Chapter 358: Ten Miles Pavilion (1/2)

Her breath hitched, Jun Huang turned around and grabbed one of the men by the collar, her voice steely as she demanded, “Is this all of them?”

The man had been scared witless. He answered every one of her questions obediently.

Jun Huang frowned. “Did any of you see an eight years old boy?”

The man thought for a moment. “Is it a finely dressed, well-mannered boy?”

“Where is he?” Jun Huang demanded.

“We didn't take him,” the man stuttered. “He was drugged and taken away.”

Jun Huang's pupils contracted. She let go of the man, who fell to the ground and fainted from his fear. Nan Xun couldn't bear seeing the regretful look on Jun Huang's face. He pulled Jun Huang into his arms. “Perhaps Jun Hao was rescued. We'll gather more information first. Don't be too worried.”

Jun Huang nodded without thinking and blindly followed Nan Xun outside. Nan Xun reminded the soldiers who'd arrived to take the kidnapped children home and to investigate the circus, hoping that they would find something about Jun Hao.

Once they were back to Nan Xun's manor, Jun Huang finally regained the ability to think clearly. With a dark expression, she grabbed Nan Xun's sleeve. “No, we were wrong. Jun Hao wasn't rescued. He was taken by someone else.”

“Why would you think that?”

“The man said he was drugged, so he hadn't been knocked out by the circus crew. Someone took him first. If the man had lied to me, and Jun Hao had been knocked unconscious by them already, why would someone rescue him but leave the other children behind?”

Jun Huang's expression tensed as she spoke, her fear growing stronger. “The answer is clear. The kidnapper wants something, and that something has to do with us.”

Nan Xun's face clouded. He'd come to the same conclusion earlier, but he'd been trying to calm her down. She realized the truth sooner than he'd expected.

He sighed and ma.s.saged her temples, trying to relax her.

The next couple of days, Nan Xun frequented the city's yamen. He didn't have to get involved himself, but this was about Jun Hao. He had to take matters into his own hands. Besides, it'd make Jun Huang feel better.

Jun Huang had been in a dark mood. She had trouble sleeping or eating. She couldn't help but worry about Jun Hao. And yet they hadn't heard anything about him.

She tried to occupied her mind by reading. She became sickly and pale. Nan Xun didn't try to talk her out of worrying despite his concern for her.

Just when they were growing desperate, Jun Huang received a letter. It was from the kidnapper. They said that if she wanted to find Jun Hao, she was to make her way to the Ten Miles Pavilion at nine tonight on her own. If she didn't show up, Jun Hao would be punished.

Jun Huang's heart sank, her breaths shallow. Nan Xun took the letter from her and frowned.

“Are you sure you're going, Jun Huang?”

Jun Huang nodded after a pause.

“What if it's a trap?” asked Nan Xun. “Perhaps someone else noticed the searching party. Besides, we know nothing about what the kidnapper wants. Even if they have Jun Hao, the fact that they want you to go at night on your own spells trouble. You have to be cautious.”

Jun Huang shot him a glance and took a deep breath to suppress her emotions. “I've made up my mind.”

She got to her feet and left.

Nan Xun didn't expect her to discard his concern like it was troublesome. Upset, he didn't even think about convincing her to stay put.

He knew how important Jun Hao was to Jun Huang, but he didn't want her to risk her life for anyone, not even her family.

He sat in the garden for a long time until the sky went dark. He let out a long breath and arranged a rescue team for Jun Hao.