Song Zhi heard sounds coming from outside but didn’t know what was happening.

His eyes strained to look outside.

Unfortunately, his body was unwell, so he could only lean against the bed and watch.

He saw that dark-skinned guard timidly and carefully walk in.

The guard even cautiously glanced back.

Song Zhi asked: “Big brother, what’s happening outside?”

The guard quickly rushed to the bedside, staring with round eyes, pointing at himself, lowering his voice to say: “It’s me!”

Me?

Song Zhi: “…Huh?”

“Li Cheng!”

This person with dark skin was Li Cheng?

Looking carefully, he did look somewhat similar!

Song Zhi again: “…Huh?”

Staring at him.

As if trying to see a flower bloom.

“What are you ‘huh-ing’ about? Hurry and come with me.” Li Cheng grabbed his hand.

“Ah!”

Song Zhi felt pain in his chest.

Li Cheng quickly let go, only then realizing he still had wounds: “I almost forgot you’re still injured.”

Song Zhi pressed his chest, catching his breath: “Young Master Cheng, you… why are you disguised like this? And coming to the Second Prince’s Manor like this?”

“Isn’t it all because of you?”

“Me?”

“I was worried about you!”

Oh!

Song Zhi suddenly understood, looking down at his wound: “So Young Master Cheng still remembers me. But I’m already fine. The imperial physician said as long as I rest properly for a while, I’ll recover.”

“You’re one lucky kid! Surviving even this—I’m telling you, the Second Prince’s Manor is not a place you should stay. Come with me quickly.”

“Right now?”

Li Cheng earnestly told him: “When else? The Second Prince is no ordinary person. Dealing with him is like throwing yourself into a wolf’s den—he’ll devour you without leaving even scraps.”

“Is it really as serious as you say?” Song Zhi clearly didn’t believe him, instead saying, “Although I saved the Second Prince, this life of mine was still saved by the Second Prince. How could it be throwing myself into a wolf’s den? If it were truly like that, the Prince wouldn’t have saved me.”

Li Cheng showed an expression of frustrated disappointment: “I say you’re foolish, yet you’re quite clever with your studies. I say you’re clever, yet you’re so foolish you can’t distinguish truth from falsehood.”

“Song doesn’t understand Young Master Cheng’s meaning?”

“I’ll tell you straight—the Second Prince simply wants to use you. In the future when you pass the imperial examinations with high marks, you’ll have to work for him! Bookworm, this is equivalent to selling yourself, you know?”

Uh!

Song Zhi was astonished: “This… impossible!”

“I’m too lazy to argue with you. In a moment, I’ll call the guard outside in, knock him unconscious, then you change into his clothes and leave here with me. Understand?”

Song Zhi’s eyes were wide open.

As if he still hadn’t processed it.

He hesitated for quite a while.

Just as Li Cheng was about to grab him again—

The manor’s steward entered with several servants.

To maintain his disguise, Li Cheng quickly stepped back a few paces and searched the room.

The steward said: “This is the main courtyard, where the Prince resides. Be careful when you search.”

Li Cheng replied in a rough voice: “Yes.”

And continued searching.

Song Zhi said nothing.

The steward stood watching from the side.

Not leaving!

Helplessly, Li Cheng had to abandon his plan.

However, he already harbored some resentment toward Na Yan, hoping to actually find a secret chamber and convict Na Yan of a crime!

So he worked even harder than those other guards!

Searching over and over again.

At this moment, Na Tuo was still in the hall drinking tea and waiting.

The manor was large, so it would naturally take a long time for those twenty-some people to complete their search.

Na Yan glanced at him: “It’s been so long, and your people still haven’t found any secret chamber. It seems your wishful thinking was mistaken.”

“Hmph! Don’t celebrate yet. Until we search to the very end, no one knows.” Na Tuo stood up. “Since there aren’t enough people, I’ll search myself.”

“Good! I’ll accompany you. After all, my manor is very large, and you haven’t been here in so long—wouldn’t want you to get lost.”

How considerate!

Thus, Na Yan led his people following behind Na Tuo, helping him “find the way.”

All the way to a side courtyard in the western wing.

Na Tuo’s guard just came out from inside, reporting: “Prince, the western wing has all been searched. Nothing.”

Nothing?

“Did you search carefully?”

“We… searched everything, even under the paintings and carpets. Nothing.”

Na Tuo furrowed his brow tightly.

His heart grew anxious.

At this moment, another guard ran in from outside, leaning close to report: “The eastern and northern courtyards have all been searched. Nothing.”

The manor faced south with its back to the north, and had not established a southern courtyard.

After hearing these words, cold sweat broke out on Na Tuo’s forehead.

“You’re saying… there’s nothing anywhere?” Na Tuo didn’t believe it.

“The kitchen, woodshed, servants’ and guards’ rooms were all searched one by one. Even the stables were searched. Nothing.”

At this moment, Na Tuo felt as if struck by a heavy blow!

His heart tightened.

The guard asked: “Prince, what do we do now?”

He didn’t respond, his gaze wandering.

Na Yan smiled and walked before him, saying: “Looks like you’ve truly come up empty!”

Hmph!

In the current situation, Na Tuo still refused to admit defeat: “Don’t celebrate yet.”

“Since nothing can be found now, just wait… for Father King to deal with you.”

“You…” Na Tuo gritted his teeth, still maintaining his dignified posture, straightening his back, fearlessly saying, “If you want to go tattle, go ahead!” Then he called to his people: “Leave!”

The group hurriedly headed toward the courtyard exit.

Then—

Na Tuo stopped at the entrance.

Then looked back.

Unexpectedly, he caught Na Yan’s gaze glancing at a certain room in the courtyard.

Which was immediately withdrawn!

Just that one glance made Na Tuo perceive and understand something.

He quietly asked the guard beside him: “Every room in this courtyard was searched?”

The guard affirmed: “All searched!”

Na Tuo used his chin to point at the room Na Yan had just glanced at: “What about that room?”

“Also searched, even searched twice.”

“This prince will personally search it once more.”

With that, without another word, he led his people into that room.

Na Yan was surprised he had turned back.

He immediately followed in, saying: “Are you still not giving up? Planning to continue deceiving yourself?”

“Whether it is or isn’t, we’ll know once we search.”

“You…”

Seeing Na Yan extremely nervous, Na Tuo’s heart became even more certain that this room definitely contained what he was looking for.

Sure enough, he walked before a bookshelf and paced for a while.

He noticed the paint on the wall behind the bookshelf seemed somewhat off.

He narrowed his eyes.

Ordering: “Come, push this bookshelf aside.”

“Yes!”

Several guards worked together to move the bookshelf.

Revealing the wall behind… a new wall!

Yes, it was a new wall.

It bore obvious traces of fresh paint.

He glanced at Na Yan, seeing Na Yan’s expression had frozen.

He secretly rejoiced: “It seems there’s something significant behind this wall!”

Na Yan feigned composure: “This wall… what’s strange about it?”