Beneath the Four-Nine City lay a mysterious world.

Unfortunately, this mysterious world fell under Xie Zhifei’s jurisdiction.

The so-called dark channels were underground waterways.

Following the waterways, one could unknowingly reach a dozen li outside the capital.

The water wasn’t deep, barely reaching past the ankles. Zhu Qing, with a luminous pearl in his chest, walked at the front.

Yan Sanhe walked behind Xie Zhifei, her hand tightly held by his.

In the darkness, no one spoke. There were only several rising and falling sounds of breathing, but Yan Sanhe only heard the one that belonged uniquely to him.

His breathing was somewhat unsteady. That leg wound that hadn’t fully healed obviously still couldn’t take too much strain.

Yan Sanhe gently tugged her hand.

Xie Zhifei turned around. “What is it?”

Yan Sanhe: “You and Young Master Pei should only escort us this far. Don’t go any further.”

Xie Zhifei knew about his leg injury and didn’t try to be stubborn. He made a sound of agreement, but his hand didn’t let go.

He was reluctant to let go.

Their relationship had clearly taken a great step forward, yet they were entangled by one matter after another, to the point where they had no time to sit down and properly talk about what was in their hearts.

Now they had to part again.

Never before had there been a moment when Xie Zhifei, like this moment, had so many words surge to his throat, only to swallow them forcefully.

“Then…”

He drew in a breath, trying to make his voice sound normal. “We’ll escort you this far then.”

Yan Sanhe smiled slightly. “Xie Zhifei, I’ve discovered that you…”

“I what?” Xie Zhifei turned to look at her.

“Nothing.”

Yan Sanhe struggled slightly with her hand. “Just that you’re somewhat duplicitous.”

Only then did Xie Zhifei realize that not only had he not released her hand, he’d gripped it even tighter.

“I’m reluctant to let go.” He stated it openly.

A direct punch landed on Yan Sanhe’s heart. She looked at the light in his eyes, thought about the others nearby, and thus also changed the subject duplicitously.

“Xie Zhifei, courtesy demands reciprocity. You can also create some trouble for Prince Han and the others. Even if it doesn’t hurt their foundation, it should at least make them scramble in confusion.”

Xie Zhifei’s eyes suddenly brightened. “How did you guess it was him?”

“Besides him, who else would be watching you and Pei Mingting? Third Master’s sweet words only make friends, not enemies. Mingting has the Buddhist Registry behind him—others only befriend him, they won’t make him an enemy either.”

Yan Sanhe: “You walk so closely with the Imperial Grand Grandson—it can’t be hidden for long. Whoever is the Imperial Grand Grandson’s enemy will certainly be yours too.”

“Have I ever praised you for being truly clever?”

“Not seriously praised, no. This is the first time.”

“I’ll definitely praise you properly more times in the future.”

Xie Zhifei’s thumb gently stroked Yan Sanhe’s hand a few times, then said: “Give Tang Mingyue a message for me—I’ll make up the baby’s greeting gift later.”

“I’ll definitely deliver it.”

Yan Sanhe withdrew her hand and glanced at Young Master Pei behind her. “Mingting, take care. Buyan, let’s go.”

Young Master Pei hadn’t felt anything particular before, but hearing Yan Sanhe say this, his heart immediately felt uncomfortable.

Being reluctant was certain.

Which of these heart demons had he not followed along with, not accompanied them through? Now to let these two weak women travel alone…

Alas!

He wondered if Hero Li could endure the cold weather at Wood Pear Mountain?

Would they encounter any villains on the road?

If they really did, what if they couldn’t win the fight?

Right, what had Huairen just said to Hero that made her silent the entire way?

“Mingting?”

“Mingting?”

“Pei Mingting?”

“Ah?” Young Master Pei snapped back to attention.

“What are you thinking about? I called you several times and you didn’t hear?”

“Thinking about things.”

“No need to think. I’ve already thought it through.”

Xie Zhifei gave a cold laugh. “I’ll go back and discuss it with Zhu Yuanmo.”

When it came to playing dirty, playing mean, who could outplay the Zhu family!

…

Chonghua Palace.

Inner chambers.

Zhao Yanjin had just finished intimate relations with a woman and was drowsily falling asleep.

