After receiving an affirmative answer, Cheng Maoming fell into intense internal struggle.

If the Emperor learned that the true culprit who murdered Princess Lingque was the fish that slipped through the net from the group that had attempted to blow up Jinxiu Street, he would inevitably receive a severe scolding. But if he pretended not to know, what if the Heir of Prince Jing went directly to tell the Emperor for the merit?

“Does the Heir… have any suggestions?” Unable to make up his mind for the moment, Cheng Maoming tentatively asked Qi Shuo.

“His Majesty is troubled by Princess Lingque’s death. Being able to identify the true culprit’s identity as soon as possible is more important than anything else. With the portrait for a citywide manhunt, I believe finding the true culprit is just a matter of time.”

Upon hearing these words, Cheng Maoming suddenly understood.

The group that had attempted to blow up Jinxiu Street belonged to Emperor Pingle’s faction. His Majesty was unwilling to conduct a large-scale search to avoid causing panic among the people. But now, His Majesty urgently needed to announce to the world that the one who killed Princess Lingque was not Princess Yi’an, that the true culprit was someone else.

With a wanted notice offering a reward based on the true culprit’s portrait, that person wouldn’t be so easy to hide. And once that person was captured, sooner or later His Majesty would learn he was the fish that slipped through the net from that group.

At that time, if he as the Jinlin Guard Commander had known but not reported it, it wouldn’t be as simple as receiving a scolding.

“The Heir is right. This matter is of great importance. Cheng must report to His Majesty as soon as possible.”

“The Grand Commander can view the portrait before reporting—it’s not too late.”

Cheng Maoming was startled, then quickly understood Qi Shuo’s meaning: the Heir of Prince Jing didn’t want to expose the fact that he had seen the group that attempted to blow up Jinxiu Street.

This was good.

Cheng Maoming smiled. “Naturally I must confirm it first. Cheng will make a trip out. Another day I’ll invite the Heir for drinks.”

“I won’t delay the Grand Commander from his busy work.” Qi Shuo’s manner was refined. “It’s just that there’s one matter I need to trouble you with.”

“What matter?”

“The person who was sent here before—is he well?”

“Oh, he’s fine.” As Cheng Maoming spoke, from the corner of his eye he couldn’t help glancing at Lin Hao.

He had almost forgotten about keeping such a person locked up, though at the time he had instructed his subordinates to keep him confined properly without skimping on food and drink. Presumably he was still lively and well.

“Then please do us the convenience, Grand Commander, and let us go see him.”

Cheng Maoming naturally wouldn’t obstruct them, though even after leaving he was still pondering the connection between Du Qing and the Heir of Prince Jing and Second Miss Lin.

What a complicated relationship this was!

A Jinlin Guard led Lin Hao and Qi Shuo to the place where Du Qing was being held.

As the lock was opened and the door pulled, the Jinlin Guard said courteously, “Heir, the person is inside.”

“We have some words to say. Please do us the convenience.” Qi Shuo pressed a silver ingot into the Jinlin Guard’s hand.

The Jinlin Guard tactfully stood guard outside.

Rather than calling it a prison cell, it was more like a guest room, except the window was set high up, its size unable to accommodate an adult person passing through. Lin Hao casually surveyed it with a glance, her gaze settling on the innermost area.

Du Qing was leaning against the bed, his sharp gaze shooting toward them.

The moment he saw Lin Hao and Qi Shuo, he was surprised. Soon the surprise transformed into fury. “How long are you planning to keep me locked up?”

Lin Hao walked over, drew a scroll from her sleeve, and slowly unrolled it before Du Qing. “This person—do you know where he is?”

Du Qing glanced at the portrait and said coldly, “I don’t know.”

As expected, Chen Mu and the others’ misfortune was related to this girl!

He examined Lin Hao deeply but still couldn’t understand how such a young lady from a noble family could be involved with people like them.

