The Little Consort's
Eps. 92: The Hunt for Exhortation
The search for the former Grand Prince, Long Ji Yu, continued for the next two weeks. All corners of the Dongling Kingdom have been traced, ranging from gambling houses, brothels, inns, restaurants, even to empty houses. But what is sought is very good at hiding. The royal soldiers have not been able to find any trace of him until now.
Seeing the increasingly chaotic situation, Li Anlan inevitably had to intervene. From the very beginning he was already involved, hence he could not take a single step back. The bastard Long Ji Yu must be immediately arrested and tried, so that the royal party can give an explanation to the people and the entire population of Dongling Kingdom.
It was not Li Anlan his name if he could not find a way to capture Long Ji Yu. Just like Han Jinxi's capture, one needed to be bait for a big fish like Long Ji Yu to be caught without having to spill the blood of many people. If the soldiers could not do it, then he himself would intervene.
“No, can't!” reject Long Ji Man as Li Anlan proposes himself into bait to catch Long Ji Yu.
“Your Majesty, he's after me. Why don't we just give him a chance?”
“No. That's very dangerous. Huang An, don't take any more risks!”
“Yang Mulia, please.”
“I made you as Grand Empress nobility not to sacrifice yourself!”
“Your Majesty, come on,” force Li Anlan.
“Once no yes no!”
This stubborn king is so annoying. In fact, the golden opportunity was clearly displayed in plain sight. If Long Ji Man allowed it, then not only Long Ji Yu would be caught, but his entire plot would also be revealed. A high-class criminal like an old man did not know himself it must have many minions behind him.
Since Long Ji Man did not allow it, then Li Anlan could only act on his own. He could only rely on himself to cope with all these unpleasant situations. He hoped, after Long Ji Yu was caught, his life could calm down again. Since the verge of his death one month ago, Li Anlan had not encountered any peaceful days.
The woman returned to Xingyue Palace with a cocky feeling. Quick move. Sometimes he curses while kicking the air. Houchi Lake, where the story begins, shines under the light of the moon. The water is rippled by the wind.
The Grand Empress tightened her robe. It's almost mid-autumn, but the air is already like winter. He thought, his first autumn in Dongling Kingdom would be filled with pleasure. On the contrary, his first autumn here precisely had to be missed with a life-defying arduous task.
In the past, in the modern world, Li Anlan always spent mid-autumn by going to the mountains where trees and bushes molt. He used to go with his mountaineering club which consisted of men and women of different ages of nature lovers. How fun those moments were. Li Anlan did not need to bother thinking about the burden of life that was on his shoulders, unlike his life here.
Ah, she suddenly missed. What are your friends in the world doing now?
Speaking of going up the mountain, he suddenly thought of Feiyun Mountain. The mountain was blackened from the royal palace area. Moonlight cannot penetrate the cracks of trees and bushes. At night, the mountain was not much different from a blackened mound of earth.
Right, Feiyun Mountain! It was the only location that the palace soldiers had not checked! Since the place is protected and should not be touched by the king's order, then anyone would not think that it is the most perfect hiding place!
Li Anlan accelerated his pace. When he reached his palace, he immediately packed up. It's not good to waste too much time. The sooner he goes, the better. No matter the night or day, climbing a mountain is something that is very fun and challenging! He will ride alone to satisfy his desires while searching for the mighty villain!
The woman walked quietly through the back gate of Hongwu Palace. The careless guard allowed Li Anlan to pass through easily. One did not realize that the Grand Empress was not in her palace tonight. Even the night beast did not know of his slick and hidden departure.
Li Anlan walked down the path he had once walked along with Long Ji Man. A strong memory of the mountain tracks makes the journey feel easy and smooth. She, a woman, dared to climb the mountain alone at night without fear or worry. His body was firm and his steps were fast. Although a heavy burden was on his back, he still walked towards the top.
Li Anlan shone his flashlight towards the front and side, making sure the path he was going through was correct and not leading him to the abyss.
Night animals in action are mostly surprised because the light is highlighted so bright, that they immediately fly or run away.
Even so, Li Anlan continued walking down the path until he arrived at a familiar place.
...***...
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!” Xie Roulan shouted as he dashed into the gates of Hongwu Palace. The servant's face was panicked and filled with sweat.
“Roulan, why are you shouting at the King's Palace?” xiao Biqi asked half-whimpering.
“Wire! Eunuch Bi, my Nyonyaku is gone!”
“Lost? The noble Consort is missing?” xiao Biqi asked confirming his hearing.
“Really! The backpack doesn't exist!”
Now it was Xiao Biqi's turn to be a peasant. Lothawat! The noble Empress disappeared again! His Majesty the King will definitely be angry!
“Who's missing?” asked a voice from inside Hongwu Palace.
Long Ji Man came out with his royal official robe. He had just finished cleaning himself up, but the voice of the woman and her eunuch up ahead caught his attention.
He vaguely heard the woman mention the nickname of the mistress, while his eunuch offended the Noble Empress. For this reason, he came out to confirm the truth.
Xiao Biqi and Xie Roulan lowered their heads in salute. No one knows how fast their heart beats without rules. His king's authority was too great and his aura too strong, so both of them could not look at their king's face with their heads held high. Plus, they were at a loss to explain what because their king would definitely ask about the truth of something they had said a moment ago.
“Your Highness,” said Xie Roulan slowly.
