“Who do you wish to see?”

When Qi Ming made this request, Emperor Tai’an was not angry but pleased instead.

The fear wasn’t that he would make demands, but rather that he wouldn’t make any.

“Your nephew wishes to see Qi Shuo.” Qi Ming’s expression remained calm, making his thoughts impossible to discern. “My cousin.”

Emperor Tai’an froze, nearly thinking he had misheard. “You want to see Qi Shuo?”

Qi Ming nodded. “Yes.”

“What do you want to see him for?” Emperor Tai’an raised his eyebrows in puzzlement.

In his recollection, when Qi Ming had operated under the identity of Yang Zhe, he had no particular connection with Qi Shuo.

Qi Ming half-lowered his eyes. “There is simply a question I wish to ask, to resolve a doubt in my heart. Fourth Uncle need not read too much into this—the matter has nothing to do with what you wish to ask me.”

Emperor Tai’an’s inner thoughts showed not a trace on his face. He stared at Qi Ming for a moment before sighing. “I naturally wouldn’t prevent you brothers from meeting, but unfortunately, Qi Shuo is not currently in the capital.”

“Not in the capital?” Qi Ming raised an eyebrow slightly and quickly realized. “It seems Fifth Uncle has returned to his former territory, and my cousin, being most filial, has accompanied his father north.”

The corners of Emperor Tai’an’s lips twitched slightly, his mood indescribably complex.

This nephew of his was trapped in imprisonment, cut off from the outside world, yet from his single phrase “not in the capital” could deduce the truth.

If only his son possessed even one tenth of Qi Ming’s intelligence—

But he was thinking too much. That scoundrel possessed neither Qi Ming’s intelligence nor Qi Shuo’s filial devotion.

A surge of bitterness lodged in Emperor Tai’an’s chest, making him intensely uncomfortable.

“Is there anyone else you wish to see?” he asked casually.

“Then let me see—” Qi Ming stopped, meeting Emperor Tai’an’s somewhat curious gaze. His tone flattened. “There is no one else I wish to see.”

In that instant, what he had nearly said was Second Miss Lin.

In one matter after another, not only was Qi Shuo’s shadow present, but Second Miss Lin’s shadow as well. It seemed that the question he wished to ask Qi Shuo to resolve, Second Miss Lin could also answer for him.

The reason for changing his words was returning rationality.

Seeing his cousin Qi Shuo was nothing significant. Even if this suspicious-minded uncle of his speculated about Qi Shuo somewhat, this trivial influence could be considered his small “repayment.”

But Second Miss Lin was a young woman—the impact would be much greater.

So forget it.

Qi Ming tugged at the corners of his lips in self-mockery, his tone flat. “There is no one.”

Emperor Tai’an naturally heard that Qi Ming had only spoken half his sentence, but connecting it to Lin Hao would be impossible even if he were beaten to death.

This bit of curiosity was even more insignificant than a snowflake drifting in the wind to an emperor urgently needing to resolve his predicament. He quickly cast it to the back of his mind. “That question—can you tell me the answer now?”

Contrary to Emperor Tai’an’s expectations, though he had thought obtaining an answer would require some strategic maneuvering, Qi Ming quickly stated an address.

It was a mountainous region a hundred li outside the occupied small city. This distance was convenient for exchanging messages between the two locations, and if anything happened, it would also facilitate withdrawal and concealment.

An answer obtained so easily made Emperor Tai’an uneasy. He stared intently at Qi Ming. “As long as what you say proves true, I will remember every word I promised.”

Qi Ming met Emperor Tai’an’s gaze and smiled slightly. “Fourth Uncle shouldn’t rejoice too soon.”

“Why?” Emperor Tai’an, hearing these words, instead felt his feet had found solid ground.

Though troublesome, it also inexplicably brought a sense of security.

“That location is no ordinary mountain region—it has been laid with the Eight Trigrams Soul Confusing Array. Within the confusing array is also a killing array. Wanting to infiltrate silently is nothing but a fool’s dream.”

“Is there a method to break the array?” Emperor Tai’an immediately asked.

