GBP Chapter 1311 Self-directed and self-acted
Chapter 1311 Self-directed and self-acted
After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Hu Yidao looked at Xiao Ce with some surprise.
At first, I was surprised, but then I realized that it wasn't surprising at all that Xiao Ce could guess it...
"Your Highness, you are truly astute; you really guessed it... not only our own people, but also..."
After a pause, Hu Yidao said to Xiao Ce, "He's not only one of our own, but also a confidant of Commander Eva... Ace."
Xiao Ce frowned slightly after hearing this, but did not interrupt.
Hu Yidao continued, "Also, there's the matter of the monk's staff and the cassock you mentioned. We were clueless at first, but after making a breakthrough with the old coins, we actually followed the clues and found a lead..."
After hearing Hu Yidao's words, Xiao Ce still didn't interrupt...
However, I already knew the answer in my heart.
Hu Yidao continued to explain: "This subordinate sent his undercover agent, who is most familiar with the various professions and trades in Brahma City, to investigate. They started with the fabric. The dark red robe was not made of expensive silk, but rather a cheap local tinder cloth, often used to make everyday clothes for lower-ranking monks or inexpensive offerings for ceremonies. There are only three workshops in Brahma City that can weave and dye this specific dark red color."
"Two of them were relatively large, with clear shipping records and no unusual orders recently. The last one was Shiva Weaving and Dyeing Workshop, hidden in a deep alley of the old city. The owner was a deaf and mute old man, but his craftsmanship was excellent, and he also took on some private jobs. The undercover agent took the fragment of the robe to test the waters... Although the old man couldn't speak, his eyes were clearly different when he saw the fragment. He gestured with his hands, indicating that someone had recently ordered an exact replica! He even took out a... a tinder tag specially made by the dye shop, marked with the order date and requirements!"
Hu Yidao pulled out a small wooden plaque wrapped in oiled paper from his pocket. Some symbols and a date were carved on it with a crude carving knife. The date was clearly three days ago!
"Based on the old man's gestures and the informant's interpretation, the person who commissioned the item didn't come in person, but sent... a young man dressed in the attire of a low-ranking inner court servant! The young man's requirements were very specific: dark red velvet cloth, in the style of a monk's robe, aged but not actually torn. The old man recognized the servant's attire but couldn't recall his name. The informant showed him portraits of all the low-ranking inner court servants... and he actually recognized him! It was... it was Bahar! One of Eva's most trusted men..."
After hearing Hu Yidao's words, Xiao Ce narrowed his eyes slightly and then said, "So, you mean these two are the people Eva trusts the most..."
Hu Yidao nodded, his face grim...
Then, Hu Yidao said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, that's right, Ace is an old man brought from Slavia by Commander Eva. He has followed her through thick and thin for many years and was responsible for her personal safety and some confidential matters!"
“Bahar was personally promoted from India by the Grand Commander and is in charge of her food, clothing, and daily necessities! These two... are the Grand Commander's absolute, absolute... confidants! Without the Grand Commander's trust, they could not have reached this position and been involved in these matters!”
The implication is clear.
The air inside the hall seemed to have solidified into lead, so heavy it was suffocating. The crackling of the charcoal in the brazier only amplified the eerie silence.
Xiao Ce remained silent.
He did not fly into a rage as Hu Yidao had expected, nor did he show the slightest sign of emotion.
He simply sat there quietly, his deep, ancient eyes lowered, his gaze fixed on the few cold, old Indian silver coins on the table, his fingers unconsciously and very slowly stroking the edge of one of them.
That calm was more unsettling than any storm.
"Were there two people who left with Eva?" Xiao Ce asked calmly.
Hu Yidao swallowed hard, then said, "Yes."
Xiao Ce's gaze gradually sharpened...
"Your Highness...is there some misunderstanding? Ace and Bahar...they are indeed Eva's confidants, but...you can't judge a book by its cover, could they be bought off or used? Or...or were they coerced? How could Eva...she wouldn't..."
Yin Pan'er's voice choked; she couldn't utter that terrible conclusion!
This might all have been orchestrated by Eva herself...
"Directed and acted by himself?" Xiao Ce said what Yin Pan'er hadn't said.
