The Little Consort's
Eps. 59: Search
The atmosphere in Hongwu Palace felt very tense in the afternoon. Long Ji Man was gloomy and cold-faced. The man threw a pile of documents arranged on the desk until scattered. Xiao Biqi repeatedly said that everything would be fine, but in vain because the heart of his king was already shrouded in black fog.
Li Anlan had been gone for a long time, but never returned. The man had sent someone to go find out to the Royal Academy, but they said that the Royal Empress had left since noon. If taken into account in terms of distance and duration of the trip, Li Anlan should have arrived from earlier. But the woman did not see her nose until now.
If the woman stopped somewhere, then her guards would definitely be there. Riding the royal horse-drawn carriage accompanied by bodyguards and servants will definitely attract the attention of many people, so if anyone asks, they will definitely answer to have seen the motorcade. The subordinate that Long Ji Man sent to the Royal Academy did not find any clues. The people he asked said they did not see the royal horse-drawn carriage crossing the city.
Wang Tianshi who was also sent by Long Ji Man suddenly entered through the window. The breathing of the king's personal bodyguards was wheezing like they had been chased by a demon. In front of his king, Wang Tianshi lowered his head in salute, then reported the results of the search he had conducted with some secret bodyguards.
“Your Highness, we found a report that one of the townspeople saw a horse carriage with many escorts speeding towards Linghua Hill Slope.”
“For what Li Anlan to get there?”
“Your Majesty, we found the horse carriage with the guards and servants dead in the forest Linghua.”
How shocked Long Ji Man was when Wang Tianshi said that Li Anlan's horse carriage was in the forest. Linghua Forest is a forest included in the protected forest area of Feiyun Mountain, which cannot be carelessly entered by people. How could his carriage possibly reach the forbidden forest? There must be something wrong with all of this. Long Ji Man was further enraged that the bodyguards and servants who were Li Anlan's attendants were found lifeless.
“How about the Royal Empress?”
“Your Majesty, we did not find Mrs Huang. However, the stamp is still on the car and all of its luggage is intact.”
Long Ji Man kicked the table. Xiao Biqi and Wang Tianshi were really unable to temper the anger of their king. This was the first time they had seen such an angry king, more frightening than when officials opposed the appointment of the Royal Empress. The king's two servants knew that their king was worried, but were unable to show it in public until the worry turned to anger.
Damnit damnit! There must be someone who wants to play around with Long Ji Man. The bastards were again targeting Li Anlan. This is the third time. Those villains really made Long Ji Man lose his temper. They dared to kidnap Li Anlan when she was not by his side. Really sucks!
Long Ji Man's final decision was to look for the woman himself! His secret bodyguards could not be deployed just like that, so that their existence remained a secret. Long Ji Man could not fully order them to search for the Noble Empress as it would definitely cause a commotion and make the villains, as well as his main enemy wary. This time, he had to act carefully. Those criminals might be twice as strong as before.
The man ordered Xiao Biqi to remain on guard at Hongwu Palace. He advised that if Empress Dowager Han Yuemei or Empress Jin were to look for him, Xiao Biqi would have to answer that he was on urgent business. Long Ji Man also asked the guards of Hongwu Palace to stay on alert and tighten guard, lest there be any gaps for spies or scum-junk motherfuckers enter. He himself directly went through the gate in the backyard of Hongwu Palace with Xiao Biqi. There, his quick horse was already available.
After Long Ji Man died, Empress Dowager Han Yuemei actually came to Hongwu Palace with Empress Jin. The goal was to discuss marriage with the daughter of a neighboring country that could be used as a way to strengthen power. Political marriage, maybe. However, the Queen Mother had to be disappointed that her son was not there. He then asked Xiao Biqi where the king had gone and why Xiao Biqi had not come along. Xiao Biqi replied as per Long Ji Man. However, Empress Dowager Han Yuemei was not a foolish woman who would believe the words of a personal eunuch of the king.
“Say, where did His Majesty the King go?”
“Your Majesty is having a sudden affair, Taihou niang-niang.”
“Say once again! Where did His Majesty go?” The Queen Mother asked again.
Xiao Biqi was at a loss as to what to answer. The Queen Mother constantly urged him, forcing him to tell her what was really going on. In the end, Xiao Biqi couldn't resist the Empress Mother's insistence on him so he said the truth. Let the consequences be borne later after Long Ji Man returns.
“Your Majesty go look for the Grand Empress, Taihou niang-niang.”
“Isn't he in the palace?”
“The Royal Empress was assigned to the Royal Academy but has not yet returned,” Xiao Biqi continued.
“Why?” This time, Empress Jin asked. He also wondered why the king had come out of the palace.
“There were reports that his horse carriage was in Linghua forest. All the guards and servants were killed, but the Grand Empress disappeared without a trace.”
Empress Dowager and Empress Jin were no less surprised. They thought the Grand Empress was just taking a walk. Unexpectedly, the train was in the forbidden forest. Something serious is definitely going on, given that the region despite being protected by the state, but is very dangerous as many criminals and murderers are in hiding.
“Any. My son is a very cold man towards women. Why did she intervene for the sake of her Royal Empress?”
