A chorus of coughing echoed. Zane Zhuang anxiously carried John Chou in his arms; as soon as they approached, the checkpoint soldiers came over to question them.
"Sir, please let us through quickly. This child is ill and needs urgent medical attention."
As Zane Zhuang spoke, he handed over the required tax money. The soldiers at the checkpoint looked at them strangely. John Chou kept coughing, his face flushed and clearly in pain. People behind them began to urge the soldiers, saying things like, 'Let them pass, the child is so pitiful.'
After a cursory inspection of Mr. Brown's belongings, the soldiers allowed them through without being too strict. Zane Zhuang carried John Chou, jogging ahead. Beyond the checkpoint was a small town, with a military camp nearby where soldiers constantly came and went.
"Young master, let's find an inn and rest for a day. We've been traveling for four days straight."
John Chou nodded. It was just past noon, and the two found a place to stay. They asked for some hot water and coarse food, then went to their room.
"Young master, are you alright?"
John Chou stuck out his tongue, entered the room, and immediately drank water from the jar.
"Young master, how did you come up with that idea just now? I didn't expect it to work so easily. Thinking back, the last two times I came through, the soldiers at the checkpoint gave me a hard time and took three times the normal tax."
"No one would want to bully the weak, sick, and elderly at a time like this, right?"
Zane Zhuang nodded at the thought. He untied his belt and spread it out, revealing a map. Liao City was located in the center of Qiland, and it would take at least half a month to reach it from here.
"Perhaps Miss Frost is no longer in Liao City."
"She’s definitely still there."
Zane Zhuang looked at John Chou in confusion.
"There are only two possibilities: someone saved her, or someone captured her. Do you think she’s still alive?"
Zane Zhuang nodded.
"Good. If she was rescued, that’s naturally a good thing, but we should rule out that possibility first."
"Why, young master?"
John Chou began to explain carefully.
The details of that night have already been reported. Master Yi’s family was surrounded by soldiers while meeting with others, which means it was all premeditated. After being surrounded, Master Yi’s family died, and many others in the manor were killed, but Isabelle Frost was not found. In this situation, the only person who could have saved Isabelle Frost would be someone who knew in advance what was going to happen.
"There might be a traitor involved!"
Zane Zhuang’s eyes widened.
"How did you know that, young master?"
"Isn’t this sort of thing common in history? People sell out those who helped them for their own interests. Besides, whoever did it must know my sister isn’t Master Yi’s biological daughter. Tell me, is my sister pretty?"
Zane Zhuang blinked.
"Miss Frost was adorable as a child, with big eyes. She’ll surely grow up to be a beauty."
"So it must have been someone close to her, at least someone she knew, who could have taken her away before the siege. And the reason for saving her? Beautiful children can fetch a good price, or when she grows up, she could be married off as a wife or concubine—also a profitable deal. The traitor in the manor must be clever, not blinded by immediate gain. If he could betray the Yi family so calmly, he’s smart enough."
Zane Zhuang nodded repeatedly, amazed that the young master could sort everything out so quickly.
"So what should we do now?"
"We’ll take it one step at a time, Mr. Brown. I need to get some sleep."
After a brief day of rest, the two set out for Liao City. Seven days later, they arrived at a small town and stopped in front of a pottery shop. Zane Zhuang went inside, pretending to browse. The shopkeeper, a man in his forties with a thin mustache and a sycophantic smile, approached. Zane Zhuang took out a token from his pocket, and upon seeing it, the shopkeeper immediately looked around nervously.
"Boss, there’s even better stuff in the back!"
In the backyard, a strong middle-aged man looked at John Chou.
"Zane Zhuang, why did you bring a child here? What’s going on?"
"This is the young master of the Yin family, John Chou."
The middle-aged man’s eyes widened in surprise. After Zane Zhuang explained, the man immediately spoke.
"This is reckless, Zane Zhuang! How could you bring the young master of the Yin family here? If anything happens, what will Master Yin do?"
John Chou walked over and politely greeted him.
"Come on, tell us what you know. You must have sent people to investigate already, right?"
Zane Zhuang asked, and the middle-aged man began to explain.
