At the mention of Li Xuanba, Li Yuan’s eyes darkened. “It was a female assassin disguised as Wu Meixue.”

Li Jiancheng’s eyelids twitched. “Disguised as Wu Meixue? So you’re saying Chunxiu did indeed mistakenly kill Wu Meixue back then?” He had already learned of that incident from Jirong’s mouth, and now finally received confirmation from Li Yuan.

“Correct. After that incident, Wu Meixue was already dead. What we saw all along was the assassin. Later, Shimin also dug up Wu Meixue’s corpse from the backyard of the pleasure house!”

“Indeed a disaster!” Li Jiancheng gritted his teeth and said coldly, “It’s all your son’s fault for not making a decision earlier, otherwise it wouldn’t have led to such catastrophe.”

Li Yuan shook his head. “How can you blame yourself for this? The assassin was deeply calculating, planning every step. All of us were kept in the dark by her. To have discovered her identity before she struck again was already great fortune amid misfortune. It’s just pitiful that Xuanba and Feng Li still cannot rest in peace!”

Li Jiancheng clenched his fists tightly and said coldly, “With so many people pursuing her, she still wasn’t caught?”

“She was originally captured by Shimin, but Wu Laosan set fire to the forest and drove animals to block Shimin and the others, thus rescuing the assassin. Although Shimin immediately deployed people to seal the mountain and search, it was still a step too late. That forest connects to the mountain ranges outside the city, so the female assassin must have risked taking the mountain paths to escape the city.”

After asking about the specific location, he frowned. “Strange. Your son has also been to that place. It indeed connects to the outside mountain ranges, but they’re extremely far apart. Given the female assassin’s condition at the time, could she really have escaped there ahead of her pursuers?”

“This point also puzzled me, but after searching the mountains for several days without any discovery, she could only have escaped early.”

Li Jiancheng remained silent. After leaving Songtao Residence, he said to Wang Fu who was waiting outside, “Go ask those guards to see who all participated in pursuing the assassin. Bring all those who participated to Qingchun Garden.”

“Yes.” Wang Fu bowed in acknowledgment and went to carry out his orders, eventually bringing twelve guards to Qingchun Garden.

Li Jiancheng questioned them thoroughly, including the positions where they and those around them had pursued at the time, including Li Shimin. Jirong beside him seemed to be drawing something on paper with her brush. After questioning everyone and dismissing them, Li Jiancheng turned and asked, “Have you marked everything?”

Jirong set down her brush and smiled gently, “Husband, rest assured, everything is marked.” The current Jirong had layered pearls and jade in her hair, luxurious clothing, and exquisite makeup – she was completely different from half a year ago.

Indeed, she was truly different now. She had been formally taken by Li Jiancheng as a concubine, becoming his fourth wife. Jirong… had finally gotten what she wished for.

What was drawn on the paper was the topography of the mountain ranges Li Yuan had described. He had been there once, and Jirong had also gone there to gather firewood several times. The two of them drew it from memory, then marked locations according to what the guards had said.

“Husband, look. The mountain ranges leading to outside the city are to the east, at least a hundred li away from where they escaped. According to what the guards said, Second Young Master also realized the east was a key area, so he personally led people to spread out and search eastward. Later Duan Zhihong also went. Logically speaking, the assassin had no chance to escape, much less that she buried Wu Laosan along the way, unless…” She hesitated and didn’t continue.

Li Jiancheng glanced at her and said coldly, “Unless what?”

Jirong’s long eyelashes trembled slightly as she shook her head. “Nothing.”

Li Jiancheng looked into her eyes and said slowly, “Unless Shimin deliberately let the assassin escape, right?”

Jirong lowered her head. “Your concubine did think of this, but… it’s probably just my suspicion. After all, the assassin killed Third Young Master, so Second Young Master couldn’t possibly let her go.”

Li Jiancheng gripped the map in his hands tightly. After a long while, he suddenly said, “Summon Duan Zhihong to see me.”

Wang Fu left as ordered. After a while, Duan Zhihong entered with a puzzled expression. He was Second Young Master’s man – why would the First Young Master summon him to Qingchun Garden as soon as he returned? How strange.

Duan Zhihong walked to the center of the hall and respectfully cupped his hands. “I don’t know why First Young Master summoned this humble servant. What are your orders?”

Li Jiancheng stared at him for a moment, then said with narrowed eyes, “The night the assassin escaped, you and Shimin both went into the mountains to search, correct?”

Duan Zhihong’s heart stirred as he lowered his head. “Yes, but unfortunately we couldn’t catch the assassin and let her escape.”

“I just saw Shimin. He said at the time you were searching together in the southeast direction, correct?” Li Jiancheng’s words made Jirong show a trace of surprise, and she instinctively wanted to correct him. Fortunately, she reacted quickly, realizing Li Jiancheng might be doing this deliberately, and stopped the words that had reached her lips.

Duan Zhihong showed a hint of surprise, then said, “In response to First Young Master, this humble servant was searching with Second Young Master in the due east direction, because that connects to the outer mountain ranges, not the southeast.”

Li Jiancheng slapped his forehead and pretended to suddenly understand. “Right, right, it was the east. Look at my memory – I can even remember that wrong.” Then he continued, “All the way there, you never discovered any trace of the assassin?”

“The assassin must have been very skilled at concealment. Although this humble servant and Second Young Master searched with all our might, we still couldn’t discover her whereabouts.” He cupped his hands again. “This humble servant is incompetent. Please punish me, First Young Master.”

Li Jiancheng waved his hand. “I believe you already did your best. What crime is there? But letting her escape is truly unwilling to accept.”

“Second Young Master was also determined to catch the assassin. At the time, he even sent people along the mountain ranges to search those mountains outside the city, but unfortunately still couldn’t find the assassin. We searched for about half a month before giving up.”

Li Jiancheng sighed. “It seems the assassin’s life shouldn’t end.” Then he said, “Alright, now I understand. You may withdraw.”

After Duan Zhihong left, Jirong tilted her head, and amid the crisp collision of pearls and jade, said, “Husband, it seems your concubine was being overly suspicious. If Second Young Master truly let the assassin escape, Duan Zhihong should have been concealing something.”

Li Jiancheng carefully examined the mountain range map for a while, then sneered. “Do you think he wasn’t concealing anything?”

Before Jirong could understand the meaning in his words, Li Jiancheng had already taken the mountain range map and strode out. He went all the way to Jingji Pavilion, where Li Shimin was handling county affairs. Duan Zhihong was also there, seemingly about to say something, but seeing Li Jiancheng enter, he immediately stopped the words at his lips and cupped his hands in greeting. When Li Shimin saw Li Jiancheng enter, his somewhat gloomy face showed a trace of joy. He set down the documents in his hands and quickly came forward, saying, “Big brother, when did you return? Why didn’t you notify me to come meet you?”

“I just arrived not long ago and went to see Father first.” Li Jiancheng smiled slightly. “I’m not without hands and feet – why would I need you to meet me?”

At the mention of “feet,” Li Shimin quickly looked at Li Jiancheng’s feet. Seeing him move normally without any of the previous limping, he said happily, “Big brother, your feet are completely healed?”