Chapter 361: Chapter 361 Kidnapping for Blackmail (5)
Xiu Aotian saw his daughter send away his wife and picked up the tea from the small table, took a light sip, and then spoke, "Yangyang, if you have something to say, just say it. There’s nobody else here."
Xiu Yang slightly knitted her brows, turned her head to look at her brother who had been silent, bit her red lips and said, "Father, I have a favor to ask. If this matter succeeds, our Xiu Family will soar to the heavens and no longer be a family of merchants looked down upon by others."
Xiu Bingxi furrowed his brows deeply, wondering what could possibly allow them to soar to the heavens. He looked skeptically at his sister, "What matter?"
Xiu Yang glanced at her older brother, then back at her father, before parting her red lips slightly, "Princess Mei has an older brother named Feng Xi. They rely on each other for survival, and Feng Xi is extremely important to her. You should think of a way to kidnap him to threaten Feng Xuxu."
"What?" Xiu Bingxi stood up in surprise, his eyes wide. He then realized he might have raised his voice too much, looked back to check if there were any signs of movement outside the hall, and then continued in a lower tone, "Have you gone mad? You dare meddle in the affairs of Princess Mei? Aren’t you afraid that when the time comes, you’ll be torn apart?"
Xiu Aotian also looked astonished, his gaze firmly on Xiu Yang.
"Brother, listen to me. We will kidnap him stealthily. Once you bring him to me, you won’t speak of it, I won’t speak of it, and no one will know it was us," Xiu Yang pleaded urgently as she stood up and grasped her brother’s hand, imploring him with her eyes.
Xiu Bingxi grimaced and shook his head, "It won’t work. We can’t do this. Prince Mei is not someone to be trifled with, and should there be consequences, you won’t be able to bear them, after all, there are over three hundred souls in the Xiu Family."
Xiu Aotian narrowed his eyes and slowly stood up, "The Emperor’s intention?"
With nowhere to escape the probing gaze, Xiu Yang finally bit her lip and nodded.
"One Feng Xi is not a cause for fear. After Prince Mei learns about it, he will figure a way out. We are not a match for them," Xiu Aotian analyzed calmly. Caught between the Emperor and a devil, they needed to find more reasons to prevent their family from getting involved in this murky situation.
"Father, people have already gone to kidnap Feng Xuxu’s grandmother’s family. Now only Feng Xi is left," Xiu Yang said.
Xiu Aotian and Xiu Bingxi exchanged a glance, both detecting the surprise in each other’s eyes. Then Xiu Aotian sighed deeply and slumped back into his chair, realizing the Emperor had set a trap for him, forcing him to do what he must; otherwise, any excuse could lead to the instantaneous disappearance of his family from Xueyan Country.
"Empress Hui, please relay to the Emperor that this commoner obeys the decree," he said as he stood, feeling suddenly aged.
Xiu Bingxi took a deep look at Xiu Yang, then turned and left.
Xiu Residence Study
"Father, are you really going to capture him?" As soon as Xiu Bingxi entered the study, he couldn’t wait to ask.
Xiu Aotian sighed deeply as he sat in his chair, "Bingxi, it’s not that Father wants to go. You saw it too. If we defy the Emperor’s decree, he could easily charge your sister with a crime in the palace, and that would be the end of the Xiu Family."
"But if Prince Mei finds out, our end will be even worse."
"Go out, let me think," Xiu Aotian said.
Seeing that his father seemed to be wavering, Xiu Bingxi left the study helplessly and returned to his chamber. He paced back and forth, racking his brains for a plan until his eyes lit up. Perhaps this was the only way to save their family.
Just after the third watch drum sounded, an uninvited guest appeared at Prince Mei Residence.
"Who’s there? Come out, or don’t blame me for being impolite."
"I have urgent matters for Prince Mei. You must report quickly, or it will be too late," Xiu Bingxi said, dressed in black night gear, standing in the courtyard.
Tian Yi glanced at him, signaled the Hidden Guard to stay put, and then headed to the sleeping hall.
"Master," he called softly, afraid of waking the sleeping princess inside.
Dugu Chen quietly got up, put on a coat, and left the hall.
"What’s the matter?"
"Master, someone has broken into the Prince Residence at night, claiming to seek you," Tian Yi said.
"Hmm, let’s go quietly," Dugu Chen said, somewhat suspiciously, before stepping forward and heading to the front courtyard.
Feng Xuxu opened her eyes, her curiosity piqued. It was so late, yet someone dared to intrude upon the Prince Residence. She got up, draped a cape over her shoulders, and followed, noting that no guards were around. She walked slowly toward the front yard with her pregnant belly. Before reaching the front yard, she saw Dugu Chen leading a man in black to the study. She slowly approached and was just about to push open the door when she heard Feng Xi’s name and pulled back her hand.
"They have agreed to send me to kidnap Feng Xi, while others go to kidnap the Princess’s grandmother’s family in order to blackmail Princess Mei and force Prince Mei to relinquish military power," Xiu Bingxi spilled everything he knew, hoping that Prince Mei, considering the highly sensitive information, would spare his family.
Feng Xuxu suddenly pushed open the door to the study, fixed her gaze tightly on Xiu Bingxi, and asked with a trembling voice, "How are my brother and grandmother doing?"
"Princess... this..." Xiu Bingxi did not expect to see the princess instead of a guard standing outside.
"Wife, why are you out here? Hurry back," Dugu Chen said upon seeing his wife’s face turn pale, his concern evident.
"I’m asking you, how exactly are my brother and my grandmother?" Her tears silently streamed down as she kept her gaze locked on Xiu Bingxi.
Xiu Bingxi, at a loss, looked toward Prince Mei.
"Wife, your brother is fine. I’ll send people to check on your grandmother right now. Don’t worry, with me here, everything will be fine. I promise," Prince Mei said as he took her cold small hand, preparing to escort her back to her room.
"Chen... I... I think... I might be going into labor."
