mtl008 Chapter 184 If You See Him, Take His Head
Chapter 184 If You See Him, Take His Head
After hearing the news, the eldest prince Chen Jingtao did not hesitate at all and immediately made up his mind to go to the Minister of Personnel's Mansion in person to find out what was going on.
So he led his trusted military advisor Shangguan Ting and a group of followers and marched towards the Minister of Personnel's Mansion in a mighty manner.
After a while, they arrived at their destination.
Upon hearing that the Crown Prince had arrived, the Minister of Personnel, Gou Hongying, dared not delay for a moment and hurried forward to greet him, bowing respectfully and saying, "Your humble servant, Gou Hongying, pays homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
The eldest prince nodded slightly to indicate that there was no need for formalities, and then the group entered one after another and walked into the inner hall.
As soon as he sat down, the eldest prince Chen Jingtao couldn't wait to ask, "Minister Gou, I heard that you have an adopted daughter. Is this true?"
Gou Hongying quickly stood up and replied, "Your Highness, it is true. I have been trying to find the child's biological parents, but I still have no clues. It is truly regrettable!"
After saying that, he couldn't help but sigh, his face full of regret.
Chen Jingtao smiled slightly upon hearing this and praised, "Minister Gou's action is truly a noble one. Not only does he treat the daughter he has raised as his own, but he also goes to great lengths to find her biological parents. He is truly a man of great kindness!"
Gou Hongying responded modestly, "Your Highness is too kind. This girl is well-behaved and filial. I cannot bear to see her harboring regrets, so I have tried my best to help her find her family."
Chen Jingtao nodded, then asked, "I wonder if there is any physical evidence left behind to help us find his family? That would be helpful in finding out his background."
Gou Hongying quickly replied, "Yes, when I first found this child, I discovered she was wearing a piece of red jade."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jingtao's eyes flashed with surprise, and he eagerly asked, "Is there a faint phoenix pattern visible in the red jade?"
"Yes, absolutely true, it is a fiery red phoenix!" Gou Hongying's eyes widened, his face deliberately showing an expression of extreme surprise, and he said loudly: "But, Prince, how did you know this?"
Hearing this, Chen Jingtao could no longer suppress his inner anxiety and he hurriedly stepped forward.
He shouted hurriedly, "That's the princess of our Miao Kingdom. Quick, quick, take me to see her immediately!"
Gou Hongying hesitated for a moment, as if thinking about some countermeasures.
After a moment, he slowly spoke, "I'm so sorry, Your Highness, I have to tell you the truth, my daughter went to visit relatives a few days ago and hasn't returned yet!"
When Chen Jingtao heard this, he couldn't help but frown. He stared at Gou Hongying, his eyes full of suspicion and distrust.
He snorted coldly and said in a deep voice, "Minister Gou, this prince has come here on the orders of his father, the emperor, to find the princess's whereabouts. Please don't try to deceive or hide anything from me."
Gou Hongying was so frightened that his whole body trembled, and he quickly fell to his knees with a thud.
He kowtowed repeatedly and apologized, "Your Highness, please calm down. I absolutely dare not have the slightest intention of deceiving you. My daughter has indeed been away from home and has not returned yet. According to a relative, she got lost on her way home. I am extremely worried. Look, my wife has already taken people to search for her everywhere."
Military Advisor Shangguan Ting, who had been standing silently by the side, finally spoke up. "Your Highness, I suggest we also send some personnel to help locate the princess. This way, with a two-pronged approach, we might be able to find the princess faster."
"Minister Gou, why don't you quickly present the princess's portrait to this prince!" Chen Jingtao raised his eyebrows, opened his eyes wide, and shouted sternly.
The sound was like a huge bell, echoing in the lobby, making people feel awe.
Gou Hongying was frightened by this sudden scolding and trembled all over. He quickly responded, "Yes, yes, I will tell my servant to get it right away."
After saying this, he looked anxious and almost knocked over the teacup on the table in his panic.
He waved his hands anxiously at the attendants behind him, shouting, "Hurry, hurry, get the young lady's portrait! Don't delay!"
Seeing this, the servants dared not delay at all. They turned around and ran towards the warehouse as if their feet were greased.
Time passed minute by minute, and just when everyone was getting a little impatient, a thin servant rushed in panting, holding a scroll wrapped in brocade tightly in his hands.
As soon as Gou Hongying saw the servant, he immediately jumped up from his seat and walked forward in two steps.
He stretched out his hands to take the scroll, then turned around and walked respectfully to Chen Jingtao, bent down, gently placed the scroll on the table, and slowly pushed it in front of Chen Jingtao.
Seeing this, Chen Jingtao reached out and snatched the portrait without hesitation, and couldn't wait to unfold it.
As the scroll slowly unfolds, the woman in the painting gradually appears before your eyes.
But this woman's face was as white as snow, her facial features were as delicate as a painting, she had two curved willow-leaf eyebrows, and a pair of watery apricot eyes. She was truly a beauty that could topple a country.
Chen Jingtao stared at the portrait for a long time, and a satisfied smile gradually appeared on his face.
He nodded repeatedly, praising her, "Good, good... My royal sister is truly extraordinary and radiant. She must be from my Chen family without a doubt! Hahaha..."
Then, Chen Jingtao turned to look at Shangguan Ting standing nearby and said, "Military Advisor Shangguan, I'll leave the task of arranging the personnel to search for the princess's whereabouts to you. You must find the princess as soon as possible and ensure her safety."
Then, he tiptoed forward and said in a very low voice, "Bring more men and horses. Take advantage of this opportunity to see if we can find the whereabouts of my royal brother Chen Jingyuan. If we encounter him, we will take his head!"
Shangguan Ting clasped his fists and saluted, then replied solemnly, "I obey your orders. Your Highness, please rest assured. I will do my best to live up to your trust!"
After saying this, he turned and left, and began to calmly return to Sifang Pavilion to carefully plan and arrange.
At this time, Chen Jingtao's gaze fell on Gou Hongying again, and his eyes became more and more fierce, as if to penetrate the other's soul.
He said coldly, "Minister Gou, I hope that everything you say today is true. If the princess encounters any misfortune due to your fault, I will definitely report you to the Emperor of your country. When that happens, not only you, but your entire family will be held accountable!"
Gou Hongying was already frightened to the point of paleness, his legs were shaking constantly, and beads of sweat the size of beans were rolling down his forehead.
He replied tremblingly, "Your Highness, please calm down. I will never dare to say a word of falsehood. I will do my utmost to assist you all in finding my daughter... Oh, no, I am looking for your princess."