As soon as these words were spoken, the great hall fell silent.

Although discussing such matters in today’s environment seemed inauspicious, Yan Qiuhuai’s claim that his daughter had disappeared inevitably aroused everyone’s curiosity.

“Did this old one hear correctly? You say Miss Yan has disappeared?” Empress Dowager Zheng momentarily thought her ears were playing tricks on her.

How could a living person, especially the daughter of the Prime Minister, simply vanish without explanation?

At that moment, Madam Yan stood up from among the officials’ seats and hurriedly stepped forward to stand beside Prime Minister Yan. “My lord, what did you say? Lingshang has disappeared? How is it that I know nothing about this…”

As soon as Madam Yan spoke, murmurs of astonishment spread throughout the hall.

On the dais, Chu Ye’s fists tightened. Though he had no interest in this matter given the occasion, he could not simply ignore it.

Forcing himself to remain patient, he asked, “Minister Yan, what exactly has happened?”

Prime Minister Yan sighed, his face ashen. “We discovered Lingshang was missing yesterday afternoon. We sent people to search for a long time, but couldn’t find any trace of her. Her maid Cailu said Lingshang had been staying in her room and hadn’t come out, but there was no one in the room…”

…

…

“Heavens! How could you not tell me about something so serious?” Madam Yan suddenly burst into tears, striking Prime Minister Yan with her hands.

To the side, Mu Yunjin and Chu Li exchanged glances, harboring doubts about Yan Qiuhuai’s words.

If Yan Lingshang had disappeared, what about Huang Yan?

Could it be…

After some thought, Chu Li sent a secret message to Song Chun, who was hidden in the shadows. “Go investigate Huang Yan’s whereabouts.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” came the reply across the distance.

Meanwhile, in the great hall, the Vice Minister of Justice rose from his seat. “Your Majesty, several cases of missing young women have occurred in Linyin City recently. When these young women were found, they had been flayed, their flesh and blood in a terrible state. I have already dispatched additional personnel from the Ministry of Justice to thoroughly investigate these cases in Linyin City.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Yan nearly fainted on the spot. Disregarding proper decorum, she began wailing, “My Lingshang, my poor Lingshang…”

“Silence!” Prime Minister Yan scolded his wife sharply.

Today is the new Emperor’s coronation ceremony. This matter can be discussed later,” the Emperor Emeritus said, scanning the crowd below.

After the incident with Chu Qing, he had become wary of these officials. Besides, regardless of whether Yan Qiuhuai was telling the truth, such an occasion was not appropriate for discussing these matters.

Hearing the Emperor Emeritus’s words, Prime Minister Yan could only nod awkwardly and return to his seat with Madam Yan.

The singing and dancing continued, but everyone’s thoughts were now fixed on Yan Lingshang’s disappearance and the Vice Minister’s report about the missing young women. All those with daughters at home felt intense fear, worried the same might happen to their families.

Only Mu Yunjin and Chu Li knew some of the inside story.

The real Yan Lingshang was in their custody, completely unharmed. The “daughter” that Yan Qiuhuai claimed was missing was actually… Huang Yan.

Realizing this, both began to worry about Huang Yan.

Although Huang Yan was a clever person, she was not necessarily a match for Black Robe and the Witch Crone. One was proficient in shamanic arts, the other in evil magic. If Huang Yan had fallen into their hands, she would undoubtedly suffer greatly.

…

After all the ceremonies had concluded, Chu Ye, still seated on the main throne, turned his gaze toward Prime Minister Yan.

“Minister Yan, when was the last time you saw Miss Yan?” Chu Ye asked.

Seeing Chu Ye inquire about the matter, Yan Qiuhuai’s hope was instantly rekindled. He immediately stepped forward and thought carefully.

A moment later, his eyes revealed a flash of terror as he turned toward Chu Li and Mu Yunjin, then quickly averted his gaze. He fell to his knees with a thud.

“In reply to Your Majesty, the day before yesterday, this old minister took my daughter to Prince Ning’s residence to deliver gifts. Afterward, the Princess Consort of Ning said she had gifts for my daughter and invited her to stay for a meal. This old minister left alone… Later, yesterday morning, I only heard from my daughter’s maid that my daughter was still resting in her room. It was only when I returned from court and called her for the midday meal that I discovered something was wrong…”

As soon as Yan Qiuhuai finished speaking, several people cast glances at Chu Li and Mu Yunjin.

Chu Ye hadn’t expected that this matter would again involve Prince Ning’s residence. His brow furrowed slightly before he said, “Chen Pu, this matter is entrusted to your Court of Judicial Review to resolve.”

With these words, Chu Ye rose and left the hall.

…

After the important figures had left the hall, the atmosphere relaxed somewhat, but no one departed, all wanting to see what would happen next.

Chen Pu approached Prime Minister Yan. As he passed by the princes’ seats, he glanced at Chu Li. Seeing Chu Li’s expressionless face showing no unusual signs, he understood the situation.

“Lord Chen, Lord Chen…” Madam Yan rushed over anxiously.

“Please speak, Madam Yan,” Chen Pu said, looking at her.

Madam Yan wiped away her tears and turned toward Chu Li and Mu Yunjin. “I demand to search Prince Ning’s residence immediately.”

With these words, the hall fell silent once more. Some officials who had been preparing to leave immediately stopped, wanting to witness what would happen next.

“Madam Yan, the Prime Minister himself just said that yesterday morning, your household maid claimed Miss Yan was resting in her room. Hastily searching Prince Ning’s residence now seems unreasonable,” Chen Pu said.

