Zhao’er glanced at the box, then smiled slightly at the guards.

“Nothing else, thank you all, officer brothers.”

“As we should, as we should…”

“When I return from prayers, I must tell Father. If not for you all, these scriptures would have fallen on the ground and gotten dirty. Then the Buddha wouldn’t accept them, and I would be at fault.”

“Being able to serve Miss Zhao is our honor.”

Those guards were secretly delighted!

Everyone wanted to be promoted.

If Duke Wangguo heard Miss Zhao mention that they had helped pick up the scriptures, perhaps in his gratitude he would promote them.

The little maid beside Zhao’er interjected: “Miss, listen to them—their mouths are so sweet.”

Speaking the honest truth.

Zhao’er secretly smiled: “Then we won’t disturb you officers from your duties.”

“Miss Zhao, take care.”

She smiled faintly and said to the coachman: “Let’s go, don’t delay.”

“Yes!”

The coachman mounted the horse and drove the carriage out of the city.

Bai Yin hurried out of the city, but was still somewhat slower than the carriage. Zhao’er’s carriage passed by his side and continued driving forward.

However—

Zhao’er suddenly lifted the curtain and looked back.

She saw Bai Yin’s expression tense.

He was hurrying along.

Only after the carriage traveled further and further away, until Bai Yin’s figure could no longer be seen, did Zhao’er pull her head back inside.

She was deep in thought.

Pondering something in her heart.

“Miss.” The maid beside her called out to her.

“Hmm?”

The maid asked very curiously: “That box… Miss clearly kicked it out with your foot, so why… this servant doesn’t understand. Why did Miss do that?”

She only said: “You wouldn’t understand.”

“If Miss doesn’t say, this servant naturally won’t understand!”

“Enough, don’t ask. Just consider that the box grew legs and rolled down by itself. As for the rest, don’t speak too much.”

The maid pursed her lips.

Lowering her gaze.

Sealing her mouth.

Zhao’er continued pondering.

Even though that person just now was disguised, with changed clothing and hairstyle, she had still recognized him.

If she remembered correctly, that man seemed to be someone beside Big Brother Jing!

She had seen him at the teahouse last time!

Since he was Big Brother Jing’s person, she naturally had to help.

However—

Why would that person dress up like that?

And where was Big Brother Jing?

Zhao’er’s thoughts were simple. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t figure out the reason.

She simply let out a breath.

Forget it!

What was urgent now was going to the temple to pray for Mother’s blessings.

…

After leaving the city, Bai Yin intercepted someone riding a horse on the road.

He spent several taels of silver to buy the horse.

Riding all the way toward the bamboo house.

Just as he arrived outside that bamboo forest, he saw Lang Bo.

He hadn’t returned all night, and Lang Bo, following Jingrong’s orders, was about to enter the city to find him.

They happened to meet.

“Why are you only returning now?” Lang Bo anxiously dismounted.

Bai Yin also got down from the horse.

Seeing him in worn clothing, dressed like a woodcutter.

Lang Bo: “You… what’s this?”

“Convenient for leaving the city.”

“Oh! Right, what about that kid? The one who went into the city with you yesterday—why didn’t he come back with you?”

“It’s a long story. I’ll explain when we get back.”

Bai Yin then rode into the bamboo forest.

“Hey, wait for me!”

Lang Bo also hurried to follow.

At this time—

Jingrong, Ji Yunshu, and Lord San were all waiting.

Originally Bai Yin and the others should have returned last night.

But still no sign of them.

Lord San was so anxious he paced back and forth in the room.

Sighing again and again.

“Now the city is full of guards everywhere. How could you agree to let Bai Yin enter the city? It’s been a whole night, and who knows how things are now.”

Extremely worried.

Jingrong stood outside the hall, his gaze on the gloomy overcast sky, his brow deeply furrowed: “I didn’t consider thoroughly enough. I should have made other plans instead of letting him go.”

Ji Yunshu sat inside. Hearing him say this, she stood up: “It has nothing to do with you! If he wanted to go, no one could stop him. Moreover, my brother handles things properly and has good judgment—he won’t act recklessly. What’s more, Lian Que was beside him.”

Lord San: “There are always unexpected situations. Who could predict?”

At this moment—

“Your Highness, he’s back!” Lang Bo’s voice rang out from far away.

Soon, Bai Yin arrived.

As soon as he entered the room, his face was heavy.

Lord San asked: “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“Lian Que has disappeared!”

“Lian Que disappeared? What do you mean?”

Bai Yin was silent.

His fists clenched tightly.

Ji Yunshu touched his arm and asked: “Brother, what exactly happened?” He said: “We originally planned to have someone deliver the medicine and then leave, but unexpectedly that Second Prince was too cautious—the medicine couldn’t be delivered at all. Lian Que and I couldn’t show ourselves, and being too anxious, we entered the prince’s residence at night. To let me smoothly enter the room to feed Song Zhi the medicine, he set a fire in the prince’s residence to draw the Second Prince over. Only then could I get close to Song Zhi. As a result…”

He explained everything in detail.

Speaking to the end, he blamed himself: “The marquis already sent people to search the prince’s residence all night, but they couldn’t find Lian Que. Moreover, no one came out that night either. He… disappeared.”

Disappeared!

Jingrong was puzzled: “How could a perfectly fine living person just disappear?”

“They really couldn’t find him.”

“…Perhaps the Second Prince’s residence is hiding some mystery!”

“What do you mean?”

Jingrong said: “What I mean is, that Second Prince’s residence perhaps has secret passages or the like, and Lian Que is imprisoned inside.”

Ugh!

Lord San immediately said: “Privately constructing secret passages in a prince’s residence is a great crime! It would be dealt with as treason. If this is true, this Second Prince is too bold.” Since ancient times, princes’ residences were built by the court. The layout and dimensions inside all had strict regulations—not an inch more, not an inch less. If expansion was needed, it had to be reported through the Ministry of Works. Even chiseling through a wall required reporting!

This regulation existed for convenient management and transparency. So, let alone privately constructing secret chambers and passages—that was a great crime. Once discovered, it was like digging one’s own grave.

If secret chambers truly existed in the Second Prince’s residence, once the crime was established, his head would be gone.

But speculation was ultimately just speculation!

Bai Yin didn’t care about these things. He said: “I originally planned to go to the prince’s residence again tonight, but the marquis told me to leave the city first and not get involved.” “The marquis not letting you get involved is correct!” Lord San said to him earnestly, “Bai Yin, I believe the marquis has already told you everything that should be said. You must be clear in your heart—what you should do and what you shouldn’t do are not just about you alone. If the King of Huyi learns you’re still alive, it won’t just implicate you and the marquis, but many, many people. Even if you don’t consider yourself, you should consider their lives! This time your impulsive actions can be overlooked, but there must not be a next time.”

What the Marquis of Nanguo said to him last night still echoed in his ears.

He was a prince!

He was the future king! In anything, it wasn’t up to him alone.