Your Highness, Please Love Me Tender

90. Gongsun Yi (1)

Translator: Flying Lines

Xiao ShengXian had been missing for two days.

On the third day, the Emperor was furious. His son was kidnapped from the Xian residence in the capital without anyone knowing. The palace guards had searched the whole city, but they couldn’t even find a hint of his whereabouts. How could he not be angry?

Before the Emperor had a fit, word came from City Yang that a constable found two suspicious people in Arrival Inn. Those two people were originally suspected to be human traffickers. They suspiciously stayed in the inn deep in the night and, with them, was an especially charming… man.

As expected, despite being unconscious, Xiao ShengXian was still alluring as usual. If the constable hadn’t seen that handsome face of his, perhaps there wouldn’t have been news about him at this time.

However, things hadn’t been smooth-sailing for the constable. After he noticed that something was wrong, he was planning to scold the two suspicious men. Unexpectedly, one of them gave the constable a dizzying smack and then knocked him out without any difficulty. This was why the news, that should have arrived last night, only came today.

“Pass on my orders. Jiale must be brought back safely. As for those two people, leave one alive.” The Emperor ordered that all localities must assist in the pursuit. Prince Xian must be brought back to the capital city unharmed.

It seemed like Xiao Shengnian received this message at the same time as the Emperor. After hearing the message, he immediately set off for City Yang. Su Jie was having a herbal bath at the moment, he and Zhou Zaiyue stayed in the residence.

As June approached, the weather gradually started to turn hot. Zhou Zaiyue wiped away the sweat on his forehead and felt as if something wasn’t quite right. However, he couldn’t quite put his finger on what was wrong. Right until Su Jie finished his bath, Zhou Zaiyue smacked his head. “Oh no!”

Su Jie was just putting his robe on when he heard this. He paused and asked, “What is it?”

“I was thinking, could the two suspicious people who kidnapped Prince Xian be Xuan Wu and Shang Liu?” Zhou Zaiyue frowned and felt that things were not going well.

“Why would they kidnap Xiao ShengXian?” Su Jie was puzzled. “Aren’t they Elder Zhou’s people?”

“Xuan Wu and Shang Liu are Gongsun Yi’s soldiers. I was only borrowing them for a bit last time.” Zhou Zaiyue answered.

“Gongsun Yi?”

Zhou Zaiyue replied, “Gongsun Yi is Ju Liandao’s son. Ju Liandao’s actual name is Gongsun JuLian. But those who are familiar with him call him Ju Liandao. His son, Gongsun Yi, is also very good at leading soldiers to the point where he’s even better than his father.”

Su Jie nodded and asked, “But why would Gongsun Yi kidnap Xiao ShengXian? They should have never met before.”

“Gongsun Yi has done quite a lot of kidnapping before. No… I must have a look. If Gongsun Yi came to State Yanhui to mess about, it would be bad if it got Your Highness involved.” When Zhou Zaiyue thought about the things Gongsun Yi had done before, he still suspected Gongsun Yi to be the one to kidnap Prince Xian. Even though Gongsun Yi was a capable general, he had done some absurd things before. For example, Gongsun Yi once sent several soldiers to kidnap a brothel’s top courtesan because he heard that the courtesan was exceptionally beautiful. After that, he glanced at the courtesan, nodded, and said, “She does indeed look pretty. Send her back.”

And so, the courtesan was sent back.

No one knew what Gongsun Yi thought. In short, General Ju Liandao’s beloved son liked to send his soldiers to kidnap people who he heard were beautiful, and then send them back after a quick look.

This strange style of doing things caused people confusion. However, Gongsun Yi always found pleasure from this.

“If Gongsun Yi did do this, then he should be in City Yang.” Zhou Zaiyue frowned. What was Gongsun Yi doing: not staying put in State Yanling and traveling all the way to City Yang in State Yanhui?

“Wait, wait——” Su Jie said and put on his robe in a rush. With hair that was still wet, he said, “Elder Zhou, I’ll go with you.”

“That’s a good idea, but we can set off after Your Highness’s hair is dried. I know where Gongsun Yi is living in City Yang.”

City Yang

City Yang was slightly larger than the capital, and there was a stream of people entering and leaving the city. At this moment, in an abandoned mansion in the city, a man, dressed in a black robe, was cradling an alcohol jar. His facial features were deep-seated but distinct, and his tall and sinewy body was leaning against a tree. The man tossed his head back as he drank in the shade offered by the tree. His actions were boldly unrestrained, radiating an aura of wildness.

“Vice-general Gongsun is in a good mood. You’ve even come to State Yanhui’s City Yang to have a drink.” Peals of laughter rang out. A gentleman in a blue robe leisurely fanned himself as he walked in.

“Isn’t Young Master Zhang also in a good mood? Summer hasn’t fully set in, and you’re already carrying around a fan with you.” The black-robed man took a big gulp as he tossed his head back once more. He raised an eyebrow and offered the jar of alcohol. “Want a sip?”

Young Master Zhang shook his fan as he shook his head. “I am curious. Isn’t alcohol prohibited in the military? How come a vice-general like you would drink so much? Since you’ve become a soldier, won’t you lose your life if your alcohol addiction acts up?”