The Child Emperor

Chapter 120: Dead End

The letter brought back by Ma Da was written by Cui Xiaojun.

Several days ago, when the Weary Marquis did not return home all night, Cui Xiaojun had already developed an ominous premonition. Early the next morning, Du Chuanyun came back in a drunken stupor, still without any sign of the Weary Marquis. Zhang Youcai became anxious, and, pouring a basin of cold water on Du Chuanyun’s head, finally woke him up.

“The Lord Marquis couldn’t have gone missing; he was with Little Marquis Chai, Zhang Yanghao, and the others,” Du Chuanyun said, sitting on the ground in a daze.

Zhang Youcai immediately went to Marquis Chai’s residence and the Zhang’s residence to inquire. The information he brought back further worried Cui Xiaojun: a total of six people, none of whom returned home last night. The other families weren’t too concerned, as these idle young men often disappeared for several days. Marquis Chai’s family only worried about one thing: how to explain to Lady Hengyang why her grandson didn’t come to pay respects.

Cui Xiaojun couldn’t calm down; the Weary Marquis had a special status, and was not a frivolous young master who would leave home.

Zhang Youcai continued to gather information, Du Chuanyun took a nap, and upon waking up, he also became anxious. He also went out to search for clues everywhere.

In the afternoon, Zhang Youcai brought back news that the Weary Marquis and the others had visited Cui’s residence last night and had a fight with Cui Teng’s group in the back alley.

Cui Xiaojun couldn’t wait for more news; she immediately ordered a carriage and went back to her maiden home to find out the truth.

Cui Teng, who was still in shock from the events of the Abandoned Garden, hadn’t recovered. He lay on the bed groaning. When he saw his sister, he exploded, “Your servants injured me, and you still dare to come? Wretched girl, helping those outside the family. I will tell Elder Laojun and Mother that the Cui family no longer recognizes you…”

Cui Xiaojun cried, not because of her brother’s words, but because of the uncertain fate of the Weary Marquis.

At first, Cui Teng enjoyed her suffering, but soon he became embarrassed. “Hey, what’s there to cry about? I was just talking. I haven’t dared to mention these things to Elder Laojun at all. You know the old lady’s temper.”

Cui Xiaojun continued crying, so Cui Teng had to get out of bed to console his sister. “Alright, alright, for your sake, I won’t hold it against you and your husband. This is enmity between me and Chai Yun. I will take revenge on him. Oh, you’re still crying? Could it be that you and Chai Yun…”

“Pah.” Cui Xiaojun stopped crying, sniffled, and said, “The Weary Marquis didn’t come home last night. I don’t know where he went with Chai Yun and Zhang Yanghao.”

Cui Teng slapped his thigh. “No need to investigate. Chai Yun is a playboy who specializes in illicit affairs. If he’s not spending the night in a brothel, he’s with some young lady from a noble family. Oh no, your husband has been led astray.”

Cui Xiaojun shook her head firmly. “Impossible. The Weary Marquis is definitely not that kind of person.”

“Haha, silly sister, the Weary Marquis is still a man. You’ve been married for over a year; he must be bored with home life and gone to pick wildflowers outside.”

Cui Xiaojun blushed but still shook her head, asking, “You didn’t do anything to the Weary Marquis, right?”

“What could I do? It’s them who did something last night… Oh, you came to see me because of that.” Cui Teng jumped back onto the bed, covered himself with a blanket, wearing an angry expression.

Cui Xiaojun approached, saying, “Second Brother, how could I not care about you? But I know that you’re the second son of the Cui family. Even if Chai Yun has the guts, he’s just joking with you and wouldn’t dare to really harm you.”

“He wouldn’t dare.” Cui Teng sat up, feeling slightly relieved, then sighed, “You have changed since you got married. Let me tell you, your husband did come with Chai Yun last night, taunting outside the door, but they didn’t have the guts to fight. When we chased them, they ran faster than rabbits, leaving no trace behind.”

Cui Xiaojun felt a bit reassured; her second brother, though reckless, wouldn’t lie to her.

