Chapter 474 - Chapter 474: Nightmare

Chapter 474: Nightmare

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

After a night of interrogation, the assassins confessed.

They did not know where the stolen silver had gone, nor did they know why Cheng Qi had swallowed that large sum of dirty silver.

But they mentioned something—

Cheng Qi had a good relationship with the Liangzhou City Guard Captain, Yuan Gui. The two of them often went to drink together.

The information about Yang Gui was quickly handed to Xiao Juan.

Young Gui, the County Governor of Liangzhou, and Princess Ni Yang were the three forces in Liangzhou.

The city guard captain was in charge of the military, and the county governor of Liangzhou was in charge of politics and livelihood.

Princess Ni Yang seemed to not care about anything, but because of her noble status, be it the City Guard Captain or the County Governor of Liangzhou, they had to treat her carefully.

All these years, the three parties had restrained each other and got along quite harmoniously.

The City Guard Captain, Yuan Gui, looked like an uncouth person. He was burly and liked wine and beauties. In this aspect, he was quite similar to Cheng Qi.

However, someone who could sit firmly in the position of City Guard Captain and handle the three factions with ease was definitely not a simple uncouth person.

Xiao Juan personally went to the commandant’s residence, planning to get something out of Yuan Gui.

When he arrived at the commandant’s residence, he realized that Wei Liao was also there.

Wei Liao smiled harmlessly.

“Is Duke Lang also here to drink with Lieutenant Yuan?”

Xiao Juan looked at him expressionlessly. “Why are you here?”

Wei Liao said, “I heard that Captain Yuan has been cooping himself up in his house for a long time, so I specially came to ask him for two glasses of wine to try.”

Yuan Gui clapped and laughed heartily. “Haha, I don’t have much else at home, but I hoard a lot of wine. It’s rare for the two nobles to come Imocking. We must drink lintil we’re drunk!”

Xiao Juan knew in his heart that Wei Liao had deliberately followed him to monitor him.

Due to Yuan Gui’s presence, Xiao Juan could not say much and could only agree.

“Since you’re so kind, I’ll accept it respectfully.”

Yuan Gui ordered someone to bring over a few large wine jars and a large table of dishes.

The three of them sat around the table and drank.

Xiao Juan and Wei Liao both wanted to get Yuan Gui drunk. The two of them kept finding reasons for Yuan Gui to drink, drinking glass after glass.

Soon, Yuan Gui was drunk.

Wei Liao wanted to take the opportunity to ask about the relationship between Yuan Gui and Cheng Qi.

Unexpectedly, halfway through his question, Yuan Gui closed his eyes and fell asleep on the table.

Seeing this, Wei Liao could not help but curse. Xiao Juan looked calm. “Forget it, let’s go.”

He put down his glass and stood up, walking out. Wei Liao immediately followed. “Are we really going to let it go?”

Xiao Juan asked, “What else do you want?”

Wei Liao choked.

Yuan Gui was a third-grade city guard captain. He had military power and was a true local bully. Even if Xiao Juan and Wei Liao were high-ranking officials from the Imperial Capital, they could not do anything to Yuan Gui before they were fully confident.

Fortunately, Xiao Juan had already expected this outcome and was not too disappointed.

Yuan Gui was a meticulous person. He would definitely be wary of the two strangers who suddenly came looking for him. It was not so easy to get information from him.

He must have deliberately fallen asleep so smoothly just now.

Xiao Juan walked out of the door of the commandant’s residence and mounted his horse. He looked back at Wei Liao and asked.

“And tell me, how did you find this place?”

Wei Liao chuckled. “Whatever your Eagle Guards can find out, our Sky Wolf Guards can find out too.”

Xiao Juan did not say anything else and rode away.

On the way, he happened to pass by a fruit stall. He saw that the grapes on the stall were plump and had water droplets on their surface. They looked crystal clear and very beautiful.

He couldn’t help but think of Niaoniao. She had said that she liked good food. Presumably, she would like the grapes.

Xiao Juan dismounted and bought two bunches of grapes.

He carefully placed the grapes in his cloth bag. When he returned, he deliberately slowed down to avoid crushing the grapes with the vigorous actions of the horse.

After returning to the princess’s residence, Xiao Juan carried the grapes to look for Niaoniao and happened to encounter Chun Feng at the door of the bedroom.

Xiao Juan asked, “Is Niaoniao in the house?”

Chun Feng was worried about not being able to share what happened to Yu Niaoniao with anyone. When she saw Duke Lang arrive, she immediately poured out all the words she had been holding in.

“The Princess Consort went out with Her Highness this morning. After returning, the Princess Consort’s face turned pale and she looked very uncomfortable.”

“I wanted the physician to take a look at the Princess Consort, but the Princess

Consort said that she was fine and just needed to rest.”

“After that, the Princess Consort stayed in the room to rest and did not even eat much for lunch. She said she had no appetite and could not eat.”

“Your Highness, you have to persuade the Princess Consort to eat something. Don’t let her starve.” Xiao Juan frowned.

“I understand. You’re dismissed.”

“Aye.”

Xiao Juan pushed open the door and walked into the bedroom.

He saw Yu Niaoniao sleeping on the bed.

She seemed to be having a nightmare. Her eyebrows were furrowed and her face was pale. She gripped the blanket tightly with both hands and nodded vaguely from time to time.

“No… don’t…

Xiao Juan placed the grapes on the table and slowly walked to the bed. He reached out and touched her forehead.

Fortunately, there was no fever.

But there was a lot of cold sweat on her forehead, and her hair was soaked.

Xiao Juan got up to wring the wet handkerchief and help her wipe the sweat off her face.

Yu Niaoniao suddenly opened her eyes and woke up from her nightmare!

Xiao Juan stopped wiping her sweat.

Seeing her terrified expression, Xiao Juan could not help but soften his voice and coax her softly.

“Don’t be afraid. It was all just a dream.”

It took Yu Niaoniao a while to recover from the fear of the nightmare.

She placed her hands on the bed frame and slowly sat up.

“When did you get back?”

Xiao Juan picked up a soft pillow and placed it behind her. He replied, “I just returned. Did you have a nightmare just now?”

Yu Niaoniao recalled the scene in her dream and hurriedly grabbed Xiao Juan’s hand.

Xiao Juan wanted to pull his hand back, but he heard her say.

“I saw you in a dream.”

Xiao Juan paused. “A dream about me?”

Yu Niaoniao nodded vigorously and said anxiously.

“I dreamed that you were locked in a large iron cage and fighting a big tiger.

The tiger bit you until you were covered in wounds. You were about to die…’

The more she spoke, the more uncomfortable she felt. In the end, she couldn’t help but whimper. Tears rolled down her face.

“Boohoo, I’m so scared! I wanted to save you, but I couldn’t get into the cage. I couldn’t help you!”

Xiao Juan’s heart ached from her crying.

“Don’t cry. I’m right here. Look at me. I’m fine. The dream was all fake. There is no big tiger. Don’t take it seriously.”

Yu Niaoniao looked at him with tears in her eyes and choked.

“But I saw the big tiger today. That tiger even ate many people.” “If you didn’t win back then, wouldn’t it be impossible for me to know you?”

Xiao Juan’s expression immediately changed drastically, and his voice contained shock and anger.

“Did that woman take you to the Bestial Battle Arena?!”