Because this person was none other than Gu Shaoan.
Xue Zining’s heart stirred. What was Gu Shaoan doing here?
“General Gu, are these your long-lost younger siblings?” the Chieftain asked, pointing at Xue Zining and Xue Yan.
Gu Shaoan stood up, walked over, and suddenly embraced Xue Zining, choked with emotion, “Little brother, I’ve finally found you…”
“Things have changed,” Gu Shaoan said quickly as he pushed her away.
Xue Zining’s eyes welled up with tears. She looked at him and asked, “Are… are you really our elder brother?”
Gu Shaoan nodded, “Absolutely true, genuine article. If you don’t believe me, produce the jade pendant…”
Xue Zining took the jade pendant he had just given her from her waist and handed it over. He then took out the jade pendant he wore around his neck. He was too choked up to speak. The crowd saw the two jade pendants fit together perfectly.
“Little brother, little sister, your elder brother has finally found you,” Gu Shaoan said, suppressing his emotions, but tears still streamed down the face of this iron-willed soldier.
“No, how could that be? How much hardship did my sister and I endure over the years? Why didn’t you appear then? Now that my sister and I have a place to stay, you show up. I don’t believe it…”
As she spoke, she looked up at the Chieftain. “Chieftain, this person might not be my elder brother. I ask that you be cautious.”
Gu Shaoan looked at his little brother, who was no longer paying him any attention. He turned his head and offered the jade pendant to the Chieftain. “Chieftain, this is a jade pendant passed down through generations of my Gu family. When my mother met her unfortunate end, she broke this pendant in half so that I could find my siblings later. This is genuine.”
The Chieftain looked at the jade pendant. The Second-in-Command spoke at this moment, “Chieftain, General Gu has indeed been wearing this jade pendant.”
“I am very pleased that General Gu has found his relatives, but…”
Gu Shaoan said, “Chieftain, I will not go back on my word about what was just said.”
“Very well, you may take them,” the Chieftain said happily.
Gu Shaoan came before Xue Zining and said, “Little brother, little sister, come home with your elder brother!”
Once they were in the carriage, Xue Zining finally spoke, “What exactly is going on?”
Gu Shaoan sighed. “I wish I knew what was going on. I reported my intention to eradicate Fengling Village to the imperial court. As a result, the court said they would send people to assist me in a few days. I had no choice but to wait a few more days. I was afraid Madam Xue Yan would be anxious, so I found a way to bring Madam Xue Yan out.”
Xue Yan: “…”
Xue Zining asked, “You have an inside informant in the village? The Second-in-Command?”
Gu Shaoan smiled upon hearing this. “Madam Xue Yan is truly astute. It is indeed him.”
“Isn’t that very dangerous for him?”
Gu Shaoan’s expression turned much graver. “It is dangerous, but it must be done. Moreover, the Chieftain is incredibly meticulous. Without an inside informant, I might not have dared to make a move.”
Xue Zining nodded, no wonder the Second-in-Command had been helping her all along.
At the military camp, Xue Yan looked at her and asked, “Your Majesty, you used my maid’s name?”
“Yes, from now on, I am Xue Yan,” Xue Zining replied.
Xue Yan twitched her lips and said nothing more.
The next day
Xue Zining received news from Gu Shaoan that someone would be coming to the village tonight to select goods.
Xue Yan asked in a low voice, “Your Majesty, what about the little prince…”
Xue Zining nodded. “Tonight, search carefully for Xingchen. We must rescue him.”
The reason she had not acted sooner was that she did not know Xingchen’s whereabouts.
Xue Zining found Gu Shaoan, hoping to participate in the opportunity to purchase goods from the mountain village.
Gu Shaoan looked at her with some difficulty. “Lord Xue, I know you want to eradicate these bandits, but I cannot take you in this time.”
“Why?” Xue Zining asked.
Gu Shaoan thought for a moment. “It’s not that there’s no way, but it would require Lord Xue to make some sacrifices.”
“What kind of sacrifices?”
Gu Shaoan stammered, “Become Madam Gu.”
“You insolent wretch!” Xue Yan, who was standing nearby, was furious.
Xue Zining stopped Xue Yan and said to Gu Shaoan, “Alright, I agree.”
When she entered the mountain village again, Xue Zining understood why Gu Shaoan had done this. Because everyone who came here was either herself or someone with their family.
According to Gu Shaoan, boys were also sold here.
Hearing Gu Shaoan say this, Xue Zining breathed a sigh of relief. If she hadn’t come tonight, she would have regretted it for the rest of her life.
The once quiet mountain village was no longer the same as when she first arrived. Tonight, it was brightly lit, and all the visitors wore masks.
“Is this so they don’t get their faces seen?” Xue Zining asked. Da Feng Novel Network
Gu Shaoan whispered, “There are not a few high-ranking officials here.”
“General Gu, is it also because of those people’s protection that this place is so difficult to eradicate?”
Gu Shaoan did not elaborate, but Xue Zining understood. Such an established place likely had more than one person backing it.
“Entering the main hall of the mountain village, everyone had their weapons searched, and accompanying attendants were also stopped outside.”
When they reached Gu Shaoan, he removed his sword and placed it on the table. Xue Zining carried nothing except the soft whip at her waist, but it was currently disguised as a belt, making it impossible to detect any clues.
Walking inside, Xue Zining realized that what she had seen in the mountain village was just the tip of the iceberg. The first thing that caught her eye were iron cages, inside which were people clad in mere veils. Upon closer inspection, it was difficult to discern whether they were male or female; they were incredibly beautiful.
However, after having seen the breathtaking beauty of Yan Zhao, these were not enough to astound Xue Zining.
“Were these all people they kidnapped?” Xue Zining asked in a low voice.
Gu Shaoan nodded slightly.
Walking further in, there were nothing but scantily clad young girls.
Beyond them, there were young boys. Looking around, there was no sign of Xingchen.
Gu Shaoan sensed her unease and asked, “There’s no one you’re looking for?”
Xue Zining shook her head. “No.”
“Don’t worry, there’s always a big finale,” Gu Shaoan couldn’t help but comfort her.
Xue Zining could only wait patiently.
As they sat down, someone handed them paper and brush. Xue Zining looked at Gu Shaoan for guidance, but Gu Shaoan shook his head, also unsure of what this was for.
Then, someone pointed at the men in the iron cages and said, “Bid.”
Soon, the price reached five hundred taels of silver.
Xue Zining’s gaze deepened. Five hundred taels of silver was enough for commoners to live for several decades, yet here it was, just for one man.
There were many bidders. Although Xue Zining could not see their faces clearly, judging by their clothing and jewelry, none of them were ordinary people.
No wonder someone like Gu Shaoan couldn’t eradicate these bandits. With money and backing, who would dare to act? She dared.