The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 777 Why Did You Arrest Me?
Just then, a palace maid rushed in, knelt down, and said in a panic, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Princess Anqing... Princess Anqing... she has disappeared!"

"What?!" Zhu Xiong Ying jumped to her feet, her face changing drastically. "What happened? Explain yourself!"

The palace maid trembled with fear and stammered, "This servant...this servant doesn't know either! Her Highness was resting in her palace, but when this servant went in just now, she found...she was gone!"

"Damn it!" Zhu Xiong Ying roared, slamming his palm on the dragon throne, which shattered into pieces. "Seal off the palace immediately! Dig three feet into the ground and find the princess!"

Zhu Xiong Ying was furious, his eyes wide open, like a tiger ready to devour its prey. The news of Princess Anqing's disappearance struck him like a thunderbolt. He smashed the carved rosewood table with his fist, sending wood chips flying, mirroring his rage.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!" he roared, his voice echoing in the empty imperial study. "What use are you to me?! You can't even keep an eye on a princess!"

The palace maids and eunuchs in the imperial study were all trembling with fear, kneeling on the ground, not daring to raise their heads. They had never seen the emperor so enraged, like a lion about to erupt, ready to tear them to shreds at any moment.

Zhu Xiong Ying paced back and forth, anxious and restless. An Qing was his most beloved granddaughter, intelligent and quick-witted from a young age, deeply loved by him. Now that she had suddenly disappeared, how could he not be extremely worried?
He forced himself to calm down and began to analyze the possibilities of Anqing's disappearance. The palace was heavily guarded and heavily fortified; it was impossible for an ordinary person to sneak in. Anqing's disappearance must have been orchestrated by someone in the shadows.

Could it be Zhang Sanfeng?

The thought, once it appeared, lingered in his mind. Zhang Sanfeng's appearance was too sudden, and his request was too strange; all of this made him uneasy.

"Guards!" Zhu Xiong Ying shouted sternly.

A bodyguard immediately slipped in, knelt on one knee, and said, "Your subordinate is here."

"By imperial decree, immediately search Wudang Mountain and bring Zhang Sanfeng back to me!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The guard accepted the order and left.

Zhu Xiong Ying stood by the window, gazing at the dark night sky, her heart filled with worry. Anqing, where are you?

At the same time, Princess Anqing was being held hostage by a man in black and was being quickly taken away from the palace.

Princess Anqing struggled desperately, but could not break free from the black-clad man's grasp. She stared in horror at the rapidly receding scenery around her, her heart filled with terror.

"Who are you? Why are you arresting me?" Princess Anqing shouted.

The man in black didn't speak, but simply increased his speed.

Princess Anqing grew increasingly frightened. She didn't know where she was being taken or what awaited her.

The man in black led Princess Anqing to a dilapidated temple outside the city.

"Let me go! Help!" Princess Anqing cried out for help.

The man in black covered her mouth and dragged her deep into the dilapidated temple.

The dilapidated temple was dark and damp, reeking of mildew. Princess Anqing was thrown to the ground by the men in black, leaving her dazed and confused.

She stared at the man in black in terror and asked, "Who are you? Why are you arresting me?"

The man in black finally spoke, his voice hoarse and unpleasant, "Your Highness, please forgive me."

Princess Anqing's heart sank; it seemed the other party had come prepared.

"Who sent you?" Princess Anqing asked, trying to remain calm.

The man in black sneered, "Your Highness, you don't need to ask any more questions. You just need to cooperate obediently, and your life will be in no danger."

"What do you want?" Princess Anqing asked.

The man in black did not answer, but instead took out a pill from his pocket and handed it to Princess Anqing, saying, "Eat this."

Princess Anqing stared at the black pill, her heart filled with fear. She didn't know what the pill was, nor what the consequences would be if she took it.

"What is this?" Princess Anqing asked.

“A drug that will make you obedient,” the man in black said coldly. Princess Anqing, of course, didn't believe him. She shook her head vehemently, “I won't take it!”

A cold glint flashed in the man's eyes. He grabbed Princess Anqing's chin, forced her to open her mouth, and then shoved the pill inside.

"Ugh..." Princess Anqing tried to vomit, but the man in black covered her mouth.

The pill melted in her mouth, and a strange taste spread through her mouth.

Princess Anqing felt a wave of dizziness, and everything before her eyes became blurry.

She tried to struggle, but found her body becoming increasingly weak.

Eventually, she lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground.

The man in black looked at the unconscious Princess Anqing and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

"Your Highness, what happens next depends on your fate."

The man in black carried Princess Anqing and disappeared into the night.

……

Zhu Xiong Ying spent the night in anxious waiting.

Just as dawn broke, he received news that they had found Xiao Tao, Princess Anqing's personal maid.

Zhu Xiong Ying immediately summoned Xiao Tao.

Xiao Tao knelt on the ground, trembling all over, clearly terrified.

"Xiao Tao, tell me slowly, how exactly did the princess disappear?" Zhu Xiong Ying asked, trying to soften his tone.

Xiao Tao recounted the events in fits and starts.

It turned out that after Princess Anqing went to sleep last night, Xiaotao also went back to her room to rest. In the middle of the night, she suddenly heard the princess calling for help and rushed over to check.

As a result, she found that the princess's room was empty except for an open window.

Xiao Tao was terrified and immediately reported to the guards.

After listening to Xiao Tao's story, Zhu Xiong Ying's face turned terribly gloomy.

It seems that Princess Anqing's disappearance was not accidental.

"Xiao Tao, do you remember if any suspicious people appeared near the princess's palace last night?" Zhu Xiong Ying asked.

Xiao Tao thought carefully for a moment, then shook her head. "This servant didn't see anyone."

Zhu Xiong Ying was even more puzzled. Since the other party was able to abduct Princess Anqing without anyone noticing, they must be very familiar with the layout of the palace.

Could it be someone from the palace?
This thought sent a chill down Zhu Xiong Ying's spine. If that were the case, the situation would be even more complicated.

Zhu Xiong Ying rubbed his temples; Xiao Tao's description hadn't provided much useful information. He waved for Xiao Tao to leave and paced alone in his study. Someone from the palace? This possibility weighed heavily on his mind. If it was a palace intrigue, then far too many things would be involved.

He suddenly remembered someone—Liu Rufeng, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who was also a spy he had planted in the palace. This man was shrewd and capable; perhaps he could uncover some clues.

"Someone! Summon Liu Rufeng!"

Before long, Liu Rufeng strode over, knelt on one knee, and said, "Your subject pays respects to His Highness the Imperial Grandson."

"No need for formalities," Zhu Xiong Ying said in a deep voice. "You should already know about Princess Anqing's disappearance, right?"

(End of this chapter)