Chapter 422: I Think the Big Brother Is the One

"Report—"

A guard, rolling and crawling, rushed into Ning Prince's Mansion.

It has now changed its plaque; it is now Qing Wang's Mansion.

Qing Wang, who had only recently risen, was idly handling an old relic from Ning Prince's Mansion, his face grim.

Last night Jingcheng again saw thieves causing trouble; the City Patrol Office was busy for most of the night, leaving him without proper sleep.

What trouble has arisen so early this morning?

"Your Highness! Bad news!" The guard fell to the ground, his voice trembling, "The old—old barracks have an incident!"

Qing Wang slapped the table with a "thwack" and demanded, "Explain clearly!"

"Last night the barracks were suddenly filled with smoke; our eyes burned and we couldn't see anything!"

"When the smoke cleared, we discovered… discovered that every door and window in the barracks was wide open!"

Qing Wang sprang to his feet, "Where are the people?"

"They fled!" The guard's voice grew lower, "All— all fled!"

The guard kept kowtowing, "Prince! They must have used dark arts! We had already caught up, but— but suddenly we couldn't take another step!"

Qing Wang kicked the low table beside him over, "Useless!"

Veins bulged on his forehead, anger blazing in his eyes as if about to erupt: "I ordered you to guard strictly! Twelve‑hour rotations; is this how you guard?"

"Your Highness, please calm down…" the guard trembled, "The smoke was strange, its smell acrid; our brothers couldn't open their eyes. By the time we could see, the people were already…"

"Smoke?" Qing Wang's face turned iron‑blue, "Just some low‑level street tricks! Any survivors?"

"N‑no. None," the guard's voice dropped further, "But we found the corpse of Concubine Fang Qingyan."

Qing Wang furrowed his brow, "How did she die?"

"A knife to the chest, a single blow killed her."

Qing Wang sneered, "Well deserved! That scoundrel was Xiao Yuanhang's concubine; she deserved to die! Throw her corpse out for the dogs!"

"Yes!"

"Your Highness, the decree for today's execution has been posted for days; the people will surely keep debating."

Qing Wang said calmly, "Then issue another notice! Announce to Jingcheng that I am merciful, that Xiao Yuanhang alone committed the crime, and I will not involve his family, so the execution is postponed for now!"

"Yes! I will handle it immediately!"

Qing Wang watched the guard's retreating back, his fury burning.

Run? Could you run out of the barracks, out of Jingcheng? Run back to Xibei?

He bellowed, "Men!"

"Here!"

"Issue the order! From now on, all Nine Gates of Jingcheng are sealed! Entry allowed, exit forbidden!"

"City Patrol Office, Jingzhao Prefecture, conduct a citywide manhunt! Anyone with suspicious behavior shall be captured first, then interrogated!"

"All passes from Jingcheng to Xibei are to be strictly inspected for any suspicious persons!"

"Yes!"

Xiao Yuanhang! How could you snatch people away right under my very eyes!

I have seized your mansion, captured your family, yet you still managed to rescue Xiao Jieyun; now even the hostage I hold is gone!

Qing Wang gritted his teeth, "With the few men and horses you have, I'll see how long you can stay smug!"

Soon after, Chen Wang leisurely fiddled with his teacup, having listened to the guard's report.

"Fled?" He gently blew the froth in the cup, "I suppose it wasn't unexpected."

The guard dared not look up, "Qing Wang has ordered the Nine Gates sealed and a citywide manhunt."

"Seal the Nine Gates?" Chen Wang chuckled, shaking his head, "If the people are still in Jingcheng, sealing the gates works. But if they've already left the city?"

The guard was startled, "The barracks incident lasted only an hour, yet Jingcheng now only allows entry, no exit; how could they possibly—"

"Qing Wang also ordered strict checks on all passes from Jingcheng to Xibei."

Chen Wang rose and walked to the window, "These days, thieves have thrown the city into turmoil; last night the unrest continued through the night, and the Ning Prince's family happened to be abducted last night."

Chen Wang turned, looking at the guard kneeling on the ground, "Do you think this is coincidence?"

The guard shivered all over, "Your Highness means…"

Chen Wang said lightly, "Someone has meticulously plotted this, openly repairing the road while secretly crossing Chen Cang."

He paused, "Go to Qing Wang's mansion and tell him, say it's what I said, so he need not waste his effort."

"Since the people have already been taken, let them return."

"Yes."

The guard was about to withdraw when Chen Wang suddenly called him back, "Wait."

"Your Highness, any further orders?"

Chen Wang pondered briefly, "Though the people have fled, the play must go on."

"Continue the citywide manhunt, to show Xiao Yuanhang."

"Understood."

Chen Wang lifted his teacup, took a gentle sip, and whispered with a smile, "The Supreme truly is unfathomable."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes; perhaps this was already a part of the Supreme's plot?

Otherwise, on the first day the city's thieves surged, the old camp would have been informed early, not left to sit idle.

Xiao Yuanhang, don't celebrate too early; let's see what happens.

On a passenger boat traveling from Jingcheng to Jiangnan Region.

Xiao Ningxun stood at the stern, looking toward Jingcheng.

Xiao Ran walked over: "You still have the most wicked ideas! After Qing Wang discovers that the Princess Consort and the others are missing, he will surely launch a strict investigation of all roads from Jingcheng to Xibei."

"But he never imagined that we would not return to Xibei at all. Instead, we would borrow the Canal Gang's water route, heading straight for Jiangnan Region, and then return from the south."

"Xiao Ningxun did not respond, still staring toward Jingcheng: 'I don't know when we'll be able to come back here.'"

"Xiao Ran didn't understand: 'What do you mean?'"

"'Now His Majesty's forces are insufficient; although occasionally someone comes to join, most are scholars.'"

"'Even if there are young and strong men, they still cannot compare to trained soldiers.'"

"'In marching and fighting, the first is grain, the second is manpower, the third is horses.'"

"'We are now most lacking in people.'"

"'Even if His Majesty holds the imperial seal, without sufficient troops and horses it is difficult to oppose the rebel army.'"

"'What I worry about is that after we abduct the hostages, they lose their leverage; next, they will likely reinforce Xibei.'"

"Xiao Ran, however, didn't care: 'I actually think that popular sentiment is most important. As long as the people's hearts are toward Father Emperor, Qing Wang and his ilk won't be able to hold onto this realm.'"

"Xiao Ningxun turned to look at him: 'Sure, Ninth Prince, that makes perfect sense.'"

"Xiao Ran scratched the back of his head, feeling embarrassed: 'Really?'"

"Tuan Tuan came pattering over, taking one hand each: 'Third Brother! Ninth Brother! What are you looking at? Let's go in, Mother has woken up!'"

"'Oldest Brother just ate five bowls of rice!'"

"'You keep calling me a little pig, but I think Oldest Brother is the real one!'"

"Xiao Ningxun laughed: 'Come on, let's go in!'"