“Speak!”
“Zhu Yuanmo owed Yan Sanhe a huge favor earlier. Yan Sanhe summoned him to the estate and had him make a trip to the Xie family ancestral graves to check the feng shui there. If it wasn’t good, he was to fix it while there.”
Wang Yin: “The Xie family graves are in Anhui Prefecture. Zhu Yuanmo said that after leaving the estate, he returned home to simply pack some luggage, then departed.”
Zhao Yishi: “And then?”
Wang Yin: “Guard Shen said there was indeed only Zhu Yuanmo in the carriage, plus one bundle. In the bundle were four or five changes of clothes and a thousand taels in banknotes.”
Zhao Yishi’s eyes were ice cold. “The dignified former Director of the Imperial Observatory goes out to examine feng shui without even bringing a servant?”
Wang Yin: “He said Yan Sanhe instructed him that helping the Xie family examine their ancestral graves couldn’t be publicized—he should go alone.”
As the words fell, someone knocked on the door.
Wang Yin hurried to open it.
A guard whispered a few words in his ear. Wang Yin hastily returned to the study.
“Your Highness, the Ji family carriage has also been investigated.”
Wang Yin: “Ji Haidong also owed Yan Sanhe a favor and was summoned to the estate. Yan Sanhe gave Tangyuan to him.”
Zhao Yishi’s expression changed slightly.
Wang Yin was so frightened he immediately lowered his head half an inch.
“Ji Haidong already has a legitimate wife and cannot marry another, so he agreed to take Tangyuan as a concubine and settle her in his house outside the city.”
Zhao Yishi gave a cold laugh. “Then the one who went to the nunnery must be the estate’s little maid Lanchuan?”
“Your Highness’s deduction is correct.”
“Lanchuan was originally a disciple of Master Huiru at Water Moon Nunnery, only later did she follow Yan Sanhe. Master Huiru received Yan Sanhe’s notification and came down the mountain to take Lanchuan back.”
Wang Yin: “Having seen the secular world, Lanchuan was unwilling to return to the nunnery to cultivate. Yan Sanhe gave Master Huiru two thousand taels and asked her to help find Lanchuan another good family.
Unable to find a suitable family on such short notice, Master Huiru took Lanchuan to an old friend’s home in the northwest to temporarily settle her.”
Another knock came at the door.
Wang Yin went out for a moment, then came back in again.
“Your Highness, after the old fort master of Han Family Fort died, his coffin cracked. The heart demon was resolved with Yan Sanhe’s help. Current Fort Master Han Xu also received Yan Sanhe’s letter and hurried to the estate.
Yan Sanhe had the Han Family Escort Agency escort some goods. The destination is Nujiang River in Yunnan Prefecture. Han Xu said that’s Yan Sanhe’s home.
Guard Shen carefully examined everything—the two carriages contained belongings of Third Master, Young Master Pei, and Yan Sanhe, plus some precious medicinal herbs from Hundred Medicine Hall.”
Wang Yin lifted his eyelids to glance at the Crown Prince’s expression.
“Guard Shen also brought back news that the estate is indeed completely empty—not a single person could be found. But Third Master and Young Master Pei’s personal attendants are still around.
Zhu Qing is at the Pei estate. He’s seriously injured and hasn’t woken up yet. Ding Yi is watching over him.
Huang Qi has already been captured by our people. He said he was following his master’s orders to go to the Xie estate and Pei estate to get some things, then deliver them to the Han family station.
He also said his master decided to leave the capital together with Third Master and the others. As for how they left, he said he doesn’t know.
When Huang Qi said these things, tears streamed down his face. He said how could his master abandon even him?”
“Crash—”
Zhao Yishi forcefully swept everything off the desk.
Wang Yin was so frightened he fell to his knees with a thump, trembling as he said:
“Guard Shen also, also sent word that on a wall in the estate’s study, there are… there are words left by Third Master, Young Master Pei, Yan Sanhe, and Li Buyan for… for Your Highness.”
“Someone come! Ready my horse!”
“Your Highness, you’re still in mourning observance. You absolutely cannot…”
Zhao Yishi kicked him in the shoulder. “Get out of the way!”
Wang Yin prostrated himself on the ground, nearly weeping. “Your Highness, His Majesty decreed that without summons you must not return to the capital, Your Highness!”
How could Zhao Yishi still listen to such words? Only one thought filled his mind—
Pei Mingting had left him!
He had followed Xie Zhifei and fled far away!
He, how dare he?
The Crown Prince charged out with imposing momentum, mounted his horse with imposing momentum. It was a face full of fury his personal guards had never seen before. How could they dare to stop him? They all mounted horses and followed.
In the darkness of night, dozens of fast horses galloped toward the capital.
Reaching the city gate, the gate guards saw it was the Crown Prince and his guards. Too terrified to even fart, they quickly opened the city gate and let the Crown Prince enter.
Once inside the city, they headed straight for the estate.
Arriving at the estate gate, Zhao Yishi dismounted.
Shen Chong, who was still searching the estate everywhere, heard the news and came forward. Seeing the severity in the Crown Prince’s brow and eyes, he forcefully suppressed the words at his lips, looked up and said to the guard behind him:
“Quickly go light all the lamps in the study.”
“Yes!”
Zhao Yishi didn’t stop walking, his face taut as he strode directly inside.
He had come to this estate several times. Each time he entered, he felt this courtyard had a kind of chaotic liveliness to it.
However, this time, only quiet remained.
Yes, quiet.
Zhao Yishi inexplicably felt uncomfortable. He involuntarily slowed his steps, completely concealing the fierce light in his eyes deep in his heart. Only then did he step into the study.
The study was brilliantly lit.
The bookshelves that had been packed full were now empty, showing the master’s determination to leave.
Zhao Yishi raised his head.
On the white wall illuminated by candlelight were written densely packed characters.
*Zhao Huairen, when the three of us were together, you rarely spoke and showed almost no expression.*
*Mingting and I could tell from your face, or from the occasional words you let slip, whether you were happy or angry.*
*Mingting was in charge of being mean, I was in charge of coaxing you. When your expression softened and you gave us a faint smile, only then would our hearts breathe a sigh of relief.*
*I’ll recall this scene one last time. After stepping through this door, I never want to remember it again for the rest of my life.*
*I don’t blame you for trying to kill me, but I resent that you thought so little of Mingting and me.*
*Zhao Huairen, farewell!*
…
*Zhao Huairen, I can neither stabilize the realm through civil means nor defend it through military might. My greatest wish in this life was to help you ascend to the throne, then idle away with Xie Fifty eating and waiting for death.*
*Since it’s a wish, it must be fulfilled.*
*Your wings are already fully fledged. Whether I help you or not, that throne will be yours. So I chose to spend my days idling with Xie Fifty.*
*I don’t blame you for scheming against the Zheng family, but I cannot forgive you for trying to kill Xie Fifty. He’s the best brother I’ve had in this lifetime.*
*Zhao Huairen, farewell!*
…
*Zhao Yishi, if you can become a good emperor, your ruthlessness and determination to eliminate all threats could be considered merits.*
*If you cannot, then your actions are merely laughable.*
*Don’t live your life as one alone in the world. Otherwise you’ll be laughable, pitiful, and pathetic.*
…
*Zhao Yishi, my mother said if you meet someone who makes your heart pound, boldly tell them. Life is short—everything can be compromised except the heart.*
*My mother also said some people can enter your heart with a single glance.*
*I used to think everything my mother said was right. Now it seems my mother was sometimes wrong too.*
*Some people have such refined faces, you can’t see the murderous heart beneath that face.*
*So, may we never meet again!*