The coarse-clothed man’s face on the scroll was mostly covered by slender, delicate hands, revealing only his chin.

Watching Lin Hao’s action, Qi Shuo suddenly recalled that day in the narrow alley when she had raised her hand to cover below his eyes. Except back then what was exposed were the eyes, while now what was exposed was the chin.

“A’Hao?”

Lin Hao shook her head and explained as they left the place where fake Du Qing was confined: “I just wanted to block out distractions and remember that person’s lower face. Who knows—we might encounter him someday.”

That person was clearly from Emperor Pingle’s faction. Such a disguise expert hiding in the capital definitely wouldn’t remain dormant forever.

“This person is indeed very dangerous.” Walking along the brilliantly sunlit street, Qi Shuo’s heart felt heavy.

Someone who could disguise people as anyone needed would cause destructive power far beyond imagination.

The two felt vaguely uneasy about the untraceable disguise expert, while Cheng Maoming hurried to the palace to have an audience with the Emperor.

Emperor Tai’an looked at the minister performing his bows and greetings, his eyebrows moving slightly.

Was there good news to report?

“What brings Minister Cheng to the palace?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the missing Yuliu maidservant has been found.” Cheng Maoming wore an expression of delight.

He actually wasn’t such an impatient person, but he knew that His Majesty, who kept his emotions hidden, didn’t particularly like ministers who similarly kept their emotions hidden.

As expected, Emperor Tai’an’s eyes showed pleasure: “She was found? Where is she?”

“She’s confined in the Jinlin Guard. Apart from a very few people this minister trusts, we haven’t alerted the guesthouse.”

“Good.” Emperor Tai’an laughed heartily. “Tell me, how was she found?”

Cheng Maoming hesitated slightly, then sighed deeply: “Reporting to Your Majesty, finding the Yuliu maidservant is largely thanks to Prince Jing’s Heir.”

Credit was naturally always better the more he had, but if he didn’t praise Prince Jing’s Heir, his conscience truly couldn’t bear it.

Cheng Maoming even had an inexplicable thought flash through his mind: if he praised Prince Jing’s Heir more, perhaps in the future the Heir would bring him even greater benefits.

“Oh?” Emperor Tai’an instinctively raised an eyebrow. “Because of Prince Jing’s Heir?”

Cheng Maoming then recounted how Qi Shuo had drawn the missing Yuliu maidservant’s portrait, and how he discovered that Hu Da and the maidservant had similarities in facial structure and features.

After hearing this, Emperor Tai’an couldn’t help but smile: “I didn’t expect skill in portrait painting to have such uses.”

Cheng Maoming instinctively wanted to object.

There were many talented scholars skilled at portrait painting, yet none of them could apply it to serious matters. In the end, it was because Prince Jing’s Heir had real ability.

Just as the words were about to spill out, reason stopped him.

Going too far was as bad as not going far enough. If he praised too much, His Majesty would think he was colluding with Prince Jing’s Heir.

“This minister didn’t expect it either.” Cheng Maoming agreed.

After the brief moment of joy, Emperor Tai’an stopped smiling: “According to this, there’s a rebel skilled at disguise still hiding somewhere unknown.”

“Yes.” Cheng Maoming lowered his head slightly.

“Continue investigating. You must find this person.”

“This minister receives your decree.”

Emperor Tai’an waved his hand: “You may withdraw.”

Cheng Maoming silently withdrew.

Emperor Tai’an rubbed his temples and instructed Liu Chuan: “Summon Master Wang.”

With so many vexing matters, headaches came easily. With headaches, he couldn’t do without Master Wang.

Before long, Daoist Mingxin entered: “I pay my respects to Your Majesty.”

“Master Wang need not be overly courteous. My head aches somewhat—please massage it for me.”

Daoist Mingxin walked behind Emperor Tai’an, washed his hands, then gently began kneading.

As the pain eased and the atmosphere became quiet and relaxing, Emperor Tai’an felt the urge to confide: “The Yuliu maidservant has been found, so this crisis can be considered temporarily resolved. But this feeling of being constrained by others is truly unpleasant…”

He wasn’t afraid to speak to Master Wang.

