Zhou Weizhao watched coldly as Ye Jingchuan toyed with Shi Tongzhou like a cat tormenting a mouse. After quite some time, he finally spoke up to stop him: “Jingchuan, enough!”

Shi Tongzhou had been jostled about by Ye Jingchuan until he was dizzy and nearly vomited on the spot. Hearing these words, he couldn’t help but look toward Zhou Weizhao. With just this one glance, he found himself stunned.

He had never heard of such a figure in Prince Zhennan’s manor—he had also met Ye Jingkuan, who was much younger than this youth before him. But Ye Jingchuan didn’t have any legitimate elder brothers either, so how could this person seem to be the one actually manipulating this entire affair?

Ye Jingchuan kicked him in the rear, watching with malicious satisfaction as he tumbled high off the horse’s back and crashed hard to the ground, only then turning to follow Zhou Weizhao: “Now that we have the person in hand, when should we deliver him before His Majesty?”

Even though he was a comrade-in-arms with Yuan Hong, he had actually been capable of doing something so disgusting—colluding internally and externally with Xingfu, engaging in treasonous dealings. If it weren’t to clear his uncle’s name, Ye Jingchuan would have gladly killed him. Why would he have spent so much effort to capture him alive?

However, thinking about capturing him alive, he couldn’t help but curl his lips into a smile, his mood seeming to improve considerably: “By the way, how did you come up with exactly the same plan as that little girl? How are your brains constructed, thinking in such convoluted, roundabout ways? You actually managed to shake off Chen Xiang completely.”

Zhou Weizhao’s footsteps slowed, and a smile played at the corners of his mouth.

Come to think of it, from returning from Tongzhou until now, it had already been two or three months, and he still hadn’t seen this little girl again. He didn’t know how she was doing. With such a troublesome consort sister in the palace, she must be quite vexed in her heart.

She wasn’t someone who would give favors without reason. This time, revealing information about Shi Tongzhou to him while also providing methods for capturing and making him talk—who knows how many troublesome matters she was waiting for him to help solve.

This little fox who could fall into a henhouse and still instantly clean away all traces of blood, pretending as if nothing had happened—she was truly difficult to deal with.

Seeing Zhou Weizhao remain silent, Ye Jingchuan frowned, somewhat dissatisfied: “After all, she helped you so much, yet you act as if you’re completely unmoved?”

Zhou Weizhao ignored him, turning instead to give instructions to the young Taoist priest following him: “Qing Zhuo, go settle Shi Tongzhou properly. Tonight you personally guard him—there must be absolutely no mistakes.”

The young Taoist priest called Qing Zhuo immediately nodded, turning to leave without any hesitation.

Only then did Zhou Weizhao turn to look at Second Young Master Ye, who was nearly exploding with frustration, leisurely smoothing his ruffled feathers: “You’ve dealt with her before—when have you ever seen her make a losing transaction? If she didn’t have something to ask of me, do you think this little girl has such a kind heart?”

In Ye Jingchuan’s heart, it felt as if seven or eight worms were burrowing about. He followed step by step, pressing for answers: “What does she want from you?! Tell me quickly, let me see if I can help.”

Something seemed odd—last time when he went with his mother to visit the Earl’s manor, that little girl hadn’t mentioned anything about needing help to him. Why had she sought out Zhou Weizhao?

Clearly, all the information Zhou Weizhao knew was what Song Chuyi had told him first, and he had then passed it along. There had been no mention of any favor at all.

“This favor you can’t help with anyway. Telling you would be useless.” Zhou Weizhao stopped and looked at him: “If you have so much free time, you’d be better off going to guard Shi Tongzhou’s sister and brother-in-law with Han Feng, in case Chen Xiang’s Imperial Guards take advantage of any opening.”

Ye Jingchuan snorted—he had long ago arranged for Anzheng Gate’s commanding officer Lu Yu, who had good relations with his uncle, to act as a smokescreen. At this moment, those Imperial Guards were probably all chaotically rushing there in complete confusion. How could they possibly track them here? Even if Lu Yu’s smokescreen didn’t work, there was still Elder Chen meddling enthusiastically, which would be enough to keep those Imperial Guards busy running around from east to west.

“What are you snorting about? The matter isn’t finished yet. Don’t think you can rest easy.” Zhou Weizhao glanced at him and said in a low voice: “Only when we successfully hand the person over to Cen Biliang tomorrow will this matter finally have a conclusion.”

Naturally, they couldn’t personally present the person to His Majesty—otherwise His Majesty would certainly become suspicious of them. Since ancient times, being Crown Prince had always been difficult—perform too well and you provoke the Emperor’s suspicion; perform poorly and people say you’re useless. How to grasp the proper balance in between was truly an eternal dilemma.

The Minister of War, Cen Biliang, who had always been impartially fair in handling official matters and had also been implicated in this incident—he was undoubtedly the best candidate to pierce through this layer of paper.

Ye Jingchuan might make mischief, but he understood this principle. After thinking for a moment, he lowered his voice: “Tomorrow morning all the city gates will definitely be under martial law, and every checkpoint will probably have Imperial Guards standing watch. Getting into the city is still a big problem. Moreover, I know this man Shi Tongzhou—he’s as slippery as an eel. He’ll definitely take advantage of any chaos to try to escape.”

“That’s why we captured his sister and brother-in-law. All he cares about is this family. In a moment when you go, let them meet. Remember, only let them see each other—don’t let them say anything else. Then have Shi Tongzhou sign a confession. He’ll know what to do.”

Zhou Weizhao didn’t hesitate much before making his decision: “As for entering the city, when the time comes, are we afraid there won’t be a way? As long as we convince Shi Tongzhou, the people from the Ministry of War aren’t pushovers either. But you’ll still need to trouble yourself with one more thing—after settling Shi Tongzhou’s matter, you’ll need to enter the city late at night to visit Minister Cen and honestly explain the situation to him.”

Cen Biliang had been greatly implicated this time. He couldn’t possibly refuse such a windfall from heaven. He would certainly fight the Imperial Guards to the death. When the time came, as long as the person entered the city and fell into his hands, matters would naturally proceed smoothly.

Moreover, Cen Biliang was someone who accepted neither bribes nor threats and sided with neither faction. As the Crown Prince’s legitimate son, he naturally shouldn’t negotiate with him personally, and couldn’t leave the slightest trace—lest it later become someone else’s leverage, saying he was forming cliques for private gain and colluding with important court ministers.

At this time, it would be far more convincing and trustworthy for the legitimate second son of Prince Zhennan’s manor—who had suffered the same experience as Cen Biliang, also implicated by the Zijing Pass incident—to come forward instead.

“I’ll go interrogate Shi Tongzhou in a moment.” Ye Jingchuan made up his mind: “Then I’ll enter the city late at night to find Minister Cen. Don’t worry—tomorrow morning I’ll definitely be waiting with Minister Cen at Desheng Gate.”

Zhou Weizhao smiled and patted his shoulder, nodding: “Once this matter is resolved, your father will naturally look upon you more favorably. If you want to take up military service, it will become very easy. However, my people can only escort you to Ten Li Slope at the city gate. After all, Qing Zhuo, Han Feng, and the others are Taoist priests who often come and go with me—they might be recognized. For other matters, remember to discuss them more with your father and elder brother.”