Ch. 721..725: The Princess of Northern Land Chapter 721-725
Chapter 721: Chapter 721 Mourning and Conspiracy (4)_1
"First, attend to the old lady’s funeral. You don’t have to visit the prison anymore." Marquis Li declared coldly.
His gaze on Yu’s family was almost poison. If it weren’t for the numerous guests in the Marquis Residence at that moment, he would have wanted to directly deal with the Yu family, just to spare his son-in-law from further disgrace in the eyes of Prince Ling.
"All of you should keep your mouth shut for me, or else don’t blame me for being heartless. Don’t forget that you are all descendants of the Li Family. A disgrace to one is a disgrace to all." Marquis Li issued his command coldly.
Madam Yu understood clearly that Marquis Li was prepared to abandon her. Perhaps, once the Li family had finished the old lady’s funeral, news of her sudden illness and death would follow.
How ruthless.
Madam Mu glared at Madam Yu, "Stay in the Residence these few days, don’t make a spectacle of yourself."
Madam Yu agreed with nods.
The fall of the You family did indeed affect the Li family deeply. This reflected in the way the mourners who came to pay their respects cast surprised glances at the Li family even while they offered condolences.
All the descendants of the Li family put on a nonchalant facade, and Prince Ling, Chu Suifeng, showed no signs of any disdain for the Li family.
"My lord, although we’ve managed to get rid of the grain, this loss isn’t small at all," a guard mournfully told the King Chu in the inn.
"The loss is indeed not small," Chu Suiyun replied with a cold smile, "I lost silver, but Prince Ling lost his beloved consort. Who do you think is unluckier?"
With that, he broke into a big laugh.
"Pass down my order to clear the road."
"Yes, your highness."
Lin Ziyin only appeared at the Marquis Residence the day before the funeral since she was just an external daughter-in-law and was in a period of mourning after the marriage.
The nobles and officials in Feng City did not criticize Lin Ziyin for this. After all, the status of Prince Ling’s wife was unquestionable, and the old lady had been meritorious in her early years. In this era with strict adherence to rank, the mere fact that Lin Ziyin and Chu Suiyun attended the Marquis Residence was considered a complete display of grace and duty to the old lady.
According to etiquette, Chu Suifeng didn’t need to keep the vigil as he was not a descendant of the Li family.
However, Chu Suifeng had a deep affection for the old lady. Over the years, the old lady had even replaced his deceased mother consort in his heart. So, Chu Suifeng decided to stay behind for the old lady’s last night in the world.
"The prince is just too sentimental." At night, Qin Momo and a few others sat down to chat with Lin Ziyin.
"The prince spent so many years in the Northern Land, and the old lady took care of him silently. In the prince’s heart, the old lady was almost like a mother. Besides, the old lady’s health also deteriorated due to her following the prince to the Northern Land. The prince feels guilty towards the old lady." Lin Ziyin understood Chu Suifeng’s decision. As a newlywed wife alone in an empty room, she believed that existence in the world was not just about marital relationships. Besides, she wouldn’t stoop to feel jealous of a deceased old woman.
"Your Highness, I will stay outside. If you need anything, just call for me." Qiaoqiao instructed her.
"Your Highness, I will stay with you too," Lun Luo followed suit.
"Enough, you all should go back and rest. The Wang Residence is heavily guarded, and Qiaoqiao is outside. Are you still afraid that I will fly away?" Lin Ziyin joked.
Indeed, the Wang Residence’s security was tight, and even a bird couldn’t fly in. There was really no need to worry about assassins.
"There is only one soft couch outside, and only one person can sleep on it. Where do we make room for another?" Lin Ziyin urged everyone, "Go wash up and sleep, we still have to get up early tomorrow to go to the Marquis Residence."
Chapter 722: Chapter 722 Mourning and Conspiracy (5)_1
"Yes, my lady." Under her urging, the maidservants including Lu Mamah also dispersed.
Alone in bed, Lin Ziyin tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Habits can be terrifying. It’s only been a few days since their marriage, but she had already gotten accustomed to having Chu Suifeng by her side.
