Chapter 268: Bao Shu's Big Gamble
Chapter 268: Bao Shu's Big Gamble
In an unassuming old residence, Ban Xia held the sleeping Bao Shu in her arms, trembling as she sat in a chair.
She had been on her way to find the young miss, but halfway there, a group of people suddenly rushed out and surrounded the carriage. Qing Shuang had fought them to protect them, but now they were here.
Ban Xia ran with Bao Shu in her arms, only to encounter another group, who brought them to this place.
She didn't know what they were planning, but she vaguely heard something related to the young miss.
"Lao Gao, the Seventh Young Master said to let them go."
"All of them?"
"What else? Just letting the little one go, do you expect her to walk back by herself?"
Two men's voices sounded outside the door, and soon the room's door opened. A masked man said to Ban Xia, "Let's go."
Ban Xia looked at the two men in disbelief, hugged Bao Shu tightly, and cautiously stepped towards the door.
Seeing that they truly weren't stopping her, she hurried her pace.
Although she didn't know why they were letting her and Bao Shu go, now wasn't the time to ponder these matters.
She had to get back to the Governor's Mansion as soon as possible.
But no one expected that just as Ban Xia reached the door with Bao Shu in her arms, she would unexpectedly meet Xun Yu, who was accompanied by guards.
By then, the heavy rain had stopped, and the streets were filled with the damp chill of autumn.
Xun Yu wore a silver cloak, his features as exquisite as jade, but his expression was exceptionally cold.
He had been to the Governor's Mansion, and Ban Xia immediately recognized him. A look of intense astonishment flashed in her eyes.
And naturally, he recognized both Bao Shu and Ban Xia.
Bao Shu slept soundly, her cheeks free of tear stains. It was unclear if she had been asleep the whole time or had woken up and was unaware of what had happened, but she showed no fear, like a child.
"Take her away," Xun Yu ordered.
The guards behind him immediately surrounded Ban Xia.
Ban Xia's face paled, and she hugged Bao Shu tightly, saying, "But you said you would let us go?"
At that moment, several masked men walked out from the courtyard.
The man called Lao Gao bowed to Xun Yu, "Third Young Master, the Seventh Young Master said to release them."
Xun Yu spoke coldly, "Who's the master here, him or me?"
In Lao Gao's heart, they were both masters.
The difference was that Xun Yu was the Prime Minister's biological son, while the Seventh Young Master was the Prime Minister's adopted son.
Lao Gao said to Xun Yu, "Third Young Master, I'm just following orders. We must release them tonight."
Xun Yu said coldly, "Are you not afraid I'll kill you for talking to me like that?"
Lao Gao cupped his hands, "If the Third Young Master wants my life, it's just a word away. But I follow the Prime Minister's orders and obey the Seventh Young Master's commands. As long as I still have a breath left, I cannot disobey the Seventh Young Master's orders."
Xun Yu said coldly, "Are you trying to use my father against me?"
Ban Xia retreated in fear.
This was the first time she had seen such a domineering side of Xun Yu, who always presented himself as a gentleman.
She now truly understood what a hypocrite was.
"I dare not," Lao Gao said, but he had no intention of handing over Ban Xia.
Xun Yu made a gesture.
His guard immediately drew his sword and pointed it at Lao Gao.
Lao Gao's expression turned serious, "Third Young Master, forgive me."
The two sides began to fight.
Xun Yu's guards, with their overwhelming numbers, quickly surrounded Lao Gao and his men.
Ban Xia also fell to the ground.
One of the guards took the opportunity to snatch the child from her arms.
"Miss Bao Shu—" Ban Xia cried out.
The guard pushed Ban Xia to the ground and brought Bao Shu to Xun Yu, "Third Young Master."
Xun Yu glanced at the sleeping child, "Take her away."
Guard: "Yes!"
Xun Yu boarded the carriage, and Bao Shu was also carried onto the carriage, placed beside Xun Yu.
Xun Yu, being accustomed to a life of luxury, would never subject himself to discomfort, even when carrying out tasks at night.
The carriage was spacious, with a soft mattress as large as half a bed, covered with a soft cushion and tiger skin, significantly reducing the carriage's bumpiness.
Xun Yu would never allow a lowly guard to ride in the carriage with him, so after placing Bao Shu inside, the guard went to ride a horse.
Xun Yu no longer paid attention to the little one.
The little one rolled over, pulling a piece of the cushion to cover her small belly.
Xun Yu turned his head, as if something was amiss, but the little one was sleeping soundly, unaware of his gaze.
As they passed through an alley, the carriage stopped.
