Chapter Thirty-Five: You Are Fierce Toward Me

Lin Miaomiao felt her mouth twitch. Was she really encountering a child trafficker? Still wearing that sweet, innocent smile, she imitated a child's manner, took the candy from the trafficker, and asked with naive curiosity, "Uncle, will you really give me candy every day?"

Seeing Lin Miaomiao was tempted, the trafficker continued to entice her, "Not just candy. I'll give you meat, big fish and big meat. Whatever you want to eat, you can have."

Lin Miaomiao pouted and looked up at the man, saying, "Big fish and meat? I'm tired of them. My family eats big fish and meat every day."

The trafficker was stunned by Lin Miaomiao's words. Then, glancing at the candy in her hand with some disdain, she said, "Actually, I’m not considering going with you just because you give me candy."

"I never lack silver, but my brother won’t let me eat candy every day. Otherwise, would I have accepted candy from the likes of you?"

Lin Miaomiao deliberately acted as a pure, innocent child, but her words were meant to make the trafficker wary, buying time for Li Yanhe to notice her absence and come looking for her.

As she spoke, she slowly retreated. The trafficker immediately understood—this girl was surely from a wealthy or noble family. His gaze changed; he could see shining silver on Lin Miaomiao.

But he hesitated. If this child wasn’t from an ordinary family, he could face flaying and worse. Though there weren’t any big figures here at Da’ankou, even a minor noble could cause trouble for someone like him.

Lin Miaomiao saw the trafficker’s hesitation and knew her words had worked. She continued, arrogantly, "Let me tell you, my fiancé is a great general. If your candy isn’t good, I’ll make sure you pay for it."

The trafficker was now thoroughly uncertain. As he deliberated, he noticed Lin Miaomiao’s fine clothing and finally made up his mind. Lin Miaomiao instantly understood—the trafficker wasn’t going to let her go, seeing how well-dressed she was.

Spotting a shop assistant in the distance, Lin Miaomiao suddenly ran forward. The trafficker didn’t expect this move. Lin Miaomiao shouted at the assistant, "Someone’s trying to kidnap me, help!"

The shop assistant glanced over, hearing the cry for help, but saw no one and assumed he’d imagined it. Shaking his head, he turned and left.

Lin Miaomiao watched the assistant’s departing figure, feeling like the little person in her heart was crying, biting a handkerchief and wailing, "Brother Xiao, don’t leave!"

Li Yanhe sat waiting for Lin Miaomiao, but she never returned, so he decided to go out and look for her. By the time he left, Lin Miaomiao had already been seized by the trafficker.

Li Yanhe, squinting, slowly walked to the latrine and saw the candies Lin Miaomiao had deliberately thrown on the ground.

Lin Miaomiao still clutched some candy in her hand. As she was obediently held with her mouth covered by the trafficker, she knew that if she resisted, she would surely be knocked unconscious or suffer worse.

Looking around, Lin Miaomiao realized they were still near the latrine. If only Li Yanhe could discover her, she could be saved. The trafficker covered her mouth, carrying her away, as Lin Miaomiao dropped candies along the way.

When they reached the door, Li Yanhe stood silently by the restaurant’s back entrance, watching from the shade of a tree as the trafficker carried Lin Miaomiao.

Lin Miaomiao was scared, but she kept dropping candies at intervals. Li Yanhe noticed the trail.

The trafficker never expected to kidnap someone as important as Lin Miaomiao. In ancient times, class distinctions were strict. He hurried, not noticing her methodically dropping candies.

Unbeknownst to Lin Miaomiao, not only was Li Yanhe searching for her, but the secret guards who accompanied her also began tracking the trafficker.

Just as he was about to leave, the trafficker’s carriage was surrounded by soldiers. Li Yanhe emerged from the back door, sword in hand.

Raising an eyebrow, Li Yanhe looked at the trafficker and said in a low, chilling voice, "Are you still holding her? Is she someone you can touch?"

