Deep in a secluded alley stood the Freight Depot, enclosed by high walls on all four sides. Dogs barked intermittently within.
A piercing scrape of metal rang out as the great iron gate slowly opened. Third Master Du and Shopkeeper Xue hurried out, followed by four burly men.
"Did you hear him clearly? He said the Prince of Luling?"
"I heard him plain as day, sir. The Prince of Luling."
"What exactly did he say? Don't leave out a single word!"
Inside the Le Residence, Le Zhan, the Provincial Deputy of Jingzhou, held a teacup and looked utterly taken aback. "A bunch of petty thugs dared abduct someone outside the Langya Wang family's door? Have they got a death wish?"
Watching his father's expression, Le Pang ventured, "Wang Yang was moving house at the time. Those men probably didn't know it was the Langya Wang family..."
"Was the child they abducted a member of the Langya Wang family?"
Le Pang blinked and, as though possessed, answered, "Yes."
"What?!" Le Zhan slammed his teacup onto the table. "That child belongs to the Langya Wang family too?!"
This had not actually been part of Wang Yang's plan. Le Pang had improvised on a sudden whim, but seeing such a strong reaction from his father was exactly what he wanted. I'm a little genius, he thought, then added, "Yes. She probably came to Jingzhou with Wang Yang for a visit. Who could have expected something like this..."
He had only meant to exaggerate the severity so his father would take the matter seriously and lend his aid more readily. Who would have thought Le Zhan would become frantic at once?
"They abducted a member of the Langya Wang family? That's outright rebellion! Take my calling card to Jiangling County immediately and have