Chapter 60: Searching for People

The previous bottle of mineral water had already been destroyed by Liu Che. Liu Li had no choice but to exchange for another bottle, but because of her high fever and cold, she didn't have the strength to unscrew the bottle cap. She reached out and handed the mineral water to Liu Che: "Father Emperor, please help me open it."

Liu Che was still marveling at Liu Li's ability to conjure things out of thin air. He took the bottle of water from her hand in surprise and asked: "How exactly is this thing opened?"

Liu Li said in a weak voice: "The cap isn't pulled off. You hold the cap and turn it to the right; it will open once you turn it."

Liu Che followed the method his daughter said and used a little force. The bottle cap was indeed unscrewed, and inside was a full bottle of clean water.

Liu Li took a sip of water from Liu Che's hand, stuffed the Ibuprofen capsule in her hand into her mouth, and barely swallowed it. She opened her mouth and asked: "Father Emperor, what should we do next?" Seeing Liu Che wake up, Liu Li felt inexplicably relieved.

Liu Che said: "Let's take advantage of the daylight to get out of here together."

Liu Che was never a person who would sit and wait for death. This could be seen from the active national defense policy he pursued after ruling the Great Han. Facing the bullying of the Xiongnu, he decisively refused to marry off a princess and chose to fight back.

Facing the restless Nanyue people, he also didn't indulge them, step by step turning the land of Nanyue into the territory of the Great Han.

So now, when Liu Che was in such an unknown environment, he wouldn't choose to stay in place and wait for rescue, but would take his daughter to explore the path and walk out of this mountain forest.

Liu Che turned around and squatted in front of Liu Li. He said: "Get on, I'll carry you on my back."

Liu Li's expression was slightly startled, hesitating whether to climb on.

"Hurry up, we might not be able to find a way out during the day." Liu Che urged.

Liu Li reached out gently, slowly climbed onto Liu Che's seemingly slender back, and wrapped her small arms gently around his neck.

Liu Che gasped, the sharp pain on his back distorting his expression. Seeing this, Liu Li hurriedly moved away from him, looking at the back of his head with her hands nowhere to put, and asked nervously: "Father Emperor, what's wrong?"

Liu Che lifted his daughter on his back: "It's nothing, I can endure this bit of pain. Just lie still and don't move around." As he said this, he picked up the flashlight from the ground and asked while walking forward: "What kind of thing is this?"

Liu Li lay on his back and answered slowly: "This is a flashlight, just like a lantern. You press that button, and there will be light."

Upon hearing this, Liu Che did as told. A beam of strong light shone straight into the deep forest. He was stunned for a long time before saying: "This thing is so bright." He even shone the light on his own face, wanting to see what it was, but ended up being blinded by the strong light.

Liu Li was also shone upon. She buried her head in his shoulder to avoid the strong light: "Father Emperor, this is for you to light the path, not to shine into your eyes."

Liu Che hurriedly moved the flashlight away and shone it forward. He closed his eyes and continued to carry Liu Li forward: "This thing is really convenient. Is there a candle flame inside?" He had never seen such a bright candle flame.

Liu Li shook her head and said weakly while lying on his back: "It's not a candle flame."

She couldn't explain to Liu Che the principle of how a flashlight emits light or how it was made. What if, after they were rescued, Liu Che had a whim and wanted the entire Great Han to use flashlights? Where would she conjure electricity and light bulbs for him?

So Liu Li thought for a moment and said: "This is an object from ancient times. The gods saw that we were in trouble, so they specially lent us this ancient object to use."

Liu Che responded gently: "After returning to Weiyang Palace, I will have the Imperial Clerk record all the things bestowed by the gods."

Liu Li: "..."

Afterwards, Liu Che muttered again: "Thinking about it this way, the gods have already bestowed quite a few things on A Li. The gods really take good care of A Li."

Liu Li gave a dry laugh, lying weakly on his back, looking at the surrounding forest, and changed the subject: "Father Emperor, how do you know to walk in this direction?"

