Catching Monsters

Chapter 382 Eighth Prince Xiao Jingqing
The next morning, at the Sanqing Temple, Wen Chen got up early, took a bucket, and polished the statues of the Three Pure Ones until they shone brightly.

They also swept the ground clean from top to bottom.

Wen Chen had a tough childhood, but what's commendable is that even after he went to the Sanqing Temple, he didn't lose his diligence.

Of course, Jiang Yun also got up early in the morning, put on a purple Taoist robe, and accompanied Wen Chen to sweep up the fallen leaves on the ground...

Finally, the sound of wheels rolling could be heard outside the door.

"They've finally arrived."

Jiang Yun looked towards the doorway, a hint of curiosity rising in her heart.

Soon, Wen Chen opened the door, and a head peeked in from outside; it was a young man.

The young man looked to be only sixteen years old. He was dressed in luxurious clothes and was followed by many servants and guards.

"Is this the Sanqing Temple?" the young man asked curiously, before walking inside.

Jiang Yun's gaze fell on the many guards behind the young man.

Although the servants and guards were all dressed in civilian clothes, their extraordinary status was still evident.

Jiang Yun stepped forward to greet him, saying, "I am Jiang Yun from the Sanqing Temple."

Who is our distinguished guest?

"You're Jiang Yun from the Sanqing Temple?" Upon hearing this name, the boy's eyes lit up, and he circled around Jiang Yun several times.

Jiang Yun felt a little uneasy under his gaze. Where did this guy come from, and what was he doing?

"My name is Xiao Jingqing, the eighth prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty," Xiao Jingqing introduced himself.

Is this young man the Eighth Prince?
Jiang Yun was slightly startled and quickly bowed to Wen Chen.

"No, no, no, let's skip the formalities. Commander Jiang, would you like to accompany me for a stroll around the Sanqing Temple?"

Then, Xiao Jingqing turned to the servants and guards who had followed him and said, "With Commander Jiang accompanying me, you don't need to come along."

"Yes." The servants and guards nodded in unison.

Xiao Jingqing walked with his hands behind his back towards the main hall of the Sanqing Temple. Jiang Yun's eyes flickered slightly, and he quickly followed.

Jiang Yun secretly wondered what the Eighth Prince's purpose was.
After entering the main hall, Xiao Jingqing stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the enormous statue of the deity: "Commander Jiang, I've come here this time to ask for your help."

Jiang Yun said politely, "Eighth Prince, you are too kind. If there is anything I can do to help, I will certainly do my best."

Xiao Jingqing frowned slightly and said with some dissatisfaction, "Just what we can do?"

Jiang Yun couldn't help but think to himself, "Even though you are the Eighth Prince and have a noble status, we don't know each other at all."

"Your Highness, you must tell us what it is," Jiang Yun said with a smile.

Xiao Jingqing was only sixteen, so he pulled Jiang Yun aside and whispered, "I originally went to Li Wangxin for help, but he refused. So he told me to come to you privately, saying you have a way..."

"I need to leave the capital..."

Jiang Yun was somewhat surprised: "If the Eighth Prince wants to leave the capital, then go ahead. If you need guards, I'll have the Embroidered Uniform Guard send a group of men to accompany you for a stroll outside..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingqing paused, then said, "What I mean is, I want to elope with a woman..."

Jiang Yun: "???"

No way, none of these princes of the Great Zhou Dynasty are normal, are they?

The fourth brother colluded with the demon race, the sixth brother colluded with the barbarians, and now they've even gone outside to prepare for a rebellion.

Now, is this eighth brother going to elope with a woman again?
It seems those civil officials were truly discerning, fully supporting the eldest prince.

At least for now, Jiang Yun does not know the eldest prince.

The eldest prince gives the most normal impression.

Jiang Yun, his face dark, took a deep breath and advised, "Eighth Prince, it's like this... If you like a woman, why don't you just live with her in the capital?"

Xiao Jingqing shook his head with a worried look on his face: "I would like to."

"But some people object."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun smiled. He wasn't surprised at all. There were countless cliché stories about princes falling in love with common girls and then the emperor objecting.

Jiang Yun chuckled and said, "Your Highness, love is something that requires persistent effort. It's normal for some people to object..."

