“That day when I left Changchun Street to find you at the agreed-upon teahouse, I was very careful all along the way and didn’t see any suspicious people…” Chen Mu carefully recalled the scene from that day.

For someone like him, being cautious and vigilant came first. He had a much deeper impression of the surrounding terrain and people he encountered than ordinary people.

As he recalled, his tone changed. “However, when I entered the teahouse, a young lady followed me in.”

Du Qing’s heart stirred. “A young lady?”

Chen Mu nodded. “Yes. Actually, other people came in at the same time, but the reason I unconsciously paid attention to that young lady was because—”

He paused, then said frankly, “She was very beautiful.”

Du Qing raised his eyebrows slightly but didn’t misunderstand.

Paying attention to their surroundings when going out was instinct for people like them, and those with particularly distinctive appearances or behavior were undoubtedly easier to notice.

“That young lady was very pretty, which made me instinctively feel she was somewhat incongruous with that teahouse’s environment. What was even more coincidental was that she also went upstairs, and the private room she entered was right next to ours…”

Listening to Chen Mu’s words, suspicion grew like wild grass in Du Qing’s heart, spreading madly.

His judgment certainly wasn’t based merely on intuition like Chen Mu’s.

A young girl, no matter how harmless she appeared, first had contact with the Master, then appeared in the same place as Chen Mu, and shortly after Chen Mu met with trouble—to still consider it pure coincidence would be too foolish.

“But even if there’s suspicion, trying to find that little girl would be like fishing a needle from the ocean.” Chen Mu said in a low voice.

Although he still remembered what that girl looked like, with so many people in the capital, where would he search?

“Indeed not easy to find.” Du Qing agreed calmly.

He temporarily didn’t plan to reveal that young girl’s identity.

Chen Mu already suspected the Master. If he knew that young girl had dealt with the Master, it would become even more unclear.

He needed to investigate first before saying anything.

Du Qing secretly made up his mind, his expression revealing nothing. “So what are your plans?”

Chen Mu hadn’t completely dispelled his suspicion of Du Qing and spoke vaguely. “No plans for now. Prepare a set of clothes for me. I’ll avoid the storm here at your place for two days then leave.”

“Alright.”

At this time, Jinlin Guard Commander Cheng Maoming had already received reports from his subordinates.

“It really is gunpowder? Take me to see!”

Cheng Maoming went to the place where the gunpowder was temporarily stored and saw wooden barrels. The barrels were firmly bound with hemp rope on the outside, with fuses extending from them.

Seeing him approach, his subordinates hastily blocked him.

“Move aside.” Cheng Maoming ignored his subordinates and walked forward to examine them.

He wasn’t unfamiliar with gunpowder—kept like this, it wouldn’t explode.

Cheng Maoming touched the wooden barrel, and his expression changed as he looked at the black stains on his fingertips.

It really was gunpowder!

Though he couldn’t estimate the power of this gunpowder, judging by the quantity, once concentrated together and ignited, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Fortunately the Heir of Prince Jing had given a warning!

“How many were brought back alive?”

His subordinate’s expression was somewhat tense. “Only two alive. Of the remaining six, four died in the fighting, and the other two committed suicide when they saw they couldn’t escape.”

Cheng Maoming’s eyes turned cold.

Committing suicide when unable to escape—this was the practice of death warriors, showing these people’s origins were not simple.

Perhaps, as the Heir of Prince Jing had suggested, their purpose was to blow up the Yuliu envoys. Then these people were very likely Qi people or remnants loyal to Emperor Pingle.

Cheng Maoming’s spirits lifted.

Whether they were Qi people or Emperor Pingle’s remnants, for him who had stopped this conspiracy, it was a great merit.

The Heir of Prince Jing had truly sent him a great gift.

Cheng Maoming silently accepted Qi Shuo’s favor and decided to personally interrogate the two survivors.

In this matter, even if it had nothing to do with Qi people or Emperor Pingle’s remnants, he would make them connected.

He was determined to claim this merit.

Early the next morning, Cheng Maoming hurriedly entered the palace to report.

Emperor Tai’an listened and flew into a rage. “They really are his people?”

Cheng Maoming’s expression was grave. “One of them didn’t open his mouth despite all kinds of torture, but fortunately the other one’s mouth was pried open. They are indeed Emperor Pingle’s people. Their plan was to ignite the gunpowder when the Yuliu envoys passed through Jinxiu Street, pushing Yuliu toward Great Qi’s side…”

“Outrageous!” Emperor Tai’an slammed the table hard, grinding his teeth in hatred.

Cheng Maoming lowered his eyes slightly. “Your Majesty, calm your anger. Don’t harm your health over these petty people.”

Emperor Tai’an looked at Cheng Maoming with approval. “You did well this time. It was hard work.”

“To share Your Majesty’s concerns is this subject’s greatest honor.”

“Your ability—I have always trusted it.” After Emperor Tai’an finished praising him, he returned to what concerned him most. “Have the Five Chief Military Commissioners coordinate with the Jinlin Guard. Thoroughly investigate unfamiliar faces in the capital these days and be sure to root out those people.”

“This subject receives your decree.”

“Also, strengthen the covert protection of the Yuliu envoys.”

“Yes.”

After Cheng Maoming left the palace, he immediately sent someone to invite Qi Shuo.

The two arranged to meet at a tavern. Cheng Maoming enthusiastically offered a toast. “Thank you, Heir, for providing the lead that stopped an earth-shattering conspiracy.”

Qi Shuo smiled. “I merely stumbled upon it by chance. The one who truly saved the common people from fire and water was still the Commander.”

Though he understood perfectly well these were polite words, Cheng Maoming still felt pleased hearing them.

The Heir of Prince Jing really knew how to talk.

“So this means all those people were arrested?”

Cheng Maoming’s expression showed regret. “One escaped. After interrogation, the one who escaped was their leader.”

Qi Shuo’s expression became serious. “Then we must quickly find the fish that slipped through the net. The leader surely has other connections—who knows what other trouble he might cause.”

Cheng Maoming deeply agreed.

Subsequently, officials conducting inspections could be seen everywhere on the streets. Outsiders were almost all questioned, and those whose words were suspicious were directly thrown into prison.

For a time, petty criminals vanished without a trace, while the supply of prison meals sharply increased.

Lin Hao met with Qi Shuo once and received the latest news.

“So this means the mastermind hasn’t been caught yet?” Lin Hao thought of Chen Mu, always with his gloomy expression, and felt secretly regretful.

In her view, this kind of person who blindly followed their lord and would stop at nothing had not a single redeeming quality.

“At the abandoned residence, there’s also been no activity these past few days.” Qi Shuo looked at Lin Hao and voiced his speculation. “This person should have met with the one who followed you. Perhaps that person provided cover, allowing him to evade the Jinlin Guard’s search.”

Though Lin Hao didn’t want to make things difficult for Du Qing, she couldn’t ignore the potential harm Chen Mu might bring. “That possibility is quite high. Does the Heir know that person’s lodging?”

Qi Shuo shook his head. “Haven’t found it yet. That person is too cautious.”

The people responsible for watching the abandoned residence had tried following Du Qing twice—once they lost him, and once they nearly were discovered, so they didn’t dare follow again.

“Now that all the offices are on guard and this person has gone into hiding, he probably won’t plot any conspiracies in the short term, right?”

“Probably not, but you should still be careful lately. Don’t let that person who followed you see you again.”

Lin Hao nodded. “I understand.”

With Du Qing’s perceptiveness, she truly couldn’t appear in front of him too frequently.