CH 57.1

The teahouse guests were dispersed, the yamen guards secured the surroundings, and the people watching the scene blocked the main gate. A line of majestic guards came riding horses with long swords and shields to separate the crowd, leaving a wide aisle for people to walk.

A man with a jade-like posture, as tall as bamboo, got off the carriage, having someone to support him. The scarlet robe with embroidered coiled dragon pattern hurriedly brushed through the crowd.

The teahouse had a threshold, and Lin Bozhou tripped when his black boots kicked on it. His shoulders, always stable and upright, suddenly tilted to the right and almost fell to the ground.

“Your Highness!” Zhang Hu, the commander of the prince’s guards, exclaimed.

He wanted to hold Lin Bozhou’s arm. “This subordinate will support Your Highness!”

However, he was pushed away heavily by the man’s hand under his robe sleeve, which was cold to the extreme, without any warmth. Lin Bozhou walked across the threshold, his footsteps stopped at the long-empty backyard as if to look for something, and his white veil-covered eyes scanned the surroundings, half tilting his jaw.

His back was depressed, and the bony, distinct neckline was half raised as if he had been drenched in the rain for a long time.

“The teahouse has been searched?” His voice was also gloomy and dark.

“Replying to Your Highness, all searched, but no one was found. The walls have signs of trampling. The subordinates have asked the people around and issued a search warrant in the city, looking for people urgently.”

Lin Bozhou closed his eyes. “ Are you sure he was kidnapped?”

Zhang Hu thoughtfully said, “Eunuch You and the two guards were drugged and stunned. Although there are no signs of fighting around, likely, Master is also stunned. Therefore, the possibility of being kidnapped is high.”

Kidnapped……

Then what kind of people could be the ones who kidnapped him?

He was bound to be hurt if it were simply a demand for money, and the kidnappers were fierce. If it were for beauty, the situation was obviously more sinister.

…… However, the worst was if it were people with intentions, knowing that Meng Huan was Lin Bozhou’s princess but still kidnapped him. In addition to money, if it was simply to seek revenge and retaliation, he was afraid that it couldn’t be solved by peeling a layer of skin, and there was probably a risk of life……

The thin wrist poking out of Lin Bozhou’s sleeve hung down, and he lowered his eyelashes. “Why is the princess in the teahouse?”

“Eunuch You said that Master wanted to wait at the teahouse for Your Highness to leave the court and return to the house together. Who expected–”

His voice came to an abrupt halt.

Saying one more word would be a huge provocation for the prince.

Lin Bozhou’s body felt as if he was immersed in cold water, and his throat trembled gently.

He had always been calm and sensible, and it was the first time the guards saw such a pale color on his face.

…… Turned out to be waiting for himself.

A stinging pain flooded Lin Bozhou’s chest, and the tip of his teeth bit out the taste of blood. “Over these few days, collect all the letters that come to the residence and give them to this prince soon if it is the letter from the kidnappers. In addition, search the city, strengthen patrols at the city gates, and closely examine any delivered goods.”

He paused and gave a final order.

“There shall be no mistake.”

Zhang Hu clasped his fist loudly. “Orders received!”

–

Before his vision brightened, Meng Huan smelled the heavy dusty air.

The black veil was lifted. He was in a woodshed with firewood stacked in the corner, a table in front of him, and a simple wooden bed by the window with a few tattered clothes.

An Chui and a few burly men stood in the room to watch.

An Chui pinched his nose, and a nasty smile appeared at the corners of his lips. “A widower lived here before. He drank poison and died a few days ago, vacating a temporary place for you to live.”

Meng Huan closed his eyes.

He resisted the impulse to punch him to death.

Meng Huan’s appearance belonged to the handsome and fresh youth face. He looked gentle and cooperative when quiet and did not speak, not provoking their inner rage.

An Chui looked at him repeatedly, abruptly dragged his wrist, and put it on the table. “You know how to draw?”

Meng Huan whispered, “Yes.”

When encountering a black-hearted bandit that couldn’t be beaten with violence, he generally cooperated with the other side first to optimally save his life. Although Meng Huan’s heart was afraid, he guessed that he should use himself and try to cooperate.

An Chui clapped his hands, and a tribesman immediately served a brush and paper. He sat at the table, played with a knife in his hand, and tossed it around as if a careless move would cut off a piece of flesh from his hand. “Good. Now, you, draw a portrait of me.”

“……”

It was unclear what he was going to do.

Meng Huan cooperatively took the paper and brush, cut off some bristles, and sketched up against An Chui’s face with delicate strokes. He looked down and drew quietly; his ears were covered with fine white velvet, looking delicate and frail, like fine and fragile porcelain.

An Chui watched his brushwork while someone watched Meng Huan’s face behind him and couldn’t help but lick his lips.

Strangely enough, this group of fiendish thugs was very patient and did not rush Meng Huan but just waited quietly for him to paint.

Waiting for perhaps almost one sichen.

Meng Huan handed over the paper. “The painting is ready.”

The picture on the page was a realistic brush painting, the line control was very beautiful, and the drawing was extremely similar to the real person, like carved out of a mold.

An Chui applauded in satisfaction. “Not bad.”

Puzzled, but Meng Huan still sat in a disciplined manner and did not speak.

His mind was also calculating. An Chui couldn’t only ask him to draw, right?

An Chui pinched the painting and smiled as he walked out. “Very good. Congratulations, your dinner is ready.”

Meng Huan did not understand. “?”

An Chui had already walked out.