A man wearing a bamboo hat, covering his face completely, approached the carriage and spoke in a low voice, "Young Master, we have her."
Xun Yu opened the carriage window.
A man handed Xun Yu two brocade boxes. "The top one is a tribute for the young master, and the bottom one contains what the young master requested."
Xun Yu took the boxes, and the man quickly disappeared into the night.
The carriage resumed its journey.
Xun Yu opened the boxes and first counted a thick stack of banknotes before taking out a key and a parchment map.
"Father, with this, you won't have to worry about military pay anymore. You'll understand that I'm your most outstanding son."
Xun Yu couldn't hide the pride in his eyes.
He reached out to touch the box on the bed, but it was empty.
He turned his head and saw that the brocade box, which should have been by his side, had somehow ended up next to the child.
But the child was sleeping soundly with her mouth open.
Xun Yu furrowed his brows.
Did he remember incorrectly? Had he placed it so far away?
Xun Yu took the brocade box and inserted the key, continuing to study the parchment map.
This was indeed a real 'treasure map'.
He glanced to the side.
Hmm?
Why is this child here? Bao Shu was sleeping in a strange position, with her small hand suspended in mid-air.
What kind of sleeping posture is this? Xun Yu turned his head away.
Whoosh! One of his banknotes was gone.
Whoosh! Another banknote disappeared.
When Xun Yu turned back, Bao Shu's chubby little hand was gracefully resting on the brocade box.
Bao Shu closed her eyes, not moving, like a small sculpture bathed in Buddha's light.
Do children sleep in such strange positions? Xun Yu curiously moved her chubby hand away and was about to close the box when suddenly, a small black shadow leaped from the roof and pounced towards the coachman.
"Meow!" The coachman cried out and quickly tightened the reins.
The carriage came to an abrupt stop, and Xun Yu stumbled forward, almost hitting the carriage wall.
He angrily lifted the curtain and shouted, "Do you even know how to drive?"
"Meow!"
A leopard cat jumped off the coachman and quickly disappeared into the night.
The coachman complained, "Young Master, a wild cat suddenly appeared!"
The escorts who were leading the way hurried back to the carriage and cautiously surveyed the area, confirming that there were no assassins lurking nearby.
Xun Yu irritably adjusted his collar and sat back down on the bed.
Just then, he glanced over and noticed that the child on the bed was gone! Not only that, but his brocade box was also empty!
Xun Yu was struck by lightning, "My banknotes! My treasure map!"
In the dark alley.
Tan'er held Bao Zhu Zhu and ran swiftly.
"Bao Zhu Zhu, are you too heavy?"
Bao Shu pinched her small, full pouch, "I'm not heavy."
"If you're not heavy, why can't I lift you?"
"You're weak."
Tan'er: "..."
"Hurry and chase them! They're over there!"
Xun Yu's escorts caught up.
"There are too many people, it's not easy to fight with you here! Let's find a place to hide first!"
Tan'er stomped her foot and flipped into a mansion.
"This mansion is so big, the owner must be an important official. Those people won't dare to come in! Bao Zhu Zhu, aren't you amazing?"
Just as she finished speaking, a voice from outside the door shouted, "Could that little maid have escaped into our Xiang Manor?"
Tan'er's small body trembled: What's going on? Did she flip into the Xiang Manor?
She turned and started walking.
After taking a few steps, Shangguan Ling patrolled towards her with long strides.
Tan'er quickly plucked a blade of grass to cover her face: I can't see anything, I can't see anything...
Shangguan Ling turned and walked past Tan'er and Bao Shu without expression.
Tan'er threw away the grass and stared at Shangguan Ling's back, her eyes wide and mouth agape, muttering, "Bao Zhu Zhu, you blind me with your sword skills..."
Shangguan Ling's body stiffened.
Tan'er flipped back the way she came.
She panted, "If only we had a horse."
On the other side of the wall, outside the stable, Shangguan Ling looked up at the sky speechlessly and slapped the horse's buttocks, and the horse ran out from the back door.
Tan'er's eyes lit up, "There really is a horse! So majestic and big!"
She pointed her toes, using her light body skills, and sat on the saddle while holding the little one.
She hugged Bao Shu with one arm and held the reins with the other, "Wow, Bao Zhu Zhu, is your mouth emitting light? If you show off your sword skills, I'll fall flat on my face! Haha!"
Shangguan Ling, who almost lost his balance and was about to do a split, "...!!"
Bao Zhu Zhu: ╭(╯^╰)╮ Today, we must praise Bao Zhu Zhu.
(End of Chapter)
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