Liu Che raised his eyebrows and said: "I often went hunting in the mountains and forests before, so I can still judge simple directions. Just keep walking in one direction, and eventually, I can walk out of this forest. What's more, aren't I walking along the mountain body?"

The logic was sound, but Liu Li was really a bit afraid that Liu Che would find the wrong direction, just like when he went hunting in Shanglin Park last time; didn't he get lost?

However, Liu Li was also sensible and didn't mention the previous incident at this time. Instead, she gritted her teeth and exchanged for a compass from the system store, secretly observing if Liu Che was going off-course.

The area of Ganquan Palace was already large, so one could imagine how deep the dense forest at the bottom of the mountain was.

Liu Che carried his daughter and kept walking in one direction, from morning until afternoon. The light in the forest became dimmer and dimmer, until finally, the entire forest turned dark.

Because the dense forest blocked the sun overhead, it got dark earlier than outside. Liu Che estimated that it should have just passed the Shen hour (3 PM - 5 PM).

Liu Li was carried by Liu Che and had slept on his back. The medicine in her body had taken effect, and she felt much better now and had more energy.

Seeing the pitch-black dense forest around, Liu Li hurriedly said: "Father Emperor, let's rest here. You have been walking for a whole day."

Even if Liu Che held the "ancient divine artifact" in his hand, which could illuminate the environment in front of him, the dense forest at night was still full of dangers.

Liu Che responded: "Then let's walk back a bit; there seemed to be a cave just now."

"Mm-hmm."

Soon, they arrived at the entrance of the cave. Liu Li poked her head in and took a look, finding that this cave was not big. Standing at the entrance, the height was just a little bit taller than her.

Liu Che had to stoop to get in.

Liu Che let Liu Li go in first, while he went nearby to pick up some branches, intending to start a fire to roast. The temperature in the mountains at night was not generally low, and he felt that the wounds on his body seemed to be bleeding again.

Liu Li regained her energy and followed Liu Che to help him. The father and daughter brought a small pile of firewood into the cave. Just as Liu Che wanted to find a fire starter on himself, Liu Li had already used the lighter to light these small branches.

Suddenly, the entire cave lit up.

Seeing this, Liu Che simply sat on the ground, leaning back with an exhausted face, looking at the jumping flames in front of him, without even the strength to open his mouth to ask Liu Li.

At this time, Liu Che was both tired and hungry; he hadn't eaten anything for a whole day.

Liu Li hadn't eaten anything either. She moved closer to Liu Che, exchanged two loaves of bread from the system mall, and handed them to Liu Che: "Father Emperor, eat something."

Liu Che was stunned for a moment, then smiled lightly: "I was just thinking whether to go out and catch a wild rabbit." They had seen quite a few wild rabbits along the way, but they were busy rushing on their way and didn't want to catch them.

Liu Che took the bread from Liu Li's hand and took a bite without hesitation. He hadn't even tasted any flavor before he had finished eating it.

Liu Li still had more than half of the bread in her hand. Seeing this, she exchanged for a piece of compressed biscuit and handed it to Liu Che: "Father Emperor, eat as much as you want, it's enough to fill you up."

Fortunately, food like bread and biscuits were the cheapest.

Liu Che was already used to Liu Li's ability to conjure things out of thin air, guessing that this food was all sent to her by the gods. He was just curious: "Don't the gods need to sleep? They can actually give you things at any time?" This was too much on-call, right?

Liu Li choked on the bread in her mouth and hurriedly took a sip of water before saying: "No."

She said: "The gods have opened up a warehouse in A Li's mind, and the things they bestow upon A Li are stored in this warehouse. As long as I need them, I can see the warehouse when I close my eyes."

Liu Che: "It's actually so magical. Then are there any treasures that can take us away from here quickly?"

Liu Li looked helpless: "No." If there were, she would have exchanged for them long ago, okay?

Liu Che sighed, looking at the jumping flames in front of him, his eyes gradually deepening.

Liu Li added some branches to the campfire, listening to the crackling sound of the fire burning the branches, and asked: "Father Emperor, who do you think arranged this assassin?"

