Chapter 728: Dragon‑Pool, Tiger‑Den

Around the Wan River City government office, royal iron guards brought by Xiao Yin were stationed everywhere, and many of the city's common folk didn't know what important person lived inside the office.

Guang felt a sense of oppression looking at the spectacle; normally, the children who occasionally played by the office walls were whisked away by their mothers, fearing that bumping into nobles would bring disastrous trouble to their families.

It should be known that the benevolent benefactor who always lived on the island and was known for his generosity was brutally burned to death in a fire just half a month ago.

Soon after, a large contingent of Imperial Guard troops occupied the island, publicly claiming they were there to capture thieves.

But judging by the scale, it was far more than a simple thief‑catching operation.

What kind of thieves warrant the personal involvement of royal forces?

The common folk also understood intuitively, sensing that something was amiss.

At this moment, Gu Jiu Ling was helped to sit up by Xiao Yin; this time she employed spatial power, using it twice in succession without pause, feeling as if her body had been hollowed out.

She had lain down for a full half month before recovering, and her complexion was still far from good.

"Your Majesty, is there any news about the children?" Gu Jiu Ling clutched Xiao Yin's hand tightly.

Other matters, no matter how urgent, would never make Gu Jiu Ling this fragile or lose composure; only the issue concerning the children truly unsettled her.

Xiao Yin had already secretly issued a bounty notice in the jianghu; in theory, a hefty reward should attract brave men, yet so far not a single ripple has arisen.

Xiao Yin was momentarily stunned, not knowing how to answer Gu Jiu Ling's question.

He steadied himself, offered a few comforting words, and, gripping Gu Jiu Ling's hand tightly, said, "Do not worry. My child, Xiao Yin, will surely be a dragon‑and‑phoenix among people; nothing will go wrong, and rest assured we will find the children."

A week later, the light in Gu Jiu Ling's eyes dimmed slightly.

Although Xiao Yin tried to console her, it did nothing to ease her anxiety.

Those two little ones are clever and cute, sometimes even quick‑witted, but they are still children; the jianghu is treacherous, especially in the man‑eating Mo Bei, and having faced such great danger, if there is any chance of survival, it can only be hoped for.

Now that Xiao Yin has already issued the jianghu bounty, it's as if he were ready to relinquish the throne, yet there is still no news about the children.

Does that mean his own children have already met with misfortune?

Gu Jiu Ling closed her eyes and, dejectedly, lay back on the bed.

Seeing Gu Jiu Ling's condition, Xiao Yin felt a sharp pang of sorrow; just as he was about to speak, a hurried voice from outside the door announced Ling Feng.

"Your Majesty, I have urgent news concerning the princes!"

"What news? Quickly, come in and tell us!" Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly propped herself up on the bedpost.

Xiao Yin also rose, walked to the doorway, and personally pulled up the curtain, which gave the waiting Ling Feng outside a good fright.

What merit gave him the right to have the Southern Qi emperor personally raise the curtain for him? He hurriedly knelt and kowtowed.

"Your Majesty, someone sold information that the two young princes went to Mang Shan and were taken there by others."

"That person is merely an informant; I wish to detain him and hand him over to Your Majesty for judgment, but he refuses to speak or reveal himself, saying that if we pay him, he will detail the subsequent situation."

"If we don't pay him, we'll never see this lead again."

"I had no choice, so I gave him five thousand taels of silver and brought this back for Your Majesty and the Empress to review."

Ling Feng raised his hand, and in his palm rested a jade ruyi.

The jade ruyi was carved from fine mutton‑fat jade; compared with ordinary jade ruyis, its shape was slightly smaller, making it convenient for children to play with at any time.

Xiao Yin examined it closely and it indeed seemed to be Gu Er's item.

Gu Jiu Ling staggered down from the bed, snatched the jade ruyi from Xiao Yin's hand, and examined it carefully.

She had previously commissioned a jade carver to make it for the two children to play with; Gu Er, that little girl, is somewhat greedy.

Especially this jade ruyi, gentle and glossy, Gu Er's hand held it in her palm and never let it slip.

Gu Jiu Ling thought that such a small child holding such a large jade ruyi was inappropriate.

When it was originally made, a red silk cord was attached, serving as a pendant for the two little ones, and she never expected it to appear here now.

She quickly grabbed Xiao Yin's arm, her voice trembling, "Your Majesty, it is… it is our little princess's jade ruyi. I'm not mistaken; it's real! It really is theirs!"

Xiao Yin was also shocked by the sudden news, but still retaining some humanity, he looked toward Ling Feng and said, "Ling Feng, go quickly and investigate the person who sold us the information."

"Also take a contingent and scout Mang Shan ahead."

Ling Feng startled; His Majesty has been away from Shang Jing for far too long.

The most urgent matter is to return to Shang Jing immediately; even to find the two children, they must first return to the court.

But seeing that His Majesty intends to go to Mang Shan personally, what should be done?

Mang Shan, also called the Ten‑Thousand‑Mountain, lies at the junction of Southern Qi, Bei Di, and the Western Rong, and is virtually an untrodden forbidden zone.

What exactly lies within? No one can say, but it is said that none who go to investigate ever return alive.

Hence it is also called Hell; the informant earlier told him that someone had personally seen a few people leading a pair of twins toward Mang Shan.

For a moment Ling Feng felt bewildered, but mustering courage he whispered, "Your Majesty, let me go once; it would be better for Your Majesty and the Empress to return to Shang Jing."

Xiao Yin knew well that the court could not be left for a day, yet they were forced into this situation; how could he bear to let Gu Jiu Ling suffer alone?

The Southern Qi dynasty is indeed important, but his family is equally important.

He gave a wry smile and said, "Rather than languish here without end or hope, it's better to follow the lead and take the initiative."

"Someone possessing the little prince's jade ruyi indicates a tangled case involving the prince's capture; it's no small matter, and now no lead can be discarded."

"Xiao Yin, shall we go to Mang Shan together?"

At that moment Gu Jiu Ling calmed down; she also knew that just hearing that sentence, and based solely on the jade ruyi left by her child, to risk her entire fortune and life to venture into Mang Shan sounded absurd.

But her thoughts matched Xiao Yin's: rather than remain clueless, they should act proactively.

It was hard‑won that this lead—saying his children were taken to Mang Shan—means Mang Shan is certainly a dragon‑pool tiger‑den.

Even a dragon‑pool tiger‑den must be entered.

Xiao Yin looked at Gu Jiu Ling with tender affection and whispered, "For the sake of the children, we should go."