So Marquis Nanguo absolutely could not get off this carriage!

But given the current situation, he didn’t know how to deal with it either!

The coachman driving the horses hadn’t opened the curtain for a long time, only saying, “Official sir, the carriage is full of goods. There’s nothing to see.”

“We still have to look!” The guard’s expression was stern. Feeling something was amiss, he narrowed his eyes and said, “Just open it when told to open it. Could it be… there’s someone hiding inside?”

“Of course not!”

“If there isn’t, then open it. We need to inspect everything thoroughly before we can let you pass.”

The coachman’s hands gripping the reins tightened, breaking into a sweat!

His heart pounded frantically.

He still sat on the driver’s seat, not coming down.

Those guards blocking the carriage exchanged glances, all sensing something was wrong. They slowly surrounded it, each gripping their sabers, ready to draw them at any moment…

Sitting inside, Marquis Nanguo could feel those guards approaching.

Closer and closer.

What should he do?

Suddenly—

“What are you doing?”

A voice came from inside the city.

Timely stopping those guards.

Everyone’s footsteps halted as they looked toward the sound.

Li Cheng?

Wearing casual clothes, he swaggered over, his brows deeply furrowed.

Originally, he had gone to find Song Zhi, but after searching in a big circle without finding him, he heard that something had happened at the lantern festival—it seemed the Second Prince had encountered an assassin, causing a huge commotion. With this chaos, it was even harder to find Song Zhi! He could only rush to the city gate first to ask if there was any news about Ji Yunshu and the others leaving the city. Who would have thought he’d encounter this scene.

When the guards saw him, they all became extremely nervous.

“Lord Li.”

He made an “mm” sound, looking at that carriage and asking, “What’s going on?”

The guard replied, “Reporting to Your Lordship, an assassin was discovered at the lantern festival. The Second Prince ordered us to conduct a thorough investigation, so we’re inspecting everyone coming and going! This coachman says the carriage contains goods, but refuses to open it for us to see, so…”

“So you plan to forcibly pry open the carriage?”

“This subordinate was only…”

Li Cheng snorted, raising his voice, “What? The assassin caused a disturbance in the city, so now they should be trying every means to leave the city. How could they be heading into the city? Instead of properly inspecting those leaving the city, you have the time to inspect those entering the city!”

The guards were immediately speechless. That was indeed the logic!

“My lord, then…”

“Then what? Hurry up and let them through!”

“Yes!” The guard waved his hand. “Let them through, let them through.”

A row of guards moved aside one after another.

Allowing passage.

Marquis Nanguo in the carriage also breathed a sigh of relief.

He just hadn’t expected that the person saving him would actually be Young Lord Li Cheng of Marquis Pingyang.

Among those who surrounded the palace back then, there was Marquis Pingyang.

Li Cheng was his son. This debt must be recorded.

But this time Li Cheng had helped—this kindness also had to be remembered!

As the carriage gradually moved away, Li Cheng gazed at the rear of the carriage, calculating in his mind.

He had recognized the coachman as someone from Marquis Nanguo’s manor. Returning to the city so late, repeatedly claiming the carriage contained goods yet not daring to open it for inspection—clearly there was something suspicious in the carriage.

It seemed… the one sitting in that carriage should be Marquis Nanguo!

But if he was inside, why falsely claim it was goods?

He couldn’t understand.

But last time at the Ministry of Revenue, Marquis Nanguo had helped him out. He should naturally return the favor!

Besides, Marquis Nanguo had stayed out of court politics for many years, conducting business properly. Among the common people of Gaoding City, he was also considered a great philanthropist, so helping him was appropriate.

After the carriage had gone far—

Only then did Li Cheng turn back to question those guards, “Is this how you do your job?”

Huh?

“My lord…”

“Fine, I won’t argue with you about this matter. But I’m at least the head of the City Administration Department. Something this big happened in the city and you didn’t notify me first—is that proper?” Li Cheng put on his authority.

Quite convincingly.

The guards trembled, quickly saying, “My lord, this matter was urgent, and… and the Second Prince gave orders. We didn’t dare delay, so we didn’t notify you first. Besides…”

“Besides what?”

The guard didn’t dare speak.

Li Cheng glared at him, his expression stern, “Speak!”

“This subordinate… couldn’t find you, my lord! We’ve already sent people to look for you several times, but we didn’t know where you were, so… we could only act first.” The guard’s voice grew smaller and smaller.

Clearly frightened.

Li Cheng didn’t get very angry.

Because he was indeed at fault—he had gone out to find Song Zhi.

Not at home!

Not at the City Administration Department either!

That they couldn’t find him was inevitable.

“Fine, consider it my oversight. There won’t be a next time. But if such incidents occur again, you must inform me.”

What?

Those guards thought they had misheard. The little tyrant of Gaoding City would actually… admit fault?

Unheard of!

Like a tiger trimming its own claws!

Inconceivable.

Each of them gaped.

Li Cheng was speechless and silently placed his hand under a guard’s chin, gently lifting it up to close the guard’s open mouth.

Then he asked, “By the way, have you seen any carriages leaving the city today? Approximately… a group of eight or nine people, all men, and… quite handsome-looking, they would have left early this morning.”

The guards all shook their heads: “No!”

“Really?”

“Today several large trees fell outside the city, and there was also a landslide. The official road is full of standing water. It hasn’t been cleared yet, so many carriages and horses haven’t left the city. Even those that did leave took small roads, but none of the carriages and horses taking small roads had a group of eight or nine people matching your description, my lord.” The guard said.

If that was truly the case.

Then…

Li Cheng’s lips couldn’t help but curve into a smile, muttering, “Looks like they haven’t left the city yet!”

His mood greatly improved.

“My lord?”

“Alright, you all keep watch. If any suspicious people leave the city, you must inspect them thoroughly. If anything goes wrong, I’ll hold you responsible.”

“Yes.”

Li Cheng turned and left.

The guards were completely baffled.

The Second Prince’s Manor.

Tonight, the Second Prince’s Manor was unusually tense.

Almost everyone in the entire manor held their breath.

In the main courtyard, maids and servants went in and out many times.

Each carrying clean water in, coming out with basins of bloody water.

And in the courtyard, the manor’s people stood packed together.

Everyone broke into a cold sweat, nervously watching the room.

Someone whispered, “I heard a sword pierced through the chest—that’s a fatal wound. I wonder if they can be saved.”

“The prince brought the best imperial physicians from the palace. Several imperial physicians treating together, there should… be no problem.”

“That’s not necessarily true. Didn’t you see when they were carried in earlier, already on death’s door? In that condition, to survive would be difficult!” This person expressed regret.