Xuan Yi raced back to Prince Jing’s residence to report.

“Heir, regarding the civilian residence you instructed your subordinate to watch—today officials went door-to-door searching. Your subordinate saw the person from that household.” At this point, Xuan Yi’s expression turned peculiar. “That person turned out to be the one who pursued Second Miss Lin in the alley to kill her…”

Even now, he still felt like he was dreaming.

At the time, the Heir had subdued that person and handed him over. He had personally escorted him back to the prince’s residence, and he was clearly still being held at the Jinlin Guard now. How could he appear there?

Upon hearing this, Qi Shuo was also stunned. “You didn’t see wrong?”

“Your subordinate didn’t see wrong. It really was that person.”

“Continue watching. Don’t alert him yet.”

“Yes.” Xuan Yi left with a belly full of doubts.

Qi Shuo thought for a moment, then simply rose and headed straight for the Jinlin Guard.

When Cheng Maoming heard that the Heir of Prince Jing had come again, he personally went out to greet him, laughing heartily. “I was just saying I should invite the Heir for drinks, and here the Heir has come!”

He now found Qi Shuo particularly handsome and felt he was his lucky star.

“I’ve come to trouble the Grand Commander again. I wish to see the person who was sent here once more.”

Cheng Maoming’s gaze toward Qi Shuo immediately became subtle.

Coming to visit every few days—who knew what he was after…

Though he grumbled inwardly, Cheng Maoming still quickly arranged for someone to take Qi Shuo to where Du Qing was being held.

When Du Qing heard the door opening and saw Qi Shuo enter, his gaze also became somewhat subtle.

Was he being released so quickly?

But he thought the fool willing to let him go shouldn’t be the Heir of Prince Jing—a young lady’s bright face flashed through his mind, and Du Qing looked at the approaching young man with scrutiny in his eyes.

Qi Shuo walked closer step by step, until the distance between them was less than an arm’s length, carefully examining the person before him.

The Jinlin Guard standing watch at the door’s eyes flickered.

The Heir of Prince Jing seemed rather strange—

“I have some words to say to him. Please do me the convenience.” Qi Shuo turned his head and spoke politely.

“Oh, please do as you wish, Heir.” The Jinlin Guard took a quick glance as he closed the door and remained outside.

By this point, Du Qing already understood that the Heir of Prince Jing’s visit was clearly not to release him.

“He’s no longer living there, is he?” Du Qing simply spoke first.

Qi Shuo stared silently at Du Qing’s face. Just as he had stared until the other person looked baffled, he suddenly reached out his hand and tugged at that face.

Du Qing: !

“Who are you?” After the shock, he demanded.

Was this person who pinched his face really the Heir of Prince Jing?

Qi Shuo’s expression returned to calm, as if the action just now had never occurred. “I also want to ask—who are you?”

Du Qing frowned, every strand of his hair radiating wariness. “Speak plainly if you have something to say.”

“At the residence you provided, a person who looks identical to you appeared.” Qi Shuo said lightly.

Du Qing’s pupils contracted. He was so shocked he lost his voice. “Are you joking?”

“I’m not that idle. Can you explain what this is about?”

Du Qing stared fixedly at Qi Shuo. Unable to find the slightest hint of teasing on that calm face, he couldn’t help feeling bewildered. “I don’t know.”

He didn’t even have a brother. How could there be someone who looked identical to him?

“Fine, I understand.” After speaking, Qi Shuo turned and walked toward the door.

“Wait!”

Qi Shuo stopped and looked at the person who had called out to him.

Du Qing’s expression was somewhat unpleasant. “If you get to the bottom of this, could you let me know?”

Qi Shuo didn’t say yes, nor did he say no. He silently pulled open the door.

Watching the door lock shut again, Du Qing smiled bitterly without a sound.

He must have been influenced by that little girl. In a situation where others held the knife and he was the fish on the chopping board, he actually believed his adversaries would satisfy his request.

Naive innocence was a disease—it was contagious!

Du Qing silently resolved that if he ever regained his freedom, he would definitely stay far, far away from Second Miss Lin in the future.

After leaving the Jinlin Guard, Qi Shuo arranged to meet with Lin Hao.

Lin Hao came out at a light run, her pale yellow skirt hem flying with her movement like a colorful butterfly flying toward the young man.

The old gatekeeper of the General’s residence saw this and silently looked up at the sky.

“Have you discovered Chen Mu’s whereabouts?” Lin Hao slowed her pace, walking beside Qi Shuo.

“I haven’t discovered Chen Mu’s whereabouts, but I’ve discovered something strange.”

Lin Hao’s curiosity was immediately piqued. “What strange thing?”

If A’Shuo called it strange, it must be very bizarre indeed.

“Wasn’t Xuan Yi watching that address? Today officials knocked on doors to conduct searches and discovered that the person who opened the door was Du Qing.”

Lin Hao was astonished. “That’s impossible. Isn’t Du Qing at the Jinlin Guard?”

Qi Shuo nodded. “I just went to the Jinlin Guard to confirm. Du Qing is still there.”

“Then what’s going on?” Lin Hao knitted her brows in thought, her steps slowing more and more until she stopped. “Could it be someone is impersonating Du Qing?”

“It should be so. Chen Mu and Du Qing differ in build. If the one impersonating Du Qing is him, someone familiar might be able to detect something amiss.” Qi Shuo stated his purpose in asking Lin Hao to meet. “Ah Hao, let’s go take a look together.”

Lin Hao naturally wouldn’t object. “All right. I want to see just how much this person resembles Du Qing.”

The two discussed and made arrangements.

The alley that had just experienced an official search welcomed vigorous knocking on doors once again.

“Officer, didn’t you just search earlier?” The old man who opened the door was both nervous and puzzled.

“We received information that there are suspicious people in this area. We need to search again.”

Two officials with cold faces entered, leaving two officials outside. They made a circuit, looking at all the people in this household, then together walked to the next home.

When they knocked on the third household’s door, a young man opened it.

He didn’t speak, only looked at the several officials with an uncomprehending gaze.

One official looked carefully at the young man and said excitedly, “It’s him! Take him away!”

The young man finally showed an expression of astonishment. “Officer, why is this—”

“Stop your nonsense!” Several officials pushed and shoved him, bringing the young man away under the curious gazes of the neighbors who had poked their heads out to look.

Once these people had gone far away, neighbors came out of their homes one after another, gathering together to discuss.

“Why did they take Little Wang away?”

“They said Little Wang was suspicious.”

“That’s nonsense. Little Wang has been renting here for some time. Though he doesn’t talk much, he doesn’t seem like a criminal.”

“Exactly. I’ve looked at that portrait no less than a hundred times. It doesn’t resemble Little Wang in the slightest.”

“I think the officials couldn’t find anyone and just grabbed someone randomly to fulfill their quota. Poor Little Wang…”

The young man gradually sensed something was wrong.

These officials seemed to be taking him somewhere that wasn’t any government office.

“Officer, where are you taking me?” He couldn’t help asking.

The moment his words fell, severe pain struck. The young man’s vision went black and he lost consciousness.

In an inconspicuous residence, Lin Hao examined the unconscious young man and couldn’t help expressing wonder. “He really does look like him.”

Qi Shuo’s expression was somewhat grave. “We checked his clothing and even removed his shoes to examine them. His height and build are about the same as Du Qing’s. He’s not Chen Mu.”

Chen Mu hadn’t been found at the hideout Du Qing had revealed. Instead, a person disguised as Du Qing had appeared. This matter was truly interesting.

Lin Hao stared at the man for quite a while, then reached out and tugged at his face.