Originally, after Yang Zhe drank the “poisoned wine” and the person who poisoned the Crown Prince confessed, Cheng Maoming had completely believed in Yang Zhe’s innocence. But a private remark from the Heir made him keep one hand in reserve.

The Heir had said: “First, Princess Yi’an, who was betrothed to Compiler Yang, was framed for killing Princess Lingque. Then Compiler Yang became a suspect in poisoning the Crown Prince. Chief Commander, don’t you think too many major incidents revolve around Compiler Yang? This in itself is worth paying attention to.”

Having heard these words, Cheng Maoming decisively dispatched subordinates to keep watch, placing Yang Zhe under his very nose. Because of this, today when the top scholar entered that clothing shop and an ordinary gentleman emerged, it did not escape the secret agents’ eyes.

At this moment, Cheng Maoming sat mounted on his horse looking at the person in the carriage, once again sighing in his heart about how fortunate Prince Jing’s Heir was to him.

Prince Jing’s Heir was his great lucky star—he could say it a hundred times without tiring!

The young man who bore no resemblance whatsoever to Yang Zhe sat quietly. The hand supporting the plain green carriage door curtain was slender and fair, as if carefully carved from beautiful jade.

On the official road, passersby coming and going cast curious glances this way. Intimidated by the Jinlin Guard’s威势 (imposing authority), they dared not look long before hurrying away at a distance. Most people couldn’t help but sigh in their hearts for that young gentleman, wondering how he had provoked those killing gods.

After a long while, the young man seated in the carriage spoke.

Today was clear. The winter sun was as bright and lovely as spring light, slanting down to sprinkle a few rays on the young man’s face, giving that clearly only refined countenance a transcendent quality.

His voice was clear and flowing like a spring, trickling past one’s ears: “Just leaving the city, I didn’t expect to trouble Chief Commander Cheng to personally come.”

His earlier anger and courtesy were all pretense. Now only composure remained.

This was tantamount to calmly admitting his identity.

Cheng Maoming almost wanted to clap his hands in praise.

Look at this former Crown Prince—in terms of intelligence, bearing, and temperament, he utterly surpassed the废太子 (deposed Crown Prince) by a hundred streets.

In this instant, he actually felt a trace of regret.

Of course, this trace of regret counted for nothing. Cheng Maoming smiled and cupped his hands: “Compiler Yang’s status is precious. It’s proper that Cheng personally came to receive you.”

The young man raised his eyes, meeting Cheng Maoming’s gaze.

“The Chief Commander knows everything?”

“Yes, I know everything.”

“Because of Prince Jing’s Heir?” Even Yang Zhe himself couldn’t explain why these words just blurted out.

Cheng Maoming’s brows moved slightly as he remained silent without answering.

And his silence, to Yang Zhe, was confirmation.

A smile bloomed at his lips—a self-mocking smile: “In the end, I was too slow. Yesterday, when I heard Second Miss Lin was abducted by villains, I should have left then.”

When Master Fox sensed he might be recognized by Second Miss Lin and ordered someone to abduct her, that move actually wasn’t wrong. They had lain dormant for so many years relying precisely on all kinds of caution.

When the news reached his ears, he inexplicably felt somewhat uneasy.

In previous incidents, he could always see the shadows of Prince Jing’s Heir and Second Miss Lin’s involvement, and the results couldn’t be called satisfactory for their side. At that time, he had a vague premonition that Prince Jing’s Heir and Second Miss Lin would sooner or later become trouble for him.

But he was reluctant to give up the excellent current situation and also made light of that trace of premonition—until today when he received the letter that Master Fox had been captured, he had no choice but to flee hastily.

In the end, he was one step too late.

Yang Zhe smiled self-mockingly, his sitting posture becoming even more upright: “Then many thanks to the Chief Commander for coming to receive me. Let’s go.”

He lowered the plain green carriage door curtain. He didn’t deny it to the death, nor did he show惊慌失色 (panicked alarm).

