EBE Chapter 348 Kidnapping
Chapter 348 Kidnapping
When he woke up the next day, Zhou Chang found that his head felt much lighter.
Yuan Qi also showed some joy on his face: "Your Majesty's face has really recovered a lot. If the swelling continues to subside, it should be back to normal in two or three days."
"Yes, yes..." Zhou Chang stroked her smaller "pig head" in front of the dressing table and felt very relieved. After all, she made the right bet.
After having breakfast in Yuan Qi's bedroom, Zhou Chang finally decided to move back to the study. After all, since the situation was very good, it would not be good for her to stay here forever.
What's more, there is a saying that goes, a nest of gold or silver is not as good as one's own doghouse. No matter how luxurious and comfortable Yuan Qi's place is, she doesn't have the face to stay there any longer and let Yuan Qi sleep on the chaise longue for nothing.
Zhou Chang had just sat down in the study when Gao Yuan ran in.
"Your Highness, there is news. Miss Liu has been kidnapped by Peng Liang." Gao Yuan spoke fluently at the critical moment.
"He was really kidnapped?" This was the result Zhou Chang least wanted to see. "How did you know? Is the information accurate?"
Gao Yuan still had a blank expression on his face, but his eyes were clearly filled with murderous intent: "This morning, a young man from Yaoyuefang came to our palace secretly to find me, and told me the inside story."
Zhou Chang pricked up his ears and listened.
"That young man is the lover of the maidservant beside Miss Liu. Miss Liu was locked up in a dark room the night before last and was secretly released yesterday. It might be that someone was manipulating this behind the scenes. The maidservant beside Miss Liu was also used and is now locked up in a small dark room. But she saw with her own eyes that as soon as Miss Liu came out of the back alley of Yaoyuefang, she was kidnapped by the people waiting there and put on a carriage. That carriage often appeared in Yaoyuefang, and she recognized that one of the men was a follower of Peng Liang." Gao Yuan finished speaking in one breath without any pause.
Zhou Chang found the words a bit confusing, but he understood them: "Don't worry. Whether this matter is true or not needs further verification. Don't act blindly. Besides, there is no evidence just based on one person's words."
Gao Yuan was not a reckless person, so he nodded and said, "Your Majesty, what do you think Peng Liang will do to Miss Liu after kidnapping her?"
Zhou Chang recalled the rumors about Peng Liang that Manager Huang San and the others had mentioned before.
Even Yuan Qi said yesterday that kidnapping is only for two things - money or sex.
Gao Yuan is not a fool and he has experience in the world. Since he asked this question, he must have thought of it.
"Don't worry yet. Didn't Yaoyuefang report it to the police? We can ask privately." Zhou Chang could only comfort Gao Yuan, "Peng Liang wanted Miss Liu so much before, and now he is desperate. But since he has got her, he will not kill her directly."
"If he dares, I will kill him." Gao Yuan roared.
Zhou Chang was startled and quickly comforted him: "Gao Yuan, calm down. Now is not the time to think about this. It is more important to find Miss Liu first."
If something really happened to Liu E, she wouldn't be able to stop Gao Yuan, but it would be better if nothing happened.
Yuan Qi also made it clear yesterday that seeking money and sex can ultimately be bought off with money, but the key issue is that the other party also has to come to you to ask for money.
Zhou Chang couldn't help but wonder about the possibility of starting directly from Peng Liang.
She is not Prince Yi, but even if she is Prince Yi, she will help Gao Yuan at any cost and is willing to turn against the Minister of War.
Just as he was thinking about it, Yuan Qi walked in with Manager He and Manager Duan.
Yuan Qi was wearing a long home dress with green water lotus flowers.
Zhou Chang asked first: "Isn't the princess going out for breakfast?"
Yuan Qifu bowed and said, "I was about to go out, but Uncle He happened to come. It's a good opportunity for us to have a face-to-face talk, so I don't have to go out."
It was just right not to go out. Not going out meant that she could still have dinner for free, Zhou Chang thought.
Then, He Xi and Manager Duan came up to pay their respects.
"No need to be so polite." Zhou Chang had met Manager He many times before, but he had only spoken to Manager Duan through a screen yesterday, so he couldn't help but take a few more glances at him.
Yuan Qi sat down on the chair at the head of the table first. "Your Highness, Manager He is here to hand over the southern medicine shop to you. As for Manager Duan, we agreed on this yesterday, so it's a good opportunity to discuss this as well."
Zhou Chang didn't expect that Yuan Qi would take something he mentioned casually yesterday so seriously and even invited everyone over today.
But Gao Yuan was still standing aside, looking anxious. As Liu E's affairs had not yet been settled, he smiled apologetically and said, "Princess, why don't you go and tell the two of you about other matters first? As for the handover... it won't be too late to discuss it another day."
Yuan Qi was also in a dilemma: "If Your Majesty has no urgent business, it would be best to do it in one or two days, because my father is planning to go to Nanqing, and Uncle He will also accompany him. Therefore, Uncle He needs to prepare for the things in Jindu in advance, and I am afraid it will be even more difficult to spare time in the next few days."
"The old man is going to Nanqing?" Zhou Chang was surprised, and sighed at how unfortunate it was that everything happened at the same time.
"Yes, there is a business deal that I need to go there in person." Yuan Qi looked reluctant for his father to go on a long journey.
After Yuan Qi said this, Zhou Chang could no longer refuse.
Gao Yuanyi finally reacted: "I'll take my leave first."
Zhou Chang was worried and warned: "Gao Yuan, you must stay calm and don't act rashly. Find out in secret first and report back as soon as you have any news. Got it?"
"Yes." Gao Yuan bowed in response.
Whatever Gao Yuan promised, he would definitely be able to do.
Even if it was just a "yes", Zhou Chang would feel a little relieved, for he was afraid that he would act impulsively and end up doing bad things with good intentions.
After Gao Yuan left, Zhou Chang formally invited He Xi and Manager Duan to take a seat.
Manager He gave Zhou Chang the list and accounts of 17 medical clinics and nine herbal medicine shops south of Luo River in advance.
This was what Yuan Yu had promised to give to Zhou Chang when he returned home three days ago.
Zhou Chang took it and pretended to flip through it, but in fact he couldn't understand anything.
What she was most interested in was whether these businesses were profitable. Unfortunately, after searching for a long time, she couldn't find any mention of the profits, so she gave up.
He Xi said: "Currently, these 26 shops are distributed in various places south of Peishui River and are running well. Your Highness does not need to worry about it."
"Is there a person in charge there? If I want to make some changes, who should I contact?" Zhou Chang put down the account book. It made no difference whether he looked at it or not.
"How do you want to change it, Your Highness?" A flash of surprise flashed across He Xi's eyes, and he immediately lowered his brows and closed his eyes, "Well... Your Highness, think about it again. The staffs in these shops are now complete, and the income is stable. Some shops have even been in business for more than three generations..."
"Don't worry, Manager He. That's not what I meant." Zhou Chang interrupted, "It's just that if there is something that needs them to do, we have to find someone to contact them."
These businesses were nominally managed for herself, but in reality they were still in the Yuan family, except that the profits would be given to Prince Yi. No matter how shameless she was, Prince Yi was clearly resisting.