Han Jinxi or Empress Jin shook her head. She also had no idea why her legal husband could behave like that. For nearly five years of her marriage, she had never seen Long Ji Man that caring to a woman. He himself was never cared for until that. Long Ji Man was always cold and always avoided contact with his wives. Although Long Ji Man was sometimes gentle, he and Long Ji Man also only interacted during formal situations or when the Queen Mother invited him to Hongwu Palace alone. The rest, a pair of Kings and Empresses lived their own lives.
“Ya. Jinxi, we'll be back when the King comes home.”
Empress Jin who did not say much nodded. The two women who were favored by the king then left Hongwu Palace, returning to the Harem Palace complex. Xiao Biqi was able to breathe a sigh of relief as one of his burdens was gone. He really hoped that his king could soon find Li Anlan and bring her back to the palace safely.
Meanwhile, in the Linghua forest, Li Anlan who was hit on the shoulder had just regained consciousness. As he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was a hollow wooden ceiling. The voice he first heard was that of a woman who was whispering like she was talking about herself. Li Anlan massaged his shoulders with his hands while looking around to clarify the situation.
“Am I in heaven?” ask him to yourself. Wait, if he's in heaven, it shouldn't be this kind of sight that he sees. Li Anlan was supposed to see the beautiful trees and gardens, as well as the sweet milk river. Not a scene like this in a dirty old hut like this.
“Who is this beautiful woman?”
“What is she a Goddess?”
“The wear is very beautiful, definitely expensive.”
“Why can he be here?”
Li Anlan complained as the women whose hands and feet were tied talked about her. This noble Empress Cloak is truly an unlucky carrier. If only he had gone to wear ordinary hanfu, he probably wouldn't have been as miserable as he was now. Li Anlan looked at the women sitting not far from him. Their clothes were shabby and makeshift, hair a little disheveled and face dull. One look, Li Anlan was able to confirm that these women were poor townspeople aka vagrants.
“Hey lady, what did you say? Sale?”
“Yes. Women brought here will be sold to slave market.”
“Hah, that's right! Those motherfuckers dared kidnap me!” Li Anlan cursed the kidnappers who brought him here.
“Nona, are you a Goddess? Your clothes are very beautiful and your face is very beautiful.”
“Not.”
“Are you a fairy?”
“Peries only exist in fairyland.”
“Then who are you?”
“My name is Li Anlan. People call me Li Huang An.”
The women who were bound were shocked. They look at each other. Li Huang An, the Grand Empress who has been the topic of heated discussions lately? Really him? The women really did not expect! Her clothes were beautiful and her face was beautiful. It turned out that this was the form of the third Royal Empress in the history of Dongling Kingdom in three hundred years!
“By the way, where are we?” li Anlan asked curiously.
“They said this Fort Duanrou,” replied one of the women.
“Duanrou Fort? Why is his name so strange?”
“Sst.. Madam, you mustn't talk carelessly. If it gets heard, they'll get mad and kill you.”
“If I see the face of a bunch of fuckers, I'll burn their base!”
Li Anlan was really angry. How dare they interrupt his journey. He should now be resting quietly in Xingyue Palace or in the garden of Houchi Lake while enjoying the twilight sun. Because of that bunch of cowards, he lost his precious time and was instead stranded here with these women. Li Anlan thought hard, looking for a way to escape. However, the ties in his legs and hands were so tight that they could not be opened.
“How long have you been held here?”
“We've been in this place since two weeks ago, Mrs.”
“Why did you get here?”
“They caught us while we were walking at night. Madam, can you help us? We do not want to be sold in slave market,” beg one of the women.
Li Anlan exhaled. He himself had no clarity on his own safety. But these women are innocent. Li Anlan as a woman could not let them be sold like an item. If he was able to, he also wanted to save these women. The most important thing now is to save himself first, then save the others.
If only Long Ji Man were here. The man would definitely instantly slaughter those bastards who dared to kidnap the Royal Noble Empress Dongling. Too bad, she was kidnapped in the middle of the forest and left no trace that could be a clue if the man was looking for her. Li Anlan really hoped that Long Ji Man would realize that he did not return to the palace, so that the man could immediately look for him.
Li Anlan lamented. It's almost night. The air is getting cold.
In the Linghua forest, Long Ji Man and Wang Tianshi along with some new secret warriors arrived. The bodies of the bodyguards and servants had been cleared by some subordinates until all that was left was a horse carriage. Items such as the Royal Empress's stamp, money pouch, and several other necessities have been successfully secured. Fortunately, the kidnappers did not rob and take his stamp.
"Find him at all costs!"
"Okay, Your Majesty."
The secret soldiers built by the king simultaneously answered, then scattered away in all directions. Long Ji Man and Wang Tianshi headed east, towards the slopes of Feiyun Mountain. The leaves that fell from the tree were exposed like footprints. Not only that, the leaves are also like marks dragged something.
As if getting a hint, Long Ji Man increasingly infiltrated further into the forest. The atmosphere was getting quieter, it was getting dark. Long Ji Man followed the trail of leaves while lighting a fire from the bamboo lighters that happened to be tucked in his robe. The lighting becomes quite clear.
Eventually, the trail stopped in a valley. Long Ji Man gazed across the valley, into the blackened grove of trees and shrubs unexposed to light.
"The trace stops here" Long Ji Man said.
"Your Majesty, it looks like this trail leads to the headquarters of the Feiyun Mountain bandits!" w.a.n.g Tianshi exclaimed after confirming Long Ji Man's line of sight.
"How dare they kidnap the royal family!"
...***...