Chapter 342: Did You Get My Consent?

Bei Di Yi Guan has always been an inconspicuous place in daily life, but occasionally it also draws the attention of all; whether it draws attention or not entirely depends on the relationship between Bei Di and Southern Qi.

These days Southern Qi has clearly been constantly throwing out olive branches toward Bei Di, because it worries that Bei Di and Western Rong might join forces to attack Southern Qi.

Now that the three kingdoms are contending, a delicate balance has instead formed.

Therefore Tuo Ba Yu's days have been relatively peaceful; Emperor Longqing, in order to win over Bei Di, has not thought about how to torment the Bei Di hostage remaining in Southern Qi.

Actually Tuo Ba Yu's position is already quite embarrassing; the Bei Di king does not like this gentle, quiet prince, and previously he merely pretended to dote on this son before sending him to Southern Qi as a hostage.

After so many years have passed, the only pitiful trace of father‑son feeling between the Bei Di king and Tuo Ba Yu has also vanished completely.

Moreover, the Bei Di prince is even unwilling to let him return, for he would merely add a useless burden and a rival—unless he is stuffed from overeating.

Thus the pure and spotless hostage prince has only one recourse left: to loaf around in Shang Jing of Southern Qi, eating and drinking idly.

When Xiao Yin arrived at Bei Di Yi Guan, the Southern Qi guards at the gate who were watching the hostage prince all looked a bit dissolute and idle.

The defenses of Bei Di Yi Guan consist of an inner and an outer layer; the inner layer is handled by Tuo Ba Yu's own people, while the outer layer is guarded by the Southern Qi guards.

In name it is protection, but in fact it is surveillance; now Xiao Yin stood outside the gate of the inn and looked over, seeing the Southern Qi guards some dozing, some chatting, and a few who had gathered somewhere unknown to gamble.

They have been monitoring him for such a long time, from when Tuo Ba Yu was still a tiny tot up to now that he has come of age.

Everyone has long grown accustomed to it, and moreover Tuo Ba Yu is so well‑behaved as to evoke pity; give him a hundred guts and he still would not run away.

Or rather, an older guard saw Prince Rui striding over in anger, was startled, hurried forward to meet him, and his facial expression showed a slight panic.

As he went to meet Xiao Yin, he kicked the companion beside him who was dozing off.

Immediately everyone was dazed, they sprang up in panic and bowed to Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin ground his back teeth, gave those people a cold glance, but a bad premonition rose in his heart.

He paid no heed to the trembling guards before him, lifted the corner of his robe, and strode into the main gate of the inn.

The guards behind him did not know why Prince Rui had suddenly come to visit, wondering if it was to inspect their posts.

Moreover, these people are not under his Imperial Guard's command; still, they did not dare to defy the renowned Prince Rui, and hurriedly followed after him at quick pace.

Xiao Yin strode quickly across the courtyard of the inn and headed straight for the rear courtyard where Tuo Ba Yu lived.

After all, he is my foremost romantic rival, and the beloved I carry might very well be the offspring of this scoundrel.

At this moment an extremely unpleasant idea rose in his heart.

Thinking this, his steps grew a bit faster.

Xiao Yin is naturally tall and slender, with a pair of long legs that move as swift as flight, leaving Ling Feng and the others far behind.

Xiao Yin had long ago investigated Tuo Ba Yu's background and knew exactly which courtyard he resided in.

He shoved the courtyard gate open; the few sweepers inside saw Prince Rui entering and stood there stunned.

Xiao Yin stormed straight into Tuo Ba Yu's courtyard, kicking open every inhabitable room along the way; as he had expected, Tuo Ba Yu was no longer in the courtyard, and no one knew where he had gone.

The steward of Bei Di Yi Guan, having received the news, came running with his men; seeing the mess before him, his thoughts paused briefly, and he hurriedly bowed to Xiao Yin.

"I do not know why Your Highness has come from afar; what is the matter?"

Xiao Yin stared at the empty, deserted hall, his chest aching and suffocated.

After a long while he managed to draw a breath: "Where has Your Highness gone?"

