Chapter 1261: Chapter 1261

Chapter 1261: Chapter 1256: Captured and Brought Back

He inquired about the situation of Madam Zuo of the Prince Jin Residence and learned that she was not living well. King Jin had no feelings for her. Except for the child in her womb, she was essentially nothing.

He could easily imagine that once King Jin achieved his goal, it was only a matter of time before he killed her.

So, he decided to take Madam Zuo and the child and escape together. His woman, his son—why should he leave them to someone else?

That’s how today’s scene came to be.

It was pure coincidence to have arrived at this moment. Even now, he didn’t realize that today’s full moon banquet was, in fact, a trap set with malicious intent.

He thought, as long as they could escape to the north, they’d be fine. His family had several uncles living there, and he had a good relationship with his Fifth Uncle. If he asked for help, it shouldn’t be too difficult to send them to the northernmost country.

As long as they were far away from Zhuzhao Country—far from the Emperor’s reach—they’d no longer need to deal with such absurdities.

But how could the affairs of the world ever be as simple as one imagines?

Behind them came the sound of galloping horses. At the edge of the snowstorm, countless figures on horseback were rushing toward them.

Jin Wei froze for a moment and muttered to himself, “How did they catch up so quickly?”

At this hour, everyone should still be seated at the banquet. Who would bother to look for the neglected Madam Zuo in her courtyard?

“Ah, they’re chasing us?” Madam Zuo’s smile instantly froze. She grabbed Jin Wei’s arm in panic and worry.

She said, “They won’t let us go. Today’s full moon banquet was deliberately arranged to expose that our son is not King Jin’s bloodline.”

“What?” Jin Wei was stunned.

But before he could ask further, the pursuers had already caught up.

Hooks attached to ropes flew toward them, catching his sleigh. With several men pulling hard, the sleigh was instantly torn apart.

Jin Wei, holding the child in one arm and wrapping his other arm around Madam Zuo’s waist, leaped off the sleigh, landing hard in the snow.

Jin Zijin, leading several men, swiftly surrounded them.

Jin Wei had set out with only minimal preparation, bringing just two or three attendants. They were quickly subdued by the guards.

Everything happened so fast—so fast that it felt utterly unreal.

Just moments ago, they had been talking about the future in the carriage, and in the next instant, they were cast into the biting wind, reduced to prisoners.

Madam Zuo shed tears at the corners of her eyes, lamenting, “Fate ultimately did not favor me after all.”

She looked toward the man beside her and, amidst her sorrow and bitterness, finally revealed a faint smile.

At least, as she left this world, she was not alone. At life’s end, the heavens had given her someone to accompany her on the journey to the underworld.

Jin Wei stood up from the snow, his face full of astonishment.

Jin Zijin sat on horseback and said calmly, “Return.”

Jin Wei gave a bitter laugh. Did he still have a choice?

An hour later, Jin Wei, Madam Zuo, and their child were all taken back to the full moon banquet.

Prince Qin had already reported to the Emperor about Madam Zuo escaping through the tunnel with the child. But no one expected that the person who had helped her escape was actually Jin Wei.

What could this be called, if not their own inadvertent confession?

Jie Huanzhi scoffed toward the Duke Protector and said, “What more do you have to say now? When catching a thief, you need evidence; when catching adulterers, you need them in the act. Don’t tell me you’re going to claim once more that this was all the Emperor’s arrangement to make them flee in guilt?”

The Duke Protector froze, speechless as he took in the scene.

“Great Grandfather!” Jin Wei bowed humbly toward him.

The Duke Protector was momentarily stunned, but quickly recovered.

Suddenly, he erupted, striking Jin Wei hard across the face.

“You unfilial wretch! You’ve disgraced our entire family! Of all the women you could fall for, you chose your cousin King Jin’s woman. And… and you even produced this illegitimate child! How am I supposed to show my old face in public now?”