Two days ago, the investigators returned with news. The Yi family's butler is the prime suspect; it’s almost certain he betrayed the Yi family. The butler’s whereabouts are still unknown—he’s likely hiding in the city. After all, the Yi family is powerful in Qiland, and after such a betrayal, they will surely send assassins to find and execute the traitor.
"Killed in a faction struggle, huh!"
John Chou muttered, and the middle-aged man looked at him in surprise.
"Young master Yin, you understand all this?"
John Chou didn’t say anything. He gave a half-smile, then called for Zane Zhuang to leave.
Mr. Brown and John Chou set out at once. They had to reach Liao City as quickly as possible and start searching for Isabelle Frost. Though exposed to the elements, John Chou had grown used to this kind of life.
"Young master, since the butler hasn’t left the city—and you said he might want to sell Miss Frost—why hasn’t he fled? He knows he’s in danger."
John Chou smiled as he replied.
"Mr. Brown, aside from the two reasons I mentioned before, now that we know about the butler Zhou Kan, I think he took Isabelle Frost so he could use her as a shield in a crisis."
(This chapter is not finished ^.^, please click next page to continue reading!)
Zane Zhuang stared at John Chou in surprise.
"A shield? But she’s just a child, how could..."
But Zane Zhuang seemed to realize something.
"With such a big incident, the butler’s disappearance means the side he warned has abandoned him. Any promises made to him were likely empty. Now the butler doesn’t want to die, so he kept a backup plan. Master Yi’s superiors—didn’t Teacher Fan Li say before that Master Yi had stopped doing these things, but was forced back? Now his whole family is dead, and those above feel guilty. If they learn Master Yi still has a bloodline, they’ll do everything to find it. The butler can use Isabelle Frost as a shield. That’s only human nature."
"Young master, how do you know so much?"
John Chou smiled and pointed to his head.
"Others listen, I think. My mother once told me never to let my mind stagnate, no matter what happens."
Zane Zhuang had witnessed John Chou’s cleverness more than once. This young master, not even seven years old, could analyze things so clearly—a feat few could match. Zane had never met such a brilliant child.
"Besides, things in Liao City must be dire now. The butler isn’t stupid. As long as he has Isabelle Frost, he’ll feel secure—he could even force her to lie."
Zane Zhuang let out an 'ah' and pulled the reins. John Chou stopped too, gently patting the horse’s muzzle and scratching its ear. The restless horse obediently stopped.
"For example, he could claim he heard a commotion that night and hid with Miss Frost, thus saving Master Yi’s bloodline. What do you think Master Yi’s superiors would do?"
"They’d let him inherit everything from Master Yi and put him in an important position."
Anger flashed in John Chou’s eyes, then he smiled, his whole demeanor turning sinister.
"A clumsy scheme! Teacher Fan Li told me many stories, Mr. Brown. Many have the same patterns, especially the ones about serving King Goujian. He started telling me these when I was four, and he still hasn’t finished. I’ve heard every detail so many times I could vomit. Of course I can spot these things. Didn’t he tell you, Mr. Brown?"
Zane Zhuang blinked. Back when he studied with Teacher Fan Li, he sometimes heard things, but only he and John Chou’s mother knew the teacher’s true identity—no one else, not even Yin Youchen. At the time, Zane wasn’t interested in those stories, but now he felt a chill and turned away, muttering to himself.
"No wonder Teacher could retire after his achievements, change his name, go into business, and become wealthy. He nearly failed three times, but always bounced back."
But then Zane Zhuang understood. 'Applying what you’ve learned'—those four words were always Teacher Fan Li’s lesson, but Zane couldn’t do it. John Chou could, which is why Teacher Fan Li spared no effort to teach him stories about serving King Goujian, down to every detail.
"Let’s go, Mr. Brown."
John Chou said, shaking the reins. Without needing the whip, his horse sped off.
"Young master, why does your horse seem so obedient?"
John Chou smiled as he replied.
"Mr. Brown, horses have feelings too. Or rather, each horse has its own temperament, just like people."
Meanwhile, in a courtyard on the outskirts of Liao City, Zhou Kan paced anxiously. Sobs came from inside the house. Isabelle Frost was tied up, her mouth covered, lying on the bed. Zhou Kan entered, and with a thud, knelt before her.
"Miss, I beg you. Only you can save me. If you help me, I’ll take care of you from now on—please, I’m begging you."