Protect Our Clan Leader

After a round of courteous conversation, the two sides quickly divided into hosts and guests and resettled.

The attendant from the Commandery Prince's Residence served tea, and after a few sips of tea and idle chats, they finally talked about the main matter.

"Ming Yuan, it's quite rare for both of you to visit Longzuo," Wu Dianshan took a sip of his tea and laughed, "We're all family. If there's anything I can help with, do tell me. Don't hesitate."

"It's nothing big. We're mainly here to pick up Yiluo, and incidentally to handle some matters at the Academic Palace." Wu Mingyuan smiled, "Did Yiluo cause you any trouble recently?"

"Oh, Ming Yuan, you're exaggerating." Wu Dianshan laughed heartily, "We're all family. How could we talk about causing trouble? Plus, Yiluo is very obedient. She usually stays with Qianrou. She doesn't cause any problems."

"Uncle, don't make excuses for her. I know her temper very well," Gongye Qingrui chuckled, "She is a fierce little tyrant at home. It's gracious of her not to stir up trouble, how much quieter could she get?"

While the two sides were chatting, Wu Dianshan sent people to Wu Qianrou's yard to bring Wu Yiluo over to see her parents.

However, a quarter of an hour had passed, but the handmaid, who should have returned earlier, was nowhere to be seen.

Both Wu Dianshan and Wu Mingyuan and his wife felt something was wrong and immediately sent more people to investigate. The old butler was worried that something might have happened and went personally.

After a while, the old butler returned, looking pale.

Following him were two Heavenly Human Realm guards with blue faces, and a pretty little girl with restless eyes, Wu Qianrou.

However, Wu Yiluo, who should have appeared with them, was nowhere to be seen.

"What...what happened?" Wu Dianshan's previously relaxed body immediately tensed, and his expression became somber.

Wu Mingyuan and his wife also became anxious, "What happened? Where is Yiluo?"

The two Heavenly Human Realm guards kneeled down in fear, their voices trembling, "Your Highness, Your Royal Highness Consort, the Little Princess, she, she is missing."

They were both assigned by An Commandery Prince and An Commandery Prince's Consort to protect Wu Yiluo.

Over these days, they diligently guarded the Little Princess.

Nevertheless, the girl's private chambers were not suited for them to enter, so they remained outside in the yard, secretly following her out when she left the residence.

During this time, the Little Princess hadn't left her residence. They occasionally saw and heard her through the stained-glass windows, leading them not to suspect anything. It wasn't until Wu Dianshan sent people over and they couldn't find her, that they realized something was wrong.

The old butler added, "Your Highness, I've already sent people to look for the Little Princess in every corner of the Commandery Prince's Residence, but we couldn't find her."

"Qianrou!" Wu Dianshan's face darkened at once, he glared at Wu Qianrou, who was hiding behind the two Heavenly Human Realm guards, and demanded sternly, "Tell me honestly, what happened?"

Wu Qianrou, around eight or nine years old, was taken aback by Wu Dianshan's glare, and honestly explained what had happened.

It turns out, Wu Yiluo was annoyed that wherever she went, there was always a group of people following her and she just didn't feel free, and playing outside wasn't even fun anymore. Moreover, when people saw the guards around her, they instinctively kept their distance, making it impossible for her to make friends.

So she came up with an idea. She used the Sky Mechanism Recording Disk to record her own voice and figure, even specially arranged for someone to make a doll that could simulate her aura to distract the guards, and had Wu Qianrou to help her cover up. Then she sneaked out of the Commandery Prince's Residence to Qingluo Guard to see the sea.

"What? You said Yiluo went to Qingluo Guard alone?! To watch the sea?"

Upon hearing Wu Qianrou's words, Gongye Qingrui was so surprised that she stood up abruptly, knocking over the teacup in her hand.

An Commandery Prince, Wu Mingyuan's face also darkened.

Wu Dianshan's face became even more ashen.

Seeing the guards still standing there dumbly, he immediately snapped, "What're you standing around for? Isn't it time to send people to look for her?!"

Wu Yiluo is An Commandery Prince's most beloved daughter, even recognized by the current emperor. If she really gets lost or something happens to her under his watch, that's a feud he can't afford to stir!

Even he, Lord Zhenzuo, was probably at his wit's end!

...

Just as the Wang Fu was in a state of upheaval due to the disappearance of the Little Princess.

Wang Anye's flying carriage, after a long sea voyage, had already reached the flying carriage station in Qingluo Guard.

Qingluo Guard, a brand-new Guard City.

With the involvement of Wang family, it bore many traits typical of Wang's architectural style — lofty concrete frames and thick stone walls.

The streets had well-planned, clean concrete foundations with blue stone surfaced roads.

And the buildings along the street were not without some tidy "modern-style" high-rises.

The little beggar, on his first visit to Qingluo Guard, was deeply captivated by the scene. He thanked Wang Anye, who de-boarded the flying carriage with him, with a gratefully bowed palm gesture, "Thank you, Seventh Young Master, for your chivalrous aid, I will definitely repay this act of kindness."

"Young brother, wait a moment," Wang Anye grabbed his arm and cheerfully offered, "Wang family is like half a landlord in Qingluo Guard, I like to hang out here, there is nothing I'm not familiar with. Now that you're here, why don't I show you around first, and we can eat something before we part."

The little beggar blushed and stiffened up at the proposal. Though he couldn't turn down such a warm offer, who could resist the seventh son, who was not only kind to him but also so handsome?

Then,Wang Anye took him around sightseeing, "Look, there's an entire street selling live seafood; it's mainly rare, high-end ingredients from inland. Here, you can stuff yourself for just one Qian Gold."

"This is Qingluo School, which provides basic education for children in Qingluo Guard. However, to get a higher level of education, you would have to go to Wang Family School."

"Little brother, look, that's the Qingluo Guard City Defender's Office. Although my grandfather isn't the city lord, he also works there." Wang Anye excitedly introduced the place while pulling him into the Defender's Office.

The little beggar blushed with embarrassment, he was too timid to resist. What was this naughty child up to? Could it be that he's uncovered her identity as a girl, developed feelings for her, and now wanted to introduce her to his grandfather?

This... this wouldn't do? It goes against the rules of the prominent families and it's not the right procedure.

Her heart pounded as if a little deer was bouncing inside. Her thoughts jumbled, she wanted to refuse, but felt weak as he continued to guide her.

"Little brother, look, that's the jail inside the Defender's Office; it's used to detain extremely wicked criminals." Wang Anye introduced it with a smile, "I heard that there are many pirates are imprisoned there?"

"Sev... Seventh Young Master, why are you showing me this?" The little beggar was a bit confused, wasn't he planning to introduce her to his grandfather?

Suddenly!

Wang Anye's face turned slightly stern, he stepped back to put some distance between them and ordered solemnly, "Guards, seize this beggar who is suspected to be a fugitive, imprison him in jail and thoroughly interrogate him."

He had noticed something was off with this little beggar from the start. However, he didn't act earlier because he was afraid of stirring up trouble. Now that they were at Rainluo Guard City Defender's Office and next to the jail, the little beggar couldn't cause any trouble.

"Aye! Seventh Young Master."

A fully armed patrol team surrounded the little beggar, aiming numerous swords, spears, arrows, and crossbows at him.

"What?"

The little beggar was shocked, as if struck by thunder. When did I, Wu Yiluo, become a fugitive?

In a moment, she was almost in tears.

She thought he was up to no good, lusting after her and was worried about it. But, in just a blink of an eye, he ordered she be arrested.

Whimper, whimper. Mom was right, there's not a single good man out there, they're all so deceptive.

...