Chapter 320: Kidnapping
This group of people was rather peculiar—they sat around the brazier eating and drinking without exchanging a single word.
Song Chi declined the post station worker's enthusiastic offer but had no choice but to drink a cup of yellow wine. Fearing that alcohol might impair his judgment, he dared not drink any more.
Just as he was about to bid farewell to the post station worker, the man in the robe smiled again and said, "Young man, you're wearing a Chengzi uniform—you must be a guard for some noble or high-ranking official! A few of us have come to the capital without any relatives here. I wonder if you're familiar with the streets and alleys of the city—are there any places with acrobatic performances?"
Ordinary officials at most kept some household guards, hardly capable of maintaining highly skilled escorts.
Song Chi smiled. "I'm not from the capital either. My master is visiting relatives in Baodi—hardly a noble figure."
A glint flashed in the man's eyes as he nodded. "Since you don't know, we won't trouble you further."
He turned back to continue drinking and said nothing more to Song Chi.
This group was truly strange! Song Chi grew even more wary. It seemed he would have to stay awake all night guarding his mistress.
Gu Jinzhao was awakened in the middle of the night by a rustling sound. Startled, she instinctively checked on her child—Changsuo's cheeks were rosy, and he was sound asleep. Since they were traveling, she had slept in her clothes. Jinzhao draped a cloak over herself and got up, noticing two maids slumped by her bedside. Granny Sun dozed on a stool not far away. Outside, it was eerily quiet, without a single sound.
Caifu stirred awake, rubbing her eyes. "Madam, why are you up...?"
Gu Jinzhao sat by the table sipping tea and gestured for her to lower her voice. She whispered, "Don't you think something feels off?"
Caifu was puzzled. What could be off?
Gu Jinzhao murmured, "It's too quiet." The rain had stopped, so there should have been some noise—night watchmen knocking clappers, patrollers, or those checking on the livestock. How could it be completely silent?
Caifu tiptoed closer and whispered, "Perhaps everyone's asleep. Should I go outside and check?"
Suddenly, a flicker of torchlight flashed outside the lattice window, followed by the low murmurs of men speaking in a strange accent. Gu Jinzhao had heard merchants from Sichuan speaking when she played at her grandmother's house as a child—this accent sounded very similar...
Could it be those travelers who had taken shelter here? Gu Jinzhao immediately grew alert. If their voices were this close, they must be right outside the door. If Song Chi and the others were still on guard, they would never have allowed strangers to approach so near.
She signaled Caifu to stay silent and quietly stood up, moving to the lattice window. Outside, there was no one—not even the guards. Only a few shadowy figures moved near the opposite corridor...
Gu Jinzhao gasped. Something must have happened outside!
But what exactly had happened? Where were Song Chi and the others? Had those strange travelers done something?
Gu Jinzhao realized that, for now, she needed to focus on what she could do. These strangers had no connection to them. Given their numerous attendants and luggage, it was highly likely they were after wealth—or worse.
Beyond the corridor was a wall with only a small, high ventilation window impossible to climb. Escaping through the front lattice window would surely draw attention... Scanning her surroundings, Gu Jinzhao found no viable way to flee.Caifu also grew tense: "Madam, this situation doesn't seem right. Should we wake Granny Sun and the others to come up with a plan together..."
They definitely needed to be woken. Fortunately, all the maids and matrons who had come out with Gu Jinzhao were capable. Hearing about the current situation only sent chills down their spines, but none panicked.
Xiuqu spoke first: "Perhaps we should invoke the Chen Family's name..."
Gu Jinzhao shook her head. These were desperate men who had already decided to kill and rob. They would surely prefer to leave no witnesses. What puzzled her more was how Song Chi and his men had vanished without a sound—this didn't seem like ordinary bandits at all.
"Then what should we do..." Granny Sun murmured. Trapped like cornered animals, even the wisest strategy seemed useless.
Voices sounded outside again, growing nearer—they were approaching.
Gu Jinzhao glanced at the sleeping child, took a deep breath, and made her decision.
"Yuzhu, take Changsuo and hide in the cabinet." When they'd entered earlier, Changsuo had been covered by a cloak. Hopefully, the absence of one child wouldn't be noticed. Besides, only Yuzhu's petite frame could fit inside... This was the best Gu Jinzhao could think of. She had to protect the child—her own flesh and blood, born after ten difficult months of pregnancy, hers and Third Master Chen's. Though he was still too young to understand anything...
Remembering how he'd grasped her fingers, babbling eagerly, or giggled when she kissed his cheeks, Gu Jinzhao's heart ached.
