Chapter 707 - 706: Killing Three Birds with One Arrow?
Xia Wanqing frowned slightly and said indifferently, "I am a person of Jianghu. If my daughter goes missing, it’s naturally a matter of Jianghu! When Jianghu people encounter Jianghu matters, of course, we use Jianghu methods to solve them!"
Upon hearing this, Hua Yuanming and Gu Hongxin involuntarily felt a tightness in their hearts.
They knew very well that if the Capital Guard intervened in this matter officially, everything would be based on the law.
But if resolved using Jianghu methods, it would be fine if Wenjin was found unharmed. Otherwise... I’m afraid the entire Haotian Village would be stirred up. Then the situation would become chaotic, and the consequences more severe.
Gu Hongxin couldn’t help but say, "Big brother, this is the Capital City, not Haotian Village. You need to act cautiously."
Xia Wanqing fixed his deep, silent gaze on him, his voice cold and indifferent: "So, third brother, you mean I should just report it and then wait at home for news?"
Gu Hongxin hurriedly said, "Big brother, that’s not what I meant, I’m afraid it will bring trouble to Haotian Village!"
He feared bringing trouble not to Haotian Village, but to himself, right?
Xia Wanqing couldn’t help but recall how Xia Wenjin had repeatedly talked to him about the drawbacks of entering officialdom, carefully analyzing the current court situation and the consequences of getting involved...
Xia Wanqing had never been strongly inclined towards becoming an official.
He didn’t care about any title that would bring glory to his family. He had lost his beloved wife, and neither Wenjin nor Sichen wanted him to get involved in the power struggles of the court. As for the latter, the Xia family had his second brother, who was already the Prime Minister. The matter of bringing glory to the family didn’t need him to accomplish.
What he valued most was Wenjin, his daughter whom his deceased wife had fought desperately to protect.
Though the sixteen-year prophecy had kept him on edge.
But his daughter was still alive and well, which was more important than anything, yet now someone dared target his daughter.
Even if it meant mobilizing the entire Haotian Village, he would not hesitate.
But for now, he needed to find out where Wenjin was.
He dispatched all the personnel from Haotian Village and even called back Bai Feichen, who had quietly arrived in the Capital City without revealing himself.
This wasn’t Jinzhou. The influence of Haotian Village hadn’t spread here, making actions less convenient.
In the South Suburb, after Huangfu Jingchen left the city, he hurried towards Fengming Manor.
He knew he would surely encounter an ambush, maybe on the way to Fengming Manor or within the manor itself. But if he didn’t go, he couldn’t find out who was truly behind attacking Wenjin.
If he didn’t go, how could he rest assured leaving Wenjin in the hands of unknown, malicious people?
The horse moved too fast, and the wind roared past his ears, but Huangfu Jingchen’s mind was extremely focused, paying attention to every rustle and movement around him.
The people he sent ahead should have cleared the obstacles along the road.
At Fengming Manor, whenever Xia Wenjin stepped out of her room, the three in red followed her closely, but the entire manor allowed her to move freely.
The west side of Fengming Manor was a hillside. The hill was dense with forest, but the side facing Fengming Manor was steep, like a cliff.
Currently, behind the dense forest stood two people.
Huangfu Yuxuan stood there with his hands behind his back, watching the woman wandering leisurely in the manor, showing no trace of panic from being kidnapped. From this distance, he couldn’t see her expression clearly, but her silhouette made him squint his eyes!
Unfazed by her disadvantageous situation, knowing not her opponent but feeling no fear, facing uncertain outcomes with calm...
He initially thought Xia Wenjin was only pretending to be relaxed, but after observing for a while, he realized she was indeed calm.
No wonder she was the woman he was interested in.
He turned to look at the scar-faced man in black beside him: "Have all the clues been cleared up?"
Pu Yangji said, "All have been cleared, and those involved have been silenced. Unless one unwinds everything, they won’t find a thing, and if they do, it will only lead back to Prince Zhuang!"
Huangfu Yuxuan nodded slightly and smiled, "I trust your work!"
The clues would point to Prince Zhuang, and surely Prince Zhuang wouldn’t be idle today.
He cast his gaze towards the city gate direction, wondering where Prince Zhuang would stage a good show?
Huangfu Yuxuan thought the kidnapping was done flawlessly. Indeed, he had accounted for everything, Pu Yangji had planned the retreat route, anticipated possible obstructions from Xia Mansion’s people, but failed to anticipate Huangfu Jingchen, nearly ruining an otherwise perfect plan.
But Huangfu Yuxuan addressed even this. The archers at the alley’s end, the ambush site, and the timing were all excellently executed.
In fact, Huangfu Yuxuan had three sets of archers ambushed.
All arranged to give Pu Yangji the support needed to make this incident seamless.
He instructed Gongyang Puyu to inform Prince Zhuang, who wanted Huangfu Jingchen dead, and Prince Zhuang would surely act. It was usually hard to attack Huangfu Jingchen. Besides his own vigilance, the people of Cheng Prince Mansion protected him closely.
But if Huangfu Jingchen were to leave the city alone for a woman, Prince Zhuang would find it much easier.
Besides Huangfu Jingchen, there were three benefits for Huangfu Yuxuan.
First, Xia Wenjin could not marry a dead man. Even if she favored Huangfu Jingchen, how could he compete with him after his death?
Secondly, even if Prince Zhuang executed this flawlessly, Huangfu Yuxuan, waiting in the wings, wouldn’t let Prince Zhuang get away unscathed. Attacking Huangfu Jingchen again, Grandfather would find out, and Prince Zhuang, the Commandery Prince, might end up a commoner. Even if Grandfather didn’t take action, Prince Cheng and his wife wouldn’t let him go.
Thirdly, wanting to use Xia Wenjin to eliminate Huangfu Jingchen, Prince Zhuang wouldn’t think of sparing Xia Wenjin’s life. When Prince Zhuang’s people attack Xia Wenjin, "accidentally" encountering the situation while "hunting" in the South Suburb, being her savior would surely open Wenjin’s heart.
Everything was calculated perfectly, but unfortunately, he didn’t know Xia Wenjin recognized Pu Yangji. Even with his face covered, Xia Wenjin could tell from the scar between his brows. Moreover, though his Four Beauties were supposed to be unknown and carefully groomed, Xia Wenjin still knew them.
Pu Yangji’s dark eyes were also fixed on Xia Wenjin’s figure, realizing after the attack last night that this woman’s skills were extraordinary. He reminded, "Young master, this Miss Xia is skilled in martial arts, and not weak at that!"
Huangfu Yuxuan laughed and said, "Of course, I know she knows martial arts. After all, she’s a Jianghu woman, and her father is the leader of a top Jianghu force!"
Pu Yangji hesitated and said, "Young master, Jianghu forces are not court forces. As the leader of a Jianghu group, to forsake the unparalleled support of an Imperial Tutor, shouldn’t you reconsider?"
Huangfu Yuxuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he said calmly, "What, do you think I should listen to you?"