As someone who had to answer summons at any time, Master Wang had long since lost the freedom to casually contact people outside the palace. Even if he heard something, it could only rot in his belly.

“Master Wang, do you think there truly are such miraculous disguise techniques in this world?”

Daoist Mingxin’s eyes flickered, and he lowered them: “This commoner doesn’t know much about these matters.”

Emperor Tai’an sighed and said no more.

Finding the Yuliu maidservant had resolved the immediate crisis. Chen Mu’s mouth couldn’t be pried open for the time being, and searching for the disguise expert had no leads whatsoever. Thus, the establishment of the Crown Prince became the matter of greatest concern throughout the court.

The auspicious date for the investiture ceremony was set for the twentieth of the seventh month. Because time was tight, all the relevant government offices began bustling about, with the Ministry of Rites especially overwhelmed.

The entire capital was shrouded in an atmosphere of harmony. Street corner gossip about Princess Lingque’s death was replaced by talk of establishing the Crown Prince, as if this shocking murder case involving two princesses had never occurred.

Of course, this was only surface appearance. In truth, the influence of Princess Lingque’s death lurked like an undercurrent beneath the calm surface—turbulent yet silent.

Lin Hao heard about the effect this matter had on Princess Yi’an from Kou Wan.

That day, Kou Wan went to the Wuxiang Flower Dew Shop and cried out in delight upon seeing Lin Hao: “Sister Lin, you’re here too!”

Seeing the genuine joy in the other’s eyes, Lin Hao smiled warmly: “This flower dew shop is my family’s business.”

Kou Wan nodded and curiously examined the shop’s furnishings: “I heard about it and have wanted to visit for a while. I didn’t expect to meet Sister Lin on my first visit.”

“Kou Wan, who are you calling sister?” A gloomy voice came from behind.

Kou Wan turned around, startled: “Elder Sister? Didn’t you say you weren’t going out?”

Princess Yi’an looked at her coldly: “What, I can’t even go out now?”

Being put down by her own sister in front of Lin Hao, Kou Wan felt very embarrassed, her face flushing: “Elder Sister misunderstands. I thought you were at home.”

“If I were at home, how would I know you had acquired another sister?” Princess Yi’an gave Lin Hao a mocking glance.

Just then, Ling’er walked in from the back. Upon seeing Princess Yi’an, she gasped and covered her mouth: “Oh! Aren’t you the young lady who came that day—no, you’re the Princess!”

Princess Yi’an’s expression changed when her identity was called out. Fearing it would attract passersby’s attention, she couldn’t be bothered to continue making things difficult for her sister and hurriedly left.

Ling’er sidled up to Lin Hao and asked quietly: “Miss, I didn’t cause trouble for you, did I?”

“You didn’t.” Lin Hao even wanted to praise her for doing well.

At this point, Chunni also walked over and honestly admitted her fault: “I told Ling’er to say that.”

Lin Hao smiled and said it was fine. The two young girls belatedly recognized Kou Wan.

“You’re—”

Chunni reacted quickly and tugged at Ling’er to stop her from calling out.

Kou Wan recognized the two and felt both surprised and nervous—surprised to discover that the people she’d shared hardship with had found good positions, but nervous that their experience of falling into kidnappers’ hands might be revealed.

With the shopkeeper nearby, Lin Hao said without changing expression: “This is my friend. From now on, give her twenty percent off when she buys flower dew.”

“Yes.” Chunni understood Lin Hao’s meaning and acted as if she didn’t recognize Kou Wan.

Kou Wan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and felt Lin Hao was even more approachable: “Sister Lin, if you have some free time, shall we chat?”

Lin Hao invited her to sit in the back.

“Sister Lin, I’m sorry for causing you trouble. My eldest sister has been staying at the Marquis’s mansion recently, and her mood hasn’t been very good.”

Staying at the Marquis’s mansion all this time?

Lin Hao caught the implication.