Chapter 249 - Prey Hunting (2/2)

As for Chun Hua, she did not know if she was actually there or not, but she will manage that when they arrive somehow.

***

The Empress dowager's group arrived back at the capital in the middle of the night. The Empress dowager ordered the city gates to be opened with a few menacing words and she proceeded to storm her way to the Chen manor, with a miserable Chen You and her men in tow.

As soon as they arrived, the soldiers bullied their way in and began searching the home for Chun Hua.

Before long, Chen You's father came running to the front courtyard to meet the Empress dowager. As he approached he glanced at Chen You and her bloodstained collar, took a deep breath, and bowed to the Empress dowager, ”Your majesty, I am sorry for the ill reception. Perh-”

”Bring me the one called Chun Hua.” The Empress dowager coldly ordered.

Chen Bo knit his brows and glanced at Chen You, ”Chun Hua?...Your majesty, she is not here. She has no-”

”Where is she then?!” The Empress dowager barked. She was tired and irritated.

”Please ease your anger, Your majesty.” Chen Bo said with a deep bow, ”Chun Hua has not returned here since she left -”

”You lied to me!” The Empress dowager barked turning her glare on Chen You, ”How dare you to take me for a fool?!”

Chen You immediately dropped to the ground and pleaded, ”Your majesty, I just thought she would come here. She has nowhere else to go, Father...” Chen You turned to her father for help.

Chen Bi quickly jumped in to help, ”Your majesty, it is true Her things are all here at the manor. She must have not yet had the time to come retrieve them. She would not leave without them, so she must definitely be hanging around somewhere. I will send everyone in my manor to assist in the search, we will definitely find her -”

”Find her! Or I will end all of you useless fools!” The Empress dowager barked, she was at the end of her rope. She had been riding for two days now and has barely slept. She needed answers now!

Chen Bo bowed and immediately glanced at his steward, who immediately went about mobilizing the servants to aid the search along with the commander following behind him.

”Your majesty, why don't you go inside to rest while we wait?” Chen Bo beseechingly said to the Empress dowager with a bow.

The Empress dowager glared at him and then at Chen You and then she irritatedly stormed forward with Ling mama tailing behind. Chen Bo motioned to a servant to help Chen You up and then he chased after the Empress dowager.

The Empress dowager took her seat in the main seat in the Chen family's reception hall, highly irritated. While Chen You and her father stood on the side, too afraid to sit.

Chen You's mother finally rushed into the reception hall and bowed to the Empress dowager, ”Your ma-”

”Where is the one called Chun Hua?” The Empress dowager calmly asked.

Chen You's mother glanced at her daughter and husband, and then bowed, ”Your majesty, I- I am not sure...”

The Empress dowager closed her eyes and took a deep breath, at that moment the steward came running into the room dragging a young boy along. He promptly bowed and informed, ”Your majesty, this boy claims to have seen that girl Chun Hua...Tell them.” He said to the boy.

The Empress dowager slightly opened her eyes and fixed her gaze on the boy and he immediately lowered his head, too scared to speak.

”Where did you see her? Hurry up and talk!” Chen Bo urgently ordered.

”I-i-in Ji family's inn. Their s-son is my friend...” The boy shakily responded.

”I asked you where! Not who your friend is!” Chen Bo barked when he saw the Empress dowager frown in irritation, ”Forget it, you'll just lead the way.”

Chen Bo promptly turned to the Empress dowager and bowed, ”Your majesty, I will go retrieve her myself.”

”En.” The Empress dowager simply responded and Chen Bo sent a reassuring glance at Chen You and her mother and then left the room with the steward, the boy and some of the soldiers.

Chen Bo did not know how Chun Hua had incurred the Empress dowager's wrath, but he could tell from Chen You's poor state that this was a very serious situation. Not to mention, the soldiers scrambling all over the place.

While Chen Bo was grateful to Chun Hua for the help she had rendered his family, it was clear that they needed to produce her otherwise they would be in trouble. Therefore, there was nothing he could do but to drag her here.

It was simply the girl's bad fortune that she had offended the Empress dowager.