Traveling through ancient times: starting with live streaming

Chapter 347 One step too late

Gao Yuan did not return to Prince Yi's Mansion until the sun was about to set.

Yuan Qi returned to the bedroom at the same time as Gao Yuan.

Zhou Chang did not ask what Yuan Qi was doing, but rather what position she had since she occupied someone else's house.

As for Gao Yuan, Zhou Chang could feel his frustration through the screen, and his intuition told him that something was definitely wrong.

"What's going on? Not enough money?" Zhou Chang asked first.

"Yes, and no..." Gao Yuan spoke without sparing words, "It's just that Miss Liu'e is missing. It doesn't matter whether they sell it or not."

"Gone? What's missing?" Zhou Chang and Yuan Qi looked at each other.

"When my subordinates arrived at Yaoyuefang, the shopkeeper Zhang gave them all kinds of reasons to prevent them from seeing the person. Later, after they gave them money, I realized that they had locked the person up in a dark room because they already knew about Miss Liu's affair..." Gao Yuan was, after all, a person who was "slow in speech but quick in action". Moreover, when he was in a hurry, he could not explain clearly.

"Wait, tell me from the beginning. Shouldn't you ask the price first? And how come Miss Liu disappeared?" Zhou Chang was also confused.

"Don't be impatient, Your Majesty." Yuan Qi also showed a look of surprise and held Zhou Chang's hand. "Why don't you let Manager Duan tell us the whole process?"

"Yes," Manager Duan, who was originally standing behind Gao Yuan, took a step forward and tried his best to speak in a southern accent that Zhou Chang could understand. "I and Guard Gao arrived at Yaoyuefang to talk to the shopkeeper Zhang about redeeming Miss Liu'e. The shopkeeper Zhang was still unwilling at first, but after I persuaded him with reason and emotion, he finally agreed. However, he asked for another 100,000 taels."

"One hundred thousand taels? You agreed?" Zhou Chang swallowed.

"No, of course I won't agree easily," it was still Manager Duan who answered, "but the shopkeeper Zhang didn't give it for free, and it's difficult to say one hundred thousand taels. So I also asked to see Miss Liu'e first."

Zhou Chang hadn't figured out what these words meant, but Yuan Qi nodded beside him.

"What? Is there a mystery here?" Zhou Chang didn't understand, but he knew he had to ask for advice humbly.

Yuan Qi said, "This is a test. If Manager Duan agrees to the price of 100,000 taels right away, he will raise the price with various reasons when the time comes. After all, they know that Guard Gao is the prince's man."

"Oh..." Zhou Chang was also confused. This was the most obvious truth.

Yuan Qi went on to say: "However, Manager Duan's request to meet Liu E is also a temporary measure. After all, this kind of thing still depends on the attitude of the parties involved. What Liu E means is also very important."

"Oh..." Zhou Chang didn't expect this.

Manager Duan also said, "That's right, so I asked to meet Miss Liu to see what she meant. If she is determined to become a good woman, then things will be much easier from now on."

"What about Liu E?" Zhou Chang was a little confused. "If she is very willing and does not cooperate with Yaoyuefang, we can be extorted less money. Is that what you mean?"

Manager Duan's southern accent carries a shrewd tone, and he was happy to explain, "Your Highness, in brothels, when customers want to buy 'virginity', it is divided into different levels. If it is from a low-class place, and the girls are not good-looking, the madam usually won't ask. But if it is from an upper-class place, especially if the girls are already famous, you have to ask them what they think. After all, the boss has worked hard to train a girl, and he still has to rely on them to make money in the future, so it's not good to make things awkward."

"This is redemption, not buying 'virginity', is it the same?" Zhou Chang guessed that Manager Duan probably didn't know that Liu E's "virginity" had already been given to Gao Yuan.

Manager Duan said respectfully, "It's the same reason. What's more, as long as Miss Liu is willing to cooperate, Yaoyuefang will surely not be able to buy from anyone else... Then if we sincerely want to buy, they can only lower the price. But it's hard to say this, and it depends on Miss Liu'e."

Hearing this, the steward had already guessed most of what was going on.

"And then?" Zhou Chang asked again.

Manager Duan did not answer, but looked at Gao Yuan.

Gao Yuan said sullenly, "When they went to look for Miss Liu, they found out that she was missing."

"Why is he missing?" Zhou Chang became anxious when he heard Gao Yuan's words.

"I guess, it should be..., the night before last, what happened to Miss Liu... was known by Yaoyuefang, and they were so angry that they locked Miss Liu in a small dark room. And then, somehow, someone secretly helped Miss Liu escape." Gao Yuan said hesitantly.

But Zhou Chang also understood it. No wonder Manager Duan knew about it.

Yaoyuefang's reaction was normal, but I'm afraid it would make Liu'e suffer.

Just as I was thinking about it, I heard Gao Yuan continue: "After that, Yaoyuefang also sent out people, and I and Manager Duan also went to look for her, but in the end, we didn't find her. We only heard that someone saw Miss Liu escape, and then she was kidnapped again."

"What?" Zhou Chang's mind was filled with countless possibilities. "Are you sure the people were really kidnapped and not just pretending?"

"I think it shouldn't be the case." Gao Yuan said in a low voice with his head lowered.

"You are worried and confused, what do you think, Manager Duan?" Zhou Chang asked again.

Manager Duan then took over the conversation, "Reporting to the prince, the people from Yaoyuefang suspected that we did it, and even dragged us to the governor's office. Fortunately, the governor's office heard that we were from Prince Yi's Mansion, and they didn't dare to pursue it because they had no evidence. It does not look like a forgery. And, as far as I know, Yaoyuefang has their own connections, and they are also looking for someone privately now."

Gao Yuan also followed up and said, "I have also asked some of my connections to inquire, but there has been no result so far."

Zhou Chang was confused and couldn't figure out what was going on. He could only give some empty advice: "Wait a little longer. If he was really kidnapped, there will be some clues. Don't worry. Whether in terms of money or strength, our Prince Yi's Mansion is not inferior to others."

"Yes." Gao Yuan returned to his muffled, single-word state.

Manager Duan said, "In my opinion, this matter may not be simple. It may not be enough to rely on the government office alone. It would not be a good thing if Yaoyuefang got the upper hand and found the person first."

After all, he was brought here by Yuan Qi, so he spoke only to the point.

But Zhou Chang also understood.

It is better for people to find it by themselves, and not rely on others.

If it can be found, then everything will be easy to discuss. If it is found by someone else, who knows what kind of trouble may arise.

After all, it was too late, and Zhou Chang couldn't help but look at Yuan Qi again.

Yuan Qi frowned, but smiled comfortingly: "Your Highness, there is no point in worrying too much. If Liu E was really kidnapped, she would only ask for two things. But no matter which one, as long as she is alive, we will not worry about not being able to give it to her."

She didn't say clearly what the two things were, but Zhou Chang already knew, and he became even more worried.