Chapter 148: There Is Something Wrong with Mr. Zhang

Xuanyuan Tunhan suddenly rushed between the two, forcefully pulling apart their intertwined hands.

Xiahou Fang couldn't help but glance at him, and Ning Xianyu looked over as well.

Xuanyuan Tunhan, with a straight face and steady heart, grabbed Ning Xianyu’s hand and said matter-of-factly, “Sorry, I don’t know why I lost control of my actions; I just came as soon as I could.”

Xiahou Fang looked at him again, then at Ning Xianyu struggling unsuccessfully to break free, and suddenly suspected that this man’s cultivation might be insufficient, which was why he was being controlled.

Upon arriving here, they couldn’t even discern each other’s cultivation levels, nor maintain their original appearances—this alone was enough to demonstrate the power of this space.

For mortals, even speech was beyond their control; it was no surprise that those with weaker cultivation couldn’t control some movements.

Xiahou Fang didn’t pay it much mind and was about to push him away, but reconsidered and instead moved to the other side, holding Ning Xianyu’s other hand.

“Brother, once we get out, you must not behave like this again.”

Xuanyuan Tunhan’s anger flared inside, but he turned away without a word.

Ning Xianyu’s hands were held on both sides, making her feel like a waddling duck—it was unbearably awkward.

“Can you let go? I’ll walk on my own.”

This was just too uncomfortable.

The answer from both sides was resolute: “No!”

Ning Xianyu felt her ears nearly deafened and could only pout, “If not, then fine.”

Really.

And so the three of them paced back and forth inside the manor, inspecting every brick and even jumping down into the three wells on the estate.

Ning Xianyu felt they weren’t searching for a way out but rather looking for some particular object.

She wasn’t interested; as long as they found that object, they would surely be able to leave. She was just tagging along.

What concerned her more now was when the emperor would be brought back.

Just then, the servants came rushing back in a flurry.

“Master, Mistress, we’ve brought back the young lady and that man surnamed Zhang.”

Ning Xianyu immediately perked up, shaking off their hands and rushing over.

The young emperor and Zhang Lang knelt on the ground, held down by servants who had somehow reappeared.

Ning Xianyu ran over and embraced the young emperor. “My child, you’ve suffered. Where did that rogue take you?”

She even kicked Zhang Lang, scolding him as a toad lusting after a swan, abducting her daughter.

Zhang Lang collapsed to the ground and began to weep dramatically, “Mistress, I sincerely love Lili. Please grant us your blessing.”

Ning Xianyu hadn’t paid close attention to Zhang Lang’s appearance before, but now, seeing him clearly, she was momentarily stunned.

Zhang Lang was truly—very striking.

Exactly the kind of handsome man described in those tales.

Sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, a full forehead, a nose like a hanging gallbladder, broad shoulders and a narrow waist...

He should be considered good-looking, yet something about him felt off.

She couldn’t help but glance again at the servants, whose appearances were somewhat blurred.

They looked like the kind of passersby one might encounter on the street—noticeable but impossible to recall their features.

Ning Xianyu turned her head, unable to remember the servants’ faces, but could recall Zhang Lang’s peculiar countenance.

She felt Zhang Lang wasn’t truly human, but also not quite the same.

Could this be the difference in treatment between protagonists and background characters? Protagonists had distinctive appearances, while background characters all looked like templates?

Xuanyuan Tunhan and Xiahou Fang noticed her odd behavior and asked what she was doing.

Zhang Lang also avoided her gaze.

Ning Xianyu said, “Beat him up and lock him in the woodshed. Child, let’s go.”

She pulled the young lady inside and dismissed the servants.

Xuanyuan Tunhan and Xiahou Fang followed them in and asked what she had discovered.

Ning Xianyu ignored them and instead cupped the young lady’s face, asking, “Were you taken away against your will or did you go willingly? Blink once for taken, twice for willing.”

The young lady blinked once.

Ning Xianyu pressed on, “Where were you taken to?”

The young lady blinked repeatedly, suggesting it was hard to explain in just a few blinks.

Ning Xianyu switched tactics: “Were you taken inside the manor?”

Two blinks—no.

“Was it a cave?”

Two blinks again—no.

“You kept running and were brought back shortly after?”

One quick blink, indicating she believed she was taken back immediately after leaving.

Ning Xianyu asked, “Did Zhang Lang say sweet things to you, promising to take you far away?”

One blink—he did promise a lot.

Ning Xianyu stroked her chin thoughtfully.

Xuanyuan Tunhan caught on: “So she can’t control herself and can only answer by blinking. She’s the mortal emperor you’re looking for?”

Xiahou Fang nodded, “My lady is clever; she came up with this method of questioning.”

Ning Xianyu suddenly remembered something and asked, “Do you find Zhang Lang’s appearance strange? Are you afraid of him?”

One blink—indeed, the young lady was frightened of Zhang Lang, finding his appearance truly odd.

Xuanyuan Tunhan said, “So you think Zhang Lang is suspicious?”

Ning Xianyu replied, “I just feel he’s the only one here who’s notably different.”

Zhang Lang’s appearance and behavior were the biggest problems.

But these were only her guesses; she wasn’t sure if they were right.

Xuanyuan Tunhan said, “Just bring him here and question him.”

He went straight to the woodshed, dragged Zhang Lang out, and threw him on the ground.

The servants had efficiently beaten him up badly; he was covered in blood and looked pitiful.

Xuanyuan Tunhan grabbed Zhang Lang by the collar and stared at him closely.

Xiahou Fang came over and examined him carefully.

Zhang Lang looked at them with a wronged expression: “Master, please bless Lili and me.”

Xiahou Fang said, “I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.