Chapter 437: The Merciless Woman
The search party had been looking for a long time but found nothing.
Yun Chu's expression grew increasingly grim, her gaze toward Chu Rui sharpening like two gleaming blades under the moonlight reflected in her eyes.
"Empress Dowager, we don't necessarily have to stand on opposing sides," Chu Rui slowly began. "As I've said before, we can cooperate to make Prince Yan ascend the throne."
Yun Chu said coldly, "No matter what we discuss, you must first hand over Prince Yan."
"If I surrender Prince Yan, wouldn't I lose my greatest bargaining chip?" Chu Rui's smile vanished abruptly. "As long as the Empress Dowager cooperates with me obediently, I promise not to harm a single hair on Prince Yan's head."
Yun Chu's eyes darkened.
She suddenly drew a short sword from her sleeve and pressed it against Chu Rui's neck: "Don't think you can threaten me. You're not worthy."
She raised the short sword and stabbed it beneath Chu Rui's collarbone.
Chu Rui's pupils dilated sharply: "You... don't you care about Chu Hongjue's life anymore? What a merciless woman!"
Yun Chu pulled out the short sword and stabbed it in again.
It wasn't that she didn't care about Jue Ge'er, but rather that if she allowed herself to be controlled and threatened because of Jue Ge'er, Yu Ge'er and Changsheng would also be in danger eventually.
She couldn't endanger two other children because of one child.
Both were as dear to her as her own flesh and blood, yet she had no choice.
But she must choose.
Yun Chu's short sword pierced Chu Rui's body, then she twisted it forcefully: "Tell me, where have you hidden Prince Yan?"
The pain nearly made Chu Rui pass out.
He took a deep breath, grabbed Yun Chu's wrist, pushed her back, then slowly pulled out the short sword himself.
Yun Chu raised her hand and made a gesture. Four highly skilled guards stepped forward and restrained Chu Rui.
"Yun Chu, you're mad!" Chu Rui shouted angrily. "After treating me like this, I'll never let Chu Hongjue go!"
"You're in no position to negotiate with me now!" Yun Chu drew her long blade and held it horizontally against his neck. "I'll count to three. If you don't voluntarily reveal Prince Yan's hiding place, I'll have to send you to meet your parents!"
Chu Rui looked into her eyes and felt a profound killing intent.
He knew this woman before him would definitely kill him—she was certainly capable of it.
He hadn't even had the heart to harm her biological son, yet she had mercilessly wounded him like this.
"Three."
"Two."
Yun Chu's blade pressed down continuously.
Blood seeped out, flowing down Chu Rui's neck.
He closed his eyes and conceded: "Fine, I'll take you there."
Yun Chu said coldly, "Just tell us where he's hidden. Don't try any tricks."
"He's in a secret chamber," Chu Rui pressed his lips together. "If I don't go with you, you'll never find the mechanism and will never be able to rescue Chu Hongjue. He'll starve to death in the underground chamber."
Yun Chu stabbed her blade into his thigh to prevent any unexpected moves.
Only then did she say: "Lead the way."
Chu Rui's face contorted in pain: "Fine, very good, Yun Chu. You're too merciless."
He walked with difficulty toward the very back of the Regent's Residence.
After acquiring this residence, he had begun extensive renovations. At first glance, there didn't appear to be major changes, but Yun Chu knew all the renovations must have been conducted underground. Otherwise, her people wouldn't have been able to find anything during their search.
"It's here."
Chu Rui suddenly stopped before a massive artificial mountain.The artificial mountain was massive not because of its height, but because it stretched for dozens of meters, with water flowing around it and fish swimming about.
Chu Rui raised his hand and pointed at a recessed area on the upper part of the artificial mountain. "Throw a rock from the artificial mountain in there, and the underground chamber will open."
Qiutong leaped onto the artificial mountain in one swift motion, picked up a round stone nearby, and tossed it into the recess. A loud thud echoed, followed by a heavy grinding sound.
The artificial mountain in front of Yun Chu slowly split open to both sides, revealing a narrow, dark passage.
Qiutong exclaimed joyfully, "Empress Dowager, there really is a secret chamber!"
Just then.
Chu Rui, who was being held by two guards, suddenly lifted his foot and stomped hard on the ground.
Yun Chu sensed danger.
She was about to issue an order when, in an instant—
The ground where Chu Rui stood suddenly sank, dragging the two guards down with him. Soon after, the bricks on the floor closed back up.
"Fan Ming, take your men and dig this area open as quickly as possible. Dig all the way down and find Chu Rui, dead or alive!" Yun Chu said coldly. "Lin Qiang, bring your men and follow me into the secret chamber!"
Four or five guards led the way with torches, and Yun Chu followed closely behind.
The secret passage was narrow, requiring people to bend over to move forward. After walking for about half an hour, the passage finally widened slightly. Continuing on, it gradually became taller, allowing people to stand upright. Soon, a door appeared ahead.
Yun Chu prayed silently, hoping that Jue Ge'er would be behind the door...
Before she could push the door open, she heard crying from inside.
"Waaah—"
"Mom... sob sob, I want my mom!"
Yun Chu's nose tingled with emotion—it was Jue Ge'er, her Jue Ge'er!
"Your Highness Prince Yan, please don't cry," a young woman's voice came from inside. "Here, have some milk. Let me feed you..."
"No, I don't want it!" Chu Hongjue cried loudly, pushing the person in front of him away. "Mom, I want my mom!"
He was only one and a half years old and didn't speak much, but he could already run. He jumped down from the young woman and dashed toward the door.
The young woman hurriedly chased after him. "Your Highness, this is a secret chamber. You can't get out. Be good, please be good. Don't hurt yourself. I can't explain it to the prince if you get injured..."
Before she could finish speaking, the door in front of her was pushed open.
The young woman thought someone had come to deliver food, but when she looked up and saw a group of guards, she trembled in fear.
"Mom!"
Chu Hongjue cried and rushed into Yun Chu's arms.
Yun Chu bent down to pick up the child. She checked him from head to toe, making sure he hadn't suffered any injuries, and only then did her anxiously suspended heart finally settle.
"It's alright, it's alright..." She pressed her forehead against the child's. "Mom is here to take you home. Nothing like this will ever happen again."
"Sob sob..."
Although the little one hadn't suffered much, waking up in an unfamiliar place without any familiar faces had left him feeling deeply wronged. He cried for a long time until, exhausted, he fell asleep in Yun Chu's arms.
Yun Chu handed the child to Qiutong to personally care for and did not return to the palace.
Instead, she went to check on the progress of the tunnel excavation.The backyard of the Regent's Residence had been completely excavated, revealing four underground passages beneath. One led to the secret chamber where Jue Ge'er was imprisoned, while the other three branched out to different destinations. The search party divided into three groups, advancing steadily along the tunnels. After some distance, each of the three passages forked again, splitting into six paths... Eventually, through continuous branching, they discovered over thirty routes in total.
Yun Chu's expression grew increasingly complex.
Chu Rui had truly prepared ample escape routes for himself.
They say a cat has nine lives, but Chu Rui's numerous backup plans surpassed even that.
Fortunately, she commanded sufficient personnel. No matter how many branches appeared, she deployed at least a hundred guards to pursue each trail.
It wasn't until the following afternoon that news finally arrived.
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager: traces of the Regent have been detected outside the eastern gate of the capital!"
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