Yan Xi had fled.

When Shen Chong led people into his room, the room was tidy and clean, but the person was nowhere to be seen. Gold, silver, and valuables had all vanished too.

After asking around, no one had seen him. Zhao Yishi was so angry he couldn’t maintain his princely composure and kicked over a chair, immediately ordering the Crown Prince’s personal guards to search the entire city.

“He’ll hide in some obscure corner—hard to find.”

Xie Zhifei thought for a moment. “Yan Sanhe, you and Mingting wait at Duanmu Palace for me. I’ll make a trip to the Five Cities Command.”

Yan Sanhe knew that finding people was Xie Zhifei’s specialty. Following him at this time would only cause trouble. “Alright.”

Xie Zhifei turned and cupped his fists toward the Crown Prince. “Your Highness, I’ll go first.”

Zhao Yishi nodded silently.

Though he concealed it well, the depths of his gaze still revealed a blade-like sharpness. Xie Zhifei had no time to console him—Yan Xi was too important a figure. He had to be found immediately.

Upon reaching the palace gate, Ding Yi and Zhu Qing surrounded him with remarkable coordination.

Xie Zhifei said coldly: “We split up. Zhu Qing goes to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Ding Yi takes silver to find those beggar children. I’ll sit at the Five Cities Command. Once there’s news, send it to Five Cities first.”

“Yes!”

…

Even in his fury, Zhao Yishi displayed remarkable composure, staying by Yan Sanhe and Pei Xiao’s side at every moment.

Occasionally, his gaze would also fall on Li Buyan in the corner.

“Miss Yan, this is my fault. I never expected…”

“It has nothing to do with Your Highness.”

The quieter the night, the clearer Yan Sanhe’s mind became.

Yan Xi couldn’t escape.

Third Master wouldn’t only deploy the Five Cities Command’s forces. He would send word to both the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the little beggars. Within two or three hours, the person would be found.

What she needed to consider now was why would a mere eunuch like Yan Xi lie?

Also, what was the actual truth?

With this thought, Yan Sanhe suddenly spoke: “Your Highness, tell me about Yan Xi in detail.”

“Yan Ruxian’s adopted son, very clever, very sharp, quick-eyed and deft-handed—no one is more diligent than him.”

Zhao Yishi smiled bitterly: “I won’t hide it from Miss Yan—when he came to serve at my side, first, I truly saw that he was thorough, and second, I also wanted to curry favor with Yan Ruxian.”

These words made even Li Buyan, who had been dozing in the corner, suddenly sit up straight and become alert.

Once awake, Huang Qi beside her also perked up, listening intently to the Crown Prince’s words.

“Common people’s difficulties are merely three meals a day, whether their children become talented, whether husband and wife, in-laws, and sisters-in-law get along harmoniously.

People like us appear high and mighty, beyond compare, but one misstep means eternal damnation.”

Zhao Yishi lowered his eyelids.

“Pondering one matter a hundred times, pondering one person a hundred times—even speaking a single sentence requires thinking through whether it can be said aloud.

I told Miss before—whether Crown Prince or Crown Prince’s heir, none can do as they please. One hair moved affects the entire body. The spider webs entangling us are more numerous than anyone’s.”

I came to hear about Yan Xi, not to hear your complaints.

Yan Sanhe said flatly: “But what you gain is also more than anyone.”

A cold smile appeared on Zhao Yishi’s elegant, peaceful face. “Miss Yan is quite right.”

Yan Sanhe: “Then let’s return to Yan Xi.”

“After he came to my side, everything was proper, everything thoughtful. He quickly became the closest person at my side.”

Zhao Yishi: “I secretly investigated him. His parents died early. He was sent into the palace by his family’s uncle to be castrated. Because he was clever, Yan Ruxian took notice of him. His background was very clean.”

“Your Highness later neglected Yan Xi because of Yan Ruxian’s downfall, correct?”

“Correct!”

Zhao Yishi’s gaze was heavy, but his answer was extremely frank.

Yan Sanhe asked no more. She guessed that Yan Xi’s lie was perhaps inseparable from Zhao Yishi’s neglect.

The flower hall fell into prolonged silence.

Night had not yet turned to dawn when Shen Chong hurried in. “Your Highness, Miss Yan, Third Master sent word—the person has been found.”

Zhao Yishi: “Where?”

Yan Sanhe: “Dead or alive?”

Shen Chong: “At a small inn in the western suburbs. Alive and well. Third Master has already gone ahead.”

Zhao Yishi: “Depart immediately.”

“Huairen.”

Pei Xiao blocked him: “Don’t you have morning court tomorrow?”

Zhao Yishi couldn’t care about that: “Without getting clear answers, how could I have the mind for morning court?”

Yan Sanhe urged: “Stop talking nonsense. Let’s go!”

…

The matter shouldn’t be made public, so Zhao Yishi only brought Shen Chong and two close guards.

Passing through the city gate, Shen Chong raised his official token. The soldiers guarding the city didn’t dare even grunt and immediately let them through.

First taking the official road, then small paths, they traveled increasingly remote areas.

Half an hour later, a point of light appeared ahead on the road. Drawing closer, they discovered it was Zhu Qing holding a lantern, waiting by the roadside.

“Your Highness, Miss Yan, please follow me.”

Zhu Qing leaped onto his horse and led the way.

Pei Xiao lowered the carriage window and muttered to Yan Sanhe: “That bastard Yan Xi really can run—running to this godforsaken place. Lucky Xie Wushi could find him.”

Li Buyan was holding in a bellyful of anger. A dead eunuch had them all running in circles, racing around in the middle of the night.

“Yan Sanhe, what do we do when we see him?”

“However you want to handle it, handle it that way. Just don’t kill him—leave me one breath to question.”

“Been waiting for you to say that.”

…

They called it a small inn, but actually it was just a roadside household that partitioned off two rooms as guest quarters. When guests came they did business; when no guests came it stayed empty.

Xie Zhifei waited at the entrance. Behind him, that household’s family knelt on the ground trembling.

After the carriage stopped, Xie Zhifei helped Zhao Yishi dismount. “The person is inside. When we captured him, he was still sound asleep.”

As the words fell, he felt a figure whoosh past from behind. Xie Zhifei turned his head and only saw Li Buyan’s angry retreating back.

He used his gaze to question Yan Sanhe. Yan Sanhe shook her head at him.

A moment later, pig-slaughtering howls came from inside the room. Not a single person felt the slightest sympathy—all wished Hero Li would strike even harder.

With a great enemy before them, everyone was running around for the war horses, yet this bastard was still lying. Even killing him wouldn’t relieve their anger.

The wailing gradually lowered. Yan Sanhe made an inviting gesture toward Zhao Yishi.

Inside the room, a single lamp flickered dimly.

Yan Xi knelt on the ground, his entire face beaten beyond recognition even by his own mother. Two streams of blood flowed from his nose.

Li Buyan picked up a stick and struck his calf with a dull blow. He lurched forward in pain, opened his mouth, and spat out blood.

A pair of black boots appeared before his eyes. Without looking closely, Yan Xi knew they belonged to the Crown Prince.

“Your Highness, spare my life! Spare this dog’s life!”

“Want to live? Miss Yan will ask questions—you answer them.”

Zhao Yishi looked around. Seeing the room was small and stuffy, unable to accommodate so many people, he exchanged a glance with Yan Sanhe before going to the outer room.

Yan Sanhe followed out and saw him sitting in the secondary seat at the eight immortals table. Without the slightest hesitation, she sat in the host’s seat.

Li Buyan dragged Yan Xi out like dragging a dead dog, throwing him in the middle of the main hall.