Chapter 354: A Complete and Utter Loss

Chapter 354: A Complete and Utter Loss

The next day, Tang Shuyi summoned Bai Lu, the maid beside Xiao Yuzhu, and told her about the plan to impersonate Xiao Yuzhu during the Lantern Festival. Then she added, "Although we will make full preparations, there are always unforeseen risks involved in such a matter."

After hearing this, Bai Lu nodded, "I am willing to serve."

"You are a servant born within our household. Should your family wish to be released from servitude upon the success of this endeavor, I will grant you your manumission documents. If you prefer to stay in the household, I will compensate you with gold and silver and arrange better employment for your family," Tang Shuyi continued.

Bai Lu knelt down hastily and kowtowed, "Thank you, Madam."

Tang Shuyi helped her to her feet, "Stay in this courtyard for the next few days and learn to emulate Yuzhu."

"Understood, I shall take my leave now," Bai Lu bowed and then turned to leave.

Tang Shuyi reclined on the brocaded couch, pondering over any remaining details, striving for perfection. Impostors for Xiao Yuchen and Xiao Yuming were naturally in place, found by Xiao Huai from among the soldiers.

The tension for the upcoming events was inevitable, but she also had ample confidence. She trusted her own judgment, as well as Xiao Huai's.

Xiao Huai was also making preparations, but he had hardly left the house these past few days, delegating all tasks.

The Lantern Festival soon arrived, and on this day each year, the capital was exceptionally lively, especially at night with various lanterns hanging at the doors of households. The government too would hang colorful lanterns on major streets, making the capital city ablaze with light.

Before dusk, Li Jingyi arrived at the Duke Dingguo's mansion, then Tang Shuyi and Xiao Huai, along with a few children, stepped out together.

They had not been gone long when the Fourth Prince and the Grand Preceptor received the news. The Fourth Prince laughed aloud, "I've been waiting for this day."

The Grand Preceptor asked cautiously, after receiving the report from the servant boy, "Are you certain it was Princess Kang Le?"

From the moment he woke up today, he felt a sense of dread, as if something terrible was about to happen.

The servant boy replied, "I saw it clearly, Princess Kang Le and Duke Dingguo were sitting together in a carriage. Prince Kang watched Princess Kang Le intently."

The Fourth Prince snorted disdainfully, "He's a toad lusting after a swan's flesh."

The Grand Preceptor was somewhat reassured and waved the servant boy away before advising the Fourth Prince, "Your Highness must not act rashly. We must be careful in all things. Success or failure hinges on this one move."

The Fourth Prince waved his hand nonchalantly, "A mere girl poses no challenge to me. Once the deed is done, what can the Duke do about it? After I have my way, can she marry someone else?"

Hearing this, the Prime Minister's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said, "Your Highness, you must not! Lady Kang Le is only eleven. If you harm her, who knows what the Duke might do. All you need is to create the illusion of spending time alone with her."

Based on his observations of the Duke and Duchess, they cherished their daughter dearly. If something were to happen to her at such a young age, even if the perpetrator was a prince, the Duke might very well take up arms against him.

But the Fourth Prince wouldn't listen, rising to leave, he said, "You needn't worry, Prime Minister. I have my own judgment."

As the prince strode out, the Prime Minister slammed his fist on the desk, his sense of foreboding growing heavier. He began to pace back and forth before finally, gritting his teeth, he decided to pack his belongings and leave.

He had a strong feeling that tonight's plan was likely to fail.

Since it was an escape, he could not take much with him, only the cash notes and some valuable jewels and precious metals. Looking at the wealth in the storeroom that he couldn't take with him, he suddenly felt that it was a blessing in disguise that his ex-wife had left him and taken most of their wealth.

With his bags slung over his shoulder, he slipped out the back door, but no sooner had he turned the corner than two men gagged him and bundled him into a carriage.

"The Duke is indeed prescient," said a soldier in armor inside the carriage, looking at the Prime Minister sprawled on the floor, "Prime Minister, the Duke said he still needs your cooperation. You can't run away now!"

The Prime Minister collapsed, all his lifelong struggles amounting to nothing.

"Let's go!" the soldier laughed, and the carriage rattled into motion.

The Prime Minister lay slumped in the carriage, not knowing where he was being taken, but to him, it no longer mattered. In the end, he had lost completely and utterly.

Meanwhile, Tang Shuyi and her group arrived at the bustling market. Once out of the carriage, "Xiao Yuzhu" donned a mask, as did "Xiao Yuzhen" and "Xiao Yuming."

Tang Shuyi smiled at the sight of their masks. Xiao Huai bought her one too, and holding it, Tang Shuyi continued to wander the bustling streets. Li Jingyi, walking beside "Xiao Yuzhu," purchased whatever he thought Yuzhu might like, already thinking that next year he must browse the market with the real her.

Just then, a commotion arose behind them; a gang of ruffians charged through the crowd, knocking many to the ground and overturning numerous lanterns, throwing the entire market into chaos.

Li Jingyi quickly reached out to grab "Xiao Yuzhu," but a burly man charged through, separating the two. By the time the man had passed, Xiao Yuzhu had vanished. Li Jingyi's heart tightened, and he immediately began to search for her.

At that moment, someone approached Li Jingyi and whispered, "My lord, follow me."

Li Jingyi hurried after the man, leaving the chaotic market behind. Someone was already waiting with horses. They mounted and rode off to the south.

Li Jingyi's heart was pounding wildly. Even knowing that the person in danger was not the real Xiao Yuzhu, his anxiety was overwhelming. The thought of the real Yuzhu being abducted made him want to kill everyone responsible.

The sound of hooves echoed rapidly...

Several horses galloped up to the city gates. The soldiers on guard wanted to stop them, but Li Jingyi's attendant held aloft the royal mansion's plaque and shouted, "Prince Kang needs to leave the city, make way quickly."

The gatekeeper soldiers took a closer look and recognized that it indeed was Prince Kang, and hurriedly allowed passage. After the party left, the soldiers started chatting:

"There's going to be trouble today! The Fourth Prince, Duke Dingguo, and Prince Kang have all left the city."

"We can't involve ourselves in the affairs of the high and mighty, just keep watch at the gate."

………

Li Jingyi's group arrived at a rural estate outside the city where someone came running, saying, "Princess Kang Le has been kidnapped into this estate, and the Fourth Prince has just gone in, claiming he's going to rescue her."

Li Jingyi gripped the reins tightly, his eyes coldly scanning the dark estate before snapping his whip and charging in, his men following closely. Once inside, the sounds of clashing weapons could be heard.

Li Jingyi followed the sounds to a courtyard and saw two groups fighting. Just as he was about to enter, a person dressed in black approached and whispered, "My lord, follow me, the Fourth Prince has taken Princess Kang Le elsewhere."

Li Jingyi and his men immediately followed the figure, and in a few steps, they entered another courtyard. After dispatching a few guards, Li Jingyi approached a brightly lit room.

Standing at the doorway, he heard the Fourth Prince's voice from inside, "Yu Zhu, right? You know who I am, don't you? Today, you and I will be joined, and the day I ascend to that position, you will be the Empress. Hahaha..."

Li Jingyi couldn't bear to listen any longer and with a crash, he kicked open the door. Inside, he saw "Xiao Yu Zhu" cowering in a corner still wearing her mask, and the Fourth Prince standing before her with a lascivious grin.