"By the way, who objects?"

"Her husband probably won't agree."

Jiang Yun: "???"

Sure enough, none of these princes are normal.

Jiang Yun could only smile awkwardly: "They are mutually in love, but it's a pity they met so late..."

"She doesn't know yet that I like her."

Jiang Yun was stunned for a moment: "So what you mean by eloping with her?"

Xiao Jingqing: "Take her away first, and then slowly cultivate feelings for her."

"Forced abduction of a woman?" Jiang Yun was dumbfounded.

Xiao Jingqing quickly explained, "No, that's not true. Her family is a noble and military family, how could she be a commoner?"

"I am a prince, after all. How could I possibly abduct a commoner's woman?"

You fucking know you're a prince?
What's wrong with kidnapping women from noble and military families? Isn't that kidnapping people?

They even asked me for help. Do I look like that kind of scum?
“Commander Jiang, Li Wangxin is too timid to handle this matter for me.”

"But he said you are also a third-grade expert with considerable ability, and most importantly, you are bold."

Jiang Yun couldn't help but curse inwardly. What use is it for a mere commander like me to do something that even Li Wangxin, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, wouldn't dare to do?
No wonder Li Wangxin made a special trip to find me yesterday to ask me to be reinstated to my original position.

Jiang Yun cursed inwardly, but patiently explained to Xiao Jingqing, "Your Highness, Eighth Prince, it's like this. I absolutely cannot do this. I am, after all, a proper commander of the Imperial Guard. It's one thing to kidnap someone for you, but to kidnap a woman from a noble family..."

"If this matter reaches His Majesty, I fear I will lose my head."

Jiang Yun was well aware of his own limitations. Although he was bold, he knew exactly what he could and couldn't do.

Xiao Jingqing's requirements are things that absolutely cannot be touched lightly.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingqing frowned slightly and said, "Commander Jiang, I am a prince of Zhou, right?"

"Correct."

"I might ascend the throne and become emperor in the future, right?"

Yes, that's right.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guards are His Majesty's henchmen, aren't they?"

“Yes.” “What if I become emperor and ascend the throne in the future? Then the Embroidered Uniform Guard should listen to me. Since the Embroidered Uniform Guard should listen to me, you should obey my orders now, right?”

“Yes…” Jiang Yun was stunned. What the hell? He almost got confused by this kid. How could an emperor take out a loan to become emperor in the future?

Jiang Yun took a deep breath and said earnestly, "Your Highness, Eighth Prince, I..."

"Alright, alright. How about this: you do me another small favor, and I won't let you kidnap anyone, okay?" Seeing that Jiang Yun still wouldn't agree, Xiao Jingqing stopped insisting.

Jiang Yun breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your Highness, Eighth Prince, rest assured. As long as you don't ask me to help you tie up women, I will go through fire and water for anything else."

“I heard you’re going to Wuling Prefecture soon. Will you take me with you?” Xiao Jingqing said.

Hearing this, Jiang Yun narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at the young-looking boy in front of him.

This is his real purpose. All that tying up of women before was just to create a problem for himself.

Then state your true conditions.

Back in Wuling Prefecture, Wang Longzhi was already preparing to rebel, so how could Jiang Yun dare to take the Eighth Prince to Wuling Prefecture?

If anything goes wrong, he won't be able to explain himself to Xiao Yuzheng.

Jiang Yun asked directly, "Your Highness, which woman are you planning to kidnap? I will take care of this for you before I leave the capital."

"No, no, no." Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingqing panicked a little. Although he was somewhat clever, he was, after all, just a sixteen-year-old boy.

Seeing this, Jiang Yun's suspicions were further confirmed.

"Eighth Prince, you should stop thinking nonsense and stay in the capital."

"I'll give you something in return." Xiao Jingqing blinked: "If I become emperor, I'll appoint you as the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a general, and give you an army of 100,000. How about that?"

They're still making empty promises and taking out loans.

The eighth prince was young, the eldest prince was strongly supported by civil officials, and the fourth prince was supported by military generals.

There's also the sixth prince, supported by a rebel, outside.

This eighth prince seems to have nothing; what makes him a potential emperor?

