Chapter Twenty-Two: Retribution Without Mercy — Xie Changzhi

He brought over a jar. Stepping on the tiles, he jumped onto the jar and climbed up directly. Xie Changzhi's gaze darkened, sharp like a sword ready to pierce through the other's false smile.

“I just forgot, we don’t have to crawl through the dog hole to get in.”

Though Mo Bai and Mo Fei felt a bit speechless inside, the situation was urgent and left no room for delay.

“Younger brother Xu Qiu, lead the way quickly.”

—

Tonight, without a moon, the only light in the black sky came from the countless stars.

For the nth time, Cheng Yuan found herself back at the courtyard gate, so furious she tore off several leaves from a nearby tree!

After painstakingly avoiding several patrols, she was staring helplessly at the approaching You hour. If she didn’t get out of the mansion soon, she would be discovered lying in bed—not as a delicate concubine, but as a burly man!

Cheng Yuan approached the wall and tilted her head back.

She had considered climbing over the wall before, but she simply couldn’t do it! The wall was twice her height.

It seemed designed to prevent anyone from scaling it; there was nothing around to step on.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from somewhere nearby. She quickly hid behind a cluster of trees.

She saw two maids walking toward her courtyard, carrying two sets of clothes and whispering to each other.

“The young master of the Zhu family is getting married tonight. The master probably won’t come home.”

“That’s good, another night alive is another night alive. I wonder which young lady got snatched today.”

“Sigh, let’s not pity others for now. We barely have time to care for ourselves!”

As the two entered the courtyard, alarm bells rang in Cheng Yuan’s heart. She quickly turned and ran.

Breathless and unsure how far she had gone, she stopped to catch her breath by the wall, only to hear footsteps behind her.

Almost instinctively, she drew her anti-wolf baton and swung it at the approaching figure.

“Cheng Yuan! It’s me!”

Xie Changzhi dodged to the side, accidentally bumping into Huang Xu Qiu behind him.

Fortunately, Cheng Yuan immediately lowered her weapon. Huang Xu Qiu only felt a brief numbness in his arm and hadn’t realized what had happened before her face drew all his attention.

“Sister Yuan, you’re alright, thank goodness.”

He obediently stepped forward, a faint hope flickering in his eyes.

“Why are you all here?” Cheng Yuan saw Mo Bai and Mo Fei behind them and felt both surprised and comforted.

—

“This prince’s manor is a den of tigers. I worried about you, Sister Yuan. Come with me; I know a way to leave the mansion safely.”

“How’s Mother?” Cheng Yuan followed them, unable to suppress a pang of guilt.

Perhaps she shouldn’t have been so stubborn. Mother must be frantic.

“Auntie…” Huang Xu Qiu hesitated, and Cheng Yuan’s heart skipped a beat.

“Mother got into trouble. After you disappeared, when I woke up, I saw Mother being abducted by a black-clad man marked with the character Zhu on the back of his neck.”

Xie Changzhi clenched his fists.

Only heaven knew the panic he felt waking to see Auntie taken, searching everywhere with only Cheng Hu left, bewildered.

Hearing of Cheng Yuan’s disappearance, it felt as if the sky was collapsing.

But he could only hold his position, letting Cheng Hu continue the ruse of death, waiting.

The helplessness nearly consumed him.

If only he hadn’t fallen into a high fever coma, perhaps Cheng Yuan wouldn’t have been taken, and Auntie wouldn’t have been kidnapped. If only he were stronger, he could have stopped those black-clad men!

Suddenly, a soft warmth covered his cold wrist, making Xie Changzhi stiffen.

He dared not look at Cheng Yuan.

“Changzhi, don’t worry. It’s not your fault. Let’s go to the Zhu manor first. I just heard a maid say that the young master of the Zhu family is getting married tonight; maybe it’s connected to Mother.”

Cheng Yuan spoke calmly, though only she knew how terrified she truly was.

She couldn’t afford to lose composure now.

Suddenly, distant noisy voices echoed behind them. The group exchanged glances and quickened their pace.

At the wall’s edge, Huang Xu Qiu reached back, calling softly, “Sister Yuan…”

Suddenly, a shadow leapt into the air before them. In an instant, Xie Changzhi and Cheng Yuan were already atop the wall.

Without looking back, they leapt down.

Mo Bai and Mo Fei followed closely behind. Listening to the growing commotion inside the mansion, Huang Xu Qiu clenched his teeth and bent down to retrieve the jar he’d hidden in the grass—only to find the area stripped bare.

The jar that had helped him climb the wall was gone without a trace.

No need to ask who did it.

Because from the other side of the wall came a familiar, irritating voice.

“Younger brother Xu Qiu, it’s just crawling through a dog hole. Don’t let it delay the mission.”

Huang Xu Qiu ground his teeth fiercely.

—

The Zhu and Wang manors were only separated by a street. They had assumed that with the young master of the Zhu family marrying tonight, the guests would come and go freely and the guards would be lax. Instead, it was even stricter than the Wang manor!

The three huddled in a small garden’s rockery. Since climbing the wall, they had already waited through several patrols. One group left only moments before another arrived.

Moreover, the wedding atmosphere inside was not festive but eerie.

“I remember the young master of the Zhu family is a handsome man. I heard that next year, on his thirtieth birthday, he’s to marry his childhood sweetheart from Jiangnan. He’s the one who insisted on buying the medicine my father and I gather, making an exception to collect it monthly. But this month, when I came to deliver medicine to the Zhu manor, I didn’t see him. How does any of this relate to Auntie? Why would they kidnap her?”

Huang Xu Qiu frowned deeply, filled with confusion.

Cheng Yuan pressed her lips tight, feeling her heart race faster, sensing something terrible was about to occur.

Silently, she prayed for Mo Bai and Mo Fei to find her mother quickly.

Yet a cup of tea’s time passed, and the winter chill caused sweat to bead on Cheng Yuan’s forehead.

“Let’s go!”

After a patrol moved away, Xie Changzhi grasped Cheng Yuan’s wrist and suddenly dashed forward.

Huang Xu Qiu’s pupils contracted sharply, unable to stop them, he hurriedly followed, crouching low.

“I’ve never been inside the Zhu manor; I don’t know the layout well…” His words were swallowed before he could finish.

They didn’t need a guide; the entire Zhu manor was dark except for the main hall.

The cold night was pitch black and deathly silent. The three lowered their footsteps, only hearing the occasional caw of crows.

Running along, a terrifying thought took root in Cheng Yuan’s heart.

That dread was confirmed upon seeing the white paper lanterns swaying beneath the eaves.

In the main hall of the wedding residence stood a large coffin.

On the offering table lay paper-made dowry and offerings of pigs, cattle, and sheep. Incense and candles flickered, casting an eerie glow in the chilling wind.

Within the hall stood many elderly people, all clad in mourning clothes. In the center was a haggard old woman, tears in her eyes, mumbling prayers.

Huang Xu Qiu’s eyes widened. “This is…”

Before he could finish, the other two sprang into action. With the rustling of trees, four shadows surged forward simultaneously.

Huang Xu Qiu’s pupils trembled. “Don’t—”