“Your Highness, Advisor Dong requests Your Highness go to the study. He says the person has returned.”

Zhao Yanjin jolted awake with a start and sat up. “Tell the advisor I’ll come immediately.”

“Your Highness.”

The charming woman clung to him. “It’s already so late. Why not wait until tomorrow…”

Zhao Yanjin’s sharp eyes glanced over. The woman was so frightened her body trembled, and she quickly released her hands.

Leaving the inner quarters, he headed straight for the study.

In the study, the secret guard had already changed into ordinary clothes and stood to the side with a bow.

Beside him, Dong Xiao was drinking tea.

Zhao Yanjin sat in the main seat. “Well? Speak quickly!”

“Your Highness, shortly before the second quarter of the hour of the dog, Third Master Xie and Young Master Pei arrived at the pawnshop. At the first quarter of the hour of the pig, Third Master and Young Master Pei left the pawnshop. Halfway along their route, another carriage came from the side and merged with theirs.”

Zhao Yanjin’s heart stirred. “Who was in that carriage?”

Secret guard: “His Highness the Imperial Grand Grandson.”

As expected!

“Continue.”

“At the second quarter of the hour of the pig, the carriage arrived at a mansion. In less than half an hour, the Grand Grandson hurriedly left first, and Third Master Xie and Young Master Pei chased after him…”

The secret guard looked up at the prince’s expression.

“This subordinate’s whereabouts were discovered by Zhu Qing at Third Master’s side, so I had to hastily escape.”

Zhao Yanjin frowned. “Who lives in that mansion?”

The secret guard quickly said: “Your Highness, that mansion was originally Young Master Pei’s outside residence. Now it’s occupied by Xie Daozhi’s adopted daughter.”

Dong Xiao put down his teacup. “Surnamed Yan, given name Sanhe.”

Zhao Yanjin was greatly surprised. “How does Boren know…”

“Does Your Highness remember that a month ago, the secret guard discovered Young Master Pei and Second Master Zhu leaving the city together, accompanied by three women?”

“I remember. You said one of them was Xie Daozhi’s eldest daughter-in-law.”

“Correct. The other two were Xie Daozhi’s adopted daughter Yan Sanhe and her maid.”

Dong Xiao: “I investigated secretly. The person that Xu Lai’s son Xu Sheng abducted was her.”

Zhao Yanjin pondered: “That little beast ran to see Yan Sanhe in the middle of the night. Could it be…”

“Your Highness has forgotten—today His Majesty just bestowed marriage upon the Grand Grandson.”

Dong Xiao: “Presumably that Yan Sanhe has considerable beauty, not only bewitching Xu Sheng to take risks, but even the Grand Grandson is infatuated with her.”

Zhao Yanjin pondered for a long while, then gave a cold laugh.

“If you ask me, Xie Daozhi is still the clever one—using an adopted daughter to secretly hook the Imperial Grand Grandson, making the Grand Grandson keep a mistress in a golden house for her. What immense wealth and honor that will bring in the future.”

Dong Xiao waved his hand, signaling the secret guard to leave.

The secret guard bowed to the prince, then withdrew and closed the door.

Dong Xiao leaned closer. “Your Highness, we can set aside the matter of the golden house for now. Right now there’s an urgent matter—we’ve already alerted them.”

“We didn’t kill anyone or injure anyone. What do we have to fear?”

“What I fear is that they’ll collude with the Zhu family…”

Dong Xiao sighed. “Your Highness also knows that His Majesty trusts the Zhu family extremely. If the Zhu family uses feng shui or birth dates and times…”

Zhao Yanjin’s expression darkened.

With a great battle approaching, the Zhu family could not only decide the timing of military deployment but also determine the selection of the commanding general.

Even if His Majesty favored him greatly, as long as the Zhu family said lightly, “Prince Han’s birth chart conflicts with the military campaign,” His Majesty would abandon him for the greater good.

“Does Boren have any good ideas?”

“Your Highness.”

Dong Xiao leaned even closer, lowering his voice further. “These past few days as I’ve wandered the streets, I heard a rumor among the common folk about the Zhu family.”

“Speak.”

“When Zhu Xuanjiu’s body was placed in the coffin, it directly shattered three coffins.”