"Not interested," Jiang Yun said calmly. "Show them out."

"Hey, I'm not leaving then." Xiao Jingqing threw a tantrum, plopped down on the ground, and said, "I'll starve to death here. How will you explain this to my father?"

Soon, many servants and guards came to invite the Eighth Prince back.

But the Eighth Prince just sat on the prayer mat in the main hall, neither eating lunch nor drinking water, and just starved.

His willpower is stronger than that of many of his peers.

Even though he was starving by evening, he still gritted his teeth and persevered.

The other servants and guards took turns trying to persuade him...

Firstly, they were worried that the Eighth Prince might actually be starving.

Since the Eighth Prince wasn't eating, they didn't dare to eat either, and they were all starving.

In the evening, a fragrant aroma wafted over.

"This braised pork is so delicious!"

"This braised fish is a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate."

Dishes were placed in front of the Eighth Prince.

Xiao Jingqing said in a deep voice, "Jiang Yun, don't think you can get me to give in by tempting me with some food."

"Even if I starve to death, I won't eat a single bite of anything from your Sanqing Temple."

Jiang Yun rolled her eyes at him: "Who said you could eat? Wen Chen, come here, dinner's ready."

The master and apprentice then proceeded to devour more than a dozen delicious dishes right in front of Xiao Jingqing.

The aroma was irresistible, and Xiao Jingqing kept swallowing, drooling. "How about I have a bite?"
Jiang Yun held a chicken leg in her hand, took a bite, and asked curiously, "Eighth Prince, why are you thinking of going to the Martial Spirit Prefecture?"

"secret."

"Why don't you just bring a few experts with you?"

Xiao Jingqing shook his head: "I can't find a third-grade expert to be my personal bodyguard."

"So I am?" Jiang Yun asked rhetorically.

Xiao Jingqing nodded: "You are the lowest-ranking expert I know among those at the third-grade level..."

Jiang Yun said in a deep voice, "Show the guest out."

"No!" Xiao Jingqing grabbed Jiang Yun's hand anxiously, his face full of worry. "Anyway, you're going to the Martial Spirit Mansion, so taking me with you is just a favor. I promise I won't cause you any trouble."

"Tell me, what are you going out to do?" Jiang Yun frowned.

"Me." Xiao Jingqing's lips moved slightly, then he lowered his head, his eyes flickering. After hesitating for a moment, he waved his hand, signaling everyone to leave the area.

Soon, only Jiang Yun and Xiao Jingqing remained in the main hall.

Xiao Jingqing took a deep breath: "I need to send someone to the Martial Spirit Mansion."

"Is your identity somewhat unusual?" Jiang Yun asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Yes." Xiao Jingqing nodded: "Wang Miao'er, Wang Longzhi's younger sister, and I grew up together as childhood sweethearts, innocent and carefree..."

“I know the current situation. If Wang Longzhi rebels, Miao’er will be beheaded.”

Jiang Yun's face darkened: "Your Highness knows that this is a family member of a disgraced official. If I take her out of the capital and send her to Wang Longzhi, I'm afraid..."

At this point, Jiang Yun paused for a moment before asking, "What is the relationship between Wang Miao'er and Wang Longzhi?"

"Since they are siblings born of the same mother, their bond is naturally incredibly deep."

Jiang Yun narrowed his eyes and slowly said, "Alright, I agree to this. But once we get to Martial Spirit Prefecture, you'll have to do whatever I say, understand?"

“Really?” Xiao Jingqing’s eyes lit up.

"of course."

Jiang Yun was worried about how to rescue the 270 Imperial Guards who had been captured by Wang Longzhi.

If we use Wang Miao'er as a bargaining chip and send her over to exchange for more than two hundred Imperial Guards, it would be well worth it. We should even tell His Majesty about this.

His Majesty would also nod in agreement in private.

Of course, it wouldn't work out in public. Considering all this, he saw Xiao Jingqing next to him already wolfing down the dishes in front of him.

Having been hungry all day, Xiao Jingqing exclaimed, "This is delicious! The food at your Sanqing Temple is really good!"

Jiang Yun reminded him, "Your Highness, I have no problem taking that girl with me, but you can't come along, understand?"

(End of this chapter)