Chapter 61: When the Empress is Enraged, Hundreds of Thousands Lie Dead

“Chen Luo! Chen Luo! What’s wrong? Say something!”
The phone lying on the ground kept transmitting Wen Wan’s anxious and gentle cries. Only now did Hongye snap back to her senses and hurriedly picked up the phone.
“President Wen! President Wen! It’s Hongye! Chen Luo’s been kidnapped and taken away. The perpetrators came prepared—the business van didn’t even have license plates and is heading south out of Hangcheng!”
At that moment, Number Three and the other surveillance members rushed over behind Hongye.
“Hongye, mobilize every connection we have in Hangcheng immediately!”
“Report to the police at once—call Director Zhao of the Hangcheng Public Security Bureau and have him intercept that vehicle across the entire city!”
“Alert every underground leader in Hangcheng: if anyone dares so much as touch a hair on Chen Luo’s head, I’ll see their whole family wiped out!”
“Put out a bounty—let every underground force and wealthy family in Hangcheng get out there and rescue Chen Luo!”
“Whoever saves Chen Luo—I, Wen Wan, will owe them a favor!”
“Deploy every operative we have in Hangcheng! Don’t leave a single corner unchecked!”
Wen Wan’s orders came one after another, thunderous and overwhelming. Both Hongye and Number Three felt a chill run down their spines.
President Wen was truly furious now—she was practically about to turn the entire city upside down.
No one knew how many people would suffer tonight. Anyone even remotely involved, or those who’d previously held a grudge against Chen Luo, would not escape, no matter how hard they tried.
Once, when the Empress Wu Zetian took offense, corpses lay in the hundreds of thousands; President Wen was not far behind.
Wen Wan ended the call and dialed another number.
“Secretary Lin Pengyuan, this is Wen Wan—sorry to disturb you so late at night.”
“My boyfriend has been kidnapped in your Hangcheng. While I’m worried about his safety, I’m also deeply disappointed in the city’s public security.”
“Yes, I hope you’ll look into this. Hangcheng’s security situation needs a bit of rectification.”
Wen Wan had called the city’s top leader—Party Secretary Lin Pengyuan.
Lin Pengyuan understood Wen Wan’s background well. The Wen family’s power was immense; high-ranking officials were a dime a dozen in their clan. As a mere party secretary, he couldn’t afford to offend them.
If Wen Wan lost her temper over this and said a few words to those above, his career would be finished.
Even setting aside the Wen family’s influence, Wen Wan’s enterprises contributed enormously to Hangcheng’s economy. If, because of this, she decided to pull her businesses out, next year’s GDP would plummet, and the city’s residents would be the ones to suffer.
Both public and private interests compelled Lin Pengyuan to act.
That bastard dared to provoke the very apex of power—he’d have him skinned alive!
“Hello! Director Zhao Guangming! My orders: every officer in the bureau is to return to post immediately, initiate a city-wide crackdown on organized crime, and thoroughly investigate a kidnapping!”
With Lin Pengyuan’s call, the entire city was thrown into chaos that night.
A massive mobilization ensued—criminal investigators, police station officers, even community staff were all put into action.
Almost every underground boss in Hangcheng was summoned to the station for questioning. No face was spared; they were treated as suspects from the outset.
Wang Hu, who’d had previous conflicts with Chen Luo, was hauled in again. Dozens of interrogators questioned him in shifts until he broke down, repeatedly claiming ignorance—though no one believed him.
Throughout the night, under such a sweeping crackdown, over a hundred wanted criminals were apprehended, and thousands of lawbreakers were arrested. Yet there was still no news of Chen Luo.
At 1 AM, Wen Wan sat on the villa’s living room sofa, holding Chen Luo’s phone.
She stared at the contact name Chen Luo had saved for her: [A—Sickly Beautiful Wife Wen Wan].
Her hand trembled slightly as she held the phone. Three hours—nearly three hours—and not a single word.
She had mobilized every connection and resource at her disposal, yet not a single promising lead. The perpetrators were clearly highly professional and had planned this.
But why would anyone go to such lengths to kidnap an ordinary college student like Chen Luo?
Wen Wan grew more anxious, her whole body trembling, eyes fixed straight ahead, brimming with murderous intent.
Not good! President Wen is about to have an episode! Mo Lan hurried over with some pills and a glass of water.
“President Wen, please take your medicine!”
“I won’t. If Chen Luo’s gone, what’s the point of living?”
Mo Lan was at a loss for words—anything she said now would be futile.
At that moment, Wen Wan’s phone rang. The caller was Zhou Zheng.

“Hello, President Wen! This is Zhou Zheng—I've heard about Chen Luo’s kidnapping, and I have an important lead for you!”
At the mention of a lead, excitement immediately flashed in Wen Wan’s eyes.
“Good, speak! If you can help rescue Chen Luo, the Zhou family will forever be my allies!”
Hearing the word “allies,” Zhou Zheng nearly laughed aloud, but this was no time for joy—Chen Luo’s fate was still uncertain, and he needed to be found quickly.
“My sister hacked into some records and found that before Liu Feng caused trouble, he received a call from Ning City. Also, Tang Xiwei’s phone signal—the one who’s gone missing—is also moving toward Ning City!”
Ning City? Wen Xiu! You’re bold, aren’t you?
“Good, thank you, Zhou Zheng!”
Wen Wan hung up, her whole body radiating murderous intent as she looked at Mo Lan.
“Mo Lan, gather all our elite forces. We’re going to Ning City—rescue Chen Luo, and destroy Wen Xiu!”
…
“Ugh… Where am I?”
Chen Luo’s head was spinning, and he noticed a strange chemical odor in his nose.
Wait, wasn’t I knocked out?
Is this another of Wen Wan’s captivity games? No, this isn’t the villa.
Looking around, he realized he was in a car.
“You’re finally awake, Chen Luo.” A voice grated out through clenched teeth.
Chen Luo turned and saw that there was only one other person in the car—a very familiar face: Tang Xiwei!
Tang Xiwei was dressed in a leather jacket and miniskirt, a whip in her left hand and a candle in her right.
“Chen Luo, tell me—do I look beautiful?”