The Little Consort's
Eps. 80: Finding the Soul

Horrible night, not only happened in the King's Palace. That terrible night spread throughout the city, even to all corners of the Dongling Kingdom. The sky that was originally bright by the moonlight suddenly turned pitch-black. Earth's natural satellite chose to hide behind a roll of black clouds that marched covering the entire airspace of the kingdom.

They seem to know that someone who is flattered by more than two million people is missing something valuable. Nature seems to be saddened by the events that have befallen the leaders of the people and the special people who appear after hundreds of years.

Early autumn, not a flower that had fallen, but the precious human soul had been fragile.

In Xingyue Palace, Long Ji Man continued to guard Li Anlan the entire time. The man no longer cared about the amount of work that piled up. He only cared about his Royal Empress, for the woman who had already made her days feel more colorful.

When Tao Zhun said that the chances of a woman's life were very small, Long Ji Man did not believe him. She was sure this woman would soon wake up, open her eyes, and speak as usual. Li Anlan was a strong woman, she could definitely get through all of this.

Everyone in the Royal Palace was thoroughly examined and interrogated. They were one by one taken to the detention room to be questioned about their activities today in an honest and detailed manner. There's no word tomorrow for an examination, no word later to interrogate.

Long Ji Man solemnly swore he would find the culprit. Whoever did it and whatever his office was, he'll never let go. He would definitely draw his sword into the chest of the perpetrator, shred the corpse and throw it into the forest to be a wolf meal.

"Huang An, until when are you going to fall asleep?" long Ji Man said as he continued to hold Li Anlan's cold and pias hands.

"Didn't you always want to go to Feiyun Mountain? I will allow you as long as you open your eyes" Long Ji Man said. Slowly, her tears returned.

Long Ji Man, had a huge fear. Today, his fear was already on the verge of breaking down. He can't hold it anymore. The only thing he was afraid of after meeting this woman was her departure.

Could it be that Li Anlan was returning to her world as the woman had told her so often? Could he really go back there? Did he really not want to return to Dongling, return to his side, and accompany him to old age?

Why did this woman still not want to wake up as well?

Imagining that Li Anlan had truly returned to her world, it truly made Long Ji Man's heart ache tremendously. At any time, he would never allow this woman to return or go anywhere. No matter how and whatever the reason, the woman still had to be by his side alive or dead!

Long Ji Man got up, then walked towards the closet. The man was looking for his wife's mountain backpack and equipment. But the thing that was sought did not exist. There was only a pile of hanfu and the robe of the Noble Empress hanging in the closet.

Long Ji Man looked elsewhere again. Just like before, he could not find the backpack either. The only tool he found was a small compass that Li Anlan often used to determine directions. The compass dropped as Long Ji Man opened a drawer containing writing equipment.

On the chair, the man played the compass. He thought back to the possibility that happened today. Li Anlan's belongings suddenly disappeared, while the owner fell alone to the bottom of the lake and nearly died. Yes, Long Ji Man thought that the perpetrator had really planned everything carefully. The culprit must have stolen Li Anlan's belongings after pushing her into the lake. Otherwise, it was possible for the items to simply vanish without a trace.

"Huang An, you really have the heart to see me like this? Look, I'm even so drenched!"

"You're gonna cut my paycheck if you don't open your eyes immediately!"

Where should he look for this woman's soul? Where could he find the true existence of Li Anlan, Li Anlan who had been his special advisor, became the Nobles Empress and became someone he desperately defended?

Not even a single trace of it could be found!

Long Ji Man finally realized, the pain would be even more pronounced when he could no longer hold a warm hand and lost it when someone had gone far away. Li Anlan was indeed not dead, but her circumstances were now much worse than that of a dying person.

"Sorry, Huang An. I arrived late," said Long Ji Man while shedding tears.

If only he had come home early to Hongwu Palace, he would have met this woman in his cheerful face. If only he had come and found her earlier, her life would definitely not have been threatened like this. In the end, Long Ji Man could only blame himself.

He, as a king, was not even able to protect his own wife.

"I will definitely find the culprit and punish him for you!"

Long Ji Man kissed Li Anlan's forehead gently. It was never expected that the woman who would win her heart was a wild woman who was disrespectful but with integrity like Li Anlan, not a gentle woman who was forever subject to court and palace rules. The eccentric woman had made a complicated knot in Long Ji Man's heart unraveled.

Long Ji Man turned his head. A beautiful man ran in with an extremely anxious face. The man took a few steps back to make room for the beautiful man. When the beautiful man arrived at the edge of the bed, the beautiful man immediately sat down listlessly.

"May-may, what happened? Why are you being like this?" li Afan asked repeatedly, without reply from people who were asked or who heard the question.

Li Afan immediately rushed to the palace as Wang Tianshi came as the envoy of His Majesty the King, relaying the message that the Royal Empress is in deep trouble. Li Afan had not even had time to bathe and shut down Pavilion Lanxin properly. The atmosphere in Xingyue Palace was extremely cold as the man set foot on its gate.

"Your Majesty, what happened to my sister?" Li Afan turned around to ask.

"Huang An, he, he drowned in Houchi Lake," said Long Ji Man, powerless to withstand the weight of the sound and water that pooled in the eye sinks.

"What's? Is he a duck who just learned to swim? Nah! My sister is not a person who can't survive in the water!"

"I knew. Someone might have poisoned him to the point that Huang An couldn't survive."

"I'd guess. Anlan, what did I say? Didn't I tell you to get out of the palace and leave the capital? Look what's happening to you now! How do I explain it to mom and dad?"

"You, can blame me," Long Ji Man said softly. He was so resigned if the beautiful man who became his sister-in-law was angry and beat him. Even though he was a king, in the presence of these two brothers, he felt very small and was nothing.

"If you want to blame, then find the right person to blame. My brother made his own life decisions. Because he chose to stay and survive in the palace, then this is the consequence that he must face," said Li Afan. He hates weak men who only know how to blame themselves.

"After all, this is common. Any dynasty, any era, any time, any woman's problem is always complex and dizzying."

"Aren't you mad at me?"

"For what? Is my anger going to make my sister come back to her senses?"

"Then, do you know of a secret that Huang An has?"

"You mean that he's not from this world? From the beginning, I felt it. No matter if he comes from this world or another world, he is still my younger brother, my only brother. Even if there were nine, a hundred, or a thousand worlds, Li Anlan would still be my younger brother."

Long Ji Man looked down deeply. The deep affection of an older brother that Li Afan showed Li Anlan was truly embarrassing. He had many younger siblings, but could not get close to them and was required to be always vigilant. If only he could be like Li Afan who loved his family no matter what his status and background, then his life would probably be happier.

There is nothing wrong with being understanding and caring.

"If that were true, would you cooperate with me?"

"What can I do for you, Your Majesty?"

"I want to find and punish the culprit as soon as possible. Can you help me?"

Li Afan nodded. This was the only way to avenge his sister. This was the only way to teach a bad person a lesson for already daring to play around with a life!

On a dark night filled with sadness, two men from different family backgrounds seriously tortured next to a woman lying down. Long Ji Man and Li Afan exchanged information and strategies, hoping that the culprit would soon be found and punished.

They will definitely find that person!

...***...