Chapter 100
Tianci’s lips twitched. Could it be that Prince An’s son was also this… unusual?
He was a kidnapper, yet this brat showed no awareness of being kidnapped at all. The whole way here, the boy had been squealing with excitement—so much so that it was impossible to ignore.
It completely ruined Tianci’s sense of being a proper kidnapper.
"Uncle, please fly with me again! I’m begging you!"
When Tianci ignored him, Wei Herui grabbed the hem of his robe and pleaded.
That feeling earlier had been incredible—he wanted to experience it again!
No, once wasn’t enough. He needed to do it over and over!
At this thought, Wei Herui stared at Tianci with sparkling eyes, secretly congratulating himself. Running away from home had definitely been the right decision!
"Prince An’s heir, I suggest you behave. I’m a kidnapper—do you understand what that means? My blade isn’t just for show!"
Tianci was so annoyed by the boy’s pestering that he drew his sword, hoping to intimidate him.
Wei Herui blinked, then gave Tianci a skeptical look. "Uncle, you’ve got the wrong person. I’m not Prince An’s heir, Xu Qingshi."
He paused, then added slyly, "But if you’re looking for him, I can take you to him! On one condition—you have to take me flying again."
"You’re not the prince’s heir? Then who are you?" Tianci was stunned. He had snatched this kid straight from Prince An’s residence—how could he not be the prince’s son?
Had he kidnapped the wrong person?
This was his first mission for his benefactor, and he’d already messed up. What was he supposed to do now?
"I’m Wei Herui, not Prince An’s heir. I’m from the Wei Family!" Wei Herui declared earnestly.
The Wei Family!
Tianci’s face fell. Damn it, had he really kidnapped the wrong kid?
"If you’re from the Wei Family, what were you doing at Prince An’s residence?" Tianci glared at Wei Herui, his voice sharp with accusation. This brat had ruined everything! If he hadn’t been there, Tianci wouldn’t have made such a mistake.
"I ran away from home! Uncle, come on, I’ll take you to Xu Qingshi!" Wei Herui, completely unfazed, tugged at Tianci’s sleeve eagerly.
"Why would a little kid like you run away from home?" Tianci frowned. These noble brats from the capital were beyond him—living in luxury yet choosing to suffer for no reason.
"You don’t understand. My mother is pregnant. If I stayed, she’d beat me to death! Pregnant women are terrifying—they hit people for no reason. Jiang Yu’s mother hit his father when she was pregnant, but my mother hits me! I’m never going back!" Wei Herui’s expression darkened for a moment, but the thought of returning to that abuse made him shudder.
Tianci frowned. Since when did pregnant women just… hit people?
That didn’t sound right.
"Uncle, please take me flying! I want to fly again!" Wei Herui whined, shaking Tianci’s sleeve.
"Quiet!" Tianci was getting a headache.
He didn’t know how to handle kids!
His benefactor had only told him to kidnap someone—not what to do afterward, much less what to do if he kidnapped the wrong person.
And this kid wouldn’t stop begging to "fly."
Sighing, Tianci decided to humor him—after all, the boy had gotten caught up in this mess because of his mistake.
---
Wei Family Residence
Wei Jing’an was fuming after receiving the third letter from Prince An’s residence.
"What is Prince An’s family playing at? First, they say our son is at their residence, then they claim he was kidnapped—and now they’re saying Liu Zongcheng took him?!" Wei Jing’an slammed the letter onto the table.
"Husband, why would Liu Zongcheng kidnap Herui?" Lin Ziyi wiped her tears, her heart aching for her missing son.
The Wei Family had no feud with the Lius—why would they target her child?
Her poor boy…
"Who knows? I’m going to the Liu residence right now to demand answers!" Wei Jing’an, usually composed, was at his limit.
His son’s disappearance had left him restless, and Prince An’s shifting claims only made his anxiety worse.
He wouldn’t rest until his son was home.
---
Meanwhile, on the streets…
Xu Heming had arranged a grand procession—carriages laden with gold, escorted by drummers—heading straight for the palace.
"What’s all this?"
"No idea—it’s all covered up. But it came from the Liu residence. Maybe it’s gifts for that Liu concubine in the palace?"
"She’s only a consort, isn’t she? Why the fanfare? Did she get promoted?"
"Even when other consorts were pregnant, they didn’t make such a show of it."
"Who knows? Maybe she’s the emperor’s favorite now."
"Tsk, she’s stealing the Cheng Family’s thunder!"
The crowd buzzed with speculation, eyes fixed on the mysterious cargo.
Especially since Prince An had ordered the delivery to the palace to be so ostentatious.
Everyone assumed it was because Liu Ruyan had gained favor in the palace, and these were gifts from the Liu family to their daughter.
Some even thought the Liu family was being too showy—more so than the Cheng family, the relatives of the empress.
Suddenly, one of the carriages in the procession overturned.
The onlookers gaped in disbelief at what they saw inside!
"Did you see what was in that chest just now?"
Though the guards quickly covered it back up, many among the crowd had already glimpsed its contents.
"I think I saw something yellow—shining gold!" one excited bystander exclaimed.
"I saw it too! Could those things actually be gold?"
"If it’s gold, then with ten carriages, each carrying two large chests… how much wealth would that be?"
The people buzzed with speculation.
In their hearts, they wondered: if those chests truly held gold, where had the Liu family gotten such a fortune?
Then, someone shouted, "I just saw officials from the Imperial Clan Court taking the Liu family away! Could this gold be embezzled money?"
The words landed like a boulder hurled into still waters.
A faint smirk curled on Xu Heming’s lips.
After today, the Liu name would vanish from the capital.
---
Imperial Palace
Zhu Jingchen was reviewing memorials when the thought crossed his mind: Xu Heming’s business at the Liu residence should be wrapping up by now.
Over the years, the Liu family had kept a low profile. Zhu Jingchen doubted Xu Heming could stir up much trouble.
"Your Majesty, disaster!" Eunuch Liu burst into the study, panting, even forgetting to bow. "Prince An has uncovered a hoard of gold and silver in the Liu estate! He’s transporting it all to the palace as we speak!"
"What?!"
