Someone from the palace came to take away Second Miss Kou Wan, yet Princess Yi’an remained at the marquis manor. This stirred up quite a commotion in Wuning Marquis Manor, with servants throughout the estate secretly speculating that the eldest miss had fallen out of favor before the Empress Dowager.

Though the eldest miss held the title of princess, she had no actual fiefdom. Once she lost favor, this princess title really didn’t mean much—in the future, she might not compare favorably to the second miss who had won the Empress Dowager’s regard.

From this day forward, Wuning Marquis Manor’s attitude toward the two young ladies underwent a change.

Lin Hao had no idea what experiences Kou Wan faced after returning to her manor. She stayed at the Wuxiang Flower Essence Shop until nearly noon before departing, walking at an unhurried pace toward the General’s Manor.

Though it was already early autumn, the summer heat had not yet dissipated. The unobstructed sun blazed mercilessly upon the streets, and the rich osmanthus fragrance drifting from both sides made one feel even more stifled.

Lin Hao raised her head to glance at the pale, vast expanse of sky and silently sighed.

She should have brought a parasol for shade.

She moved to the roadside to walk in the tree shadows when she suddenly sensed something amiss.

“Miss?” Seeing Lin Hao stop, Baozhu followed her gaze.

Standing beneath an osmanthus tree close at hand was a young man. He looked somewhat disheveled, his eyes dark and deep like a pool churning with undercurrents.

Du Qing?

Lin Hao raised her eyebrows slightly.

Baozhu immediately positioned herself in front of Lin Hao, watching Du Qing with vigilance.

“I have something to ask you.” Du Qing’s gaze bore past Baozhu, fixed intently on Lin Hao, his voice hoarse and urgent.

Compared to Baozhu’s tension, Lin Hao was much calmer: “Here?”

“Is there a convenient place to talk?”

Lin Hao thought for a moment: “How about that teahouse not far from the General’s Manor?”

Du Qing nodded quickly: “Fine, we’ll go separately.”

Lin Hao looked at Du Qing deeply.

So cautious—it seemed Du Qing had experienced quite a lot since leaving the Jinlin Guard.

She went to a private room in the teahouse to wait. Before long, Du Qing pushed the door open and entered.

“Please sit.” Lin Hao gestured to the seat opposite.

Du Qing sat down, his gaze toward Lin Hao carrying confusion: “Aren’t you afraid I’ll cause you trouble?”

Lin Hao poured a cup of tea and passed it over, her eyes like water sweeping over him: “In your current state, can you still cause me trouble?”

Du Qing froze.

“What do you want with me?” Lin Hao asked calmly.

Du Qing gripped the teacup and sat quietly for a moment before asking: “That person impersonating me—is he in your hands?”

Lin Hao tilted her head slightly: “This doesn’t really concern you, does it?”

Fury flashed in Du Qing’s eyes, his low voice rising a few notches: “Doesn’t concern me? Do you know what I’ve been through since leaving the Jinlin Guard?”

Lin Hao set aside her casual demeanor, cradling her teacup and adopting an expression of seriously listening to a story: “Ah, please tell me.”

Du Qing silently took a breath and suppressed his anger.

He had been foolish enough to feel a trace of gratitude toward this girl when leaving the Jinlin Guard!

Heaven knows how he’d gotten through this period.

Chen Mu’s people were one thing, but even his own people looked at him with eyes full of suspicion. After relations soured, both sides wanted him dead to eliminate future troubles. After regaining his freedom, not only could he accomplish nothing, but he fell into endless assassination attempts.

“I just want to know what the deal is with that person impersonating me.”

“This isn’t hard to guess, is it? It was to cover for that friend of yours. Your friend hid in the house without going out, while that person bought supplies under your identity to sustain daily life.” Lin Hao took the opportunity to ask: “What’s your friend’s name?”

Of course she knew the name, but she couldn’t explain how she knew it.

Du Qing remained silent.

