The tall shadow carried the sack over his shoulder as he leapt across the roofs, from time to time looking back to see if that unlucky general was giving chase, suddenly there was a whoosh, the shadow was startled when he heard a calm voice call out in the quiet space, "Yuchi Gong Ru!"
The tall shadow faltered, he turned to look, someone had actually discovered his identity, it wasn't fun at all.
Not too far away, Chi Feng smiled standing on top of a carriage, Yuchi Gong Ru believed he had been very careful, but didn't notice that at some point this carriage had come into the alley, just now he was indeed in a rush but he didn't even hear the sound of horse hooves, the only explanation was, this carriage was already there before.
Chi Feng clapped his hand, men in black appeared around the roof with long bows in their hands, the strings were drawn, sharp tips aimed at Yuchi Gong Ru, with just an order, no matter how great the other person's martial arts was, he wouldn't be able to avoid so many arrows.
He raised his hand rubbing his chin, thinking about how he would be able to escape from this situation.
Chi Feng said: "Put down the sack, I'll let you go!"
A trace of a wicked smile appeared on Yuchi Gong Ru's lips, he didn't expect this set up wasn't to capture him, he looked at the sack in his arms, he had already infiltrated the Dongqi capital two days ago, tonight he had been bored lying on the roof looking at stars, thinking about what fun thing to annoy the Dongqi emperor with, he happened to come across the kidnapping at Dayan's relay station, even though he didn't know who was in the sack, he was interested in sticking his nose into it.
Yuchi Gong Ru train of thoughts turned, he curled his lips: "Are you serious?"
Chi Feng nodded, "Of course, it's more real than gold and silver."
Yuchi Gong Ru raised his hands, tossing the sack in his arms in Chi Feng's direction, not caring at all if the person inside would suffer internal wounds from such a fall.
"See you again!" Yuchi Gong Ru smiled, jumping to a tall tree.
Rustling sounds closely followed after him, Yuchi Gong Ru bared his teeth and cursed: "Damn it, you lied!"
Chi Feng narrowed his eyes smiling like a fox, "I said I'll let you leave, but I didn't say arrows won't be sent after you!"
"This prince will remember you!" Yuchi Gong Ru's voice gradually faded.
Chi Feng waved his hand, two people suddenly appeared in the dark, catching the sack in mid-air, they landed in front of the carriage.
Chi Feng climbed down from the roof, his movements rather stiff, no longer confident as before, "Place it inside the carriage."
"Prime minister, do we still give chase to that person?" The guard asked.
Chi Feng shook his head, "Let him be lucky today, return to the palace!" Having spoken he pushed the curtain aside and entered the carriage.
"Yes!" The guard immediately ordered the troop to retreat.
When Chi Feng and the others had just left, general Zhi Hao was on his way but couldn't find a single trace, "Damn wretch, where did he go!"
They had disappeared much too quickly, he had never suffered such a loss before!
Zhi Hao searched around but found nothing, deflated he returned to the bamboo forest, Bai Mo was already no longer sleepy, brewing a pot of tea he awaited Zhi Hao's news, he was very excited to hear how Xiao Yi Chen reacted in seeing his "surprise".
Bai Mo prepared the tea: "Seeing you covered in dirt and grime, were you berated by the emperor?"
Zhi Hao's lips twitched, sitting down opposite Bai Mo, he suddenly slapped the table getting angrier with every thought, the teapot and cups on the table shook, Bai Mo was so surprised he chocked on the tea.
Zhi Hao said: "Damn it, I came across a ghost today..." He spoke of his misfortune, at the end he said, "Tell me, is that a ghost, my light martial arts is pretty good, I went around the city, but couldn't even find a trace of that ghost."
Bai Mo looked sympathetically at Zhi Hao who was unable to accomplish anything but spoiled everything, "So you're saying, you're angry that someone was able to snatch someone from your hands?"
Brother, it's not that I'm not reminding you, your about to face a calamity, wait for your demotion!
Zhi Hao said: "Exactly, I've been victorious all these years but not met many experts, now that I have, when I find that person I must have a proper exchange."
Bai Mo's face was full of black lines listening to him, brother, your way of thinking, really is worrying.
Bai Mo coughed: "When you came over did you see the second prince and his men from the Dayan relay station looking for someone?"
Zhi Hao said: "Of course I saw them, that Dayan second prince even asked me what I was doing in the streets so late?"
Bai Mo asked: "How did you respond?"
Zhi Hao patted his chest: "My chest suddenly hurt, maybe an old wound is flaring up, I'm going outside the city to find Bai Mo for some medicine."
Bai Mo's head was full of black lines, fortunately this guy wasn't that stupid, his excuse was pretty good.
Zhi Hao leaned over to Bai Mo: "What, you were afraid I can't lie, I came to tell you, what happened tonight, you know and I know, don't let any other person find out."
Bai Mo nodded, he didn't like to look for trouble, he was just afraid someone in the palace would someone know exactly what happened outside of it...
The sun rose above the horizon, illuminating all corners of the land, with a bang a door was broken, it was deafening, Ji Ling Xue's long eyelashes fluttered.
"Damn girl, you're still not waking up to work, don't think just because you look quite pretty you can skip work."
"Pa!" A whip hit the quilt, the whoosh scared Ji Ling Xue into opening her eyes, confused she looked at the old lady standing in front of her with her hands on her hips.
