Meanwhile.
The Cold King and his consort, along with Murong Lichan, returned to the Third Prince’s manor. Leng Ruoli and the others gathered in the study to strategize how to defeat Murong Qiansong in one fell swoop.
“Third Prince, what forces does Murong Qiansong currently command?” Leng Ruoli asked thoughtfully.
“Firstly, the several thousand Imperial Guards responsible for palace security have pledged allegiance to Murong Qiansong. His own sister, Murong Shaolan, also commands a formidable cavalry of about three thousand. This cavalry was originally the private army of the former Empress, who secretly entrusted it to Murong Shaolan before her death. Murong Shaolan has an excellent relationship with Murong Qiansong and will undoubtedly assist her brother in ascending the throne. Furthermore, Murong Qiansong has fifty thousand troops outside the city. It will be quite difficult for us to successfully defeat him,” Murong Lichan said, his face filled with worry.
“Who is currently in charge of these Imperial Guards?” Leng Ruoli suddenly inquired.
“Qin Minghao!” Murong Lichan uttered a name.
“What kind of person is this Qin Minghao? What are his weaknesses?” Leng Ruoli continued to ask.
Upon hearing this, Murong Lichan recalled Qin Minghao’s past actions and demeanor.
“Actually, Qin Minghao was originally my father’s man and was considered upright. I don’t know why he suddenly defected to Murong Qiansong.”
“Who are his family members? Could it be that Murong Qiansong is threatening Qin Minghao by holding his family hostage?” Leng Ruoli speculated.
“I haven’t paid attention to that, but I know he has a wife and two adorable children at home, as well as a blind elderly mother,” Murong Lichan replied truthfully.
“Third Prince, send someone to Qin Minghao’s residence to see if his family, old and young, is still there.”
“Yes, I will arrange for someone to go immediately.”
Murong Lichan left for a short while and then returned to the study to continue their discussion.
“Who holds the tiger tally for Murong Qiansong’s fifty thousand troops outside the city?” Jun Mohan suddenly asked.
“It is in the hands of his maternal uncle, Jing Dehai. However, this uncle of Murong Qiansong is extremely ambitious. I feel he desires more than just being a royal relative; he covets the throne himself,” Murong Lichan answered.
“After your men have ascertained the situation at Qin Minghao’s residence, the three of us will sneak to Jing Dehai’s home.”
As Jun Mohan spoke, his gaze drifted towards the window, his mind deep in thought. His handsome features, with their clearly defined lines, radiated an aura of wisdom.
After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Mu Bai, sent by Murong Lichan to investigate Qin Minghao’s family situation, returned.
“Master, King Leng, Consort Leng, your subordinate has investigated the situation at Qin Minghao’s home. Qin Minghao’s wife and children have been abducted by the First Prince’s men and their whereabouts are currently unknown,” Mu Bai reported the findings.
“See, I was right. Murong Qiansong truly used despicable means to force Qin Minghao’s allegiance,” Leng Ruoli sighed.
“Should we not find Qin Minghao’s wife and children now, rescue them, and then try to persuade Qin Minghao to surrender?” Murong Lichan asked seriously.
Upon hearing this, Leng Ruoli and Jun Mohan both nodded.
Later, the Cold King and his consort decided to bring Chu Mingxuan, Yin Chen, and the others along with them. Murong Lichan, on the other hand, only brought Mu Bai to accompany the Cold King and his consort. Since they were going to rescue people, Leng Ruoli felt it was best to bring more experts for potential combat.
On the way, the group continuously speculated where Murong Qiansong might be hiding Qin Minghao’s wife and children.
Murong Lichan guessed that Murong Qiansong would keep Qin Minghao’s wife and children in the back courtyard of the First Prince’s manor.
Leng Ruoli speculated that Murong Qiansong would hide Qin Minghao’s wife and children in a manor outside the city belonging to the First Prince’s manor.
As for Chu Mingxuan, he guessed that Murong Qiansong had hidden Qin Minghao’s wife and children in a small residence within the city.
…
…
After much discussion, Jun Mohan finally decided that they would search these three locations first. If they found no one there, they would then look elsewhere.
First, Leng Ruoli led the group to sneak into the First Prince’s manor. Inside, they incidentally overheard that the First Prince had gone out of the city with two mysterious individuals that day.
Leng Ruoli and the others weren't interested in what Murong Qiansong was doing outside the city, but if Murong Qiansong wasn't in the manor, it would be more convenient for them to search for the people.
However, to Leng Ruoli’s disappointment, their group searched the entire First Prince’s manor but found no one they were looking for.
Subsequently, Murong Lichan led the Cold King and his consort to search several private residences owned by Murong Qiansong in Haojing, but still found no trace of Qin Minghao’s wife and children. However, they did discover that Murong Qiansong kept many mistresses outside, and even had several illegitimate children. Jun Mohan and Leng Ruoli became more cautious and asked Mu Bai to note down all of Murong Qiansong’s mistresses and illegitimate children.
Following that, Murong Lichan led the Cold King and his consort to two of Murong Qiansong’s manors outside the city to search for the people.
When they arrived at the first manor, they still hadn’t found Qin Minghao’s wife. Everyone was gradually losing hope, but fortunately, when they arrived at the second manor, they finally found a clue.
This manor had stricter guards, and it was a courtyard-style estate. The guards inside and out were all dressed in black fitted attire. This place definitely had something going on.
The eight of them, Leng Ruoli and her group, split into four teams and infiltrated the manor from the east, south, west, and north.
Among them, Leng Ruoli and Jun Mohan were the most powerful. Thus, they decided to sneak into the manor from the north side. Coincidentally, as they leaped onto the back buildings, they heard the heart-wrenching cries of children and women from beneath the house.
“No, don’t touch my mother, don’t touch my mother…” the little girl cried with a hoarse voice.
“My father is the Commander of the Imperial Guards. If he finds out you’re bullying my mother, he’ll kill you all.”
Beside her, the little boy’s eyes blazed with ferocity. He reached out his hands with hatred, grabbing the guards’ clothes, trying to rescue his mother from these lecherous thieves. Although he was weak, the little boy did not give up. The little girl directly bit the hands of the guards who were bullying her mother. The guard whose hand was bitten by the little girl, in pain and anger, gritted his teeth and slapped the little girl away. The little girl fell heavily to the ground and fainted on the spot.
At this moment, the woman’s mouth was gagged with rough cloth by the guards, and her hands were tied to a chair with ropes. She could only shake her head and kick the lecherous men with her feet, struggling fiercely.
She could not let these people insult her in front of her two children.
Absolutely not!
But she could only watch helplessly as these lecherous men reached for her pants. She wanted to die but couldn't.
Just as she was about to give up hope, the men who had tried to insult her suddenly fell to the ground, dead.
This scene stunned her.