“Can’t say? But he’s already in the Jinlin Guard prison now. Knowing a name really doesn’t mean much, does it? Then I’ll just keep calling him ‘your friend’—”

“Chen Mu. His name is Chen Mu.”

“And you?”

Looking at the young lady’s bright, smiling face, Du Qing fell silent for a moment before saying: “My name is Du Qing.”

When he spoke his name, his mood was completely one of abandoning all hope.

This girl knew about his relationship with Chen Mu and knew he was one of Emperor Pingle’s people. Concealing a name really had no meaning anymore.

Wait!

Du Qing’s heart turned cold as he thought of a question: Had this girl approached the gentleman because she knew the gentleman’s identity?

A flash of killing intent passed, yet Lin Hao caught it.

“So Du Qing, do you have anything else to ask?” She acted completely oblivious, her tone relaxed.

Du Qing suppressed the murderous aura in his heart.

Thinking carefully, this girl had never shown herself when he dealt with the gentleman—there was no way she could know about his relationship with the gentleman.

The moment he convinced himself, his expression returned to calm: “No, nothing else.”

Instead, Lin Hao drew a scroll from her sleeve and gradually unrolled it: “Have you seen this person?”

Du Qing glanced at it, his gaze toward Lin Hao becoming strange: “Who could recognize that?”

“It’s the mask that person gave him.” Lin Hao hadn’t held much hope to begin with, rolling up the portrait as she spoke.

After quite a while with no response, she looked up: “What is it?”

Du Qing remained silent.

He was just puzzled why this girl acted so familiar with him. Despite their opposing positions, she showed not the slightest sign of guarding against him.

Was she stupid?

He suddenly remembered Lin Hao’s words that day about letting him go. At the time he thought they were foolish words, yet later she really did release him. After that, pursued by both sides with no identity to stay at an inn, he became a homeless dog—

It seemed the fool was him…

“I won’t disturb you further.” Du Qing set down his teacup, stood up, and took his leave.

Lin Hao called Baozhu over and spoke a few words in a low voice.

Baozhu chased after him: “Wait a moment.”

Du Qing stopped, looking at the pursuing maid with confusion.

“This is from our miss.” Baozhu stuffed a money pouch into Du Qing’s hand.

Du Qing didn’t react immediately, instinctively refusing: “No need.”

“Just take it. Our miss has provided aid to many beggar children—you’re not one too many.” Baozhu waved her hand and turned to run back to the teahouse.

Du Qing slowly lowered his head to look at the pouch in his hand, his mind filled with only two words: beggar—child!

In that instant, he even wanted to chase inside and curse regardless of a secret agent’s dignity. Smelling the sour odor on himself, he ultimately let it go.

Lin Hao watched from the open window as Du Qing walked away. No matter how she looked at it, that tense silhouette seemed somewhat menacing.

“He accepted it, right?”

“Yes, he was too embarrassed to take it at first. This servant comforted him by saying you’ve provided aid to many beggar children and he’s not one too many, so he accepted it.” The little maid wore an expression seeking credit.

Lin Hao fell silent for a moment, gently patting Baozhu’s shoulder.

This child was truly skilled at comforting people.

Afterward, things remained calm. Soon it was the day to formally invest the Crown Prince. The solemn and elaborate investiture ceremony need not be described in detail. Amid the congratulations of officials and nobles, Prince Wei became the new Crown Prince.

The Emperor having an heir was not merely a family matter but a matter of state. Whether sincere or false, officials displayed universal jubilation. Streets everywhere were decorated with lanterns and festoons. From the court to the common people, all were immersed in the joy of having an heir apparent.

Except for Prince Liang’s manor.

The deposed Crown Prince could originally have attended the investiture ceremony under his identity as Prince Liang. At Emperor Tai’an’s hint, the officials responsible for ceremony arrangements understood perfectly and bypassed Prince Liang’s manor. Only after everything was settled did the news reach Prince Liang’s ears.