Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 38 If you don’t enter the tiger’s den, how can you catch the tiger’s cubs?

In truth, Jiu Que didn't know what Wuyou Cave was, but judging from the expressions on the faces of those around him, he knew it wasn't a good place. Even Chunyu Shuang's eyes subconsciously glanced towards the sewers nearby.

Receiving Jiu Que's bewildered look, Chunyu Shuang sighed softly and revealed the information she knew.

For three consecutive dynasties, Yong'an was chosen as the capital, as the city had been transformed over the years and was well-suited to the needs of most of its population. However, as mentioned earlier, to supply the city with water, the previous dynasty diverted water from a major river. The extensive water system within the capital, along with the sewers necessary for the residents' daily lives, formed a vast underground world beneath the entire city of Yong'an.

No matter how prosperous and glamorous the surface may appear, where there is light, there is darkness. There are displaced people struggling to register their residency; the impoverished masses unable to make a living, forced to descend into depravity; and many more criminals engaged in illegal activities. Because the underworld is so complex, even if the imperial court wanted to crack down on it, it would be difficult to do so in that dark and gloomy place. Generation after generation, this underworld has become a breeding ground for crime. Today, it's impossible to count exactly how many people exist beneath the surface of Yong'an City; perhaps they are cautiously observing those living in the sunlight from some inconspicuous, dark corner.

Kidnappers, prostitutes, vagrants, criminals...

What would the little world made up of these people look like?
The people of Yong'an City both feared and dreaded the Wuyou Cave.

Because those people dared not offend royalty, nobles, or high-ranking officials, but it was very easy for them to harm ordinary people. This time, with children missing and several found under the bridge, Chunyu Shuang had already begun to suspect a connection to the Worry-Free Cave. Unexpectedly, her words came true.

So, if Jiuque didn't even know about this, why was he so sure that it was the Wuyou Cave people who did it?

Jiuque slowly opened his palm, and in his hand lay a small piece of paper with the words 'Worry-Free Cave' written on it.

"I just felt a gust of wind pass by, and when I came to my senses, I had this piece of paper in my hand. I don't know which extraordinary person gave me this hint."

Jiu Que folded the small piece of paper back and put it in his pocket. He approached the man with the scar on his face and looked at the finely crafted money pouch at his waist.

"I know that your cooperation is because you still have a conscience, or perhaps the passion in your blood hasn't completely died out. We won't make things difficult for you, but we hope you can provide some clues. After all, judging from your appearance, you should already be married and have a career, right? Put yourself in our shoes. If your wife and daughter were kidnapped, wouldn't you want someone to help you?"

The man's teeth were grinding together. Since he had connections with the Worry-Free Cave, he naturally knew how cruel their methods were. If he helped others today, his wife and daughters might be in danger, which was an agonizing choice for any man.

Qi Zheng's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"After today, you can join my Qi family as a guard, and your family can come with you. Although you won't become extremely wealthy, you will at least have a stable life."

"Uncle!"

The man was both surprised and delighted. While the soldiers were searching, he hadn't genuinely been hiding; it was all because he'd spotted the Earl of Weiyuan. He did have his own selfish desires, wanting a reward from his superiors, but he never imagined he'd gain the favor of his most admired general, or even be able to stay so close to him.

Don't think that being a bodyguard in the home of a high-ranking official is an insult these days. For most people, it's a path to heaven.

The scarred man before him was no exception; he could barely contain his excitement. But he quickly realized that all of this was predicated on helping the Earl. And given the Earl's presence today, perhaps his family had been kidnapped by the Worry-Free Cave.

“I know they have a hideout, specifically used to temporarily house the women and children they’ve stolen. It’s not far from here. I’ll take you there, gentlemen. But we need to be discreet. If there’s any disturbance, they’ll be very alert and will definitely move quickly, or even kill us.” Qi Zheng didn’t hesitate for long. He quickly led two personal guards and Jiu Que and the others to a small courtyard hidden in an alley. From the outside, it looked like an ordinary family home. Qi Zheng, true to his intelligence background, first threw a pebble into the courtyard, then tossed a stray cat, which his guards had caught, into the yard.

Cautious, light footsteps soon came from inside, and they breathed a sigh of relief when they realized it was just a stray cat. But then, a series of shrill meows came from outside the gate, which annoyed the people inside.

"Damn it! This damn cat's in heat! Get it out of here! If it attracts those patrolling guards outside, the boss might kill us all!"

"Crack!"

Immediately afterwards, a furtive figure quietly opened the door and looked outside. There were two large, seemingly firefly-like eyes right at his feet, blinking as if startled. Suddenly, the figure scratched his calf with a claw.

"You damn cat, stop right there! I'm going to kill you tonight and eat you with my drinks!"

The first man to come out hurriedly chased after him. His companion, who had come out with him to investigate, saw him shouting and stomped his feet in anxiety, and quickly ran after him.

The courtyard fell silent for a moment.

Qi Zheng went first. Despite his tall and strong physique, he was incredibly agile when scaling the wall, like a falling leaf, slipping inside without making a sound.

Before long, he invited Jiu Que and the others inside.

This was the first time Jiu Que had witnessed such a breathtaking scene, and she couldn't help but be very interested. Chunyu Shuang could hardly keep up with her pace. As soon as they entered, they saw a man lying on the ground, his life hanging in the balance. Although he had already fainted, one could still see the man's ferocious appearance from his face, and there were even some brown marks on his body. Jiu Que's sixth sense told her that these were blood.

However, what attracted more attention was Qi Zheng's unpleasant expression.

Following his gaze, they arrived at a simple woodshed. Inside, five or six trembling girls huddled together, their terrified eyes making Jiu Que's breathing catch in his throat.

These bastards! There was even a girl who was only eleven or twelve years old inside, still a child in Jiu Que's eyes. She was only wearing her undergarments and was cold, hungry, and scared in the chilly spring weather, so she didn't dare to breathe too loudly.

Suppressing his distress, Jiu Que's mind raced through the current situation. They could certainly rescue the girls, but if the two men who had just run away returned and discovered they were missing, they would become alert, and the hard-won clue would be lost, making it difficult to find the bottom of Wuyou Cave again.

But letting these poor children stay here would be something Jiu Que would definitely object to. Taking a deep breath, she quickly made a decision. There's a saying: "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

It's perfect for this situation.

(End of this chapter)