While the snow continued to fall outside, the room remained warm. Qiaoqiao, who was sleeping in the outer room, had already fallen into a deep sleep, occasionally releasing soft snores. This girl’s heart was indeed big, and Lin Ziyin couldn’t help but laugh. Amidst Qiaoqiao’s snores, she gradually fell into sleep.
"Catch the assassin!" In the middle of the night, a sudden outcry resonated within the silent Wang Residence.
Hong Ying and the others woke up instantly. "Oh no."
Without bothering to put on their overcoats, they immediately drew their swords and raced to Lin Ziyin’s room.
The room was eerily quiet, without a single sound.
Lady Qin and Lady Lu had already hurried to the room. Something felt off.
The sight within the room immediately sent everyone into a panic. With all the commotion outside, even if Lin Ziyin was slumbering due to exhaustion, shouldn’t the night guard Qiaoqiao come out as well?
"Lady Wang, Qiaoqiao." Lady Qin cried out loudly.
But the room remained eerily silent.
Throwing caution to the wind, Lady Qin and the others finally broke the door open.
The room was pitch black and nothing could be seen. Lady Lu carried a lantern inside, immediately illuminating the room.
They saw Qiaoqiao sleeping soundly on the couch in the outer room, emitting soft snores. Despite so many people entering, this girl seemed not to have reacted at all.
"Something’s not right, the room feels so cold." Lun Luo exclaimed. Meanwhile, Lady Qin and Lady Lu had already dashed into the inner chamber.
"Lady Wang is missing." Lady Qin pulled aside the bed curtain, only to find that the person who should have been sleeping in the bed was nowhere to be found.
Lady Qin touched the quilt, it was cold. Looking up, she saw a person-sized hole in the roof directly above the bed.
Clearly, the assassin had kidnapped Lady Wang through there.
"What do we do?" With the Prince absent from the residence and Lady Wang disappearing right under their noses, a chill ran through Hong Ying and the others at this moment.
"Is Lady Wang alright?" Outside the room, the worried query of Bai Xian was heard.
"Lady Wang is missing." Lady Lu walked out, her face grim as she answered.
Bai Xian’s eyes widened in shock. "Don’t panic, I’ve already ordered the residence to be locked down and men to be dispatched for a search. Also, send someone to notify the Prince."
"Let’s split up and search. Don’t miss out on any room, or even the corners." Lady Lu anxiously instructed.
The Wang Residence’s guards were all well-trained, and even the maidens in Lin Ziyin’s courtyard were carefully selected by Chu Suifeng.
After Bai Xian assigned tasks, the guards in the Wang Residence awaited orders, beginning a carpet search.
"Hasn’t the assassin been caught yet?" A frail-sounding lady asked from her bed.
"I don’t know, mam. There was a commotion in the front yard, it’s getting louder and louder." Qingting answered quietly.
As they were talking, a commanding voice rang out from the courtyard, "Everyone, get dressed and assemble in the courtyard immediately."
The lady recognized the voice. It belonged to Lu Mamah, one of Lin Ziyin’s maids.
"What happened?" The lady asked.
Qingting shook her head, "I do not know, mam."
"Help me get up." The lady, trembling, rose from her bed, and began to get dressed. Meanwhile, the noise outside was getting louder.
As the lady emerged with Qingting, they saw that the courtyard was already filled with people.
Chapter 723: Chapter 723 Mourning and Conspiracy (6)_1
"What has happened?"
"Aren’t they merely capturing an assassin? Why are they stirring us up?"
"Could it be that the assassin has invaded our courtyard?"
...
"Quiet." Bai Xian spoke coldly, "Otherwise, we shall administer family discipline."
Upon hearing about the family discipline, the yard immediately fell silent.
"Search." Qin’s old nurse was frantic with anxiety; the weather was so cold. The princess had been abducted by an assassin. Could she withstand the freezing weather?
Everyone began to search.
The women in the backyard were somewhat discontented. They might not be favored, but they were, nominally at least, Prince Ling’s concubines or attendants. These armored men entered their rooms without uttering a single word causing an upheaval. Where could they place their dignity?