“This person killed a princess of Yulin.” Lin Hao looked into Du Qing’s eyes as she spoke.

Du Qing’s gaze changed instantly.

So Chen Mu still hadn’t given up on making a move against Yulin?

Though great waves surged within his heart, Du Qing’s face remained ice-cold. “What does this have to do with me?”

Lin Hao sighed. “When I saw this portrait, I finally understood why you pursued me to kill me that day—it was because I saw you all at a teahouse.”

Du Qing’s eyes flickered, surprised by Lin Hao’s candor.

“A princess of Yulin died in Great Zhou’s capital. If news reaches Yulin, war might break out. At that time, tens of thousands of common people would suffer. You’re also a person of Great Zhou—do you truly want to protect such a person?”

Throughout these words, Du Qing kept looking at Lin Hao.

The young lady’s eyes were bright and clear, transparent and pure.

He felt somewhat like laughing.

He had pursued her to kill her, while this girl had caused him to be locked up here. With such a relationship between them, she actually came here to say these foolish words.

Yet somehow, after wanting to laugh at these foolish words, he fell into silence.

He was also a person of Great Zhou…

He had still been quite young when he fled with Emperor Pingle. Whether it was the stable life of a guard before fleeing or the life of concealing his identity after fleeing, those he saw and came into contact with were all people of Great Zhou. It was the land of Great Zhou that had raised him.

Du Qing was shocked to discover that after hearing these foolish words, his heart actually wavered slightly.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” After a brief moment of inner turmoil, Du Qing closed his eyes, showing his refusal to continue the conversation.

“You tell us his hiding place, and we’ll let you out. How is this exchange?”

As expected, seeing Du Qing’s eyes snap open, Lin Hao curved the corners of her lips.

Of course she wouldn’t be so naive as to think Du Qing would reveal Chen Mu’s whereabouts just from hearing those words. What could truly move him were still visible benefits. But she also knew that Du Qing was different from Chen Mu. If those words just now could have even a slight effect on him, they wouldn’t have been said in vain.

Du Qing stared fixedly at Lin Hao for a moment, then looked toward Qi Shuo standing by the doorway.

He was very clear that the one with the ability to keep him locked up here and also the ability to take him away was the Heir of Prince Jing.

Lin Hao sighed helplessly.

As expected, the title of Heir of Prince Jing still carried more weight.

Qi Shuo’s expression was bland. “No need to look at me. If it were according to my wishes, you wouldn’t have been here in the first place.”

Though he didn’t say what his wishes were, Du Qing understood from his cold gaze, and thus the look he gave Lin Hao carried surprise and confusion.

Was it this girl who had spared his life?

Why did she do this?

Du Qing increasingly found the young lady before him difficult to understand.

“Well?” Lin Hao’s lips held a smile. “Think it over carefully. If you truly don’t want to, I won’t force you. In any case, his portrait will soon be plastered all over the streets and alleys. Even if you don’t speak, he’ll be found eventually.”

After a long silence, Du Qing asked, “If I tell you, will you really let me go?”

A voice full of disdain came: “With you staying here, I still owe the Jinlin Guard a favor.”

Du Qing: “…”

What followed was an even longer silence. Lin Hao didn’t press him but waited patiently.

She had come with the attitude of trying anyway. Getting him to talk would be a pleasant surprise; if he didn’t talk, there was no loss.

Finally, Du Qing spoke again. “It’s been so long, I can’t guarantee he’s still living there.”

“You just need to tell us the address.”

Du Qing lowered his eyes and gave them an address.

Qi Shuo walked over and stood beside Lin Hao. “We’ll go investigate. As long as we verify you’re not speaking nonsense, we’ll let you out.”

Du Qing showed no reaction to these words, only giving Lin Hao a deep look as the two departed.

It wasn’t that he was gullible, but what qualifications did a prisoner have to negotiate? At worst, he would just continue being confined here.

What if there really was a fool willing to let him go?