Chapter 181: He Returns, She Goes Missing

The secret report was sent to Quan Aoyu by Feiying, but it was intercepted by Quan Tianyi.

Feiying had never before made the mistake of having such a secret report intercepted, but this time, because of the disappearance of Jun Zijin, his burning anxiety caused him to lose his edge.

Quan Tianyi laughed sinisterly.

"Someone come."

Quan Tianyi’s voice, carrying a hint of coquettishness, echoed in the empty study, making one’s skin crawl.

A guard immediately pushed the door open and knelt on one knee:

"What are your orders, Prince?"

Quan Tianyi’s gaze roamed over the hidden guard like a venomous snake, scanning the guard with ill intent.

The guard’s heart skipped a beat; he lowered his head and waited silently for instructions.

"Keep a close watch on the movements over there, and intercept every single secret letter for this Prince."

Hmph! Thinking of sending letters to Quan Aoyu? No way. This Prince wants to see what kind of reaction that sixth brother will have when he returns, only to find that the person he holds so dear has already been dead for days.

In truth, Prince Yi’s method of intercepting secret letters was truly incomprehensible; Quan Aoyu was already returning to the capital, so whether he intercepted the letters or not made little difference.

Yet he did it anyway, as if driven by some twisted psychology. Who can understand the motives of a twisted mind?

"Yes!"

The guard received the order and turned to leave.

Just as the guard turned, he was called back by Quan Tianyi.

"Stop! Pass the news to the Imperial Consort, let her be happy too."

"Yes!"

The guard took the order and retreated in a rush, as if chased by a ghost; his speed was faster than a rabbit, and he vanished in an instant.

Ever since Quan Tianyi had his manhood kicked to ruin by Concubine Wu, his face had been so gloomy every day that it could drip water, looking exactly like someone who had a dead body in his house that he hadn't buried yet—a lingering, haunting presence.

When he was unhappy, he would go to the backyard to torment others; when he was happy, he would also go to the backyard to torment them, until the women in the backyard were begging for mercy and crying out in misery.

Recently, some bizarre rumors about Quan Tianyi had begun to spread quietly in the backyard.

It is said that Prince Yi had recently been secretly playing "dress-up" in his room, applying powder and painting his lips, a literal male version of a "flower butterfly."

Once the hidden guard left, Quan Tianyi hurried to the backyard. Before long, a commotion broke out in the backyard of the Prince Yi residence—sounds of gasping, pleading, and screaming... After tormenting them for most of the night, those concubines were left in a state of utter disarray and misery.

Meanwhile, on the official road to the capital, dust billowed as Quan Aoyu, returning in triumph from the northern frontier, rode a sturdy black horse, leaving his army behind to gallop toward the capital.

Feiying rode at full speed to meet him ten miles out. Before he even reached Quan Aoyu, he flipped off his horse, threw himself before Quan Aoyu’s mount, and knelt down.

"Subordinate Feiying, pays respects to the Crown Prince."

Quan Aoyu looked at Feiying, his gaze icy, but he did not speak.

Feiying buried his head deep into the ground; despite the deep winter, beads of sweat dripped from his head.

"Your secret letter was intercepted by Quan Tianyi; I received it this time."

After a long while, Quan Aoyu spoke coldly, pointing directly at Feiying’s failure.

Feiying’s body trembled slightly, his forehead pressed to the ground, kicking up some dust.

"Your Highness, this subordinate was anxious about the master's affairs and was momentarily negligent. I am willing to accept punishment."

Quan Aoyu snorted coldly through his nose.

"I will spare you this time, but if there is a next time, I will certainly not be lenient."

Quan Aoyu’s eagle-like eyes stared fixedly at Feiying, and he asked again:

"I ask you, where is your master?"

Feiying’s voice carried a sob:

"Your Highness, this subordinate and Feiyan have searched the entire capital, but there is no trace! This subordinate came to meet you, while Feiyan is still searching."

"What is your crime?"

"Your Highness, this subordinate deserves death ten thousand times over and is willing to die."

Having said this, he steeled his heart, gritted his teeth, drew his sword, and prepared to slit his throat.

Suddenly, his wrist went numb, and with a *clang*, the long sword fell to the ground.

Feiying was stunned, then filled with joy, and looked up at Quan Aoyu.

"This subordinate thanks Your Highness for the grace of sparing my life."

Quan Aoyu didn't even grunt, but spurred his horse to gallop away. Feiying hurriedly followed.

Anxious for Jun Zijin’s safety, Quan Aoyu headed straight for the Jun residence upon entering the capital.

Without waiting for anyone to announce him, he used his light-body technique to fly toward Aoxue Courtyard.

He searched through every ruin like a madman, his fingernails torn, yet he did not stop.

Those hands, which had once held the noble Imperial Seal and wielded sharp swords, were now frantically groping through the rubble and broken walls, just to find a single trace of Jun Zijin.

But after turning the charred house upside down, he still found nothing.

"Dandan, Jun Zijin, where on earth are you?"

Quan Aoyu broke down. He clenched his fists; the usually noble Crown Prince now had disheveled hair and bloodshot eyes. He stood where Jun Zijin had disappeared, muttering to himself.

Quan Tianyi had intercepted Feiying’s secret letter; this matter was nine times out of ten related to him.

"Quan Tianyi, if she has been harmed in the slightest, do not blame me for disregarding our brotherhood; I will surely take your life."

Quan Aoyu’s grim face revealed a coldness like that of the Grim Reaper. He squeezed the words out through his teeth, almost one by one.

"Someone come!"

Bai Yu appeared. Seeing Quan Aoyu’s state, he couldn't help but shiver and asked cautiously:

"Master, what are your orders?"

"Immediately mobilize everyone who can be called upon. Even if you have to turn the capital upside down, you must find Jun Zijin."

"Yes!"

————————

At this moment, in the Imperial Palace, with its carved beams and painted rafters, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

The sky outside the window grew increasingly gloomy, with leaden clouds hanging low. The Emperor and Empress sat opposite each other, their expressions grave.

The Empress held an exquisite white jade teacup; the tea had long since lost its heat, but she did not notice at all.

"What is to be done? The Jun residence caught fire, Zijin is missing, and there is still no lead. Aoyu is about to return to the capital; if he finds out about this, I fear..."

The Empress sighed faintly.

"Your Majesty, we must find Zijin first."

The Emperor’s brows were tightly furrowed, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

Hearing this, he sighed softly, raised a hand to rub his brow, and said in a deep voice:

"I have already sent people to look for her; they have searched carefully inside and outside the capital. She must be found."

Even so, the exhaustion and worry in his eyes could not be hidden.

Of course he knew that girl could not be lost. The first hospital in Tianqi had just opened, and the crown princes of two countries were arriving in the capital soon for the smallpox vaccine; every single matter affected the fate of the nation.

And Aoyu was returning soon... When Quan Aoyu went on the expedition, he had promised to look after that girl. Now that she was lost, how could he answer to his son?

Just then, a young eunuch ran over in a hurry, "Your Majesty, Empress, the Crown Prince has returned."

A flash of joy crossed the eyes of both the Emperor and Empress.

The Empress’s face immediately bloomed with a smile, sweeping away her previous worry.

Then, a hurried and familiar sound of footsteps came from outside the hall.

The Empress’s figure stiffened; she stood up subconsciously, her gaze fixed on the palace door.