144 I won’t harm her
With a sudden jerk, Xiaoming’s sleep abruptly broke. He found the paper fan on the floor. He yawned and rubbed his eyes. He picked up the paper fan and put it on one of the shelves which was covered in dust. It had been four hours, and that person didn’t come.
He massaged his nape and came out to check. To his surprise, the shop was filled with customers. He immediately stepped back and went back to the chair. “I never waited for someone. I am the Crown Prince,” he murmured and settled on the chair.
Even the chair was rough, and he could feel the pain he was feeling in his back. It wasn’t comfortable at all. On top of that, he was thirsty and hungry. He could not drink or eat outside. However, he needed water, and he got restless.
He stood up when Muchén came there and bowed. “Does His Royal Highness need water?” He humbly asked.
“Yes. Bring in a clean glass,” Xiaoming said while keeping his voice low. Muchén nodded his head and after a few minutes, escaping the eyes of the customers, brought a glass of water for him.
Xiaoming was reluctant to drink it but his throat was dry. However, before drinking he asked Muchén to drink it first.
Muchén nodded and lifted his head such that it faced the ceiling. Opening his mouth, he drank a little and gulped. Looking at Xiaoming, he said, “His Royal Highness can drink it.”
But for some reason, Xiaoming didn’t feel like drinking. “Take it away. I do not want to drink,” Xiaoming said and drew her brows close.
Muchén silently left while Xiaoming patiently waited for the person to come.
.....
‘If he comes late, then what will I do? I need to return to the palace at the specified time,’ he thought.
“Your Royal Highness, he’s here,” Muchén suddenly came inside and informed Xiaoming, who promptly stood up from the chair. He walked out with him and looked at the man. This time he had hairpins mostly jade hairpins.
Xiaoming gestured to one of the workers to close the door from inside while the others caught the man from his arms.
“What are you doing?” The man shouted at them.
“Stay quiet. You are standing before the Crown Prince of the Kingdom,” Muchén told the man, who stopped struggling to get released from their arms. He was scared to find that the Crown Prince was standing in front of him.
“Do you work for a woman?” Xiaoming asked the man. “Speak the truth. Else, I will send you to rot in prison for your entire life,” Xiaoming told the man. Muchén also asked to tell everything to the Crown Prince.
“Did a woman give you these hairpins?” Xiaoming modified his question. “If you tell me the truth and take me to the woman, you will be rewarded.” Xiaoming decided to bait him and took out the pouch from his pocket. He opened it and showed a gold coin to the man.
“Fifty gold coins are enough for you, and you don’t need to rob people like this,” Xiaoming affirmed. “You are making me wait too much. Tell me about the woman and take fifty gold coins. Try lying, and I will give you to the royal inspector,” he again threatened him.
“Your Royal Highness, I will tell the truth. Please do not punish me. I do what I am told to,” the man pleaded with Xiaoming and agreed to tell him the truth. “However, I want His Royal Highness to provide me security because if this truth goes out, then they may punish me,” he requested Xiaoming.
“In the presence of the Crown Prince, no one will try to harm you. I will send you to the adjacent town for better living,” Xiaoming promised him.
“Thank you for your kind benevolence. Your Royal Highness, I am a part of a small organization. It consists of ten members, and one such member is Liu Jin Yu,” the man informed the Crown Prince.
“So, you are a part of an organization that steals away the money and other precious jewels from the people,” Xiaoming chuckled and wondered what organization could it be about which no one knew in the capital.
“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”
“Show me the place, where this organization is working,” Xiaoming told him. The man nodded his head. Muchén came close to Xiaoming and asked him not to go alone.
“Give me the token of your identification,” Xiaoming said and gestured to the two men to leave the arms of the person.
The man quickly took out the token and forwarded it to Xiaoming. He examined it and then looked into the eyes of the man. “Call the Royal Inspector, Muchén,” Xiaoming instructed.
Muchén bowed while the man got scared.
“I told everything to the Crown Prince. I beg His Royal Highness not to call the Royal Inspector,” the man said as he got on his knees while panicking.
Muchén looked at the Crown Prince, wondering if he should go or not. “I need someone to accompany me. I cannot go unarmed,” Xiaoming clarified and gestured to Muchén to leave, who bowed before heading out.
“I want to see Liu Jin Yu. Where will she be at this hour? I will spare you if you tell me her exact location and take me to her,” Xiaoming told the man while keeping the condition.
The man lifted his head and said, “Jin Yu has come to the market. Today is the Dragon Boat Festival, so it is the best day to-” he paused and lowered his eyes.
“To rob the people, especially nobles,” Xiaoming completed his words.
“Is she trained in martial arts?” Xiaoming asked the man.
“She knows a little,” the man replied and joined his hands. “I beg His Royal Highness not to harm Liu Jin Yu. She is a kind person. We do this because we have no other way to live,” the man requested Xiaoming.
“I won’t harm her,” Xiaoming assured him and brought his hand to his neck. Those eyes again appeared before his eyes. The woman seemed a smart one because she frequently robbed people, yet didn’t ever get caught.
Th𝗲 most uptodate novels are published on free(w)ebnov(e)l.𝒄𝒐𝙢