28 Missing Children

Jing Wei rushed before Emperor Hong and lodged a formal complaint, accusing Deyi Tower of poisoning Jing Xuan. Jing Xuan was the Emperor’s most beloved imperial grandson. Enraged, Emperor Hong ordered the Ministry of Justice to immediately detain all staff of Deyi Tower.

Deyi Tower stood accused of attempting to murder a member of the royal family. Wei Qing took full responsibility, ensuring Jing Chen was not implicated. Upon hearing the news, Li Lingfei hurried to the Prince Xiaoyao Mansion.

As Jing Chen entered the main hall, Li Lingli was comforting Li Lingfei. Seeing Jing Chen, Li Lingfei bowed in salute.

"This is a frame-up!" Jing Chen stated. "The wood used in the shop is pest-resistant, and the powders we use to repel snakes, insects, and rodents are provided exclusively by the Imperial Household. They are colorless, odorless, and non-toxic—completely harmless to humans. Rats won't even come near them."

"The delivery boy, Lao Yao, always handed the food to Xiao Cui in the past. But today, he handed it to Xiao Hong, another maid of Princess Qin, Yang Simin. When Xiao Hong saw the young prince poisoned, she jumped into a well and died. Her body has been recovered—two lives lost in one," Li Lingfei noted, lost in thought.

"How interesting! The Second Prince is certainly willing to pay a heavy price," Jing Chen said with a smile.

"For now, Jing Xuan is missing, and his fate is unknown—no body, no trace. Princess Qin, Yang Simin, has fainted from grief several times. The Emperor has ordered the Grand Court of Justice, the Patrol Battalion, and the Jingzhao Prefecture to mobilize fully. The city gates are closed as they search for the young prince," Li Lingfei reported.

Jing Chen pondered for a moment and comforted Li Lingfei: "Brother, Deyi Tower is truly innocent. Since Xiao Hong, the only person who touched the food, is dead, you should seek out Chief Justice Shen Zhi and Vice Minister Pang of the Ministry of Justice. Justice Shen is upright and incorruptible. As for the Pang Cong incident, you granted them some leniency, so Vice Minister Pang should handle this with discretion. If that fails, Lingli and I will personally petition the Father Emperor."

Before he could finish, Chief Dong of the Jingzhao Prefecture rushed in. "My Lord, good news! Two masked men were found bound and tossed inside a carriage parked two hundred meters from the entrance of the Jingzhao Prefecture. My men sensed something was wrong and investigated. Under interrogation, they confessed that Wang Ying of the Dayu Burning Heaven Pavilion conspired with the Wei Hu Bandit Stronghold to kidnap the young prince. While on the way to Wo Hu Mountain, the prince was rescued by a group of unknown origin."

Li Lingfei and the others departed in a hurry.

Deyi Tower remained closed for three days, and the young prince, Jing Xuan, remained missing. Wang Ying had also vanished without a trace.

Chief Justice Shen Zhi furrowed his brows, his face ashen. "Old man, do you know that by accusing an official as a commoner, you must first suffer thirty strokes of the cane?"

"Lord Shen, this old man knows. I have begged my way all the way from Langzhou just to expose this heaven-defying conspiracy. I am Yang Zhongyuan, the village head of Taiyangnao Village in Guyang Prefecture, Langzhou. I have two sons, both married. My eldest son had a daughter, and my younger son had a son. My eldest son and his wife died of illness eight years ago. Two years ago, my eleven-year-old granddaughter went missing, and last year, my nine-year-old grandson disappeared. My younger son and his wife went out to search for them and have not returned; I do not know if they are dead or alive."

"Over the past two years, I have traveled a hundred miles, discovering that children have been disappearing from every village—all between the ages of five and thirteen. According to my records, in eleven nearby villages, three hundred and fifty-five children have gone missing. There are almost no children left in those villages. Because there are no bodies, they cannot be declared dead, only missing. Every parent who went searching for their children has also vanished without a trace. Of my entire family, only I remain, clinging to life. My life is not worth mentioning; I offer my blood to the Emperor, hoping only to tear open a gap in this murky, dark world."