Ji Ling Xue blinked, then blinked again, was she dreaming!
Wasn't she at the relay station waiting for Ru Ge to go look for Mo Xiang at prince Chen's residence? How did she wait until the sun rose?
There seemed to be something wrong, where was she right now, why was there an angry woman in front of her, holding a whip and scowling at her?
"Damn girl, what are you looking at me for, get up and work, don't think you can goof off!" As she spoke she brandished the whip, scaring Ji Ling Xue into jumping up.
The woman pulled back and angrily said: "Quickly go wash the vegetables just delivered to the courtyard!"
Ji Ling Xue didn't move, she took two steps back to keep a safe distance from the woman in front of her before saying: "What is this place, do you know who I am?"
The woman put her hands on her hips, looking Ji Ling Xue up and down she said: "This is the rear courtyard of the imperial kitchen, who are you, aren't you a maid eunuch Ru brought over yesterday, don't think I'll be easy on you just because you entered the palace by relying on someone, I hate people like you who use nepotism."
"Imperial...imperial kitchen?!" Ji Ling Xue looked up at the sky, she felt miserable, why was she in the palace and was so close to Xiao Yi Chen?
Thinking up to this point Ji Ling Xue raised her hand and touched her face, she was stunned to discover the mask had come off.
Ji Ling Xue: Damn the heavens, mother, can someone please tell me what is going on?
Inside the imperial study, Ru Ge stood in front of Xiao Yi Chen smiling, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
Xiao Yi Chen raised his head from the pile of memorials to look at him, smiling: "Ru Ge, what happened so early this morning, you seem to be worried?"
Ru Ge cupped his hands, he had been waiting early in the morning outside the imperial study, he had waited for two hours before seeing Xiao Yi Chen.
Ru Ge said: "Sorry to boldly interrupt your majesty's relaxed mood but I do indeed have something I need to ask."
Xiao Yi Chen nodded, waiting for Ru Ge to continue.
Ru Ge said: "Yesterday my sister Zhi Xue disappeared!"
Xiao Yi Chen stood up in shock, "Princess Zhi Xue has disappeared, when did this happen, how, why are you only telling me this now, did you not know the optimal time to look for someone is four hours after disappearance."
Ru Ge had continued to observe Xiao Yi Chen's reaction, he was certain Xiao Yi Chen wasn't lying, if it wasn't Xiao Yi Chen, who else would have kidnapped Ji Ling Xue?
Ru Ge said: "Very late last night I had taken a look after hearing some strange movements in the room next door, I didn't expect Zhi Xue's window to be open, but there was no trace of Zhi Xue, the guards I have searched for an entire night, there were no clues whatsoever, that's why I have come to earnestly ask your majesty to help me look."
Xiao Yi Chen waved his hand, "We understand, someone come, summon the general patrolling the city last night, we will investigate this thoroughly, someone dares to cause trouble in the capital, carrying out a kidnapping."
The general of the patrol soon arrived, after greeting Xiao Yi Chen, he cupped his hand at Ru Ge: "I'm very sorry such a thing happened last night under my watch, I didn't see anyone suspicious leave the city, most likely the princess is still in the city, this subordinate is willing to redeem himself by leading the search for the princess, please your majesty, prince, allow me to."
Xiao Yi Chen nodded, waving his large hand, saying straightforwardly, "En, go, look into this properly to give the second prince an explanation."
Sending Ru Ge away, Xiao Yi Chen leaned against the back of his chair with his eyes closed, after a moment there was a light knock at the door, the eunuch in charge of internal affairs opened the door and came in, "Your majesty, breakfast is ready, where do you want to eat?"
Xiao Yi Chen nodded, "Here will be fine, in a bit invite Chi Feng over."
The inner affair eunuch stealthily placed the food down and left, Xiao Yi Chen put down the memorial in his hand and came to the dining table, recently his appetite had been very bad, the imperial kitchen also changed the way they cooked.
Today's dishes seemed rather distinctive, Xiao Yi Chen picked up his chopsticks putting a piece of flaky pastry into his mouth as he chewed, he nodded his head: "This is almost the same as Ji Ling Xue's cooking"
Mentioning such a name, Xiao Yi Chen's heart throbbed, Ji Ling Xue why exactly did you leave us?
"Your majesty, you asked for this official!" Chi Feng's clear voice came from outside, promptly breaking off Xiao Yi Chen's melancholy.
"En." Xiao Yi Chen said, turning to beckon Chi Feng.
Chi Feng smiled as he entered, his gaze sweeping over the dishes by Xiao Yi Chen's side, he swallowed his saliva, half joking: "Did your majesty ask for this official to have breakfast with you?"
Xiao Yi Chen nodded, "Sit down."
Some things were better said on a full stomach, Chi Feng overwhelmed with favour sat down, picking up his chopsticks he ate heartily, after almost clearing all the dishes, he put down the chopsticks and smiled: "Your majesty, this subordinate is done."
Xiao Yi Chen's lips twitched: "How did the plan go yesterday?"
Chi Feng: "Everything went smoothly." He had successfully chased Yuchi Gong Ru away.
Xiao Yi Chen then said: "Ru Ge came to see us this morning, he said princess Zhi Xue is missing, did you know about this."
Chi Feng nodded, taking out something from his sleeve he passed it over to Xiao Yi Chen.