Chapter 70. The Fisher and His Prey

Translator: Storm in a Teacup

As surprised as An Rushuang was, she looked up at Princess Anyang and Xianxian, both of whom actually stayed calm. She asked in bewilderment, “Why is the capital in chaos?”

How come it had something to do with her? She wasn’t that narcissistic, thinking all the people in the capital would beconcerned about her injury…

Upon seeing An Rushuang in confusion, all the three girls burst into laughter. Mingyue seized the chance to talk first, “Do you know who the kidnapper is?”

An Rushuang frowned, a wisp of doubt flickering in her eyes. “Isn’t he a bandit?”

Upon witnessing Zhao Laoda’s ferocity, she had realized that he was not merely a bandit. Considering he had exerted himself to live in secrecy, as well as what the woman clad in black robe had said, An Rushuang decided to ask her father for help after Zhao Laoda’s death.

Because of her selflessness, she could do nothing but lying in bed.

Xianxian smiled cunningly, “He is a bandit, but a most horrible one.”

An Rushuang asked in confusion, “What do you mean?” He used to do something even more vicious?”

Princess Anyang, squinting her phoenix eyes, couldn’t help laughing before admonishing Xianxian, “These two girls are so good at keeping others guessing, so, as kind-hearted as I am, I’ll tell you the truth. Zhao Laoda is a big criminal escaping from the Northern Kingdom, who has also committed felonies in Nanqi Kingdom. You probably don’t know that not only you, but also nearly half of the young men from noble families in Nanqi Qi have fallen into his traps…”

In fact, during the autopsy, a slave impress was found on the back side of Zhao Laoda’s neck, which indicated that he was an important criminal fleeing from the Northern Country. As soon as entering Nanqi, he, as a bandit, gathered many followers to carry on misdeeds. Half a year ago, the government sent armies to destroy their headquarters, but Zhao Laoda fled again. It was beyond their expectation that he was bold enough to hide in the capital.

It was such an irony that he continued doing evil with the assistance of his daughter in the capital city by kidnapping young men of noble families. In fear of ruining their reputation, those noblemen had to yield and give him money.

Until Zhao Laoda abducted An Rushuang and got killed, his misdeeds was finally unraveled.

The emperor heard the news and was exasperated.

“Has the emperor already known it?”

An Rushuang froze over in astonishment.

Even though Zhao Laoda was a bandit, how come this matter made the emperor so incensed?

There must be someone disclosing the series of incidents intentionally to the emperor…

Princess Anyang nodded. “It’s the second prince who reported them to the emperor. According to him, considering the seriousness of the events, Zhao Laoda’s body must be dismembered even he had already been dead…”

Princess Anyang changed the subject all of a sudden, “After knowing you have passed out, the second prince visited you many times. Though stopped by your father every time, he still insisted coming. What a resolute man!”

“Resolute?”

An Rushuang murmured before snorting coldly. “I guess the crown prince was in charge of this case, am I right?”

Princess Anyang stared at her in confusion, not knowing how to answer. Mingyue shouted in surprise, “How did you know? The crown prince used to be responsible for capturing Zhao Laoda. Though he often ordered the guards to search for Zhao Laoda, it was still in vain. Since Zhao Laoda appeared in the capital all of a sudden, implicated in many abductions of young aristocrats, this case has been assigned to the second prince.”

“Oh…” Xianxian raised her eyebrows. “It seems the second prince is lucky enough to claim the credits so easily. Since the crown prince was censured by the emperor, my father was called to the crown prince’s manor in a hurry to treat his disease.”

That second prince Zhu Han was so smart to make use of this case to stand out…

An Rushuang frowned. “How is Zhao Laoda’s wife?”

“Luck grows out of adversity. As one of the wanted criminals, Zhao Laoda’s life was worth one thousand silver ingots. To some degree, she saved your life by killing him, so she won’t be punished nor rewarded at last,” said Princess Anyang.

“That’s great…”

An Rushuang set her mind at ease. At least, she didn’t fail to fulfill her promise to Zhao Xiaotao.

As soon as she finished speaking, Silver stepped in hurriedly before reporting, “Miss An, the second prince is waiting outside to meet you.”

An Rushuang frowned. “Did you say anything to him?”

Silver shook her head immediately.

“Then tell the second prince. Since there are several noble ladies in my room, it’s not convenient for me to receive him.”

No sooner than she finished speaking, there came a flurry of refreshing laughter. A tall and handsome man with dashing eyebrows, clad in apricot robe, entered the room, his bright eyes flickering with a wisp of smile.

“Why is it inconvenient?” He looked at Princess Anyang with a smile before saying, “I knew you are here . Long time no see.”

“Greetings. Second prince.” All the people lowered their heads in respect.

Princess Anyang smiled. “Your Highness is busy with state affairs, surely different from our girls.”

Zhu Han chuckled before turning to An Rushuang, her light blue summer dress accentuating her snow white skin. Although in illness, she, with her sparkling eyes and the willow-leaf-shaped eyebrows, was still pretty and delicate, merely with a tinge of feebleness.

“Please don’t get up, Miss An. I merely come to see whether you are all right. Since you are well , I feel much relieved.”

He stared at An Rushuang, his dark eyes seemingly filled with affection.

While An Rushuang couldn’t help clenching her fists.

She answered with a smile after a while, “Thanks for your care.”

Then, she was in silence.

Since Zhu Han was here, it was unsuitable for Lu Mingyue and Gu Xianxian to stay longer. They left before long, merely leaving Princess Anyang in An Rushuang’s company.

Zhu Han waved his hand and some menservants carried something into the room.

“It’s said that this ginseng was as old as one thousand years, good enough to help you recover from the disease. This is Tranquil Incense, giving you a sound sleep at night…”

Various things were piled beside An Rushuang’s bed, as high as a hill.

An Rushuang didn’t want to accept these gifts at first, but she noticed there were many herbal medicines which could be brought to Bian Wen afterward.

If Bian Wen could save people’s lives with those medicines, it would be a good deed that could add to Zhu Han’s credit in the next world.

“Thank you very much, second prince,” An Rushuang, lowering her head, said after a second thought.

“As long as you are well, I am relieved.” Zhu Han said with a tender smile.

He fixed his eyes on An Rushuang’s cheeks, thinking that she lowered her head because she was shy.

Thinking of the maid who got implicated for running some errand for him, Zhu Han was sure that An Rushuang merely felt jealousy.

As long as he kept a distance from the maid, everything would be okay. He would get this An Rushuang easily for sure.

Zhu Han said in a low-pitched voice, with a victory smile on his face, “You must be tired today. Pleases have a good rest. I will visit you later.”

When Zhu Han left, Princess Anyang looked at An Rushuang in bewilderment. “Do you have feelings for the second prince? Although I shouldn’t judge him behind his back, he certainly isn’t a good man to marry.”

An Rushuang nodded. “Since he has saved my life, it’s not suitable to reject him directly. I have no interest to him at all.”

He wanted to fish, but having no idea that she had also spread a net. Just wait and see which of them was more patient. The one who lost would be the other one’s prey.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep