Just like sands in an hourglass so did the three days fly by in an instant. The journey ahead was going to be rough and strenuous but the two men seemed hyped up as though ready for battle.
Their steeds were in the same state as their masters galloping through the empty streets of Hepeng living a cloud of dust everywhere they went. As they approached the city gates, a carriage especially made for nobility was stationed under a tree waiting for their arrival.
Wu Yange descended from his mighty stallion and opened the silk scarlet curtain of the carriage as though frantically looking for someone. A terrified guard stammered as he saluted the prince but was only met by a murderous glare, "Where is he?" asked the prince in a stern voice that startled the poor guard's, weak heart.
He bowed before the prince avoiding his gaze at all cost and stammered, "as....as you instructed me, Your Highness, I went to collect him by the Rong Mansion but was turned back with a message for the prince. They said Rong Zian withdrew from the mission and ran off with his maiden during the night."
The prince scowled in suppressed anger clenching his fists and uttered, "Rong Zian," as he hastily got on his horse charging towards the Rong Mansion.
Ying Tie followed suit murmuring under his breath, "I knew that slippery weasel would make a break for it," as he struggled to catch up with the prince.
Over at Rong Mansion, master Rong was in a panic pacing up and down in anxiety as opposed to his calm and collected wife who was quietly sipping her tea. Seeing how his wife seemed unbothered by this unorthodox situation he began to rumble much to the irritation of Madam Rong. "You can't do this, do you know you are committing treason other than violating his rights? Aren't you afraid of what the emperor will do to you and the rest of the family? Hell, aren't you afraid of the powerful prince, famous for his extreme tantrums?"
Unfazed, she sipped her tea and reassured him, "The brat will be all to blame for this, all we have to do is play our part and convince them that he ran away with that hoe, Chen Mei, so stop pacing around you are giving me a headache," slamming the cup onto the table.
"They will hunt him down and execute him, I can't do that to him for a crime he didn't commit, how will you be able to live peacefully with that on your conscience?" he said as he sat down opposite her and poured some wine to calm his nerves. This was the only trait Rong Zian ever inherited from his father if they ever drank side by side one would know whose offspring he was because in appearance they had no resemblance.
"Since when have you become a father to him? Stop with that fake concern and get yourself together," she scolded him as he poured out more wine with a shaky hand. Just as he was about to take a sip, he was startled by a loud bang which caused him to spill wine on his garments.
He stood up abruptly heading towards the main entrance with his wife following closely behind, the hurricane had arrived sooner than they expected and they were poorly prepared. The conniving couple hurriedly welcomed the prince with bright warm faces worthy of receiving acting awards but Wu Yange was in no way convinced.
"Where is he?" he bellowed, attracting the attention of all the household servants who had gathered at the entrance as well. Seeing that no one answered, the fiery protagonist walked into their main hall and took the house masters' seat sitting in a relaxed posture with his foot dangling on the armrest. With a wolfish expression, he asked, "Master Rong, do I have to burn your house down to get an answer?" with a low blue flame dancing on his fingertips.
Ying Tie swallowed hard as he silently prayed for the prince to calm down, he could only pray because speaking to an unreasonable human torch would just make things worse.
"He ran away with his maiden Chen Mei, I apologize to my prince for my negligence though fully aware of his task appointed by his Majesty. I hope the prince would be lenient and instead take along my second son Rong Erzi, I am sure he will be of more use to the prince," rumbled Madam Rong with a shaky voice and in a full kowtow before the angry prince.
Wu Yange stood up and walked over to her so that she could only see his black boots in front of her terrified face, "You are his mother so you should know every detail about your disrespectful son. You finance him so I am sure you know where he will go or who he will run to. Are you willing to divulge the details or will I have to kill you right here?" She pled with the prince in a trembling voice but refused to speak the truth even though her life was at risk.
The powerful prince truly lived up to his reputation, when angered his voice struck fear in anyone who had the honour of hearing him speak. His aura so terrifying enough to cause shivers down one's spine without even laying eyes on him. With his dark cold eyes, enemies would choose to die by their own swords than in the hands of the merciless prince.
He was angry that Rong Zian had slipped away under his nose, the one person who could render him useless was running loose with a lover in his arm, He felt scorched from within when he thought of this betrayal that came without warning.
Frustrated to the point of burning something to the ground, he turned to the servants who were so terrified enough to piss their pants. He slowly moved down the line of servants as he closely observed their subtle behaviours, 'One of them must have been close to Chen Mei, so one of them must know the location of their love nest,' he thought to himself. Each and every one of them looked terrified to silence except for an elderly man who though scared seemed to have something to say.
Wu Yange stood in front of him and grinned, "Speak!" At his command, the old man opened up a can of worms to his master's dismay. They gestured for him to stop talking but Ying Tie unsheathed his sword and aimed at the woman's throat eager to hear where Rong Zian had run too. He vowed to tear that rascal in half when he caught him to pay him back tenfold for betraying the crown.
"Your Highness had been lied to, Rong Zian is in this compound but it is inconvenient for the prince to speak to him right now," said the brave old man bowing his head.