The trafficker collapsed to the ground, releasing Lin Miaomiao. Seeing she was unharmed, Li Yanhe breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Miaomiao ran to Li Yanhe’s side, pointed at the trafficker, and urged, "Quickly arrest him! He must have accomplices—they must have kidnapped many children!"

She spoke with anger, yet felt the joy of surviving a disaster. Lin Miaomiao could imagine how miserable her life would be if she’d been taken.

Li Yanhe looked at the kneeling trafficker, then lifted Lin Miaomiao into his arms. Her once-fair face was smudged from the struggle.

Taking out his handkerchief, Li Yanhe gently wiped her face and said, "Don’t worry, leave it to me."

He glanced at Dark Seven behind him and instructed, "Take Miss Lin back home."

Lin Miaomiao was startled by Li Yanhe’s cold expression, staring at him wide-eyed.

Her eyes reddened, and deep down, she was frightened. She’d never seen such a scene before; she’d always been protected. Even as a child, her mother cared for her meticulously, and nothing unexpected ever happened.

If she bumped herself, she’d cry for ages. Lin Miaomiao had always been pampered like a princess. Now, with Li Yanhe scolding her, she felt aggrieved and wanted to cry.

Li Yanhe noticed the child in his arms was about to cry. Sighing, he stroked her head and asked, "What’s wrong?"

That was enough to trigger Lin Miaomiao’s tears; she burst out crying and began to accuse him.

"Li Second, you don’t care about me at all! I’m your wife, but you didn’t comfort me—you even scolded me! I’m the one who got kidnapped, why are you scolding me?"

Crying pitifully, Lin Miaomiao wailed loudly. Li Yanhe felt a headache coming on. He told the soldiers, "Take him away first."

Carrying Lin Miaomiao, Li Yanhe returned to their private room and tried to soothe her, though he wasn’t skilled at comforting children.

Remembering how his mother used to comfort him, he patted her back. Lin Miaomiao gradually calmed down.

Clinging to Li Yanhe’s arm, she said in a small, aggrieved voice, "I was scared. My legs are still weak. I dropped candies for you every few steps."

Li Yanhe stroked her head and said, "You did well—Miaomiao, you’re very brave. It’s my fault, okay?"

He gently consoled her, and Lin Miaomiao, still feeling aggrieved, looked at him and asked, "Then why did you scold me just now?"

Li Yanhe was baffled by her words. He looked at her and replied, "When did I scold you?"

"You say you didn’t! Just now, why did you ask Dark Seven to take me home? It’s not like I wanted the trafficker to target me—how can you be so unreasonable?"

Perhaps she was still frightened, and Li Yanhe’s stern tone hadn’t registered clearly. Li Yanhe was relieved she didn’t question Dark Seven’s identity, but seeing her persistent complaints, he felt another headache coming on.

It was his first time comforting a child. Holding Lin Miaomiao, he bought her plenty of snacks.

Dark Seven suddenly realized he was unnecessary, like a servant just carrying things for his master.

Lin Miaomiao was unaware that her posture, being held by Li Yanhe, was watched closely by an old man in a carriage nearby—the very elder she’d met days before.

The old man lounged lazily in the carriage, watching Li Yanhe hold Lin Miaomiao with gentle affection. Li Zheng glanced at Emperor Yongchang.

"The capital is about to be turned upside down by those refugees, and you still have time to watch your son dote on his little wife," Li Zheng remarked quietly to the intrigued Emperor Yongchang.

"This child is destined to be extraordinary. She could bring new vitality to the Great Yong Dynasty, so letting Second Son claim her early isn’t a bad idea."

Li Zheng looked at Emperor Yongchang and said, "That way, Second Son will have a weakness. When the time comes, his military achievements will be used to plead for this girl."

"The Emperor’s deal is certainly something..." Li Zheng commented blandly. Emperor Yongchang glanced at him and said, "I’ve never seen a prince crowned at twenty, at least not in Great Yong."

Li Zheng looked at Lin Miaomiao and Li Yanhe in the distance and sighed. Li Yanhe’s status was unique and his position uncomfortable.

If Li Yanhe became a prince early, the Third Prince and Crown Prince would certainly be dissatisfied.