Transmigration: Wake Up as an Annoying Concubine

-At the border-

Inside the main tent, everyone jumped out of shock. Even the soldiers who were patrolling near the tent, almost stumbled when they heard a loud 'bang' from the tent.

No one dares to utter any words. Two men who came from the palace are kneeling, trembling and almost wet their pants.

The thick wooden table, made from mahogany broke into two parts. The table was a 15-year-old table but for furniture made from high-grade materials, it should be last for generations. However, with one slam of a fist from the fuming emperor, the table's legs snap and it broke.

Wu Zhang Wei's hand has reddened and for sure it will be bruised the next day but he doesn't feel the pain in his fist as the pain in his heart overwrite it.

"Kidnapped..? Ha...ha...ha..."

The way Wu Zhang Wei laughs makes all of them swallow their saliva.

"What's the use of paying all the imperial guards, soldiers and even the elite guards if all of you can't protect ONE PERSON?! If you can't do that simple thing, then forget about being a guard! Go back to your hometown and just be a farmer!"

"Useless! A waste!" Wu Zhang Wei kicks the broken parts of the broken table. Huang Fei Hong, Commander Li Jun and the two imperial guards flinch again. They feel like they could die anytime due to a weakened heart.

"Zhen will deal with all of you later." Wu Zhang Wei turns to Huang Fei Hong, "Make preparations. We'll return to the palace this afternoon. Commander, you take care of the things with the State of Shu. Zhen has prepared the new terms for the treaty and no more negotiations or bargains. Tell them, take it or leave it. But Zhen sure, they'll accept it as this so-called settlement is just an act to distract us."

Huang Fei Hong's brows crease, "Your Majesty means that the abduction of Her Majesty has something to do with the State of Shu?"

"Zhen cannot prove it at the moment but Zhen is sure these two incidents happened at almost the same time is not merely coincidence. It was planned all along." Veins popping out on his forehead. Wu Zhang Wei could barely hold his anger and wished he had wings so he could fly away right this time and brings back his wife.

Right in the afternoon, the troop immediately march back to the capital, leaving the border in Commander Li Jun's hands. Wu Zhang Wei stayed longer at the border as he wanted to supervise the settlement process until it is done but now he no longer thinks it was needed to do so.

He remembered all those problems that popped out one by one before and then the sudden invasion from the State of Shu which forced him to leave the palace and at the same time his wife was taken away. He connected all the dots and came to a conclusion.

It was a plan to steal his wife.

However, Wu Zhang Wei unsure whether the perpetrator did this because they wanted to threaten him or their real reason is his wife. But either of them, they won't be easily forgiven.

"They dare to touch my beloved that's mean they're ready to face my wrath," Wu Zhang Wei mumbles while galloping through the forest. Wu Zhang Wei, Huang Fei Hong and the elite guards use the shortcut, riding through the deep forest.

The troop cannot use the shortcut as it will be hard for them to pass through the big trees, bushes and narrow way with all their things inside the carriage. So, they took a different route. Wu Zhang Wei being anxious has reached his patience limit, so he doesn't want to waste any more time.

The elite guards know what their emperor thought so they gallop even faster than Wu Zhang Wei, riding in front of him and clear the way for him. Seeing his elite guards slashing the bushes on the ground and branches in front of their sight, Wu Zhang Wei smirks. 'At least some of them know how to be useful,' he thought.

The supposed to be seven days of the journey was shortened to four days only. They didn't even stop to sleep at night. They just take an hour's rest every six to eight hours of riding. Up to Wu Zhang Wei, he can keep going on but he needs to let the horse recharge their energy and not tire them out.

There are two types of people when they knew the return of their emperor. First one, they felt relieved and glad as they know their emperor knows best how to find his empress. This group includes Xiu Ying's parents, Empress Dowager Wu Jiaying, Princess Wu Xiaoqing and Jing Yi.

Other than these five people, all of them are grouped into the second type of people. The type that cannot stay calm, feeling uneasy with what punishment will fall upon them and how they gonna face the emperor's outrage. Among them, the elite guards, Guo Wei and Chang Ming were filled with dread at the thought of the emperor that almost arrived in the capital.

-In capital of Wu Empire-

"Long Live The Emperor!"

