Chapter 187: Suisui is Missing
Jin Sui reacted with extreme speed, raising her hand crossbow and firing a tranquilizer dart. Just as the door was closing, it struck Batel’s arm.
She couldn’t help but feel relieved. With King Batel missing, Tuoya and the others would surely come looking immediately, and she would be able to leave.
As it turned out, Batel didn’t fall. He curiously pulled the dart from his arm: “Is this the medicine that knocked out Tuolei? Fortunately, I was prepared.”
He had iron armor on his arm.
Jin Sui immediately shouted through the gap in the door: “Batel, I considered you a friend, you can’t do this to me!”
“There are bedding, a stove, and food in the main hall. Miss Ji, wait here for a few days. After your companions leave, I will let you out,” Batel said sincerely:
“I also consider you a friend! That’s why I want you to stay in the Northern Frontier.”
Jin Sui sneered: “What kind of friend! You just want me to make Thunder Fire and Spiritual Medicine for you!”
Batel smiled: “You are a Female Immortal, do not speak vulgar words, or you will be punished by the Gods.
If you speak to this King like that, what about your other two friends?
Lord Yan and Li King are also just using you. They use you and disrespect you.
I need your Thunder Fire and medicine, but I will treat you as a Saintess. In the Northern Frontier, you will enjoy the glory and wealth that you can never enjoy in Great Xia.
Miss Ji, I know you don’t want me to attack Great Xia, which is why you deliberately mentioned Tianzhu. Do you think this King doesn’t know about Tianzhu?
There are more Northern Frontier merchants than Xia merchants!
As long as you agree to stay, I can also promise you that Batel will not use troops against Great Xia during his reign. We can attack Tianzhu together.”
Jin Sui scoffed: “How can I trust you? You tricked me here and want to imprison me.
Batel, if you let me go now, I will pretend this never happened and won’t tell anyone.
My companions will not abandon me and leave. They will come looking for me.
Do you want to cause unrest in the Royal Court? You are only on your first day of ascending the throne, and you want to start a war?”
Batel burst into laughter: “Miss Ji, you are the smartest woman in the world, but also the most naive.
Do you think Yan Jiu and Li King will become Enemies with this King for you? Start a war in the Northern Frontier Royal Court?
How about we make a bet? If they abandon you and leave the Northern Frontier, you will stay. How about that?”
Jin Sui asked coldly: “Then what if they insist on finding me and won’t leave if they can’t find me?”
Batel smiled: “Then I will let you go!”
“However, I am sure to win!”
“This King will go back first and pick you up in three days. You can use these three days to think about how to be a Female Immortal in the Royal Court.”
Jin Sui slammed her palm heavily on the door. Although her hand went numb from the impact, the sound was quite loud.
She shouted angrily at Batel through the door gap: “One day! If you don’t come to let me out by tomorrow morning, I will blow up this Divine Palace! Don’t believe me, try it!”
Batel was not surprised but delighted: “You indeed have Thunder Fire! You can make Thunder Fire without returning to the Great Xia Taoist Temple, right?”
Jin Sui said coldly: “We Han Chinese have an old saying, ‘Better to be shattered jade than intact tile’! Batel, imprisoning me like this is an insult to me.
I am making this bet with you based on our cooperation. If my companions do not abandon me and leave tomorrow, you must let me go!
Otherwise, I will definitely blow up your Divine Palace! At worst, we’ll both be destroyed!”
Batel felt hurt, his voice filled with grievance: “I am not insulting you. I just want you to stay and see that your companions will abandon you for profit.”
This is the annoying part. Bratty children always do stupid things with self-importance. You can’t scold them awake, and you don’t know whether to hit them or not. He stubbornly believes he is right.
“I don’t want to waste my breath with you! In short, if you don’t open the door tomorrow morning, I will definitely blow up this Divine Palace. At that time, everyone in the Royal Court will see that on the first day of King Batel’s ascension, his Divine Palace was struck by heavenly lightning.
This is angering the Gods! Who will support you then!”
Batel asked dejectedly: “You really don’t want to stay? You’d rather die than stay?”
Jin Sui said frantically: “If I brought you to Great Xia and gave you fine clothes and delicious food, but imprisoned you, would you be willing?”
“How can that be the same! You are in the Northern Frontier, and this King treats you as a distinguished guest, as a divine being walking the earth. In Great Xia, they are merely using your talent.”
Jin Sui didn’t want to argue with him any further: “Either let me go now, or get out! I have nothing to say to you.”
She was truly angry. Why were all the men she met in this era so stubborn and self-willed?
Jin Sui didn’t know what Batel would promise Gu Changxiao and Yan Jiu to make them leave the Royal Court tonight. But she believed they would definitely not abandon her.
Past friendship was one thing, but more importantly, she was very useful!
Batel left at some point. Jin Sui lit all the lamps in the main hall, then pushed open the back window and found bedding to wear as a padded coat.
