Chapter 146

146 Finally, I caught you

The Royal Inspector, Lu Bojing, bowed upon seeing the Crown Prince. Xiaoming instructed Lu Bojing about the work, and at the same time, scolded him for not having any idea about such an organization.

“Lead our way,” Xiaoming told the man and then gazed at Muchén. “The conversation here shall remain within this shop. If I find any single word regarding this matter goes out, then be ready to die,” Xiaoming threatened him.

“Your Royal Highness, none of us will ever talk about it,” Muchén assured Xiaoming, who hummed.

The man walked out of the shop, accompanied by Xiaoming, and Lu Bojing.

“Your Royal Highness did right by putting on a disguise. However, not many people have seen the Crown Prince,” Lu Bojing said. They entered the crowded market, where merchants from every corner of the Kingdom had come. At this time of year, the merchants earned well by trading in the capital.

‘This market is perfect for her to rob everyone,’ Xiaoming thought. The man continued to walk while Xiaoming and Lu Bojing kept a safe distance from him.

They soon reached the market center where mostly the nobles had gathered. The man told Xiaoming that Liu Jin Yu was present in that crowd only.

“Find her. Also, send us the signal as soon as you find her,” Xiaoming said while looking at the ribbons that were hanging on a stall on a string. The man nodded and walked away.

“Follow him,” Xiaoming told Lu Bojing, who left. Xiaoming lowered the conical hat on his head. His eyes fell on Cha Ying, who had just gotten down from the palanquin, and immediately turned his back in her direction.

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‘What is she doing here?’ Xiaoming thought and stepped forward when a group of five men came in his direction towards the stall. He took several steps back and again turned back to leave as soon as possible. He escaped Cha Ying’s eyes and went to the side far from her.

Xiaoming kept his eyes wide open. Though he also had no idea who the woman was because he only had seen her eyes. Among that crowd, it was difficult to find Liu Jin Yu. However, the man had described her features, so he was trying to look for her.

Xiaoming gradually moved across the place where mostly noble families were gathered. He realized that Liu Jin Yu would not make the mistake to go into the crowd, where most men were present. He again shifted his attention to the noble women and thought to check among them.

Lu Bojing came running to him and whispered in Xiaoming’s ear. He smiled and they went where the man had found Liu Jin Yu.

“She is there,” the man informed Xiaoming, pointing his finger in the northeast direction. He described her attire to them which they easily recognized. Liu Jin Yu was ascending the stairs on the bridge which was constructed on a small stream. The bridge was fully crowded- a perfect place to rob without getting into anyone’s notice.

“Stay on the other corner,” Xiaoming said and ran towards the bridge while Lu Bojing to the other side.

Xiaoming ended up hitting Cha Ying’s arm and she fell to the floor.

“Miss, are you okay?” Her personal attendant immediately got on her knees and helped her in getting up. Cha Ying found that her dress was torn from the bottom which upset her. She turned to look to find who hit her. But the man had already vanished from her sight.

“Let’s go back,” Cha Ying told her personal attendant in annoyance and walked away.

Xiaoming panted as he reached the foot of the bridge. He took a deep breath and ascended the stairs. He stood on his toes to see the face of Liu Jin Yu. Xiaoming pushed away the people and kept walking ahead. He saw her stealing a pouch. It surprised him that the nobleman was so busy with his fellows that he didn’t even realize that he was being robbed.

Xiaoming reached her and caught her wrist. He pulled her back, and she landed on him. Her left hand rested on the right side of his chest. “Finally, I caught you,” Xiaoming said.

Liu Jin Yu tried to pull her hand away but found his grip quite stronger. The gazes of the people on the bridge fell on her when she decided to run away. She pushed him away. Xiaoming fell back with that force on a few men, who asked him to be careful.

Liu Jin Yu ran away to the other side of the bridge when she saw the royal inspector coming from the front. She stepped back and looked at the people. Some were still busy admiring the dragon boats. She silently moved ahead and walked past them.

She again encountered Xiaoming, who was ready to defeat her this time. She moved her eyes around and decided to climb the bridge handrail on the left because that was the only way to run to the other side.

Xiaoming didn’t want to shout and ask people to help him because a few of them might recognize him, thus increasing his troubles.

However, he could not lose her either. It would be defeated if he lost her again. He decided to shout and tell people that she was a thief. He did that, and the people on the bridge became alerted.

Liu Jin Yu reacted instantly, and pushed a man to her left.

She somersaulted and landed on the handrail. Xiaoming had not expected that she would be this good.

People started to scream and quickly stepped back, thus gathering on two sides of the bridge.

Lu Bojing threw the dagger in her direction, which she dodged easily and ran ahead on the same bridge. “Royal Inspector, don’t attack her,” Xiaoming shouted at her and found that she had jumped down from the handrail.

He asked the people to move and ran after her.

Liu Jin Yu ran as fast as she could while Xiaoming and Lu Bojing chased her.

Luckily, Xiaoming had a conical hat over his head, so hardly people could see his face.

Liu Jin Yu looked behind and increased her speed. She put her skirt down and saw a large group coming from the front. She quickly mingled among them and lowered her head.

Xiaoming and Lu Bojing stopped as they saw this large group of women, dressed in colorful dresses.

“Your Royal Highness, I will find her with the other inspectors,” Lu Bojing opined and asked him to return to the palace.

“No,” Xiaoming said.

Lu Bojing moved closer to him and whispered in his ear, “We are at the residence of the musicians and dancers. They have seen His Royal Highness. If anyone would see the Crown Prince, then it would be a trouble.”

Xiaoming could not disagree with his words. He was stunned when saw Eunuch Gao Bing and Eunuch Lianying stepped out of the residence.

“What are they doing here?” Xiaoming murmured and further lowered his head. He was already annoyed that he lost Liu Jin Yu.

Oppositely, Liu Jin Yu found that Xiaoming had not left till now. ‘I am stuck. Who is he? How did he find me?’ she thought. ‘I need to stay among these ladies until he goes away.’ She decided.