Chapter 334: Arriving in the Capital
Five days passed in a row, and they had already reached the capital, but Xingqing still hadn’t found an opportunity. The person who captured her was too cautious. Whether it was during meals or when she needed to relieve herself, there was always an older woman surnamed Cheng watching her. She couldn’t make any moves at all.
At this moment, the carriage was queuing to enter the city, and Xingqing felt a sense of despair in her heart.
Every time they entered or exited a city along the way, soldiers would meticulously check against a portrait.
She also saw that the portrait in the soldiers’ hands was of herself.
However, she had been disguised by the older woman Cheng with a human skin mask and a change of clothes. She had completely transformed into another person! Even she herself couldn’t recognize herself, let alone those soldiers.
Although she desperately tried to signal with her eyes, she had been immobilized by acupressure points, unable to even move her eyeballs. The human skin mask made her appear to have a smiling expression. After experiencing several soldier searches, no one noticed her eyes frantically hinting.
It was almost their carriage’s turn. The older woman Cheng glanced at Xingqing’s expression and, seeing her maintaining a smile, picked up a face mask and hung it on her, covering her face.
“It’s over.” Cheng Pozi revealed the dagger in her hand, pressing it against Xingqing’s back, and threatened, “Don’t even think about widening your eyes and pleading for help, or you won’t survive!”
The sharp dagger pressed against Xingqing’s back, the force controlled perfectly. It pricked her, causing some pain, but wouldn’t truly injure her.
Cheng Pozi naturally knew how painful the stab she delivered would be. She glanced at Xingqing and, seeing no fluctuation in her eyes, felt relieved.
Over the years, she had helped the young master abduct many girls, and she had always been this cautious, so she had never been caught.
At the capital’s city gate, Chu Yuehou had personally come to stand guard these past two days after receiving news of Xingqing’s disappearance from Chu Tiankuo two days ago.
He watched with an impassive expression as the soldiers inspected those entering the city. After standing for two days, he still hadn’t discovered anything.
When the carriage Xingqing was in was stopped by the city guards, a guard asked the coachman, “Lift the carriage curtain, hand over your household registration and travel permit. Where are you coming from?” The coachman smiled, took out the documents, and respectfully said, “We are from Tianning County, entering the city to arrange a marriage for my daughter. Inside the carriage are my wife and daughter.”
The soldier took the documents and checked them, while another soldier inspected the underside of the carriage for any hidden individuals.
At this time, Cheng Pozi also lifted the carriage curtain, “Sir, please inspect. This is my daughter.”
As she spoke, she pulled down Xingqing’s face mask. The city guard only saw Xingqing “smile” at him.
He compared her with the portrait, finding that the girl inside didn’t resemble Princess Xingqing in the picture. The interior was clearly visible, and it was impossible to hide anyone. He waved his hand, signaling them to pass.
Cheng Pozi and the coachman smiled and thanked him, “Thank you, sir.”
Both of them were extremely calm, not showing any signs of guilt. Cheng Pozi immediately lowered the carriage curtain.
Inside the carriage, Xingqing saw Chu Yuehou and tried to widen her eyes, desperately wanting to move. Her heart screamed silently: “Grandfather! Grandfather! It’s me!”
However, no matter how much she struggled internally, her body remained motionless, and her expression didn’t change a bit.
As their eyes met, the carriage curtain was lowered.
Xingqing closed her eyes in despair, but her expression remained unchanged.
At this time, the coachman outside considerately said, “Old woman, daughter, sit tight, the carriage is about to move!”
Only then did he flick his whip, and the horse and carriage started moving.
Chu Yuehou watched all this with an impassive expression. At the moment the carriage curtain was lifted, he glanced at Xingqing, but his expression remained unchanged. He continued to observe the next carriage being inspected.
It wasn’t until the carriage had traveled a considerable distance, almost disappearing at the end of the road, that he turned his head and glanced at it lightly before retracting his gaze and continuing to watch the city guards meticulously inspect.
~
Xingnong and Chu Tiankuo arrived in the capital on the evening of the next day.
✿✿✿
Because Xingqing had gone missing and there was no news along the way, Xingnong was worried. The two of them left the wedding procession directly and rushed to the capital as quickly as possible.
Accompanying them were several princes of Jin Kingdom.
Xingnong and Chu Tiankuo returned to the capital secretly. When they arrived, the city gates were already closed.
The military officer guarding the city had received news of Chu Tiankuo’s entry into the city tonight. He had replaced all the soldiers on night duty with his trusted men.
As Chu Tiankuo’s group approached the city gate, he made a hand gesture.
Seeing this, the city guards immediately ordered, “Open the city gates!”
Thus, the group entered the city quietly.
~
Xingnong said to Shen Hanyu behind her, “Third Brother, you and Eldest Brother should return to the residence and rest first. I need to see my grandfather. We’ll contact each other tomorrow.”
The Embroidered Uniform Guard had sent news that they had a lead on Xingqing’s whereabouts. She had to confirm Xingqing’s safety tonight.
Although Shen Hancheng and the others wanted to follow and see if they could help, they knew it wasn’t appropriate. They nodded in agreement, “Little Sister, you go ahead with your business. If you need any help, just let us know!”
“Little Sister, don’t worry about us. We’ll take care of ourselves.”
Xingnong nodded, then rode off with Chu Tiankuo, disappearing into the night.
Xingnong and Chu Tiankuo arrived at the Tianzi Room of Welcome Inn. Chu Yuehou had been waiting there for an entire night.
Seeing the two walk in, he stood up and respectfully bowed, “This humble official greets the Crown Prince and Crown Princess!”
Xingnong immediately stopped him, “Grand Commander, there’s no need for formalities! Have you found Xingqing?”
Chu Yuehou and Madam Gu hadn’t formally acknowledged each other yet, so she naturally wouldn’t address him as grandfather in his presence.
Chu Yuehou nodded, “We found her. I’ve already arranged for people to secretly protect her, but the person behind this hasn’t shown themselves yet. This humble official wants to wait for them to appear before catching them all in one swoop.”
That day, when Xingqing entered the city, before the face mask was pulled down, he recognized those eyes!
Of course, he also saw at a glance that Xingqing had been immobilized by acupressure points. The reason he didn’t react was that he noticed other people at the city gate were also watching.
Moreover, he wanted to find the mastermind behind this!
That day, when he noticed something was wrong, he had already signaled the Embroidered Uniform Guards to secretly follow the carriage. He continued to guard the city gate as if nothing had happened, and even today, he was still at his post.
Of course, more importantly, the matter of rescuing Xingqing shouldn’t be made public.
Xingnong naturally understood that only by finding the person behind this could they prevent such incidents from happening again.
“Where is Xingqing being held? I want to see her.” Without seeing Xingqing herself, Xingnong couldn’t be at ease.
Chu Yuehou didn’t refuse, “Xingqing was taken to a pleasure boat. This humble official will take the Crown Prince and Princess Xingnong there now!”
Xingnong’s face changed: A pleasure boat!