Looking out the window, anyone afraid of heights would immediately have their legs go weak. The Divine Palace was built halfway up the mountain, and this back window was suspended over a cliff.
However, the stone wall was not smooth and devoid of footholds, but had large and small protruding points. If one were a master climber, descending would not be a problem.
Jin Sui was not a master climber, but she felt that she could escape using her Space.
However, it was too risky. She might run out of energy, and it was very cold at night. Freezing to death halfway would be terrible.
She had many concerns and was afraid of truly falling out with Batel, which would also put Gu Changxiao and Yan Jiu in danger.
It would also ruin the cooperation between both sides, which would be an even greater loss. If the Northern Frontier envoy did not go to Chang’an, the collusion between Prince Yu and Left Wise King could not be made public.
If the Yan Clan lost its Northern Frontier trade rights, her businesses in the Northern Frontier, such as cultivating cash crops and purchasing rabbit fur and wool, naturally could not grow.
Goods that were overproduced in Border City and Yandi could not be sold to the Northern Frontier. Border City would not earn military expenses, and its development would be slow, preventing Gu Changxiao from competing with Prince Yu.
And what about her glazed glass artifacts? Where would she find such a foolish customer base as the Northern Frontier!
Trading glass for gold and gemstones could at best be a business for one or two years. Once glazed glass artifacts became common in the market, they would no longer be valuable.
Gold! Gemstones! That’s all money! How could I let this willful Batel ruin my grand plan to make money!
I still need to save money to build ships, establish a navy, and attack the Little Days!
Batel was like a willful child, thinking that if he hid what he wanted, others wouldn’t find it, and it would be his.
Jin Sui, however, had many concerns. This matter could not be blown out of proportion, otherwise, those powerful people who opposed Batel would surely seize the opportunity.
The more Jin Sui thought about it, the angrier she became. If she were Tuoya, she would have beaten Batel severely. If this guy continued to be so willful and reckless, it would be better to give the throne to Tuoya!
She hadn’t intended to light a fire; she could just eat something in her Space. But it was too cold here, so she had to light a charcoal brazier.
Batel was right about one thing: looking at the stars from here gave a complete sense of “reaching for the stars.”
The snowy scenery was also extremely beautiful. Jin Sui made the best of a bad situation, so she warmed a pot of yellow wine, took some food from her Space, and enjoyed the wine while admiring the snow and moon.
She couldn’t help but wonder what Gu Changxiao and Yan Jiu would do. Would they try their best to find her?
To be honest, Jin Sui wasn’t that confident. She had spoken confidently in front of Batel, but she also knew very well that Yan Jiu was someone who considered the bigger picture.
Gu Changxiao’s identity was a Xia Envoy. Would he fall out with Batel for her, a mere Daoist Ji?
Although he had confessed his feelings to her, how could love compare to profit!
Jin Sui gave a self-deprecating smile and glanced out the window. I’m not a princess waiting to be rescued by a prince!
In any desperate situation, one must strive to save oneself! If Batel doesn’t come to open the door tomorrow morning, I’ll jump out the back window. I need to make a parachute tonight!
However, after jumping, the road back to Great Xia would be difficult.
Jin Sui was never a woman who indulged in self-pity, nor did she ever place her hopes on others. Having lived two lives, she understood too well that relying on oneself was better than relying on anyone else!
She drank the yellow wine in one gulp, ate her fill, and went into her Space to prepare.
She had originally intended to make a parachute, but while looking for materials, Jin Sui felt that making a glider would be better.
If she used a parachute, she would land right into Batel’s encirclement, with no chance to escape.
A glider could fly further. Before his men could catch up, she could use skis to escape. She couldn’t ride a horse; the Northern Frontier people were too familiar with horses and would track her by horse hoof prints.
She also couldn’t seek refuge in small tribes; she couldn’t trust any of the Northern Frontier people!
Using things from her Space, she could cross mountains, forests, deserts, and prairies alone. As long as she entered the Great Xia border, she would be safe.
Fortunately, she had plenty of raw materials in her laboratory, and she was skilled at hands-on work. With the help of machines, she could complete a simple glider in one night.
Jin Sui was busy in her Space all night, unaware that the Royal Court below was in chaos all night.
Miss Yan was the first to discover her disappearance. She reacted quickly. Half an hour after Jin Sui left, she pushed through the crowd to find Tuoya:
“Miss Ji hasn’t returned yet. Could you send someone to look for her?”
Tuoya hurriedly asked her maidservant. Hearing that Batel was also absent, she assumed they were still talking and smiled: “I’ll send someone to invite her right away. Don’t worry, Miss Ji won’t get lost here.”
Miss Yan remembered her brother and Gu Changxiao had repeatedly instructed her not to separate from Sui Sui, in case of any accidents.
She ignored the inquiries of the noblewomen. In her heart, the rouge business and other things were nothing compared to Sui Sui’s safety.
