Chapter 313 - Charred

The group of riders finally arrived at the hidden residence to find what remained of the burned down building. The only reason the building was not burned to the ground was due to the midnight rain that quenched the raging fire.

"Search the area..." Prince Yul ordered as he got down from his horse and the men promptly fanned out while he scanned the area. It was a very troubling sight indeed, but there did not appear to be a batttle here. 

Prince Yul frowned and glanced at Bao Zhun's father, who was worriedly staring at the charred building, at a loss. 

"General Bao, did you inform my brother that I will be coming with you?" Prince Yul asked with concern over the prospect that Prince Houyi had truly decided to go rogue over the Chun siblings. 

General Bao shook his head, "No, your grandfather was very clear..."

The Zou prime minister - grandfather of the Prince Houyi, Prince Yul, and Princess Nalan had promised him that as long as he helped with the search for the fugitives, he would ensure that Bao Zhun was completely absolved of all blame. 

So as soon as he received word from Prince Houyi that Bao Zhun was in his custody, General Bao had gone against Prince Houyi's request to keep this quiet and immediately went to the Prime minister with the location. And following the Prime minister's orders, he came here with the second prince, Prince Yul and guards to capture the fugitives as well as to quietly escort Prince Houyi back to the capital. 

This constituted as a betrayal on his part so naturally he would not have told Prince Houyi anything that would have endangered his son.

Even though General Bao did feel a bit bad for outing Prince Houyi who had simply offered his help, in the end he had to do what was best for his son. And between Prince Houyi and the prime minister, the prime minister was the obvious choice. After all, Prince Houyi derived most of his power from his maternal grandfather. 

Not to mention the fact that the King was highly upset with Prince Houyi over this very matter, believing him to be the mastermind behind the Chun siblings. Prince Houyi himself was on shaky ground and therefore, not in the position to be pleading anyone else's case right now. So General Bao believed that the Prince would understand that he had to consider all avenues to make the right choice.

But now General Bao was starting to regret that decision. If Prince Houyi found out that he betrayed him...what if he decided to simply kill Bao Zhun?

"Do you think the Prince found out I told the Prime minister? Do you think my son is alright?" General Bao asked, but Prince Yul simply knit his brows at him and turned back to the building with a sigh. He honestly did not want to be here, but their grandfather had ordered it and so here he was to talk sense into his older brother and drag him back home, of course with the fugitive twins in tow. 

He had hoped his brother had some sort of reason for camping here instead of bringing them to the capital as instructed. Their grandfather had been very angry when he had heard the news and almost rode here himself to drag Prince Houyi through the mud. But Prince Yul had managed to talk him out of it, assuring him that Prince Houyi had a good reason - a good reason he could not provide at the moment. But would naturally inform them once everything was set.

Of course, their grandfather did not buy this explanation and still sent him here with very specific instructions he dreaded carrying out...But now that he had arrived here to this, it seems he would be left with no choice if his brother had truly gone rogue for the Chun siblings.

Some of the men suddenly came out dragging a beaten and bruised man with them, they threw him to the knees and explained, "We found him in one of the rooms in the back..."

Prince Yul scrutinized the man, but before he could speak, General Bao crouched down and asked, "What happened here? Where's my son?"

"The prince, he-"

"Bu Lao! That's you, right?" Prince Yul suddenly exclaimed, also crouching down to look closer at the man, it was a bit hard to tell with how swollen the man's face was, but he was sure it was him...Prince Houyi's right hand man.

"It is I..." The man said with difficulty.

"What happened here?" Prince Yul asked with a frown, feeling somewhat relieved. If his brother was attacked, it makes sense that he would have switched locations. For all he knew, Prince Houyi might already be on his way back to the capital right now.

Bu Lao frowned, not sure how to explain.

"Hurry up and talk!" Bao Zhun's father immediately barked.

"Well...the priso- I mean, Master Chun, Master Bao and...Miss Chun -" He said the last name with a little bitterness, "Ran away with some monk and the Prince chased after them." He said, intentionally withholding the mysterious method of escape. 

Even if Prince Houyi had not shared much of his plans, he pieced it together on his last night that Prince Houyi wanted whatever it was that allowed them to disappear like that... And for his plans to work, that cannot be shared to outsiders. 

"Escaped?" General Bao exclaimed with a little smile, feeling a huge sense of relief that was shortlived when Prince Yul advised, "There's nothing to be happy...If my brother catches him, he will be better off dead."

General Bao immediately frowned, filled with even more worry now. Prince Yul stood up and then let out a breath and looked down at Bu Lao and asked, "Why did he leave you behind?...Was it your fault?"

Bu Lao shook his head, hesitated and then quietly said, "...I made a mistake so I stayed back to pass on the message."

Prince Yul raised an unconvinced eyebrow, not buying that explanation. It was truly odd, after all this man always went wherever Prince Houyi went. For Prince Houyi to have left him behind to simply "pass on a message" was unheard of - which meant he must have done something to have enraged his brother. 

Looking at the man's behavior, he would not be surprised if his brother was the one who had beaten him up himself. 

Prince Yul hit the nail right on the head, it was Prince Houyi who had beaten him up, simply because he had said he did not know whose blood was on his sword and dismissively said it was important. What was important at that time was finding the fugitives. After all, Prince Houyi could not return without them. 

But apparently, Prince Houyi was not exactly thinking straight at the time as he launched at him from behind and proceeded to pommel him into unconsciousness. Bu Lao woke up early this morning and dragged himself inside to find something to treat himself and later fell asleep and was later awoken by Prince Yul's men.

Honestly, Bu Lao had been very aggrieved, how was he to know Prince Houyi actually cared for the girl? After all, the same Prince Houyi had been digging a sword into her neck.

But then again, on the other hand Prince Houyi could have simply been angry that the monk could have died from the wound before he could get what he wanted from him. 

So truthfully Bu Lao had no idea where Prince Houyi went, much less what he was doing. But regardless of their little squabble, he obviously still had to cover for Prince Houyi. 

"Why did my brother bring them here?" Prince Yul asked, causing Bu Lao to jump and he quickly said, "I don't know....the Prince did not say." He added bowing his head.

Prince Yul quietly scrutinized the man and then sighed. He had always told his older brother that these twins were trouble but his brother had always reassured him that they were fine, great friends. But now look what they had done and look what his brother was doing now. 

"We'll rest here for a few hours and then continue on..." Prince Yul calmly said.

"Go where? Do you know where they are?" General Bao asked, rising to his feet.

Prince Yul shook his head, "No, but I have a hunch...More importantly, we cannot go back empty-handed." At the very least he had to find his brother and he hoped that when he did find him, the Chun siblings will be there too.

Otherwise, it will truly be a pity.