When one lost a move in chess, one could only admit defeat—but one couldn’t lose face as well.

After all, he was Crown Prince Qi Ming.

The young man in the carriage compartment raised his hand to touch his cheek, pulling off that mask to reveal Yang Zhe’s face.

But then he gently stroked that all-too-familiar face and smiled bitterly.

This wasn’t Crown Prince Qi Ming’s face either. What his original face looked like—he couldn’t remember at all.

Cheng Maoming brought Yang Zhe straight to the Jinlin Guard office, where he encountered Qi Shuo standing quietly by the roadside.

Qi Shuo glanced at the blue-curtained carriage following behind Cheng Maoming. Cheng Maoming nodded slightly, indicating that the person to be arrested was inside.

The two communicated silently. But whether by coincidence or somehow, that deep blue carriage window curtain suddenly lifted, revealing the man’s immortal-like profile.

It was the top scholar Yang Zhe, whose name moved the capital and whose elegance was peerless.

Those eyes, clear as water, looked over. His gaze rippled with waves impossible to fathom. Not until the carriage and the person by the roadside crossed paths did the carriage window curtain fall soundlessly.

Qi Shuo calmly withdrew his gaze and headed toward Prince Jing’s manor.

Their positions differed. Having a clear conscience was enough for him.

Cheng Maoming brought the person back to the Jinlin Guard office, giving his subordinates a thousand instructions to guard him well, then hurried anxiously to the imperial palace.

Emperor Tai’an had not yet recovered from the grief of the Crown Prince’s death.

This blow was too great for him. What he lost was not only a son but also the Great Zhou dynasty’s heir.

“Your Majesty, Jinlin Guard Commander Cheng Maoming requests an audience.” An inner servant came forward to report.

“Summon him in.”

Emperor Tai’an received Cheng Maoming in Qianqing Palace.

He saw at a glance the joy on Cheng Maoming’s face that couldn’t be concealed, so he asked: “That Master Fox’s whereabouts—there’s been progress?”

“Thanks to Your Majesty’s blessing, this person is already in the Jinlin Guard’s great prison.”

Emperor Tai’an couldn’t help but sit up straight: “Oh? How was he found?”

“In response to Your Majesty, being able to capture Master Fox so quickly, speaking of it, was still because of Second Miss Lin.”

Since Prince Jing’s Heir had helped repeatedly, he naturally should return the favor and resolve the trouble Second Miss Lin faced from being abducted by villains.

“The General’s manor’s second miss?” Emperor Tai’an could be said to be very familiar with Lin Hao’s name—not only because she was Prince Jing’s Heir’s consort, but because in the past year or more, there had been too much news about this young lady, all of it eye-catching major incidents.

“Tell me, why would it involve Second Miss Lin?”

“Just yesterday, Second Miss Lin went to visit her released cousin Wen Feng, the successful candidate. As she prepared to return to the manor, she was abducted by villains…”

Emperor Tai’an raised his eyebrows.

Indeed, nothing involving that young lady was a small matter.

“Afterward, another daughter of a noble family and a daughter of a wealthy merchant were also kidnapped. After the news spread, people all thought the villains specifically targeted daughters of wealthy families, seeking only money. But after Prince Jing’s Heir secretly infiltrated Wuyin Mountain and rescued the three women, he learned from Second Miss Lin’s mouth that she encountered this calamity because she discovered in a medical hall near her cousin’s residence that the sitting physician bore some resemblance to Master Fox’s portrait…”

After listening to Cheng Maoming explain the ins and outs of capturing Master Fox, Emperor Tai’an rarely showed a smile: “That girl does have some courage and luck.”

“Your subject originally thought capturing Master Fox was the greatest harvest. I didn’t expect that after some interrogation, there would be a stunning discovery.” Cheng Maoming laid the groundwork before getting to the key point. “According to Master Fox’s confession, Compiler Yang Zhe is actually the former Crown Prince Qi Ming who disappeared in that chaos ten years ago!”

Emperor Tai’an suddenly rose to his feet: “What did you say?”