Li Shimin turned back to look at her and said: “As long as it’s confirmed that this matter has nothing to do with you, I will naturally ensure your safety.”

Meixue said gratefully: “Thank you, Second Young Master. If…” She tightly gripped the bars that reeked of decay, using this to overcome the fear in her heart. “If I truly cannot escape this calamity, please make sure they don’t harm my father. He’s just a farmer who makes a living by farming and hunting. He knows nothing and has no connection to this matter whatsoever!”

Li Shimin looked at her: “Whether your father will be harmed depends on whether what you just said is true. If you’re lying, no one can save him!”

When Li Shimin emerged from the dungeon, the servant he had sent to investigate Shen Moping had already returned, bowing: “Second Young Master, we found him. Shen Moping has been working in the woodshed since entering the mansion. This servant has already notified the guards to go there.”

“Good.” Li Shimin responded and quickly walked toward the woodshed. By the time he arrived, dawn had broken, and the guards were already searching there. The guard leader was standing there looking vexed.

“Did you find anything?” Hearing Li Shimin’s voice, the guard leader hurriedly cupped his hands in salute, respectfully saying: “Reporting to Second Young Master, when we subordinates arrived here, we did not find Shen Moping.” As soon as he finished speaking, a guard came over: “Second Young Master, leader, we’ve checked everything. There’s nothing inside, but this subordinate found dried blood stains in a corner, and there are also traces of cleaning on the ground. From this, it appears that assassin indeed came here.”

Li Shimin was about to speak when the guard leader already knelt on one knee, cupping his hands: “This subordinate is guilty. Please punish me, Second Young Master.”

Li Shimin raised his eyebrows in surprise: “Why do you say this?”

The guard leader said remorsefully: “Actually, during last night’s pursuit, we subordinates had come here. At that time, there was someone chopping wood here – it should have been the Shen Moping that Second Young Master mentioned. But this subordinate didn’t know his relationship with the assassin at the time and let him go.”

Li Shimin frowned slightly: “Did you search the woodshed then?”

The guard leader hurriedly said: “We searched, but didn’t discover any trace of the assassin, not even blood stains, so this subordinate… overlooked it.”

“Shen Moping…” Li Shimin murmured the name once, then said: “This place is not far from Yuehua Pond, and Shen Moping called the assassin his sister when he entered the mansion. The assassin must have been hiding here then, but you just didn’t find her.”

“This subordinate thinks so too, but this place is only so big. We searched inside and out thoroughly at the time and truly didn’t see any sign of the assassin!”

Li Shimin looked around, his gaze finally falling on the scattered firewood: “When you came here last night, was it like this?”

The guard leader thought for a moment: “This subordinate remembers that the firewood was piled up then, with only a few pieces scattered about, not spread out like now.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Shimin crouched down to carefully examine the firewood. The guard leader asked puzzledly: “Second Young Master, what are you looking at?”

Li Shimin ignored him and examined the pieces one by one. After looking at more than ten pieces, his expression changed slightly. He handed the piece of wood in his hand to the guard leader: “Look at this carefully.”

The guard leader puzzledly examined the unremarkable piece of firewood. When he saw the dark red stain at the top, his body shook and he said urgently: “Second Young Master, this is…”

Li Shimin dusted off his hands and said coldly: “This is the assassin’s blood. If I’m not mistaken, she was hiding under this pile of firewood at the time, deceiving heaven and crossing the sea!”

The guard leader broke into a cold sweat, fearfully saying: “It’s all this subordinate’s fault for being careless and not examining thoroughly, allowing the assassin to escape right under my nose. This subordinate deserves death!”

“The most important thing now is to find the assassin and Shen Moping. Other matters can be discussed later.” After a pause, Li Shimin continued: “The Governor’s mansion has been sealed off by big brother’s orders. The assassin is also severely injured, so even with Shen Moping’s help, she can’t escape. She must still be hiding somewhere.”

Hearing this, the guard leader hurriedly said: “This subordinate will go search immediately!”

After he left, a servant came to report that Li Yuan had awakened. Li Shimin hurriedly rushed to Songtao Residence. When he arrived, Wan Shi and others had already arrived first and were surrounding Li Yuan with concerned inquiries.

Wan Shi wiped her tears: “Governor, it’s good that you’re safe. During the night you were unconscious, this concubine was worried sick, fearing you might have some mishap.”

“Sister, why do you say such inauspicious words? The Governor has boundless fortune. No matter what danger he encounters, he will turn misfortune into fortune and pass through safely.” The speaker was concubine Lin Shi, young and beautiful with a voice as soft and melodious as an oriole. She had sat beside Wan Shi during last night’s banquet and had been quite favored by Li Yuan in recent years.

Wan Shi glanced at her but said nothing, only looked at Li Yuan with concern: “How do you feel, Governor? Should we ask Lord Xiahou to examine you again?”

Li Yuan signaled for her to help him sit up: “I’m fine now, just my hands and feet have no strength, and I’m somewhat dizzy. It’s really strange – they were just flesh wounds, how could they be so severe?”

Li Jiancheng said: “Father doesn’t know – that assassin had coated her dagger with a rare poison from the Western Regions. You and third brother were both poisoned by her and walked a circle at death’s door. Fortunately Uncle Xiahou was here, otherwise the consequences would have been unthinkable.”

Li Yuan nodded, then asked: “What about the assassin? Was she caught?”

Wan Shi said from the side: “Originally she had been surrounded, but then Second Young Master was suddenly captured by the assassin. This concubine feared she would harm Second Young Master, so wanted the guards to rescue him. Who knew that not only did Eldest Young Master not allow it, but he also let the assassin escape. She still hasn’t been captured.”

Li Jiancheng glanced at her coldly: “Reporting to father, because the situation was chaotic last night, and the assassin was holding second brother hostage, your son had no choice but to let her go. Originally wanted to take the opportunity to capture her, but that assassin was full of cunning schemes and escaped. However, that assassin is severely injured. Your son has already ordered the Governor’s mansion to be sealed, not allowing anyone to leave. Just give your son a little more time, and I will definitely catch her!”

Wan Shi said dismissively: “But Eldest Young Master has already searched all night, searching the Governor’s mansion inside and out, yet still hasn’t caught the assassin. How do you explain this? You must know this person nearly killed the Governor. If she really escapes and comes to assassinate again next time, what should we do?”

Li Jiancheng’s expression changed and he was about to speak when Li Shimin spoke first: “Actually, after that assassin escaped last night, she hid in the woodshed. It was only because she had accomplices covering for her that the guards didn’t find her. Now that we know their details, I believe we’ll have results soon. Second Mother needn’t worry too much.”