"Long Live The Emperor!"

"Long Live The Emperor!"

The citizens' voices echoed as Wu Zhang Wei passed the entrance gate of the Wu Empire. Looking at their emperor's return safely, the citizens feel happy and safe.

In contrast, the loud chants make the ones who were supposed to protect Xiu Ying but failed to do so, sweating bullets. Their heart thumping loudly.

Wu Zhang Wei pulls the rein and the horse neighs. He jumps off the horse and all people immediately kneel. Unbothered by them, Wu Zhang Wei directly strides to the main hall to meet Lord Li Shizen.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. It is a blessed Your Majesty managed to return safely," Li Shizen said while kowtowing.

"Cut the chit-chat. Tell me the details, Lord Li. How could this happen? How could he be kidnapped under all your noses? Imperial guards, soldiers, personal bodyguards, even the elite guards," He glares at them when he mentioned it.

"It wasn't like they brought hundreds of thousands of troops. It was just a few people but still...HA HA HA." The laugh is like a typical villain laugh and it makes everyone's hair stand. Even swallowing the saliva seems hard and feels like something stuck in their throats.

Wu Zhang Wei takes a seat on the throne and looking down, squinted. "All those who stay in the same place when my empress was taken away, come out."

Ten elite guards come out of nowhere in their black outfits, kneel. Followed by Guo Wei and Chang Ming and two imperial guards guarding in front of the bedchamber.

"Explain," Wu Zhang Wei said.

"Pardon this servant, Your Majesty. We failed to protect Her Majesty. We will accept..." The elite guards said at the same time but their words were cut off.

"I don't want to hear excuses or apologies. What I want to hear is what exactly happened that night. IN.DETAILS."

The elite guards glance at Guo Wei and Chang Ming. Both of them get the hint and fold their hand to the front and bow. "Your Majesty, th- that night was a bit chaotic. The East side of the palace was on fire. The cause was, still unknown but because of the huge flame, most imperial guards, servants and even some soldiers went there to help to put out the fire. Due to the commotion, Her Majesty opens the door and asked what had happened. We told him about the fire after that he went back inside the bedchamber and me and Chang Ming guarding in front of the door." Guo Wei explains.

Chang Ming continues, "Yes, Your Majesty. That's what happened. But later we heard the sound of broken glasses. Both of us immediately broke into the room and found that Her Majesty was scuffling with two unknown men. Their face was covered so we couldn't recognize them. The elite guards then came to lend a hand, but another group of men sneaked into the bedchamber and head-on with the elite guards. While we were distracting, the two men earlier already carried Her Majesty away."

Wu Zhang Wei tilts his head and supports it with his knuckles. He stays silent.

The leader of the elite guard takes a turn to speak up, "Your Majesty, the group of men who came later is a trained assassin. They're almost on par with us but in the end, they still lost to us. But before we could take them to the prison cell to interrogate them, they already commit suicide by eating poison that they kept inside their mouth all along."

Wu Zhang Wei still won't say anything and keep on staring deathly at them. Li Shizen comes forward to ease up the situation, "Your Majesty, I and Her Majesty Empress Dowager came into conclusion and we decided to close all the gate, preventing anyone from coming in or going out of this country. Every corner of the palace also has been guarded but still, Her Majesty is nowhere to be found." Li Shizen clenches his fist. The empress is also his youngest son. His most spoiled son.

Wu Zhang Wei lifts his right eyebrows, "It is impossible. If no one can enter or exit the country and even the palace was closed, then why my wife still couldn't be found?!"

The main hall is in dead silence. No one has the answer to that question.

But then, Huang Fei Hong clears his throat, turning all the attention to himself. "You only closed the gate for one day right?"

Li Shizen nods.

"Then, what if before the gate was opened, Her Majesty was still in this country, or to be precise STILL IN THE PALACE." The main hall was filled with murmurs.

"You mean..."

"Yes, Your Majesty. There is a possibility that someone inside the palace helps those kidnappers. That 'someone' might hide them inside the palace temporarily. Then, they left when the gate had been opened. If they can sneak into the palace without being discovered, for sure they can do the same to leave this place."

The murmurs become even louder.

"Quiet!" Wu Zhang Wei shouted.

