survivors. We searched the area within a ten-mile radius and found signs of increased activity by the Shadow Serpents, as well as the presence of unidentified groups of experts. The Second Young Master and his elite troops... are missing and may have lost contact."
“Out of contact…” Ye Xunyang murmured these two words, his expression changing drastically.
Lou Jin quickly put his arm around his shoulder, pulling him half-into his embrace, and felt the stiffness in his body.
He looked at Shan Lan: "Where was the last confirmed contact point? Can the traces of battle determine the number of the enemy and their methods?"
"Reporting to Master, the last contact was a message sent by carrier pigeon ten days ago. The Second Young Master said that he had found an important stronghold of Shadow Serpent and was preparing to infiltrate and investigate."
"Judging from the traces in the valley, the enemy far outnumbered them and used a large number of poisoned hidden weapons and traps, their methods were extremely ruthless. Our people also found this nearby." Shan Lan said, taking out another item from her bosom.
It was a small, torn piece of dark blue cloth, its edges stained with dried, blackened dirt. Embroidered on it was a blurry, twisted snake pattern in silver thread, very similar to the pattern on Feng Bao's token, yet slightly different, with the snake's head being even more ferocious.
"This was hooked down from a secluded thicket of trees, and it's not part of our clothing style," Shan Lan added.
Lou Jin took the piece of fabric, his fingertips tracing the cool silver snake pattern, his eyes so deep they seemed to drip water.
"Judging from these patterns, it was probably a core member of a higher rank than Feng Bao who made the move."
He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and quickly analyzed: "Xunqin and the others have only lost contact, not been confirmed dead. With Xunqin's skills, even if they were ambushed, there is still a possibility that they could break through or go into hiding."
"The other side didn't leave any bodies behind. Either they cleaned up the battlefield and took them with them, or Xunqin and his group successfully escaped but were forced into an area where they couldn't contact the outside world."
Ye Xunyang grasped Lou Jin's arm: "Your Highness, we must go save Second Brother and the others..."
"Don't panic, Xunyang." Lou Jin gripped his cold hand tightly, his tone resolute. "Your second brother is a brave general of our Great Sheng, and more importantly, he's family. I will never let anything happen to him!"
He turned to Shanlan and issued a series of clear and decisive orders: "Immediately dispatch three more elite teams of secret guards, carrying the best wound medicine and antidote pills, led by an old man familiar with the terrain of the southwestern mountains and forests, to search outwards from the last contact point, focusing on checking possible hiding caves, dense forests and local villages nearby."
"Yes!" Shan Lan accepted the order and immediately turned to make arrangements.
"Inform all available informants in the southwest to spare no effort in gathering intelligence on any recent unusual activity by Shadow Serpent, especially regarding prisoners or encounters with fierce resistance!"
"Understood!"
Shan Lan's figure quickly disappeared outside the door.
Lou Jin then turned all his attention back to Ye Xunyang. Seeing his serious expression and furrowed brows, he whispered reassuringly, "Xunyang, look at me."
Ye Xunyang raised his eyes, his eyes filled with undisguised worry.
"Trust me, and trust Xunqin." Lou Jin's voice was deep and powerful. "He's been through countless battles; he won't fall so easily. We can't panic now; we must stay calm to find him faster."
"Your Highness, I'm going to the southwest." Ye Xunyang's voice was resolute and unwavering. "That's my second brother. I must go."
Lou Jin nodded without hesitation and said, "Okay, let's go together."
He had long anticipated that Ye Xunyang would make this decision, and he never intended to leave him to wait alone.
"My brother, the Emperor, is handling things with the Nanzhao delegation. The situation in the southwest is urgent, and we must set off as soon as possible," Lou Jin thought quickly.
"The original plan was to wait until the delegation had an audience before leaving, but now it seems that I can't wait any longer. I will go to the palace immediately to meet the Emperor, explain the situation, and request to leave the capital ahead of schedule."
The situation was urgent, and the two of them, disregarding their previous emotional fluctuations, immediately took action.
Lou Jin changed into his court robes in preparation for entering the palace, while Ye Xunyang began to quickly take stock of the weapons, medicines, and personal belongings he might need to bring.
However, just as Lou Jin was about to leave, a guard from the Prince of Yan's mansion arrived on horseback, bringing even more shocking news.
"Your Highness, His Highness Prince Yan has instructed me to report immediately that the Nanzhao delegation has just presented their letter of credence. Princess Arno wishes to negotiate with you on the southwestern border and the Shadow Serpent, claiming that she possesses clues about the Shadow Serpent leader and the whereabouts of General Ye Xunqin."
Lou Jin and Ye Xunyang exchanged a glance, both seeing shock and deep doubt in each other's eyes.
"Your Highness, this..." Ye Xunyang frowned, his heart clashing with the desire to save his brother and his vigilance against the unknown risks.
Lou Jin raised his hand, signaling him to calm down.
He looked at the guard and asked in a deep voice, "What else did my brother say? Should the letter be delivered directly to Father, or should it go through the Court of State Ceremonies?"
The guard respectfully replied, "Your Highness, it was the chief envoy of Nanzhao who urgently requested an audience with His Majesty and presented the document in the Imperial Study."
"His Highness Prince Yan was discussing military affairs with His Majesty at the time when the meeting took place. Princess Arno did not appear in person, but conveyed through the chief envoy her wish to meet with you secretly, claiming that the matter concerned the stability of the southwest and the safety of the generals of Dasheng, and should not be publicized."
A secret meeting...it shouldn't be publicized...
Lou Jin's eyes darkened further.
Princess Arno's methods are indeed extraordinary.
She bypassed conventional diplomatic channels and directly approached her father with a bombshell announcement, while also throwing out the word "secret," demonstrating her sincerity and indirectly handing him the choice.
If he refuses, and Xun Qinzhen loses his chance at survival because of this, the responsibility...
"I understand. Reply to my elder brother that I am aware of this matter and will handle it carefully. Tell him to hold back for the time being," Lou Jin calmly instructed.
"Yes!" The guard acknowledged the order and left.
Only Lou Jin and Ye Xunyang remained in the study.
"Your Highness, this woman is cunning and treacherous; we must be on guard!"
"How could she so coincidentally throw out her bargaining chip right after my second brother went missing? This could very well be a trap for you!"
"I know." Lou Jin walked to the window, gazing at the deep night outside, his eyes sharp as knives.
"But she did indeed grasp our weakness. Xun Qin is missing, and the Shadow Serpent leader is someone we've been trying to find. Even if there's only a sliver of hope, even if it's a trap, we have to investigate."
He turned to look at Ye Xunyang, his tone resolute: "But we must not act rashly. The plan to enter the palace to meet the Emperor remains unchanged; I must know Father's attitude immediately. At the same time, the meeting must be conducted within our control."
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