She immediately squeezed out of the felt tent to find Yan Jiu. Yan Jiu was discussing trade matters with a group of Northern Frontier officials. Miss Yan couldn’t find him for a moment and happened to run into Han Xing.
She immediately grabbed Han Xing’s sleeve: “Quick, tell the Prince that Sui Sui is missing.”
Instantly, the soldiers of the Black Feather Camp became anxious and surrounded Princess Tuoya’s felt tent in a siege formation.
Gu Changxiao was communicating with Northern Frontier officials about the envoy mission. Upon hearing Han Xing’s secret report, he handed over the communication task to Han Xing and immediately went to find Miss Yan.
After hearing the whole story, Gu Changxiao was relieved that Sui Sui had only been gone for two quarters of an hour since leaving the felt tent. He praised Miss Yan:
“You reacted very quickly and didn’t blindly trust Princess Tuoya’s words. Sui Sui is always meticulous in her actions. It’s impossible for her to be at the toilet for so long without returning or sending someone to inform you.
She must have been taken away by someone! Within such a short time, she couldn’t have left the Royal Court.
Liu Yun, go and ask Princess Tuoya to personally take you to find Miss Ji.
Miss Yan, go and find Lord Yan and have him send people to inquire in all the tribes if there are any Han Women hiding.”
Sending the Black Feather Camp to inquire at this time would easily arouse the vigilance of the tribal leaders and powerful people. However, it was different for Yan Jiu to send merchants; they could inquire under the guise of giving gifts or discussing trade.
As for himself, he would go to find Batel. Gu Changxiao had a premonition that if Jin Sui’s disappearance was not related to Batel, then only Batel’s help could find her as quickly as possible.
If it was related to Batel, then Batel himself must have taken Sui Sui.
For the first time, he expressed concern to Miss Yan: “You also be careful and absolutely do not leave Lord Yan’s side!”
Miss Yan no longer cursed him as a vixen. Being in an enemy country, no matter how much they disliked each other before, they were now companions and could only rely on each other.
Miss Yan had a very bad premonition. She also cautioned Gu Changxiao: “Lord Li, do not be too hasty. Sui Sui is always exceptionally intelligent, and she will surely be fine.
If you get into a dispute with the Northern Frontier people in the Royal Court, perhaps they will lash out in desperation and harm Sui Sui.”
Gu Changxiao said in a deep voice: “I know what’s important. Don’t worry, Sui Sui will return safely.”
He headed straight for Batel’s felt tent, observing the powerful people. Some glared at him resentfully, but more were immersed in the banquet, singing, dancing, drinking, and eating meat.
Some noble ladies and noblewomen were comparing jewelry. He noticed that many of them were already wearing glazed glass jewelry. It seemed Sui Sui’s sale of glazed glass was very successful.
There was no abnormality. Whether it was the officials discussing matters in the felt tents or the powerful people and tribal leaders outside, there was no obvious anomaly.
Gu Changxiao felt a little relieved. His mind raced. Sui Sui could not have been kidnapped.
She had tranquilizers and fish oil firearms on her. If someone had forcibly taken her, she would have resisted.
It must have been caused by someone she trusted. Who could it be? A subordinate Yan Jiu had punished before seeking revenge?
Princess Tuoya took Sui Sui as a hostage? Or… looking at Batel’s felt tent, this person was the most likely culprit!
He had promised to help Sui Sui open a Taoist Temple to get fish oil firearms. Now that the Taoist Temple couldn’t be opened, he might have taken a risk and directly imprisoned Sui Sui!
“The King is resting, no one is allowed to enter!”
The bodyguard blocked Gu Changxiao. At this moment, an official hurried over and said to Gu Changxiao:
“The King has ordered that as long as Lord Li leaves the city now, the Northern Frontier envoy can be accused by the Prince.”
At this time, Miss Yan and Yan Jiu also rushed over. The official smiled at Yan Jiu and said: “As for Lord Yan, please also leave the city immediately!”
It was confirmed, Sui Sui was taken by Batel!
Gu Changxiao pushed the official aside and burst into the felt tent: “Sui Sui!”
The tent was empty. The official said angrily: “The King is not here. Lord Li, even if you are the Xia Envoy, you cannot be presumptuous in the Royal Court!”
Yan Jiu calmly asked: “Where is the King now?”
The official snorted: “What business is it of yours? Please leave the city quickly, otherwise, we will have to drive you out!”
I have to say, Batel chose a terrible teammate. He had ordered that Gu Changxiao and Yan Jiu be lured out of the city with benefits. Of course, perhaps his tone when giving the order was too harsh.
Or perhaps it was because this official felt that being in the Northern Frontier Royal Court, these Xia people wouldn’t dare to act rudely, so he became a bit arrogant.
With a ‘clang’, Miss Yan drew Gu Changxiao’s saber and pointed it directly at the official: “Hand over Sui Sui!”
Begging for monthly tickets, begging for support.