She remembered that the assassin's target at that time was Ajiao. No, to be precise, it was the Emperor.

After the assassin discovered that the assassination failed, he turned his target to her, and then Liu Che fell down to protect her.

To judge the murderer of an incident, one must figure out the motive of the murderer. Liu Li couldn't figure out why anyone would arrange for someone to assassinate the Emperor at this time.

Thinking about it, Liu Li could only think, did that assassin have any personal vendetta against Liu Che?

"I'm also thinking about who wants my life." In just this short while, Liu Che had suspected almost everyone around him, but he still couldn't figure out who had arranged the assassin.

"That assassin is already dead. Even if we investigate, I'm afraid we won't be able to find out anything." Liu Li looked melancholy; this matter was a bit troublesome.

"Hmm." Liu Che responded in a deep voice, then said: "Rest, we'll continue walking tomorrow."

Liu Li hurriedly took out the Ibuprofen again, took two capsules, and handed them to Liu Che: "Father Emperor, eat this before sleeping; it can reduce inflammation and relieve pain."

During the day, Liu Che had seen Liu Li eat this thing with his own eyes. He took the capsule from her palm, put it in his mouth, and chewed it with his teeth.

A bitter and astringent taste spread in his mouth, making Liu Che's whole face scrunch up: "This medicine is too bitter..."

Liu Li was stunned. Could capsules be eaten like this?

While Liu Che still felt the capsule was very difficult to eat, Liu Li silently showed him the correct way to eat the capsule, and then handed him the mineral water in her hand.

Liu Che: "..." He looked up and drank the remaining water, coughed lightly, and said: "Alright, sleep."

Liu Li threw the empty plastic bottle into the campfire, watching blankly as the entire bottle quickly shriveled up in the fire.

"Come into my arms and sleep." Liu Che said, reaching out to take Liu Li into his arms, showing rare fatherly love: "It's cool at night, we'll be warmer if we lean together."

Liu Li's head was resting right on his chest. She felt as if she were resting on a soft marshmallow. It was so soft; was this a mother's body?

She adjusted to a comfortable position in Liu Che's arms and closed her eyes contentedly. Afterwards, she saw the favorability interface; Emperor Wu's favorability towards her had become: 60.

The highest increase ever!

Wei Qing and the soldiers had collected all the hemp ropes and connected them into a line, preparing to go down from the cliff to search for the "Empress" and the Princess.

Wei Qing planned to pick ten people from all the soldiers to go down the cliff with him to find the people. Huo Qubing, who had been following Wei Qing during the summer vacation, volunteered: "Uncle, I want to go down with you too."

Wei Qing looked at him, a half-grown child, and refused without thinking: "It's too dangerous, and you'll only add to my trouble if you go down."

"I'm not afraid!" Huo Qubing tightened the sword at his waist: "Uncle, you can't always treat me like a child."

Wei Qing raised his thick brows: "Only when you can beat me will you not be considered a child. At that time, no matter what you want to do, I won't stop you."

Huo Qubing: "..."

After saying that, Wei Qing ignored Huo Qubing and tied one end of the rope tightly to his waist, preparing to be the first person to go down the cliff.

He turned to look at the batch of Feathered Forest Guard he led: "Those willing to go down the cliff with me to search for the Empress and the Princess, step forward."

No one knew what they would encounter going down from here. When humans face the unknown, they instinctively shrink back, so the soldiers admired Wei Qing's courage and boldness, but hesitated when it was their turn.

Chen Fei, who was standing at the front of the team, stood out: "Me." After following Wei Qing for more than half a year, Chen Fei's appearance was like a rebirth; he was tall, strong, and much darker, completely devoid of his previous weak and thin appearance.

With Chen Fei taking the lead, several other soldiers stood out one after another, indicating their willingness to follow Wei Qing down the cliff.

Wei Qing nodded: "Good, then brothers, follow closely behind me." As he said this, Wei Qing had already walked to the edge of the cliff.

The other end of the hemp rope was tied tightly to a large tree. Then more than a dozen people pulled the rope, slowly lowering Wei Qing from the top of the mountain.

