After Rongyao said this, a deathly silence fell over the surroundings.
Everyone turned to look at the child in Dongda’s arms.
The boy’s eyes were filled with tears. Even though Dongda was holding him tightly, he was still using all his strength to nod.
He was nodding—truly nodding.
Under the blazing sun, Cui Huaihao and Master Zhou felt as though thunder and lightning were crashing through their minds. Both of them stared fixedly at Dongda and the boy in his arms.
Dongda turned and tried to run with the child.
Cui Huaihao had no time to think. He swiftly kicked Dongda in the leg, then snatched the boy from his arms at the fastest speed possible. He held the trembling child close, pulled his niece back, and had the two attendants stand in front of them.
Then he lowered his head and asked the boy in his arms, “Child, tell Uncle, what is your name?”
The boy looked up at Cui Huaihao, then glanced at Rongyao. Through his tears, he answered in a soft, childish voice, “Zhang Xianyu. My name is Zhang Xianyu. I’m not Zheng Yaozong. He isn’t my father.”
Cui Huaihao’s entire body went cold. The child in his arms suddenly felt unbearably hot to hold.
Wasn’t Zhang Xianyu the name of the young master of Duke Zhongguo’s residence who had gone missing a month ago?
A month earlier, the young master of the Duke’s first branch had disappeared. The matter had caused quite a stir. Even after the duke went to the palace and begged His Majesty to send the Imperial Guards to search for him, they had failed to find the boy.
As more time passed, the chances of finding him grew slimmer. The Duke’s residence had even sent people to search several prefectures and counties near the outskirts of the capital, but they had still found nothing.
Many people said that the young master, born to a life of wealth and privilege, had surely met with disaster and was probably already dead.
Yet here he was!
Someone had abducted him and taken him as their own son.
What audacity!
If he had rashly bought the estate today, the Cui family would surely have offended Duke Zhongguo’s household. Fortunately, Rongyao, his little lucky star, had been there.
Now, as long as he delivered the child back to the Duke’s residence, he could establish a good relationship with them. This was an opportunity for the Cui family!
Cui Huaihao tightened his hold around the young master of Duke Zhongguo’s residence and gently patted his back to comfort him. “Don’t be afraid. Uncle will take you home.”
Rongyao tugged at the young master’s sleeve. “That’s right, little brother. Don’t be afraid. We’ll take you home.”
Zhang Xianyu’s eyes brimmed with tears as he blinked up at Rongyao and nodded vigorously.
On the other side, Master Zhou’s heart sank completely when he heard what the filthy little boy had said. However, he reacted quickly and immediately ordered his men to tie up Dongda.
Dongda still tried to argue. “He’s talking nonsense! He’s my son, a child from the countryside!”
No one believed him.
Master Zhou kicked him again and snarled through clenched teeth, “You’re going to get me and my entire family killed!”
After saying this, Master Zhou hurried forward and dropped heavily to his knees. “Brother Cui, please believe me! I knew nothing about this! Why would I help someone abduct the young master of Duke Zhongguo’s household? I truly knew nothing!”
Cui Huaihao looked at Master Zhou’s trembling form and said in a deep voice, “Naturally, I know what sort of person you are, Brother Zhou. But the young master of Duke Zhongguo’s residence, who has been missing for a month, was found at your family’s estate. If you want your entire household to escape punishment, you must make a decision quickly.”
Master Zhou’s eyes widened, and he anxiously asked, “Brother Cui, save me! Please show me a way out!”
Cui Huaihao glanced at the young master in his arms and said, “Have your men restrain Dongda’s entire family as soon as possible and question them about what happened. Investigate everything thoroughly. Then accompany me at once to return this child to Duke Zhongguo’s residence.”
Master Zhou trembled and said yes several times. There was no other way now. Brother Cui was being truly benevolent by allowing him to accompany the child back to the Duke’s residence; it would at least count as making amends for his crime.
He swiftly ordered his men to bind Dongda’s entire family and surround them completely. Then he prepared a spacious carriage, and together they escorted the young master of Duke Zhongguo’s residence home.
The carriage traveled at full speed. The journey into the capital normally took an hour and a half, but this time they arrived in only an hour.
Along the way, Master Zhou tried to speak with the young master, but the child was extremely wary. He kept shrinking toward Rongyao and clutched her arm tightly. It was clear that he trusted Rongyao the most.
Seeing how frightened the child was, Master Zhou dared not ask anything more. He could only worry about how he would report the matter to the Duke’s residence and how he might atone for his involvement.
The carriage entered the inner city and hurried toward Duke Zhongguo’s residence.
After another quarter of an hour, the carriage finally stopped in front of the main entrance of the Duke’s residence.
Two guards stood before the vermilion gates. When they saw the carriage stop, one of them approached with a drawn saber and demanded, “Who goes there?”
Cui Huaihao quickly climbed down from the carriage and gave a gentlemanly bow. Using the words he had prepared long ago, he said, “Please inform your master that we have found the young master who went missing from your residence.”
The guard’s expression changed dramatically. He took one swift look at Cui Huaihao and hurriedly said, “Wait here. I’m going to inform the Duke! Do not leave! Whatever happens, do not leave!”
With that, the guard rushed into the residence. Before leaving, he specifically instructed the other guard to keep a close eye on them and make sure they did not depart.
The gates of the Duke’s residence were soon thrown open again, and a large crowd streamed out.
At the head of them was the Duke himself.
Before Cui Huaihao and Master Zhou could even bow to greet him, the Duke hurried forward and asked anxiously, “Where is my grandson? Where is he? Are you truly saying that you know where he is?”
“If you can provide any information, no matter what you ask for, this old man will grant it!”
After the Duke spoke, a man and a woman also stepped forward, anxiously asking questions. They appeared to be the heir and the heir’s wife—in other words, Zhang Xianyu’s parents.
Cui Huaihao bowed to the Duke, then glanced at the carriage behind him. “Today, we did indeed bring back a young boy who had been abducted. We rescued him out of pity, and based on what he told us, we suspect he is the young master who went missing from your residence. That is why we have come here.”
The Duke seized Cui Huaihao’s hand. “Where is the child?”
“He is inside the carriage.” Cui Huaihao pointed behind him.
The moment he finished speaking, the carriage door opened. A little girl with delicate, exquisite features poked her head out.
She was small and lovely, as pretty as a carved jade figurine. First, she climbed out, then turned back and said to the person inside, “Come down with Sister and see if these people are your family.”
There was no response from inside the carriage. The adorable little girl called back, “Don’t be afraid. Come out. There are no bad people here.”
A moment later, an even smaller boy appeared at the carriage door. He was thin and dirty, clutching the little girl’s arm tightly and looking utterly timid.