Yin Pan'er said to Xiao Ce, "No way... this doesn't make sense... why would she do this?"
Xiao Ce did not explain for a moment.
Because he didn't know either...
Hu Yidao said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness... then... what should we do next?"
Xiao Ce said to Hu Yidao, "Can you cover up what we found out about the old currency and the cassock?"
Hu Yidao nodded: "Your Highness, of course I can do it... Your Highness's meaning..."
Xiao Ce said to Hu Yidao, "Don't dwell on it... I have the answer now. This whole thing was orchestrated by Eva herself..."
After Xiao Ce said that, Hu Yidao and Yin Pan'er both wanted to explain.
Xiao Ce interrupted her, saying, "Alright, you don't need to say anything to her anymore. I have my own judgment. She might have some hidden story, but she definitely orchestrated all of this herself... As for her purpose, I'm not entirely sure..."
Xiao Ce then said to Hu Yidao, "Since she wants to act out this disappearance and danger charade, then we'll play along and make it even more convincing than she does! Hu Yidao!"
"The general is here!"
Hu Yidao immediately straightened his back, suppressing the shock and countless questions in his heart, and solemnly replied.
He knew very well that Xiao Ce must have a solution...
"Go and do three things immediately."
Xiao Ce said to Hu Yidao with a determined look, "First, erase all the clues we've found regarding the source of the silver coins and the making of the cassock, including details pointing to Ace and Bahar! Don't mention them to anyone! Pretend these clues never existed, and that our investigation has completely reached a dead end. Can you do that without leaving a trace?"
"Yes! Don't worry, Your Highness!"
Hu Yidao nodded emphatically, his eyes sharp: "Your Highness, those involved in the investigation are all my most trusted confidants; they know the gravity of the situation. All written records must be destroyed immediately. I will personally reiterate the instructions to those involved: anyone who dares to leak a single word will be court-martialed! If necessary, I've had them temporarily imprisoned..."
After listening to Hu Yidao's words, Xiao Ce waved his hand: "No need... just make sure they are trustworthy!"
Seeing Xiao Ce's words, Hu Yidao said awkwardly, "Your Highness, if Chief Eva's actions were all staged... I really can't be so sure..."
Seeing Hu Yidao's words, Xiao Ce smiled and said, "It's alright, trust yourself... everything has a purpose... it's alright! The second thing is, starting now, start searching on a large scale! Mobilize all the forces you can openly mobilize! The royal guards, the city defense troops, the police, including the monk soldiers you can borrow from Master Sangjie, get them all moving! The bigger the scale, the better!"
"Seal off all the gates of Brahma City! Strictly check everyone entering and leaving, especially those with women and children! Send out cavalry to search every inch of the roads leading from the palace to all directions! Post bounty notices, offering a large reward for the whereabouts of the commander-in-chief and the young prince! Turn the entire Indian subcontinent, especially Brahma City, upside down! Let everyone see that we are frantic! Let the kidnappers hiding in the shadows, or... the person who orchestrated this whole thing, know exactly how desperate we are!"
Hu Yidao instantly understood Xiao Ce's intention!
Lure the snake out of its hole!
Or, it might force the director behind the scenes to take the next step.
A flash of understanding and ruthlessness crossed his eyes as he bowed and replied, "Understood! Go do it right away! I guarantee the entire city of Brahma will be thrown into chaos, let them know just how panicked we are!"
"third!"
Xiao Ce's gaze shifted to Yin Pan'er, a hint of gentleness barely perceptible in his eyes, but his tone remained stern. "Pan'er, you and Little Mudskipper will stay in this side hall. Don't go anywhere. Hu Yidao, send your most trusted guards to protect this place with layers upon layers of protection. Not even a fly is allowed to enter! No one is to approach without my order!"
"Yes! Your Majesty!"
Hu Yidao and Yin Pan'er responded at the same time.
Although there was worry in Yin Pan'er's eyes, there was more trust and support for Xiao Ce's decision.
"Go, General Hu. Make it as realistic as possible."
Xiao Ce waved his hand.
Hu Yidao clasped his hands in a heavy fist salute, turned around, and strode out, his burly figure exuding a chilling aura.