He releases a heavy sigh. "General Huang, send your men to keep on searching all over the country. Don't miss one place, even the mountains or forests. And also, search inside the palace. I don't care if you guys turn this palace upside down as long as you found any clue. You're allowed to search inside any chamber or room."

Wu Zhang Wei turns to look at the ministers and officers who also presented. "No exception regardless of your position. Search thoroughly. And no one is allowed to leave this hall until your chamber has been searched."

All ministers and officers lower their heads.

Wu Zhang Wei waves his hand, asking them to carry out the order right at that moment.

"Li Jie (Chief of Eunuch), it might take some time so ask the kitchen to serve some tea and snacks for our hard-working ministers," Wu Zhang Wei smiles, but more like a smirk.

It can be seen that most of them are anxious. Even if they're truly innocent, it could be someone who tried to frame them and put something belonging to the empress in their chamber.

Wu Zhang Wei and Li Shizen secretly glance at each other and nod. He clears his throat, "Guards, make sure no one leaves here until everything is settled. I have something to discuss with Lord Li, please excuse me. But don't worry, Zhen won't be going anywhere. Zhen will be just right next door." He smirks. Wu Zhang Wei could see the questioning looks of those ministers when he said he wanted to leave the hall.

Leaving them behind with their imagination or thoughts, Wu Zhang Wei heads towards the side room on the right side of the hall. Usually, the side room was used as a waiting room for performers before doing their performance in any event. But in times like this, it is useful to prevent any probing ears from eavesdropping on their conversation.

"Lord Li..." Wu Zhang Wei called softly. Just like him, Lord Li also worried about his dearest son. No matter how old a child gets, parents will never stop worrying.

"How's Madam Feng? Is she alright?" Only when they are alone, Wu Zhang Wei could ask for a private family matter to Li Shizen.

Li Shizen sighs. "She rarely eats since Her Majesty went missing. Her mother's instinct can't help but feel like something is going to happen to our son. Sometimes, she even gets nightmares. She said in her dreams, Her Majesty was taken far away from our empire. Someone tried to harm him and he was calling for help. I tried to remind her that it was just a dream. But she kept saying that maybe it was a sign."

Wu Zhang Wei's eyes widen. "Did Madam Feng said how's the environment around Xiu Ying in the dream? And how does that 'someone' looked like?"

"My wife just mentioned that Her Majesty looked like he was kept in a room with only a small window for the ventilation and lights. As for that 'someone', she didn't see him but from the side, he looks like a middle-aged man and seems noble or royalty."

'A noble geezer?!' Thought Zhang Wei. He clenched his fist tightly when he imagining what that old man possibly do to his wife.

Wu Zhang Wei takes a deep breath and releases a long exhale. He brushed off that thought for the meantime and focus back on the main point. "About what General Huang mentioned, you got any idea?"

"I can't say anything, Your Majesty. I was too busy locking the palace ground and gate, preventing someone from fleeing. I didn't pay attention to other matters. It was my fault and incompetence in handling this matter. If I..."

Wu Zhang Wei raises his palm, preventing his father-in-law from continues. "Don't blame yourself, Lord Li. It was not your fault. Everyone was in panic and for sure no one would think there is a mole that would help them take my wife away."

"Is there any possibility, they tried to threaten Your Majesty using Her Majesty as the collateral?"

Wu Zhang Wei scoffs. "From what I see, it seems someone doesn't know his worth and tried to make my beautiful wife as his."

"Your Majesty means, that person's true motive is Her Majesty?"

Wu Zhang Wei nods. "But, as for that mole who was so daring to lend a hand must be wished for Zhen's destruction. He must be waiting for Zhen to break down and in despair then he'll take advantage of it. Ha! What a cliche play!"

Li Shizen having a thought of what Wu Zhang Wei said and it all makes sense. If the kidnapper intends to use Xiu Ying to threaten Wu Zhang Wei, there must be some letters or representatives sent by them. But it has been over a week and there is nothing came. It was like they just vanish after they got what they wanted.

Li Shizen is about to say something but it was interrupted by the knocks on the door.

"Your Majesty, may I see you for a second?" said Huang Fei Hong from the other side of the door.

"Yes, come in."

As soon as the door behind is closed, Huang Fei Hong's face turns grim.. "We've found some clues."