"Why aren’t you out yet?" An old woman led some people to a room, surprised to find people inside.
"Cough, ha, do you think someone in my state could go out?" The person inside laughed with a chilling sarcasm, filled with melancholy.
"My lady." The maid by her side sobbed, "My lady’s fever won’t subside. The doctor said she cannot withstand the cold air."
The women in the courtyard heard the noise and all craned their necks to look. When they discovered it was Qin Meiren’s room, all of their faces revealed an expression of fright.
Qin Meiren’s status in the backyard plummeted after she was punished by the prince by having her hands and feet chopped off. Because she was paralyzed and bedridden, she always needed medical potions, underneath this hauntingly undesirable smell that wafted from her room.
Over time, the women of the backyard lazily visited to mock her or watch the spectacle.
It could be said that Qin Meiren’s room was the most deserted in the backyard. After a long time, the women in the backyard almost forgot about the woman who used to be their companion. On hearing her cold voice now, they all involuntarily trembled.
"What’s going on?" Madame Lu, hearing the voice, immediately came to check.
"Qin Meiren cannot go out due to the wind." The old woman respectfully replied.
"Don’t worry about her, start the search now." Madame Lu commanded.
Ming Meiren was also unwell and could not stand for long. Qingting could only support her with her own body. Even so, after a short while, she began to sweat profusely from severe pain.
Liufei, who had the appearance of a cold beauty, was indifferent toward all the commotion. She stood on the edge with her maid, still surrounded by several beauties.
Everyone had been dragged out from their warm beds. Once they stepped outside and faced the cold snow, their bodies started to feel chill immediately.
There was a group of people surrounding Linfei because Lin Haisheng had arrived from the Northern Land. Many people needed Lin Haisheng to bring them some special products back to the Capital City for their families. Besides, she already had her own small circle, so she was quite popular.
However, Linfei did not have the mind to discuss with the sisters around her, she was deep in thought.
The disturbance in the Wang Residence was considerable. The maids and servants of the princess had all appeared in the backyard. Moreover, everyone’s face was filled with anxiety - something was amiss.
Could it be? Thinking back to the assassin, considering a possibility, Linfei felt her heart nearly stop beating.
Something major was about to happen in the Wang Residence.
Although she disliked Lin Ziyin, as the legitimate daughter of the Lin family, Linfei was not foolish. From this incident, she smelt something unusual. Thinking swiftly in her heart, given the Prince Ling’s degree of importance towards Lin Ziyin, if something were to happen to Lin Ziyin, the first batch of unfortunate people would definitely be the women in this backyard.
Chapter 724: Chapter 724 Mourning and Conspiracy (7)_1
Chu Suifeng didn’t like them, their existence only caused the already crestfallen Chu Suifeng, having lost Lin Ziyin, to harbor more hate. As she contemplated the potential consequences, Consort Lin couldn’t help but shiver with fear.
No, she didn’t want to die, she really didn’t want to die. Even though she was confined to the rear courtyard of the Wang Residence, she was still young. She preferred to cling onto a meager existence rather than die honorably. If she were to lose her life at such a young age, she would be utterly unwilling.
Setting aside everything else, Lin Wanwan began to pray in secret, hoping that the Bodhisattva could protect Lin Ziyin, at the very least, not letting her lose her life.
After much chaos, the rear courtyard had been turned upside down. However, the black-armored soldiers and Nurse Lu and others could not find any trace or clue of anything unusual.
Lin Ziyin seemed to have vanished into thin air from the Wang Residence.
Upon receiving the news that Lin Ziyin had been kidnapped by an assassin, Chu Suifeng was at the memorial hall with Li Jieyong and others mourning the late old lady.
"Say that again?" He grabbed hold of the black-armored soldier who had delivered the message.
"Reporting to the prince, an assassin has infiltrated the Wang Residence, and the Princess-Consort is missing," the black-armored soldier restated tremblingly.
Congyi and the others stood dumbstruck upon hearing the news, wondering to themselves how could the Princess-Consort, who was safe and sound in the Wang Residence, suddenly go missing?
