Chapter 9: Kidnapped Kin and a Race to Great Liang

Le Yushang, lost in fantasies of a house full of grandchildren and familial bliss, snapped back to reality at her granddaughter’s words.

She released her divine sense, covering the entire town.

No matter how she searched, she couldn’t find her second granddaughter’s aura.

Le Yushang scooped up Qing Zhener, who was holding Gu Yunfei, and slung her onto her back.

Her figure instantly vanished, ensuring no one could detect them.

After searching fruitlessly, she cursed herself.

“Damn it, why didn’t I learn any tracking techniques? Now my granddaughter’s gone, and I can’t find her.”

Le Yushang knew many item-tracking methods but hadn’t learned any for finding people.

Qing Zhener took out a compass, hoping to search, but if Le Yushang couldn’t find her, how could a compass?

Le Yushang teleported back to the tailor shop, grabbed the shopkeeper, and pinned him against the wall.

“Where the f*ck is my granddaughter?”

The shopkeeper was so scared he wet himself.

“Sir, I-I don’t know!”

“You don’t know your own employee?”

Le Yushang restrained her strength but still slapped the shopkeeper, making him spit blood.

“Sir, I really don’t know! That woman was new. I’m not familiar with her!”

Gu Yunfei, awakened by the commotion, looked at the scene, confused.

“Sister, what’s wrong?”

He wanted to eat, but realized his “bowl” wasn’t here.

Qing Zhener briefly explained.

Gu Yunfei’s brows furrowed.

“Kidnapping?”

Just as he started to think, the System panel appeared.

[After winning Liu Hongmei’s heart, you suddenly recall the Great Liang Princess.]

[She once freed you, but when you stumbled upon her secret, intending to repay her kindness, she threw you back into the dungeon.]

[Now, with your strength, you plan to confront the Great Liang Princess, questioning why she treated you this way, and separate her from her brother, making her love only you.]

[Task activated: Task 1, Make Great Liang Princess Liang Baiwei fall for you.]

[Task reward: Strengthen any body part (your choice).]

[Task 2, Crush the Great Liang Prince’s confidence.]

[Task reward: Spirit Tremor Pearl (a thumb-sized, oval pearl that vibrates at will, primarily used to disrupt formations).]

“Save the Great Liang Princess? Why would the System issue this task now?”

“Does it have something to do with this?”

As Gu Yunfei puzzled, the System panel reappeared.

[Congratulations, Host, for completing Task 1. Reward: Body strengthening.]

[Please select the body part to strengthen.]

[Qing Zhuer’s current favorability: 80.]

Gu Yunfei instantly understood.

The Great Liang Princess, Liang Baiwei, must be Qing Zhuer.

This was the conclusion of his years of reading novels!

[Leng Ningbing’s current favorability: -30.]

“Leng Ningbing, that woman has nothing to do with this. She just deserves a beating!”

“Grandpa, Grandpa—”

Gu Yunfei called out to stop her.

Le Yushang turned to check on her little rascal.

“What’s up, little rascal? Grandpa’s busy asking about your sister’s whereabouts. Hungry?”

“No, Grandpa, I… smelled a scent like yours where Sister was changing.”

Le Yushang paused, deciphering Gu Yunfei’s babbling words.

“Little rascal, you’re saying you smelled a scent like mine where your sister was changing?”

“Yeah!”

Gu Yunfei nodded firmly.

Le Yushang thought it over and realized.

She was disguised as Liang Dekuai with the human mask, so her scent matched his.

She’d once seen the real Liang Dekuai acting crazy to avoid the throne dispute.

“Hmph!”

Le Yushang tossed the shopkeeper to the ground.

“I’ll let you off this time. Make clothes for my three kids properly. If they’re subpar, I’ll have your head!”

With that, she took Gu Yunfei and Qing Zhener and left.

The shopkeeper, left crying without tears, only knew the measurements for two kids—not the missing girl’s.

“Damn it, big brother, you’re truly despicable. I’ve stayed out of the fight, with no interest in the throne, and you still kidnap my family?”

Le Yushang considered that after she left, Liang Dekuai’s brother might target the kids for the throne.

She had to keep them close but feared harming them in a fight.

So she called Liu Hongmei to help with the kids.

Liu Hongmei, who was mopping, dropped her work at Liang Dekuai’s call and flew over.

Seeing Liu Hongmei, Gu Yunfei reached out.

“Mommy, hug—”

Liu Hongmei’s eyes instinctively darted away, but fearing suspicion, she forced herself to look at him.

“Baby, Mommy’s here~”

She hugged Gu Yunfei, noticing he’d grown.

Before, she needed to cup him; now, she couldn’t.

This kid was something special.

“Mommy, Sister.”

Gu Yunfei pointed at Qing Zhener.

“This is my eldest granddaughter, Qing Zhener. There’s also a second granddaughter, Qing Zhuer, but she was taken by someone from the Great Liang royal family.”

Le Yushang explained.

Liu Hongmei listened, tucked Gu Yunfei into her clothes.

Unlike her sect robes, her personal outfit had a silk sash at the waist, keeping Gu Yunfei secure against her upper body.

She grabbed Qing Zhener with her other hand and said to Le Yushang, “Father, let’s go save Zhuer!”

Le Yushang frowned.

She took Gu Yunfei and the sisters because they were young and innocent, but Liu Hongmei was older.

Someone her age calling her “Father” must have ulterior motives!

Seeing this, Gu Yunfei poked his head out of Liu Hongmei’s clothes.

Pointing at Le Yushang, “Grandpa.”

Pointing at Liu Hongmei, “Mommy.”

Pointing at himself, “Me.”

Pointing at Qing Zhener, “Sister.”

“Let’s save Second Sister together!”

“Hahaha.”

Le Yushang’s frown relaxed at his words.

“Fine, I’ll accept you as my daughter!”

Liu Hongmei was secretly thrilled.

With Gu Yunfei around, Liang Dekuai, one of the top ten experts, would be her father and backer.

Even if her master came, she wouldn’t be so afraid.

Qing Zhener, watching this, was confused.

Her little brother was Mommy’s son.

Her little brother was Grandpa’s grandson.

But now, Mommy seemed to be Grandpa’s daughter?

Qing Zhener smacked her head.

Forget it, too confusing to think about.

Seeing the mood lighten, Gu Yunfei burrowed back into Liu Hongmei’s clothes.

Le Yushang took out a flying boat.

Its quality was clearly far superior to the one Liu Hongmei had bought.

The four set off for Great Liang.

Gu Yunfei rubbed his belly, noticing it had gone down.

His tiny hands searched for the second-floor cafeteria.

His touch snapped Liu Hongmei, meditating on the flying boat, back to reality.

“Baby, don’t fidget.”

She spoke to the bundle in her clothes.

Hearing this, Gu Yunfei’s lips curled into a mischievous grin.