The steward's thoughts paused, then he accompanied his words with a smile: "In reply to Your Highness, the prince has gone outside the city."

"He is catching up with some old friends; since it is already late, it is not worth returning, so he will stay in the suburbs."

"Heh!" Xiao Yin could not help but laugh bitterly.

If one thing is a coincidence, are two, three occurrences also coincidences?

At the same time his woman disappeared? One after another, these people also all left Shang Jing.

Thinking this, Xiao Yin could not help but feel a chill to the bone.

The steward's low‑voiced excuse still echoed in his ears, but Xiao Yin could not take in a single word.

The outcome goes without saying—Tuo Ba Yu also disappeared together with Gu Jiu Ling.

The crucial point is that Gu Jiu Ling is still carrying Tuo Ba Yu's child; they have formed a happy little family together, while he alone is left isolated in this world.

Thinking this, Xiao Yin's heart burned with fire all the more, yet he also felt as if he had plunged into the icy depths of a lake.

The flames of anger and the chill in his heart intertwined, making Xiao Yin tremble slightly.

All around, whether the people of Bei Di Yi Guan or those Xiao Yin had brought with him, they merely stared at one another.

Ling Feng and the others did not know that their lord had burst into Bei Di Yi Guan's gate, kicked open the rear courtyard, and now stood there foolishly, wondering what to do.

They were somewhat bewildered and dared not speak; the whole courtyard fell into a deathly silence.

Xiao Yin abruptly turned about and retraced his steps back the way he came.

Ling Feng led his men to follow, and the people of Bei Di Yi Guan hurried to send away this plague‑bringer.

Xiao Yin had originally intended to rush home, but instead he tightened the reins and halted at the crossroads, feeling lost like an abandoned child.

The Ling Feng following behind also did not know how to console him; he himself felt miserable to the point of desperation, and to this day he still cannot find the remains of Jiu Yue.

Such a huge building said to collapse just collapsed; now people have been dispatched, day and night without cease, in batches to clear away the ruins of Chongwen Tower.

This task is arduous; to completely eradicate it still requires several days' time.

Others may not be clear on it, but Ling Feng knows the love‑and‑hate entanglement between the lord and Tuo Ba Yu.

After all, regarding the matter of the child in the princess consort's womb, Xiao Yin ordered him to personally enter the palace to investigate.

Back then the princess consort was drunk and drugged, and she coupled with a stranger; the lover who fled is very likely Tuo Ba Yu.

Now, if the whole of Shang Jing wished to slip out from Xiao Yin's grasp under false pretenses, judging solely by Gu Jiu Ling alone would make it impossible—unless someone truly is aiding her.

Speaking of traceless escape, probably only a mysterious assassin organization like the Red Scorpion could manage it.

Xiao Yin stood dazed at the crossroads, gazing at the bustling crowd, yet the one person he loved most was nowhere to be seen.

"Good, very good, you little bastard, excellent!"

Xiao Yin gritted his teeth and whispered: "You think that by escaping my grasp and flying off with your man, I will let you go?"

"Did you get my consent, Xiao Yin?"

"Are you playing a disappearing act with me? Don't let me catch you..."

"The townspeople on the street all stared at Xiao Yin in astonishment, whispering among themselves."

"How pitiful! Another princess consort has died!"

"What a cursed lone star!"

"I guess no one dares to marry him this time, right?"

"Ling Feng heard the surrounding chatter, which sounded absurd, and hurriedly dispersed the onlookers."

"But the prince standing in the street wasn't a solution; he stepped forward."

"Your Highness, perhaps we should return to the residence first..."

"Xiao Yin coldly said: 'Don't return to the residence; go count the personnel and send them all out of the city to follow this prince in searching for someone!'"

"Ling Feng froze for a moment, wondering, 'Who are we looking for?'"

"Could it be that the princess consort didn't die?"

"If the princess consort isn't dead, then Jiu Yue would be……"

"He was overjoyed at once and hurriedly replied."

"Outside the Rui Wang Fu at this moment, Imperial Physician Song cautiously approached the guards at the Wangfu gate and asked: 'May I ask if the prince is in the residence? This old man has an important matter to request an audience with the prince.'"

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