FBC -Chapter 309 Beasts

The injured maid sobbed, “I was attacked as soon as I entered. There were three people hiding in the room—one came to tie me up. The other two fought with Madam. But their martial skills are so strong… they knocked her unconscious, put her in a sack, and took her away.”

Zhou Chunyu felt as if his heart had been ripped apart. “She’s hurt… she’s hurt!”

Chiyan soon arrived.

Gu Hua anxiously asked, “Speak quickly!”

Chiyu turned back. “Bring him in.”

A man, tightly bound, was thrown into the room.

He was one of the Zhou household’s gatekeepers.

Chiyan said coldly, “He took advantage of everyone going to the manor to receive the bride to let the thieves in—and even guided them to hide inside the bridal chamber.”

Zhou Chunyu’s anger soared. He grabbed the man by the neck, his eyes burning red as he roared, “I’ve treated you well! Why would you do this?! Speak!”

Mu Junyan stopped his hand. “Question him properly. Don’t kill him.”

He turned to Chiyan. “Have you investigated?”

Chiyan nodded. “The city gates have been sealed. Scouts were sent to every gate—news will come back soon.”

The man nearly choked. Zhou Chunyu released him and furiously kicked him in the stomach.

The blow landed on his ribs. He let out a scream, trembling all over.

It hurt, but it wasn’t fatal.

Gu Hua demanded anxiously, “Speak now! You’ve been in the Yong Manor for years! Why betray Steward Zhou and let them abduct Zhilan?”

The man ignored the pain, crying, “I was forced! My family was taken by them! If I didn’t obey, they’d all die. I only have one son, and my elderly parents can’t bear to be offended…”

Gu Hua was shocked and looked at Mu Junyan.

Mu Junyan immediately ordered his officers, “Divide the elite riders into three groups and pursue along the three southern routes. Leave no trace unchecked.”

The officer saluted. “Yes!”

Outside the South Gate of Ju Prefecture, three paths led to the three southern kingdoms.

Gu Hua thought, Could someone be impersonating the Dali Kingdom?

Half an hour later, scouts reported back.

A team had secretly left the city through a tunnel, heading straight for Dali.

Gu Hua was stunned. “A tunnel? How is there a tunnel?”

A scout explained, “It was built by the Yifeng Hall back when Zhuohua was captured, discovered at the Music Bureau. We sealed it at the time… we don’t know when it was reopened.”

A chill ran down Gu Hua’s spine. The enemy had been operating in secret for so long.

If they could abduct Zhou Zhilan so easily, anyone else could be next.

Mu Junyan’s face darkened.

Zhou Chunyu had regained his composure. Though anxious, he remained somewhat calm.

He frowned. “Even if the tunnel is open, with the eyes of our scouts and the city’s defenses, they shouldn’t succeed. But why take such a risk… only to abduct Zhilan?”

“That’s what I’ve been thinking.”

“Your Highness, a message from the carrier pigeon.”

A guard entered with a pigeon.

Mu Junyan took the small scroll, glanced at it, and handed it to Gu Hua.

Gu Hua frowned. “Xuan Xuan said Duan Yu didn’t send anyone to abduct her… that’s strange.”

Zhou Chunyu clasped his fists. “No matter what, I must personally rescue Zhilan!”

Gu Hua said, “Where will you rescue her? If it wasn’t Duan Yu, we don’t even know where she’s hidden.”

Zhou Chunyu tears up. “I can’t just wait!”

Gu Hua gritted her teeth. “I’ll go.”

Mu Junyan grabbed her. “Where are you going?”

“I’ll have Duan Yu send people to search. It’s their territory; he can’t ignore it!”

She tried to leave.

Mu Junyan held her arm. “What if their target isn’t Zhilan?”

Zhou Chunyu turned pale. “Right… Madam, you can’t go.”

“Calm down,” Chiyan said. “The elite riders are already dispatched. They’re faster than you.”

Chiyan added, “We’ve also instructed scouts in Dali and the other kingdoms to investigate secretly. Don’t worry, news will arrive soon.”

Everyone had no choice but to wait anxiously.

At dawn, news came in from all sides.

The team that fled toward Dali was intercepted by the elite riders, but Zhou Zhilan was not found.

Zhou Chunyu nearly tore his hair out, jumped on his feet, and bolted outside.

Gu Hua had changed into riding clothes and followed closely.

Mu Junyan also pursued them without delay.

The three rode swiftly toward the South Gate, with Chiyu, Chiyan, and other guards close behind.

Soon, Gu Hua, slightly behind, noticed something under a large tree—a pile of red-and-green items.

Startled, she shouted, “Look west!”

She spurred her horse in that direction.

Her voice was carried away by the wind, unheard by those ahead.

Mu Junyan saw her change direction and, hearing the guards calling the Madam, quickly followed.

Zhou Chunyu stopped his horse and saw the same colored pile.

It was the color of Zhou Zhilan’s bridal attire.

A chill ran through him. He turned and chased after.

Gu Hua jumped off her horse, stumbled toward the pile, crying.

She had painstakingly embroidered Zhilan’s wedding dress herself—how could she not recognize it?

She threw herself on the curled-up figure. The pale, lifeless face was Zhou Zhilan.

“Sister Zhilan!”

Gu Hua frantically wrapped her in clothing, sobbing uncontrollably.

Zhilan was not wearing the dress properly—she had been stripped, with the wedding attire merely covering her.

She had lost consciousness. Her bruises and the blood beneath her revealed the horrors she endured.

Gu Hua tightly wrapped her, holding her and wailing.

Mu Junyan dismounted, bloodshot eyes, fists clenched, fury radiating.

Zhou Chunyu, seeing Gu Hua’s heartbreak, had no idea what had happened.

He rolled off his horse, crawled over, and saw the bruised wrist exposed under the clothes.

He felt as if struck by lightning, the world spinning, throat choked, unable to speak. Tears poured uncontrollably.

He reached out trembling, lightly grasped her cold wrist, fingers trembling as he checked her pulse.

“She’s alive.”

Gu Hua, hearing this, stifled her sobs. “Quick, take her back!”

Zhou Chunyu forced his grief down and lifted the bridal-wrapped Zhilan into his arms.

Chiyu and the others helped him onto a horse, and they raced back to the city.

Shen Li and Doctor Shen worked for over an hour before emerging.

Gu Hua anxiously asked, “How is she?”

Shen Li’s face was grim. “Mostly external injuries, but both thighs are fractured… and…”

She glanced at the group of men, hesitant to speak further.

From inside came Zhou Chunyu’s restrained, desperate wails.

Gu Hua’s heart tightened.

She pulled Shen Li aside, whispering, “How serious?”

The usually indifferent Shen Li’s face was full of rage. Teeth clenched, she said, “Sister Zhilan was violated. They fractured her pelvis and thigh bones, lost too much blood… she may never stand again. But that’s not the worst part… it’s…”

Her voice broke off.

Gu Hua was horrified.

Violated?

What kind of torture did Zhilan endure?

Beasts… these beasts… she would never forgive them!