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Soon the group passed the mountain and entered the forest which is said to be a lot of bandits. Lu Yan and others were very alert to anything that could attack from the hidden area.
The forest is located about a day's journey by horse from outer WaiYi. The only road that connects Wai Yi with the outer world. Under the rule of the Jie family, some bandits were caught and handed over to the government, at least to sort out the criminals. But the poverty around the area makes them thrive again and again.
Whether it was because it was still a bright broad day, the group of four carriages, two passenger carriages, and two empty large loaded carriages made it through the forest safely. Nothing happened.
The bandits might recognize the family's banner flying at the top of the carriage and the pole. It also because the group has nothing valuable such as merchants but the new carriages and men. Although Lu Yan's eagle eyes keep scorching around on high alert, everyone should always stay vigilant.
At last, everyone could breathe a little easier when they arrived at a nearby village at the foot of the mountain. A little out from the forest area.
The sun began to feel tired on the west horizon, and soon all be dark after it set.
It had been almost all day since their last rest. It was so quiet along the way, and there were no residents' houses around as the eyes could see. They had to find a lodging house if they wanted to have a good rest tonight.
The coachman quickened his pace again. Stamping the whip vigorously while the horse was still full of high spirits, heavy breathing, and big muscles. Three selected large horses pulled the carriage including Xiao Er, Fei's horse in the very front, while Fei Er and Lu Yan took a little rest inside the passenger carriage.
The uneven road made the carriage slightly sway strongly. For a moment the wheels lifted slightly and crashed back to the ground firmly.
"Hiaaa hiaaa!" Exclaimed the coachman.
Inside the shaken carriage.
"Ouch"
Fei Er turned his head, he thought he heard something inside the carriage it was only him and Lu Yan. He must be too tired and start to have these sounds on his head. He has to get some sleep to gather new energy for the next trip.
The carriage went faster again. The rocky and uneven road made it sway quite violently.
"Aww"
Fei Er heard the sound once again, and not only he but Lu Yan, also turned his head. Which meant he had not heard it wrong. The two glanced at each other. The source of the sound came from inside the quite large carriage, near the end wall where there was a large box for storing things. Is there a stowaway in there?
Lu Yan patted the coachman's shoulder and asked him to slow down the pace. Fei Er gets ready with his sword in front of the big box, slowly and alert, while Lu Yan opens it.
The sound of a sharp sword emitted from the scabbard. Fei drew his sword out.
...…...
"Da Huang!"
Tang Yuan's voice echoed in the room. Da Huang didn't dare to raise his head, he knelt in front of Princess Tang Yuan with a scarred face. He's been negligent.
"Er Niang, what are you waiting for? Quickly have everyone search all over the place. That kid is so naughty. He's so big how come no one saw him sneaking out?"
A while ago. Tang Yuan panicked when she didn't find Hong Er in his room, in the library, in his music class, by the pool, not even in the valley where he used to play kites. The boy just disappeared. It was night already meaning Hong Er had probably been missing for half a day and people didn't notice. Da Huang was kneeling deeply ready to accept the most terrible punishment from the princess.
"Da Huang, tell me what I have to do about you. Little Master has disappeared and you said you don't know where he is? Didn't we ask you to especially watch over him? What have you been doing all day?" Tang Yuan's voice held back emotion.
Da Huang didn't dare raise his head, he knew he was wrong.
This morning he still saw his Little Young Master. The boy asked him to go to town for a while to buy him his favorite food at the town. He didn't suspect anything even though his Little Young Master had never asked him before this. He was stupid, how could he be so careless?
Shortly from the door, a house guard brought an old worker in. The old man might be the last witness to Hong Er's whereabouts.
"Madam, this is old man Tu, he was the one who saw Little Young Master last time"
The old man greets Tang Yuan.
"Greetings Madam, servant is Tu Er"
Tang Yuan waved her hand. Her stomach acid flucks at the thought of Hong Er being kidnapped by a bad person, or anything dangerous. She couldn't imagine such a bad thing happening to her beloved son making her heart weak and headache.
Er Niang came forward.
"Old man, tell me what Young Master Hong was doing?"
Old man Tu scratched his head. He was an innocent old man, just obeying his master's orders without asking much.
"Umm, Madam, Young Master Hong asked Servant to bring some water to the coachman…"
Tang Yuan raised her head. She realized something that made her eyes widen, she should know where the kid was.
"That's it! That kid must have sneaked into the carriage. I knew it, he must do that, I should have known this before. That naughty brat. Da Huang!"
Da Huang raises his head quickly.
"Yes, Madam!"
"Take the fastest horse, catch up with the group, and bring that kid home"
Da Huang nodded.
"Yes Madam"
......
The horse troupe stopped to have their rest.
More than fifteen people in a group headed by Fei Er and Lu Yan occupied seats in the roadside tavern. Some standing guard near their carriages and horses.
Fei Er couldn't stop staring at Hong Er who was now sitting in front of him. He looked at him with sharp eyes in anger, really wanting to hit him but he couldn't bear it.
"Ahem, I'll excuse myself. Young Master" said Lu Yan.
He carried his bowl of noodles and a cup of water to another table where his men were. Better stay away because Young Master looked so furious.
Hong Er's face scrunched up looking at the bowl of water. He had already been scolded by Fei Er so hard earlier because he snuck into the carriage and almost fell victim to Fei Er's sharp sword. A long sharp sword with a white gold patterned hilt. That scared the hell out of Fei, he almost killed his beloved baby brother.
He tried to calm down, lowering his tension from being too mad and too scared at once.
"Heh"
Hong Er didn't dare to raise his head. He knew what he was doing and got ready for any punishment from his Brother. He had never seen him so angry like this before, with his eyes big and his stiff cheek. He's kind of scary.
Hong pulls his lips. Lower his head deeply with sometimes takes a peek at his Brother's face.
He wanted to go out with him. That's what he's been dreaming of since his father said that he would take him on the next expedition.
Hong moaned and bit his lips from enduring the hurt with a little sound. He kept massaging his ankle, which hurt from a hard bump he got when he climbed onto the carriage in a hurry. Old Man Tu diverted Old Man Mo, the horse coachman, so he could sneak in without anyone noticing him.
He just felt the pain now after long hiding in the luggage box. Although the box was quite big, but not for Hong. He must have been in a lot of torment inside there for a few hours, Fei felt sorry to think of that. Finally, he's not mad again.
"Heh, let me see your feet"
Hong was a little surprised when his brother pulled his right leg and put it on his lap. There was a bluish rash on Hong's ankle as he took off his shoes.
"Aww" Hong Er moaned.
Fei pulled his lips.
"That's what happens to naughty kids! Who told you to come along? If Mother finds out she will be so outraged and so worried"
Hong Er regretted. He imagined his mother's worried face when she didn't find him in the room. She must be so panicked as she always did. Hong hopes the letter he left can make his mother calm down a bit.
"I left a letter for her, she must have read it now," said Hong in a small voice.
##In Hong's room, a letter written in Hong Er's hand fell by the wind, lying below the bed. No one has managed to find it.
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