Cui Teng got out of bed and said seriously, “Sister, this isn’t a big deal. Even common folks have multiple wives and concubines. Your husband used to be an emperor. He can’t just stay with you forever.”

Not wanting to hear her second brother’s nonsense, Cui Xiaojun turned and left, heading to the inner residence to see her mother. She begged her mother to help her inquire about the news, as she was worried that someone in the Cui family might have targeted the Weary Marquis.

She didn’t visit her grandmother because the old lady had a very poor impression of the Weary Marquis.

By the time she returned home, it was almost dark, and there was still no news of the Weary Marquis. The other families were also growing anxious. Although there had been instances of several days of absence before, they would always send someone to inform the family. Moreover, six young noblemen, without a single servant, was an unprecedented occurrence.

The search team quickly expanded, and they soon found the night patrol soldiers who had encountered the six men. This significantly narrowed down the area where they went missing.

The next morning, surprising news came: Marquis Guiyi’s entire family had mysteriously disappeared, and the his residence happened to be in the possible area.

Rumors spread like wildfire, mentioning the daughter of the Jin family, “Hu You”. Chai Yun’s body had been buried and was yet to be found.

Cui Xiaojun grew even more worried.

On this evening, the Weary Marquis’s manor welcomed a very special guest.

Several eunuchs arrived first, announcing that the marquis’s residence should prepare to receive an important person from the palace. The Manor Clerk and Manor Marshal were frightened, immediately preparing the corresponding ceremonies, but they didn’t know how to explain that the Weary Marquis wasn’t home.

The visitor’s sedan did not stop at the entrance but was directly carried into the rear courtyard. There was no inquiry about the whereabouts of the Weary Marquis. The Manor Clerk and Manor Marshal finally breathed a sigh of relief but remained deeply suspicious, finding this visit abrupt and contrary to decorum.

The visitor was none other than Han Ruzi’s biological mother, Maiden Wang.

Cui Xiaojun was extremely surprised but still observed the etiquette of a daughter-in-law, respectfully inviting Maiden Wang into the room.

“Ruzi’s disappearance couldn’t have come at a worse time,” Maiden Wang got straight to the point, not even bothering to drink tea.

“You’ve heard about it too?” Cui Xiaojun felt awkward and a bit fearful.

“Yes, I heard about it yesterday. Initially I thought it was just a prank, but now it seems the situation is not simple.”

“What should we do?”

“What should we do? You should have kept an eye on him.”

Cui Xiaojun blushed, feeling a bit aggrieved but dared not say a word.

Maiden Wang approached, held one of Cui Xiaojun’s hands, and said softly, “You’re a good wife. Ruzi is fortunate to have married you; it’s his blessing from a previous life.”

Cui Xiaojun ‘s face reddened even more. “But I…”

“No, no, it’s not your fault. I spoke without thinking.” Maiden Wang sighed, “Ruzi is in danger, and only the two of us are willing to genuinely save him.”

“Danger?” Cui Xiaojun had a foreboding feeling.

“The Empress Dowager has a suspicion that Ruzi might have been taken away by the Cui family.”

“I went back to the Cui family to ask… Oh, the Empress Dowager suspects my father.”

“Yes, the Empress Dowager suspects Grand Tutor Cui took Ruzi away to use him as a pawn for a rebellion. She will soon retaliate, and regardless of who wins, it will be a threat to Ruzi.”

Cui Xiaojun bit her lip, thinking for a while, “What should I do?”

“I finally got the Empress Dowager’s consent to leave the palace and see you, just to tell you one thing: make sure to find Ruzi, get him out of this, and don’t get involved in this struggle.”

Cui Xiaojun had no words. She didn’t even know where the Weary Marquis was; how could she help him escape?

Maiden Wang also knew this task was incredibly difficult. “Perhaps you can seek help from Yang Feng, but I doubt he can be of much assistance.”

“Some people from the manor have gone to find Lord Yang, but…”

Maiden Wang couldn’t stay too long and soon left in her sedan, leaving a huge predicament for her daughter-in-law.