Before they could respond, Chu Suifeng had disappeared just as swiftly as the wind.
The offspring of the Li Family stood gaping in front of the memorial hall. Lin Ziyin’s disappearance was indeed a shocker to them.
Upon returning to the Wang Residence, Bai Xian, Nurse Lu, and others had already turned the house upside down.
However, not even a shadow of Lin Ziyin was found.
"Where could she be?" Chu Suifeng stood in the room, his eyes bloodshot, as furious as a god of death.
"Someone drugged us, came down from the rooftop, and abducted the Princess-Consort," Nurse Lu replied, "We also found something unusual in our food and drink."
"Speak, how did you not notice?" Upon hearing this, he immediately reached out and squeezed Hong Ying’s throat.
Hong Ying, Lun Luo, and Huangying are hidden guards. They have received training in medicine. If the enemy were to poison their food and drinks, they would be able to detect it.
"It was only a small amount, and the properties of the drug were strange, unlike any other drug powder from Daqin." HuangYing and Lun Luo immediately explained when they saw the color on Hong Ying’s face. They focused on Chu Suifeng’s hand with concern, fearing he might actually kill Hong Ying in a fit of rage.
But Hong Ying didn’t dare to struggle one bit.
"Your Highness." In this emergency, Situ Gong, Si Jinhan, and Luo Yan all appeared in the Wang Residence.
The three of them were stern and serious, acting as if they were on the battlefield. Even Luo Yan and Si Jinhan, who were usually rather casual, were just like Asuras, their faces revealing no sign of frivolity at all.
Situ Gong was quietly complaining to himself. They all knew of Lin Ziyin’s capabilities. If the culprit was after her skills, it might be a blessing in disguise, as at least it ensured the She was not directly threatened. But, if these actions were merely to shake the Prince’s morale, the outcome could be disastrous.
"All the city gates have been sealed. Should we conduct a house-by-house search?" Si Jinhan asked, looking at Chu Suifeng.
"How was the poisoning done?" As the most astute of them all, Situ Gong hoped to trace the enemy’s presence from the root of the problem.
"It was a servant in the residence," Bai Xian replied, feeling increasingly guilty.
They had given the enemy such a substantial breach to exploit.
"Bring out all the black-armored soldiers on duty today." Luo Yan, dressed in bright red, stood out against the snowy background.
"Your Highness." Situ Gong made his voice louder.
Chu Suifeng turned to look at him, loosened his grip, and Hong Ying immediately collapsed onto the ground, with no one daring to step forward to support her.
"Lockdown the entire city." He spoke out a few words, his tone icy cold. "Recheck everyone in the Wang Residence."
Immediately, the Wang Residence was once again plunged into chaos, inside and out.
Ma Youcai hid in the inn, not even daring to breathe heavily. Tonight, they had committed a grave act. Although he, Ma Youcai, had only played one part in assisting the Tatars, he felt his contribution was significant. If he thought about the miserable fate awaiting Lin Ziyin after being captured by the Tatars, and the possibility of her losing her innocence upon return, he couldn’t help but feel exhilarated.
Moreover, the Lin Family, without Lin Ziyin, was nothing more than a paper tiger. He didn’t believe that if Lin Ziyin were to die, Chu Suifeng would still risk his life to help the Lin Family in the same way.
"Everyone get up and search." His thoughts were interrupted by the loud shouts coming from outside.
He hastily tousled his hair to make it appear more disheveled, then slowly began to dress.
He wasn’t afraid because from the afternoon until before bed, he had intentionally sat in the lobby. The aim was to have as many people as possible vouch that he had not left the inn when everything went down.
The black-armored soldiers, having no evidence, would never suspect him.
Before he could even finish dressing, the door to his room was kicked open.
Ma Zhicai pretended to be angry, "Who is it? Who dares to be so audacious in Feng City, is there no law, aren’t you afraid of the prince..." He ranted on before finally lifting his head. Upon realizing that the ones searching his room were black-armored soldiers, he was momentarily stunned into silence.
"What has happened, sirs?" He showed an expression of surprise on his face.