After striving so hard in this life, who would have thought she might die at the hands of common thieves?
Yuzhu stared at Gu Jinzhao, wringing her hands: "Madam... this servant..."
The other maids and matrons watched in silence.
As footsteps drew closer outside, Gu Jinzhao lifted Changsuo and gently kissed his small face.
"Enough, listen to me. This scented sachet contains silver bullion. After they leave, take him back to the Chen Family..." Gu Jinzhao's throat tightened as she gazed at the child's peaceful face. She paused for a long moment while chaotic footsteps echoed beyond the lattice window.
There was no point hiding anything now. Lowering her voice, she said: "Tell Third Master he must beware of Fourth Master Chen and Lord Zhang. In the future..." Her nails dug into her palms as she forced out the words, "He must live well!"
The men were already at the door.
Yuzhu's eyes reddened as she nodded firmly, then carried Changsuo into the cabinet.
Watching them disappear inside, Gu Jinzhao nearly collapsed. Caifu quickly steadied her, while the other matrons couldn't hold back their tears. Gu Jinzhao sat on the stool—having died once before, she soon regained composure.
Death was the worst outcome, but she would still negotiate with these men! Bandits wouldn't cross treacherous mountains just to reach the Northern Metropolitan Region.
If they were heading to the capital, they must have urgent business.
The door swung open. A man in a brown right-lapelled robe entered, followed by several short-coated men holding pine-resin torches. Six or seven people flooded the room, instantly illuminating it.The leader had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, though his thick beard obscured much of his face. He wore several strange iron rings on his hands and stood tall and straight. Seeing Gu Jinzhao and the others already waiting for him, he chuckled in surprise, "We moved so quietly, yet we still woke you, Madam! Did you sleep well tonight?"
Gu Jinzhao gave him a measured glance before replying coolly, "Thank you for your concern, though I’m afraid it wasn’t very restful."
The man laughed heartily. "Madam, you’re quite straightforward!"
Gu Jinzhao smiled faintly. "I wouldn’t say that. I merely wish to know—what have you done with my guards? You’ve come all the way to the capital, surely for something significant. Why trouble us and risk alerting others?"
The man’s smile faded as he fixed his gaze on her. "You overthink things, Madam. We’re just bandits and drifters—wherever we go, we plunder and rob. But your guards were truly formidable. If I hadn’t secretly slipped Five-Spice Powder into their water, we might not have subdued them! We’re used to killing without blinking—your guards likely won’t be returning to you."
They had already killed them...
Gu Jinzhao’s heart sank. This man was no ordinary foe—his words were airtight!
Yet his demeanor oddly reassured her. She shifted her tone, speaking calmly, "Since you’re after wealth, I carry little silver on me. Only my jewelry holds some value..." She removed the bracelets from her wrists, along with the Jeweled Knot from her hair and the red coral earrings. "You all should leave your belongings for these gentlemen as well!" she instructed the maids and elderly servants, who quickly snapped out of their daze and began removing their own ornaments.
"Take these, then tell me what you plan to do next," Gu Jinzhao said, pushing the items forward.
The man took a few slow steps toward her and asked with a smile, "Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you after taking these?"
Gu Jinzhao shook her head. "You won’t kill me."
"Why not?" he pressed.
"Because I’m still alive," she replied.
If he truly intended to kill, he would have done so the moment he entered. Why bother speaking to her?
He laughed again, though his beard hid most of his expression. "You’re clever," he admitted, nodding before sighing lightly. "Though I’m a rough man, I still know how to cherish beauty. A face like yours—it’d be a shame to see it dead..."
Gu Jinzhao’s face darkened. How dare he speak to her so frivolously! Though she was indeed beautiful, her temperament was far from approachable, and as the legitimate daughter of the Gu family, few dared to disrespect her with such words.
He motioned for his men to collect the jewelry. "Then I’ll trouble you to come with me, Madam. I still have need of you!" His gaze swept over the remaining maids and servants, his eyes icy as he casually ordered his subordinates, "Kill the rest."
The five maids and elderly servants were too terrified to speak, their faces deathly pale.
Gu Jinzhao immediately interjected, "Since you require my assistance, surely you won’t treat me poorly!"
"What do you want?" The man still had some patience left.
Gu Jinzhao replied, "I’ve lived a life of comfort at home, always attended to by servants. Without them, I wouldn’t be accustomed to it."He silently pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "Very well then. I'll allow you to take two people. The rest must still die. Think carefully about who you choose to save!" With that, he walked straight toward the door, laughing as he added, "I'll give you half a quarter-hour to decide!"
Gu Jinzhao clenched his fists and had no choice but to close his eyes.
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