Soon, the entire Brahma Palace and even the entire city were like a lake where a boulder had been thrown in, completely boiling over!
A sharp bugle call pierced the sky!
The heavy palace gates slammed shut with a loud clang of hinges!
Squads of royal guards and city defense soldiers, gleaming in their armor and brandishing their swords and spears, surged onto the streets like a black torrent of iron, their heavy footsteps shattering the tranquility of the morning.
They roughly dispersed the crowds, set up roadblocks, and checked houses one by one, with any family with children being subjected to particularly harsh scrutiny.
The cavalry kicked up clouds of dust as they galloped along the official road, their thunderous hooves echoing into the distance.
Huge bounty notices were plastered all over the city gates, markets and temple bulletin boards, featuring portraits of Eva and Xiao Yuanwang. The bounty was so high that it attracted countless onlookers who whispered among themselves, filled with shock and panic.
Master Sangye was alarmed and rushed to the palace with a solemn and worried expression!
However, Hu Yidao politely but firmly blocked them from entering the side hall area, citing the reason that "the deputy commander-in-chief is doing his best to search and rescue, please sit in the Buddhist hall and pray for the commander-in-chief."
Looking at the tense and volatile scene inside and outside the palace, Sangye could only sigh, flick his prayer beads, and pray silently.
The entire city of Brahma was shrouded in panic and a chilling atmosphere.
Hu Yidao executed Xiao Ce's orders perfectly, putting on a spectacular and thorough performance in this search for missing persons drama.
He himself frequently appeared at the most chaotic search scenes, his hair bristling and his roar like thunder, perfectly portraying the image of a fierce general who was furious and anxious to the point of almost losing control due to the disappearance of the commander and the young master.
Everyone who saw him had no doubt that the deputy commander's despair and anger at that moment were real.
Time passed second by second amidst the hustle and bustle of the Brahma City and the deliberate silence of the side hall.
One day passed, two days passed...
Aside from creating immense chaos and widespread panic, no substantial clues emerged, as if Eva and Xiao Yuanwang had truly vanished into thin air.
On the third day, Hu Yidao rushed over to find Xiao Ce with a letter in his hand.
"Your Highness, there's news! There's news..."
Seeing Hu Yidao's hurried appearance, Xiao Ce quickly asked him, "What news...?"
Hu Yidao, holding a letter, said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, a little beggar just came from the Tears of Shiva area with a letter saying he has news of the Grand Commander..."
"I've already checked the letter...it's just..."
Before Hu Yidao could keep him in suspense, Xiao Ce took the letter from his hand...
Your wife and son are safe and sound. If you wish to see them, you must come alone tonight at midnight to the abandoned shipyard at the "Tears of Shiva" river bend. Only you are permitted to come. If you see a second person or detect even the slightest trace of tracking, you will be killed instantly, along with everyone else! Do not say you were not warned!
Not well-known
The letter was extremely brief, yet every word was like a knife, filled with naked threats! In particular, the words "kill the hostage" and "total destruction" carried a particularly threatening tone.
"Shiva's Tears...River Bend Shipyard..."
Xiao Cece murmured the place name, his gaze icy.
This is the very place where they secretly captured that double a couple of days ago. It's one of the most chaotic, filthy, and lucrative areas in that huge slum, perfect for hiding filth and conducting dirty deals!
Seeing that Xiao Ce was deep in thought, Hu Yidao said directly, "Your Highness! We can't go! This is clearly a den of dragons and tigers!"
"Have your men secretly surround that place right now! I've wanted to wipe out that damned Shiva's Tears place for a long time. This time, I'll surround it and wipe them all out in one fell swoop..."
Xiao Ce smiled and waved his hand when he heard Hu Yidao's excited expression.
Before Xiao Ce could speak, Yin Pan'er said to him, "Ce! Listen to General Hu! You can't go! That place... that place is like a ghost town even during the day, and unimaginable at night! They know who you are, yet they dare to threaten you like this; they must have laid a trap for you! It's too dangerous for you to go alone! Besides... even if you go, Eva and Yuanwang might not be there..."
Xiao Ce smiled when he saw this. Looking at their expressions, it seemed that they still didn't quite believe his earlier judgment that Eva had staged the whole thing.