Madam Yan, overcome with love for her daughter, paid no heed to such considerations. “But my husband said the last time he truly saw our daughter was at Prince Ning’s residence!”

She then turned to look at Chu Li and Mu Yunjin. “Prince Ning, Princess Consort, you also wish to prove your innocence, don’t you?”

“Please, go ahead,” Chu Li calmly uttered these two words.

“Excellent! Prince Ning has agreed. Lord Chen, please bring people to search Prince Ning’s residence now. Let’s all go together!” After speaking, Madam Yan hurriedly walked toward the exit.

Mu Yunjin snorted lightly. “Stop right there!”

Madam Yan halted her steps, and everyone else looked at Mu Yunjin.

“May I ask, are you now suspecting that our Prince Ning’s residence is involved in kidnapping?” Mu Yunjin narrowed her eyes, cold anger emanating from her.

“Is Prince Ning’s residence not among those under suspicion?” Prime Minister Yan countered.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin raised her chin and looked at Prime Minister Yan. “Then if you falsely accuse our Prince Ning’s residence, what should your punishment be?”

At these words, Prime Minister Yan’s face showed hesitation and difficulty.

Indeed, suspecting a royal prince was a serious offense…

But Chu Li and Mu Yunjin were certainly suspicious. It seemed he could only take a gamble…

“If we wrongly accuse Prince Ning’s residence, we shall certainly come to apologize with thorns on our backs,” the Prime Minister said.

“Very well then, Prime Minister, please proceed,” Mu Yunjin smiled.

This smile made Prime Minister Yan and Madam Yan inexplicably anxious.

The crowd in the hall all changed their routes, heading toward Prince Ning’s residence to watch the drama unfold.

Chu Li and Mu Yunjin walked at the back. Looking at the group ahead with their grand formation, Mu Yunjin sighed and said in a low voice, “Rescuing a damsel in distress has brought trouble upon us.”

“Just think of it as watching a monkey show,” Chu Li said indifferently.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin laughed softly. “So, has the real Miss Yan been well hidden?”

“Hmm, I don’t know,” Chu Li replied.

“What? You didn’t leave her in the empty pavilion, did you?” Mu Yunjin felt a moment of panic.

Chu Li’s composed face revealed a slight smile. “You’ll find out when we return to the residence.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin relaxed.

…

Upon returning to Prince Ning’s residence, guards dispatched by the Court of Judicial Review thoroughly searched inside and outside the residence but found no traces whatsoever.

Most people had anticipated this result.

Some officials who had always maintained good private relations with Chu Li had already begun to mock the situation—

“Huh, searching Prince Ning’s residence—I’m surprised Madam Yan could think of such a thing. This act is truly unreasonable.”

“Prime Minister Yan said he would apologize to Prince Ning with thorns on his back,” Grand Tutor Zhuang said with a smile.

“The Grand Tutor speaks truly. We all heard the promise to apologize. The Prime Minister cannot escape it.”

“…”

Hearing these words, Prime Minister Yan’s face alternated between shades of green and white.

Madam Yan, unable to bear the mockery, blurted out, “Who would be stupid enough to hide someone in their residence? Perhaps my Lingshang has already been…”

She then lowered her head and began to wipe away tears.

Mu Yunjin rolled her eyes skyward and said scornfully, “If you knew no one would be stupid enough to hide someone in their residence, why did you propose searching Prince Ning’s residence? Did you come deliberately to cause trouble?”

At these words, Madam Yan’s tears abruptly ceased.

Nearby, laughter erupted.

Chen Pu, suppressing his laughter, feigned seriousness and said, “Since this official has taken charge of this matter, I will spare no effort in tracking down your daughter’s whereabouts. Please, Prime Minister and Madam, first take this official to your residence to examine the situation.”

Seeing that Chen Pu had offered him a way out, Prime Minister Yan took it gratefully. “Very well, let us return to examine the situation. Once everything is settled, this official will certainly come to Prince Ning’s residence to apologize.”

With these words, he pulled Madam Yan out of Prince Ning’s residence.

Seeing the Prime Minister’s party leave, the other officials also took their leave, bidding farewell to Chu Li and Mu Yunjin before departing.

Before these officials had stepped out of the main gate, a secret message simultaneously reached both Chu Li and Mu Yunjin’s ears—

“Consort Rong’s final moment approaches. Come quickly to Water Cloud Temple!”

The speaker was Imperial Preceptor An.

Hearing the words “final moment,” Mu Yunjin’s pupils contracted, and her heart shook.

While she stood frozen in shock, Chu Li had already flown away with a darkened face. His speed was so swift that he quickly disappeared from Mu Yunjin’s sight.

Mu Yunjin clenched her fists and, without further hesitation, also launched herself into the air, racing toward Water Cloud Temple.

At the gate, the officials who had not yet gone far witnessed the two figures fleeing one after another with incredible speed. They were all stunned, marveling at such supreme lightness skill…

“Chen Pu, Prince Ning, and his Princess Consort must be rushing to destroy evidence!” Prime Minister Yan, who had just left, excitedly pointed in the direction the two had flown.

Chen Pu pouted and shrugged. “But we cannot catch up with them now. We can only proceed step by step with our investigation.”

“Chen Pu, are you deliberately opposing me?”

“This official wouldn’t dare.”

“Then quickly think of a way to pursue them! Doesn’t the Court of Judicial Review have many skilled fighters? Is there not one who knows lightness skill?”

“Those skilled in lightness techniques are all in the Court of Judicial Review. Even if this official returned to find someone for the Prime Minister, it would be too late…”

“You! Scoundrel!”