Immediately after, the others also prepared and slowly went down from the top of the mountain.

Their process of going down the mountain was not smooth sailing; stones kept falling from overhead, and the wind blew them around.

There was a broken tree halfway up the mountain, and there seemed to be a strip of cloth on the branch. Wei Qing moved over to take the cloth strip down and observed it carefully. From the material of the clothing, he concluded that this should be the Empress's clothing.

Thinking of this, Wei Qing turned his head and looked down, still unable to see the bottom of the mountain. His heart tightened. After stuffing this half-strip of cloth into his bosom, he continued to go down.

The soldiers behind him also slowly went down along another hemp rope. However, a soldier didn't hold the rope firmly and fell directly from above. His screams echoed throughout the valley, and the others were also a bit panicked.

Wei Qing hurriedly said: "Everyone be careful, you must hold the rope tightly."

"Yes." The soldiers answered, and their actions became more careful and cautious.

It wasn't until Wei Qing arrived safely at the bottom of the cliff that only seven soldiers remained following him down. The other three had died because they accidentally fell off the cliff and were now hanging over there, with blood flowing down the mountain body.

Everyone felt very heavy when they saw this scene.

"Everyone search around and see if there are any discoveries." Wei Qing gave an order, and the other seven began to act.

Wei Qing looked around and finally saw the corpse floating in the pond. Everyone worked together to pull the floating assassin's corpse ashore.

"Leader Wei, a token was found on this assassin." A soldier handed the found object to Wei Qing.

Wei Qing looked at the token and only felt it was familiar, but couldn't remember where he had seen it for a while. He put the token away for the time being: "Are there any other discoveries?"

Chen Fei said: "There is a branch that was burned by fire in front, but no sign of the Empress and the Princess was found." Traces of people's activities meant they were still alive.

Wei Qing hurriedly walked over to check, also guessing that the Empress should still be alive. He walked two steps forward and carefully observed the situation of the vegetation here, and had already judged that someone had walked through here.

After all, this was a deep mountain and old forest. Even if a day had passed, the traces of broken vegetation were still very new. That could only be the Empress and the Princess who accidentally fell off the cliff.

"Follow the traces here and be sure to find the Empress and the Princess before dark." Wei Qing hurriedly gave the order, not forgetting to remind everyone: "The situation in the forest is unclear, everyone stay vigilant at all times."

"Yes!" Everyone responded in unison.

Speaking of which, if Liu Che and Liu Li had stayed in place for another day, they might have seen Wei Qing and the others coming down from the mountain body.

Wei Qing and the others followed the traces left by Liu Che in front and walked forward, everyone staying vigilant at all times, fearing they would encounter any wild beasts.

Fortunately, they didn't encounter wild beasts, but they did encounter a few wild rabbits. Along the way, they saw the small cave where Liu Che and Liu Li had stayed before dark.

"Leader Wei, there are also traces of fire here." A soldier shouted excitedly.

Wei Qing stooped and walked into the cave, reached out to check, and found that this campfire still had a little residual heat, which meant the "Empress" and the Princess had left here no more than two hours ago.

Wei Qing walked out of the cave and frowned: "Continue searching along the traces. We must speed up; the Empress might be just ahead."

A soldier hesitated: "Leader Wei, it's about to get dark. Should we wait until dawn to..."

Wei Qing interrupted him: "Every moment we are late in finding the Empress and the Princess, they will be in more danger. If we can't find them, even if we walk out of the dense forest, what face do we have to see the Emperor? It's dark, so light the torches. We cannot slack off until we find the Empress."

Chen Fei followed Wei Qing's arrangement, took the torches out of the package he carried, and took out a fire starter to light the torches: "Leader, I'll walk in front."

Wei Qing nodded: "Good."

The sky was completely dark. Chen Fei and another soldier held torches and walked in front. Because of the night, their speed slowed down, and they were extra careful when walking forward.

For Ajiao, Liu Che and Liu

Li had been missing for two days and two nights. Now, the entire Weiyang Palace basically knew that the Empress and Princess Jianling had fallen off the cliff, and their life or death was unknown.