Cui Xiaojun was a clever person. It didn’t take her long to understand why Maiden Wang valued her so much: if the Weary Marquis was indeed taken away by Grand Tutor Cui, she was the only one who might be able to bring him out.

Cui Xiaojun returned to her maiden home once again, seeking only one person – Prince Donghai.

As expected, Prince Donghai was not in the manor. Although everyone claimed he was somewhere, his presence was nowhere to be found. This incident seemed to confirm the speculations of Maiden Wang and the Empress Dowager.

Early the next morning, Cui Xiaojun left the city to meet her father.

The meeting was extremely challenging. The Southern Army’s camp was heavily guarded, and titles such as the daughter of the Grand Marshal of the Southern Army and the wife of the Weary Marquis carried no weight. Even if the Empress Dowager personally came, formal orders had to be issued to enter the gate.

But Cui Xiaojun had a stubborn determination; she refused to leave. After waiting outside the gate for a full six hours, Grand Tutor Cui finally summoned his disobedient daughter.

“Was it the Empress Dowager who sent you?” Cui Hong had already guessed the truth. “She’s using you to test me. Speak, what does the Empress Dowager hope to achieve by having you talk to me?”

“I don’t care about anything else. I just hope the Weary Marquis is safe and sound.”

Cui Hong helplessly said, “It’s useless to come to me. No matter what the Empress Dowager says, the Weary Marquis is truly not in my hands.”

“The Empress Dowager has long prepared for this. If the Weary Marquis isn’t found soon, she will take action in advance.”

Cui Hong laughed heartily. “If the Empress Dowager really has the ability to defeat the Southern Army with one move, why would she send you to speak to me? All is fair in war. The Empress Dowager is just bluffing. But regardless of whether it’s true or false, the Empress Dowager and you have both made a mistake. What use do I have for a former emperor who has abdicated for half a year? Even if I have the ability to depose and enthrone an emperor, the person I would support is Prince Donghai.” Cui Xiaojun felt that her father’s words made some sense. “What about Prince Donghai? He’s not in the Cui manor, he must be here. I want to see him. Prince Donghai is cunning; maybe he…”

Cui Hong shook his head and said to his daughter, “I’ve already made an exception for you. The Weary Marquis is definitely not here. As for Prince Donghai, it’s my affair. Don’t ask too much. If you’re still my daughter, don’t mention him to anyone when you go back home, understand?”

Cui Xiaojun had no choice but to bid farewell. She returned to her mansion in a daze, not knowing what to do next. It seemed like everyone was suspicious, but she couldn’t see through and get to the crux of the issue.

“Yang Feng…” Cui Xiaojun thought of the eunuch. Perhaps only he could see through this thick fog.

The message brought back by Du Motian, who was sent to find Yang Feng earlier, made Cui Xiaojun even more uneasy.

Yang Feng’s view was the same as Maiden Wang’s: under no circumstances should the Weary Marquis get involved in the struggle between the Empress Dowager and the Cui family. Grand Tutor Cui had a scheme, and the Empress Dowager would surely be on guard.

Sitting in the room and pondering for a while, Cui Xiaojun came to a realization. She had been deceived by her father. The Weary Marquis was indeed under Grand Tutor Cui’s control, just not within the Southern Army camp.

Caught between the Cui family and the Weary Marquis, Cui Xiaojun found herself at a dead end. She ordered her maid to bring a sword; tomorrow, she would go to see her father again. If there were no results, she would rather die before the Weary Marquis.

Early the next morning, before Cui Xiaojun could leave, an unfamiliar guest arrived at the mansion, knocking on the back door and altering Cui Xiaojun’s plans.

News of the defeat of the Chu army by the Xiongnu had already spread widely. It was said that many nobles and dignitaries were preparing to join the military. With only a partial understanding of court affairs, Cui Xiaojun had a sudden idea. She wrote a simple letter to the Weary Marquis:

“The border is in turmoil, the imperial palace is prepared. Husband, you should submit a memorial to request to join the battle. It is not advisable to take risks.”

In her view, this was the only way to escape.

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