"Search." The intruders completely ignored him and began to rummage through his room.
Hitting the walls, searching in closets, under the bed, everywhere that could be used to hide a person, they turned everything upside down and conducted a thorough search.
Ma Zhicai stood to one side, laughing coldly in his heart. Go ahead and search. You could turn the inn upside down and still not find that wench Lin Ziyin. She was in a place so safe that no one could even imagine.
Chapter 725: Chapter 725: Missing (1)_1
"Who are you?" the black-armoured soldiers were clearly divided in their tasks. Some were searching each room, while others were interrogating all of the guests in the inn.
"Sir, all of them are guests of this inn, none of them are evil," the innkeeper explained with a smile on his face.
"Get out of the way," one of the soldiers barked, bristling with irritation. He had been busy for most of the night, and yet there was still no sign of the Princess. What was he to do? Whenever he thought of the disappearance of the Princess and the stern frown on the Prince’s face, the soldier wished he could find the Princess immediately.
No one wanted the Prince’s residence to return to its former gloom. The princess was truly wonderful. In just a few days after their wedding, she had established a series of benefits for them. Moreover, the residence had become much livelier since the princess’s arrival, and many of the black-armoured soldiers felt that the prince had become more humane.
Regardless, they had to find the princess as soon as possible, all the black-armoured soldiers were searching diligently.
"Anyone who can bring a witness to prove that they did not leave the inn from yesterday afternoon to night, stand on the right. Those who cannot, stand on the left," a black-armoured soldier barked. "Don’t try to trick me. This matter is serious. The Prince has ordered that if anyone dares to disrupt the search, they will be executed."
This sounded severe. The crowd didn’t know exactly what had happened, but after being threatened by the black-armoured soldiers, none of the inn’s guests dared to lie and, of course, no one dared to cover each other while in fear.
Most people stand on the right, and fewer stand on the left.
It had been snowing outside for a day, and there was no heating wall in the inn, but there were heated beds. As the New Year was approaching, in fact, there weren’t many guests in the inn. Most of them were sitting in the rooms to keep warm, and some were drinking a bit of wine in the lobby.
The lobby was warmer with a heating wall and quite lively.
After everyone testified to each other, those guests without witnesses were taken away by the black-armoured soldiers. They left the inn with long faces in silence, obediently complying with the soldiers’ orders.
Ma Zhicai sat in the lobby drinking clear wine all day, making a show of reading a book in the most visible place. Naturally, a lot of people remembered him, therefore he was one of the first people to prove his innocence.
Returning to his room which had been turned upside down, he grinned maliciously.
As soon as Lin Ziyin disappeared, Chu Suifeng became anxious. See, the city was full of soldiers, an interesting sight. He wondered how the Prince would react upon hearing that Lin Ziyin had been sent to the North Country.
Thinking of that jealous woman, Ma Zhicai couldn’t help but smirk at the corner of his mouth.
Situ Gong and Luo Yan led the black-armoured soldiers in a city-wide search. Every affluent household had been searched.
Though nobody knew what exactly had happened, Chu Suifeng’s frantic course of action definitely startled many people.
Everyone simultaneously thought that there must be a serious issue in the Prince’s residence.
Chu Suifeng was really becoming desperate as he led the black-armoured soldiers in a frenzied search for Lin Ziyin. Yet even after a sleepless night, there was still no trace of Lin Ziyin.
"Prince, the old lady is about to leave. Would you like to go see her?" Situ Gong came to inquire.
Under normal circumstances, he would definitely not disturb Chu Suifeng at this time, let alone add to his troubles.
"Have Si San and Luo Er continue to lead the search throughout the city. No one is permitted to leave the city," Chu Suifeng ordered coldly. His eyes were completely red, and the muscles on his face were tense, revealing the torment he felt inside.
"I have already contacted the monks at Ding’an Temple, and have asked their martial monks to scout outside the city. The Princess must not have had the chance to leave the city yet. As long as we seal off the city gates, we should be able to locate her," Situ Gong tried to comfort Chu Suifeng. He seemed to be much calmer than Chu Suifeng.