Qi Ming laughed lightly. “Naturally there is, but I don’t know it. Fourth Uncle need not suspect I’m lying. Since becoming a farmer’s son, I have never returned there. Moreover, that array formation is mysteriously unpredictable. Even those who know the method of entry and exit only know part of it—with a single random change, one cannot enter the mountain.”

“From what you say, this path won’t work?”

“If you want this path to work, unless the person who laid the array comes forth. Whether Fourth Uncle can find this person depends on your abilities.” When Qi Ming spoke these words, his expression remained normal, but his heart was utterly empty and desolate, allowing various emotions to run rampant.

To say he felt no hatred or resentment would be laughable. Having seen clearly his father emperor’s ruthlessness, if he said and did nothing, this resentment and hatred would drive him mad.

Not revealing Master Mingxin’s location was him preserving the last bit of father-son sentiment.

“That person who laid the array is—” A flash of inspiration struck Emperor Tai’an, and he thought of someone. “Master Mingxin?”

He was also aware of this Imperial Preceptor’s abilities.

Before his father emperor’s death, he had entrusted state affairs to three people, asking them to assist his elder brother. Among them was Master Mingxin.

Qi Ming’s reaction let Emperor Tai’an confirm he had guessed correctly.

“Where is Master Mingxin now?”

Qi Ming didn’t answer.

Emperor Tai’an’s expression grew somber. “Even if you don’t say, I know—Master Mingxin is hiding in this very capital.”

Back when Crown Prince’s Junior Tutor Qin Yunchuan had exchanged letters with Master Mingxin and Jinlin Guard Commander Cheng Maoming had detected something suspicious, it proved Master Mingxin was hiding in the capital secretly stirring up trouble. Unfortunately, to this day they still hadn’t found him.

Qi Ming still didn’t respond.

After quite a while, Emperor Tai’an waved his hand, indicating the person should be taken away.

On the streets, officials and soldiers had clearly increased in number. Master Mingxin’s portrait was posted throughout the streets and alleys, with heavy rewards offered.

Of course, the person in the portrait was drawn by an artist according to Master Mingxin’s appearance from ten years ago, completely different from the currently favored Master Wang.

Lin Hao tilted her head back, staring at the portrait posted on the wall, lost in thought.

She had naturally seen Master Mingxin’s true appearance—it bore perhaps a fifty percent resemblance to this portrait.

At this time, why suddenly launch such a large-scale search for her teacher?

One must know that after the Emperor learned of the teacher’s letter exchange with the Crown Prince’s Junior Tutor, he had tried his utmost to suppress news of his return to the capital.

Lin Hao stared fixedly at the portrait, frowning slightly.

Behind her, someone approached, soundlessly.

She turned around abruptly.

“Du Qing?” Lin Hao’s lips curved upward involuntarily. “It’s been quite a while.”

The killing intent hidden in Du Qing’s heart faltered, then was overtaken by a strange feeling.

It was like this again—just how did she manage to be so naturally friendly and unguarded?

Never mind the violent confrontations between them—even if he were an ordinary man approaching her uninvited, shouldn’t she as a young woman know to be wary?

“Seeing the generous reward, I’m taking a careful look.” Du Qing pointed at the portrait.

Lin Hao smiled radiantly. “Me too. Looking at this elderly man’s appearance of being in his twilight years, who knows what heinous crime he committed to make the authorities mobilize so extensively.”

Twilight… years?

Du Qing glanced at the portrait again, feeling somewhat dazed.

The master in the portrait clearly appeared hale and hearty—where was there even a hint of decline?

However, with Second Miss Lin reacting this way, it seemed he had been overthinking.

With this thought, the killing intent in his heart fell further and mostly dissipated.

At this moment, a voice called out. “Second Miss Lin?”

Lin Hao turned her head to look and greeted him. “Grand Commander Cheng.”

Cheng Maoming’s gaze fell suspiciously on Du Qing’s face, recognizing him. “This is your… oh, that friend of yours and the Heir’s?”

Had he been reduced to beggary?