The Grand Princess Liu Piao even came directly to Ganquan Palace to ask the Emperor for the whereabouts of her daughter.

Facing her mother, Ajiao really felt powerless. She managed to appease Liu Piao after much persuasion.

Liu Piao wiped her tears and said: "How could such a thing happen out of the blue? Where did that assassin come from? Liu Che, you must give me an explanation. My poor Jiao Jiao and A Li..."

"Regarding the assassin, I have already arranged for people to investigate. Mother... Aunt, rest assured, I will never be lenient." Ajiao paused after saying this: "As for Ajiao and A Li... no matter what, I will find them."

Liu Piao felt even worse: "Your Majesty, now those people are saying that Ajiao and A Li must be gone. Such a high cliff... falling down would probably make them unrecognizable. My Jiao Jiao was so fond of beauty, my poor child."

Ajiao: "..." Mother, can't you hope for something good?

"Aunt, I have already arranged for Wei Qing to go down the cliff to find them, rest assured."

"If... Ajiao and A Li really have an accident, what will you do?" Liu Piao suddenly asked.

If someone else had asked this question, Ajiao might have gotten angry. But the person asking this question was her mother, and Ajiao had to force herself to calm down and think about this question carefully.

If Liu Che and A Li really died under the cliff, how should she walk the path in the future? Without A Li, how could she be a good Emperor of the Great Han? And how could she manage to not be discovered by the officials of the Inner Court without Liu Che?

Ajiao suddenly felt that this incident was not only a disaster for Liu Che and A Li, but also a test for herself. At least until she found Liu Che and A Li, she still had to play the role of Liu Che well.

Thinking of this, Ajiao's eyes sank. She turned her eyes to look at Liu Piao and said affectionately: "Aunt, even if they really encounter misfortune, A Li will always be my eldest legitimate daughter, and Ajiao will always be my Empress."

Hearing this answer from her "nephew," Liu Piao's expression was slightly dazed. Why didn't she know he was so devoted before?

"What's more, it's not yet certain whether they have encountered misfortune. As Ajiao's mother, do you also want to be like those with ulterior motives, hoping that Ajiao and A Li won't come back?"

Liu Piao was slightly choked, then said: "Of course, I hope Ajiao and A Li can return safely."

"That's it." Ajiao said solemnly: "We must all believe that they are still alive."

Liu Piao looked at her "nephew" suspiciously, always feeling that the "Liu Che" in front of her was different somewhere, giving her an inexplicable sense of familiarity, but also a kind of strangeness she couldn't name.

"A Che, you have changed a lot in the past year." Liu Piao said softly: "You have become like Ajiao, valuing feelings."

Ajiao's breathing stopped, and her face changed.

After arranging for Liu Piao to stay in Ganquan Palace for the time being, Ajiao paced back and forth in the hall and finally decided that in three days, regardless of whether Wei Qing found Liu Che and A Li, she would return to Weiyang Palace.

A Li said that everything must be planned for, so that one would not feel caught off guard when accidents happened.

Although she very much hoped that Liu Che and A Li were still alive, she also had to be prepared for them to be gone.

If Liu Che was gone, the biggest threat to herself would be those Inner Court officials who discussed politics with Liu Che on weekdays. They knew Liu Che best, which was why they were included in the Inner Court. She had to think of a foolproof way to replace all the people in the Inner Court.

The second threat was the Empress Dowager Wang.

Although Ajiao knew the Empress Dowager Wang very well and also knew the way Liu Che and the Empress Dowager Wang got along, the Empress Dowager Wang was Liu Che's biological mother after all, and it was hard to guarantee that she wouldn't see any flaws. Just like her mother seemed to have already discovered the change in the "Emperor." ===== CHAPTER 61 =====

The next threat is Wang Taihou.

Although A Jiao understood Wang Taihou very well and knew the dynamic between Wang Taihou and Liu Che, Wang Taihou was, after all, Liu Che's biological mother; it was hard to guarantee she wouldn't spot any flaws. Just like her own mother seemed to have already noticed the change in the "Emperor."