Chapter 642: Ninth Prince Xiao Jinghong

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Lin Zhuangzhi heard his anger and finally restrained himself, muttering softly, “Brother-in-law, can you please save me now!”

Yu Jingting, in awe of Feng Tianlan, glanced at him and then said sternly, “If you want to get up, you’ll have to answer a few questions for me first.”

“No, please let me get up first. How can 1 answer like this?”

“Answer my questions, or you can stay kneeling like that,” Yujingting snapped.

“Fine, fine, just ask quickly.”

Yujingting asked, “Who besides you has access to the warehouse where the silver silk charcoal is stored?”

“It’s just the people under my supervision. They go in and out to handle the goods.”

“Do you keep a close watch every time?”

“Of… Of course!” Lin Zhuangzhi retorted. “Brother-in-law, what’s going on?”

“Indeed, something has happened. If you don’t want to face consequences, it’s best to be honest.”

Panicking, Lin Zhuangzhi asked, “What happened? I’ve only been managing the warehouse. What could go wrong? Brother-in-law, don’t scare me!”

Could it be that he secretly substituted subpar charcoal and got caught?

“Please tell me honestly, did you keep the key with you all the time without anyone taking it? Were you present every time the warehouse was opened?”

“Yes, yes! Brother-in-law, even though 1 wasn’t reliable in the past, I’ve been diligent ever since I took over the warehouse. Didn’t you and my sister praise me not long ago?”

Yu Jingting asked a few more questions, but nothing unusual was uncovered.

Lin Zhuangzhi had maintained his kneeling position for a while and was now in discomfort. He pleaded, “Brother-in-law, please let me stand up first. My back and neck ache. You can still ask your questions after I’m on my feet.”

Yujingting looked at Feng Tianlan for guidance.

Feng Tianlan remained cold and showed no signs of relenting.

Helplessly, Yujingting turned to Gu Qingluan.

Gu Qingluan turned to Feng Tianlan and said, “Let him go.”

Feng Tianlan released the pressure he applied to Lin Zhuangzhi, and his stern voice echoed in Lin Zhuangzhi’s mind, “Get lost! If you dare to look at her again with those lecherous eyes, be prepared for the consequences!”

Lin Zhuangzhi suddenly felt his body lightening, and he quickly attempted to lift his head. He realized he could move and hastily got up from the ground.

However, after crouching for too long, Lin Zhuangzhi’s legs went numb, and he stumbled. In his mind, he could still hear Feng Tianlan’s threat, and he was terrified. He crawled and scrambled to escape.

Yu Jingting watched his lack of resolve and felt that Lin Zhuangzhi had disgraced him.

By now, it was dawn, and they hadn’t found any clues about the mastermind behind the scenes. Xiao Jingye was restless and agitated, in a state of impatience.

“I don’t believe that a person can just disappear into thin air!” He suddenly rushed to the innkeeper Xin Yue, grabbed his collar, and his eyes were bloodshot. “If my cousin doesn’t return safely, all of you will pay for it!”

Innkeeper Xin Yue gasped for breath and turned as white as paper. “Calm down, sir. We haven’t found the person yet. It’s not the time to settle scores. We should all work together to find the missing person.”

Gu Qingluan’s impression of Xiao Jingye was that he wasn’t usually so impulsive. The last time he lost control was when he heard news of his mother’s impending death, and now it was because of his cousin.

Did he have such deep feelings for his cousin?

“I don’t know who the missing person is. Do you have a portrait? I can send my people to search for him,” Yujingting offered.

Xiao Jingye had his guards bring a portrait to Yujingting.

The portrait depicted a young boy with exceptional looks. What made him stand out was a red dot on his forehead, giving him delicate features that could easily be mistaken for a girl.

The onlookers paused for a moment.

Xiao Jingye said in a solemn voice, “1 won’t hide it from you. The one who’s missing is the Ninth Prince of the Dingyang Kingdom, Xiao Jinghong. He’s the most beloved youngest son of my royal uncle. If anything has happened to him in your Yeyu City, you should be prepared for retaliation from the Dingyang Kingdom!”

Yujingting and the people at the inn turned pale, especially those from the inn who looked utterly despondent.

None of the previously missing individuals had reappeared, and it seemed that this Ninth Prince had also met a tragic fate.

They were in deep trouble!

Gu Qingluan and Feng Tianlan stood nearby without any reaction.

The former was filtering through various scenarios in her mind since it was impossible for a person to disappear into thin air.

How could someone be abducted from a room without alerting the guards?