With that, Old Man Yang handed over a small booklet. Inside were the names, ages, and addresses of the missing children, along with the names of their parents—a dense, harrowing list.

Law outweighs sentiment. Although Shen Zhi felt for him, he was powerless to act. Having begged all the way there, the old man was frail, and after only a dozen strokes, he breathed his last.

With reddened eyes, Shen Zhi ordered the man to be given a proper burial and hurried to the Imperial Palace. It was Jing Chen’s birthday, and he had come to pay his respects to Emperor Hong.

Shen Zhi entered the Imperial Study and knelt before the Emperor. Emperor Hong asked with a smile, "Minister Shen, it is the Dragon Boat Festival, you have worked hard. What is the situation with Deyi Tower?"

Shen Zhi replied, "Your Majesty, according to my investigation, the disappearance of the young prince is unrelated to Deyi Tower. It was likely the work of the maid, Xiao Hong. As she was pregnant, it surely involves the Prince Qin’s mansion..."

Emperor Hong interrupted immediately, "Minister Shen, focus on searching for the young prince. Since it has nothing to do with Deyi Tower, release them all and allow the shop to resume business. This incident serves as a warning; all restaurants in the capital must be inspected. Food safety and environmental hygiene are of the utmost importance!"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I also came today to report another major matter..." Shen Zhi then presented the case of Old Man Yang from Guyang Prefecture, Langzhou, and the register of missing children.

Both Jing Chen and Emperor Hong were shaken to the core. Until now, the imperial court had received no such reports.

Jing Chen thought of Master Lu, who was currently in prison for killing the Prefect of Langzhou. Was Wo Hu Mountain not in the direction of Langzhou? Was there a connection between the Burning Heaven Pavilion and the missing children case? Was the Prefect of Langzhou truly ignorant, or was he covering it up?

Countless questions filled Jing Chen’s mind. Children are the future of the nation! A strong youth makes a strong country! Enraged, Emperor Hong ordered the Grand Court of Justice to investigate the case thoroughly.

Jing Chen accompanied Shen Zhi to the Ministry of Justice prison to collect the staff of Deyi Tower. That evening, at the invitation of Jing Wei, various officials gathered at Prince Xiaoyao’s mansion. They were seated according to rank, and each presented a gift. Jing Chen thanked them one by one.

When it was Jing Wei’s turn, Princess Qin, Yang Simin, looked on with dull, lifeless eyes. Jing Wei’s guards brought forward a wooden chest. Jing Wei opened the lid, revealing it to be filled with children’s toys.

Li Lingli rose in a fit of rage, but a single look from Jing Chen made her sit back down, abashed.

Jing Wei smiled. "Seventh Brother, these were originally the toys of my son, Jing Xuan, who is now missing. Seventh Brother is innocent and playful, still possessing a childlike heart. Even at twenty-one, you haven't yet known the affairs of men and women. I thought I would give these toys to you; it is a fitting end, and they have found their proper place. You wouldn't mind, would you, Seventh Brother?"

Jing Chen smiled. "Second Brother, how could I mind? Whatever you give, I shall accept! Thank you, Second Brother."

At the mention of Jing Xuan, Yang Simin’s eyes reddened again. Jing Wei glanced at her with disgust and signaled his guards, who nodded slightly and departed. Jing Chen caught this exchange.

The Fifth Prince, Prince Jin, Jing Yu, had been close with Jing Wei since childhood, and the two were thick as thieves. As they enjoyed their wine, Jing Yu suggested, "Drinking is boring, and poetry is just idle complaining. A man should be out with sword and horse, galloping across the battlefield! Why not hold a sparring match to liven things up?"

The crowd cheered and agreed.