Time Travel: Brothel Maid

In the capital city, the sudden appearance of a large number of soldiers in the streets and alleys caused panic among the people, who were wondering what had happened. Every household was searched thoroughly until late at night, when the soldiers, having found nothing, had to temporarily stop the search and wait to continue the next day.

Inside the study of the Prince Zunyi's mansion, a solemn and oppressive atmosphere filled the air, making it hard to breathe.

Shen Jing knelt before Zhao Yunrong, his voice filled with deep guilt and self-reproach, and said, "Your Highness, I have failed in my duties and have not been able to find Miss Xiaoguo'er. I am extremely ashamed and beg Your Highness to punish me severely!"

Zhao Yunrong sat upright in the armchair, his face ashen and cold, like an iceberg radiating a chilling aura. He looked coldly at Shen Jing on the ground and slowly said, "Tell me in detail all her actions over the past two days, including who she talked to, what she said, and everything you saw when you discovered her disappearance today."

Shen Jing was taken aback upon hearing this, his heart tightening. He recalled the events of the past two days in his mind, from the first day he arrived at the Tang residence until what happened this morning...

When Shen Jing mentioned that Xiao Guo'er had fainted again today due to excessive grief and had to be helped into the side hall by two maids, Zhao Yunrong frowned slightly, seemingly concerned about this detail.

Then Shen Jing continued, saying that about half an hour after Xiao Guo'er was carried into the side hall, he saw a woman dressed as a maid, covering her face with her hands and sobbing softly, walk out of the side hall where Xiao Guo'er was. After that, no one else entered or left the room where Xiao Guo'er was.

Later, he felt something was wrong and went in to check, only to find two maids lying unconscious on the ground, and one of them was missing her outer garment.

At this point, Shen Jing couldn't help but say indignantly, "That maid must have been Miss Xiao Guo'er in disguise, who then mingled with the funeral procession and escaped from the Tang residence."

After Shen Jing's voice fell, the hall fell into a chilling silence.

Zhao Yunrong remained silent after hearing this, and the eerie silence made Shen Jing tense and uneasy.

A moment later, a chilling laugh suddenly broke the unsettling silence in the room.

"She had planned everything from the very beginning, deliberately feigning fainting multiple times to successfully lower your guard. Finally, taking advantage of the chaos, she pulled off a clever deception, easily escaping unscathed."

Zhao Yunrong rarely showed such anger. Shen Jing was frightened by the icy coldness in his eyes and bowed his head again in fear, admitting his mistake, "It's all my fault for being negligent. Please punish me, Your Highness!"

"Go get the Ten Military Sticks."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Shen Jing felt relieved. He knew that the prince had shown leniency. Being punished and learning a lesson was better than living in constant fear.

The night was deep and dark, and all was quiet. It was the perfect time for a good dream, but Zhao Yunrong was wide awake.

A surging, unstoppable flame of anger burned fiercely in his heart, and deep within that endless rage lay a trace of panic and bewilderment that he himself was unaware of—he feared that he would lose the woman who had taken root in his heart forever.

In the courtyard, the moonlight, like water, poured down, illuminating the branches and leaves that swayed gracefully in the wind, casting dappled shadows on the ground. At the same time, the cool moonlight also shone on the solitary figure by the window, making him appear even more lonely and desolate, standing motionless like a sculpture.

This seemingly calm person was actually in a state of semi-consciousness, muttering incoherent words, his voice rising and falling, sometimes slurred like a drunkard, and sometimes deafeningly loud like thunder.

Why must you leave me?

Am I, the king, really inferior to a deceased person?

Listen up, Your Majesty! Get as far away from me as possible, or you'll suffer the most if you ever fall into my hands again!

However, right after this furious roar, for some reason, the originally impassioned and high-pitched tone suddenly changed, revealing a hint of pleading and compromise.

If you can change your mind and return to my side now, I will forgive you for your past mistakes... Please come back.