“Who's missing?”
“Nyo-Monya is missing,” she replied timidly.
“What?”
“Mistress is missing since last night.”
Long Ji Man was glued. So, Li Anlan hasn't been in his palace since last night? Where did the woman go after returning home from Hongwu Palace? Did he fall and sink back into Lake Houchi? No, it's not possible. No one would dare to harm the Royal Empress at a time like this. The possibility of harm is very small because the guard at Harem Palace is very tight and all members of the royal family are under the supervision of palace soldiers.
In his confusion and confusion, Long Ji Man suddenly thought of a place he might never have expected: Feiyun Mountain! Yesterday, when the woman asked for permission to make herself a bait, Long Ji Man immediately thought that his uncle was hiding in a protected place. The only place that is protected and has not been checked is Feiyun Mountain and its protected forest area. Li Anlan must have gone to that place last night!
“Tianshi!”
Wang Tianshi suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
“Ya His Highness.”
“Command the main warrior to prepare, follow me somewhere!”
“Good, Your Majesty! Servant will execute command.”
After preparing with some of the best troops of the kingdom, Long Ji Man went to Feiyun Mountain on the path he used to pass. On the morning of that sunny day, a group of people lined up with weapons and full uniforms.
Up ahead, Long Ji Man led like a general ready for battle.
This is not war, this is a hunt that determines life or death. This is a real autumn hunt. It is not the animal that is being hunted, but truth and justice. A traitorous criminal is being hunted down for his life and death to determine victory.
On a somewhat flat land, Long Ji Man ordered his best troops to split up. The terrain on this mountain is quite difficult, if clustered then it is the same as a lie. His army was split to search in five directions. He himself went towards the Feiyun Mountain Guesthouse. Long Ji Man wished that the woman was there. He did not expect that Li Anlan would actually feed himself.
In the middle of the day, Long Ji Man arrived in front of the Feiyun Mountain Guesthouse. The wooden gate that was fencing the building opened, a sign that someone had entered it. A glimmer of hope shimmered, Li Anlan might just be there. Long Ji Man got off the horse, then he walked inside the guesthouse area.
The door is unlocked. Inside the room, there were several modern items belonging to Li Anlan scattered everywhere. Long Ji Man began to search every corner of the cottage meticulously while shouting. Only the sound of the wind and the sound of forest animals answered his every scream. She's panicking. As much as possible he controlled himself not to run and behave rashly.
“What is my beloved niece doing in this remote place?” A voice diverted Long Ji Man's attention. The man looked back.
Long Ji Yu stood arrogantly while holding onto an object. It was rectangular in shape and looked very familiar. The cellphone! It was Li Anlan's phone!
“Where is the Royal Empress?” long Ji Man asked as he looked at his uncle.
“Ah, so you came all the way to find your wife?”
“Uncle, he has absolutely nothing to do with all this!”
“Oh really? My dear niece, you're wrong. If not for the appearance of that woman, long ago the throne would have been mine!”
“Uncle! If my grandfather or father knew this, they would definitely be very disappointed!”
Long Ji Yu laughed out loud.
“What am I crying over the disappointment of a dead person?”
Long Ji Man's anger had already gone up. Seeing the face of the uncle who became a teacher as well as a traitor, he became very angry. That face was the same face that taught him kindness, as well as the face that made him reap hatred that he never planted.
“Restore Huang An!”
“Man’er, no exclamation if this hunt is always won by you. Today, this year, this hunt will be my biggest win!”
Long Ji Man advanced, about to attack Long Ji Yu. His legendary sword he had already taken out of the scabbard. However, his steps came to a halt when he saw a woman being pushed in from the outside by several people. The woman's face was covered in bruises and her entire body was injured.
“Huang An!”
“Your Majesty? What are you doing here?”
Li Anlan frowned as she watched her husband stand up while holding a sword. Last night, he accidentally fell and rolled until his body was covered in wounds, then Long Ji Yu's subordinates found him and brought him here.
Based on Li Anlan's judgment, Long Ji Yu's subordinates must have known about the Feiyun Mountain Guesthouse a long time ago. Long Ji Yu made him a hostage to lure Long Ji Man. The man knew that his nephew must have come to find his missing wife. In fact, it was all Li Anlan himself. He went of his own accord, without any coercion from anyone.
“Huang An, haven't I banned you?”
“Hehehe. Look, the big fish you want to catch are even interested in this place!”
The woman did not look scared at all. Long Ji Yu then thrust his sharp sword at Li Anlan's neck while looking intently at his nephew.
“If you want your beloved wife to survive, put down your sword and give me your throne!”
Long Ji Man was confused. If he advanced, the sword in his uncle's hand would swipe Li Anlan's neck. If he did not advance, he would have to hand over the throne of his kingdom to a selfless jerk. The man saw Li Anlan at a glance. He caught a signal saying he had to wait for a while. Although a little hesitant, Long Ji Man decided to buy some time.
“You choose your wife or throne?”
“Hey, evil uncle, can you keep that little sharp object out of my neck? It was so cold!”
“Shut! A woman like you better not talk much!”
“I have a mouth, of course I have to talk!”
Long Ji Yu began to realize that these two people were stalling for time. Long Ji Yu drew his sword closer to Li Anlan's neck. But, without her guessing, there was a commotion out there. The sound of clashing weapons echoing filled the air.
...***...