The evening glow burned the horizon into a purple-blue color, and the sky gradually darkened.

Prince Pingnan’s residence was shrouded in thin twilight, the tense atmosphere making the estate appear grim.

“Still no news?” Princess Pingnan repeatedly sent people out to gather information. The reports made her increasingly anxious.

Even if her daughter was willful, she couldn’t possibly stay out until dark without returning home. By now, the possibility of something happening was very high.

Yet Qingxing Street was precisely where wealthy people loved to go. Especially after the prince was attacked, the Western District’s Military Police had specifically strengthened patrols in that area. How could a living person disappear in broad daylight?

Moreover, the princely residence’s carriage was still parked at the street entrance.

“Mother Consort, don’t hesitate anymore. Report to the authorities,” Wei Feng advised.

He and Wei Wen were blood relatives after all. At a time like this, he naturally worried for her.

Princess Pingnan leaned against the beauty couch, without response for a long time.

“Mother Consort, delaying further will only make things worse. Think about it—a young lady staying out all night. If we don’t report to the authorities, would that preserve her reputation? Either way her reputation is ruined. Right now, the most urgent thing is to use the authorities’ power to find her.”

Princess Pingnan still couldn’t quite make up her mind.

When the princely residence quietly searched for her without explicitly revealing Wei Wen’s identity, even if commoners had suspicions, the rumors would fade with time. But reporting to the authorities would be equivalent to announcing to the world that Prince Pingnan’s young county princess had disappeared.

Wei Feng grew somewhat anxious: “Mother Consort, the princely residence has no reputation left to speak of anyway. What are you still hesitating about?”

Princess Pingnan nearly fainted from anger and shouted: “You shut your mouth!”

This rebellious son meant that Prince Pingnan’s residence should just give up and let itself go to ruin?

“The princely residence’s reputation is completely destroyed—isn’t that your achievement!” Princess Pingnan had been on edge all day. Seeing Wei Feng’s defiant expression, her anger surged and she blurted out her rebuke.

Wei Feng laughed coldly: “Mother Consort is mistaken. What truly dealt Prince Pingnan’s residence a fatal blow wasn’t me, but elder brother.”

His interest in Miss Luo’s male attendant was at most fodder for people’s idle gossip. It was Wei Qiang being deposed that sent Prince Pingnan’s residence plummeting into the abyss.

“You—” Princess Pingnan rose abruptly, her face deathly pale with rage.

Wei Feng said indifferently: “If Mother Consort is unwell, you should rest properly. I am Prince Pingnan’s heir apparent. Leave the household affairs to me.”

“If you were sensible, wouldn’t I want to hand these vexing matters to you?” Princess Pingnan slowly sat down and said through gritted teeth.

“Mother Consort, my preference for men is just my personal inclination. It doesn’t mean I’m foolish in other respects. No matter how senseless I am, I’m better than elder brother locked in his room drinking himself into a stupor, aren’t I?”

Faced with Wei Feng’s retort, Princess Pingnan opened her mouth but was too angry to speak.

“Mother Consort, please rest. I’ll go attend to sister’s matter.” Wei Feng dropped this statement and simply left.

Looking at the door curtain that continued swaying from being slammed, Princess Pingnan clutched her chest and began gasping heavily.

“Princess, are you alright?”

“Quickly summon the physician!”

The room descended into chaos again.

Wei Feng left the main courtyard and immediately sent a servant to the Ministry of Justice to report to the authorities.

It was already past official hours, but fortunately people were on duty at the ministry. The princely residence’s servant specifically said: “Our heir apparent says to please trouble your Minister Lin to give this matter special attention.”

“Minister Lin went to the Youjian Tavern to drink wine.”

The bailiff hurriedly led the princely residence’s servant to Qingxing Street.

Lin Teng had come together with Minister Zhao.

Recently the Ministry of Justice had been quite busy. Minister Zhao wasn’t the type of superior who wanted horses to run well without feeding them grass. Estimating he’d worked his capable subordinates hard enough, he had to grit his teeth and bring them to the Youjian Tavern for a reward.

The tavern’s limited-quantity wine-soaked crabs had just been placed on the table. Seeing there was only a palm-sized small dish, Minister Zhao smiled as he served Lin Teng a piece of braised beef: “Lin Teng ah, today’s braised beef tastes particularly good. Eat more.”

Lin Teng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

The braised beef had just been brought up and no one had touched their chopsticks yet—how did Minister Zhao already know it tasted good?

“Eat quickly. You’ve worked hard these past days.” Minister Zhao placed a chicken leg in Lin Teng’s plate while taking a crab leg and putting it in his own mouth.

Lin Teng raised his chopsticks toward the wine-soaked crabs and said seriously: “This subordinate will taste the delicacy first. I’ll eat the other dishes after finishing the wine-soaked crabs.”

Minister Zhao’s beard quivered and his eyes widened.

This glutton was planning to eat everything without missing a single dish!

Lin Teng ignored the old minister’s expression and tasted a bite of wine-soaked crab. The wonderful savory flavor immediately spread across his tongue.

Before he could savor it, a bailiff entered with Prince Pingnan’s servant: “Minister, Prince Pingnan’s residence has come to report to the authorities. They say the young county princess has disappeared.”

Lin Teng’s chopsticks paused mid-motion.

Minister Zhao was first startled, then immediately assumed a serious expression: “Lin Teng ah, stop eating. Go attend to this matter quickly.”

The princely residence’s servant hurriedly said: “There’s no rush. Minister Lin should eat first.”

How could one wholeheartedly handle affairs with an empty stomach?

Minister Zhao shot the princely residence’s servant a sidelong glance, with only one thought: Senseless.

Lin Teng said nothing more. He lowered his head and wolfed down his food before setting down his bowl and standing: “Let’s go.”

“Be careful. Report back if anything comes up.” Minister Zhao called out to Lin Teng’s rapidly departing back, then looked down. His expression darkened.

In the palm-sized small dish, only a solitary crab leg remained.

That damn brat!

Minister Zhao angrily gulped down a mouthful of liquor.

Prince Pingnan’s residence’s search for someone couldn’t escape the ears of those with ulterior motives. Perhaps harboring thoughts of watching the excitement, that evening the Youjian Tavern had an unusual number of patrons.

Suddenly clamor came from outside. The patrons who had already eaten their fill instantly scattered.

Hong Dou was furious: “They actually ate without paying!”

The female shopkeeper pressed down on the account book and smiled: “It’s fine. I recorded everything.”

Luo Sheng walked outside.

Qingxing Street was lit with lanterns everywhere. A crowd had gathered in front of the garment workshop next to the rouge shop diagonally across from the tavern.

“Smash this shop for me!” Wei Feng stood not far away with his hands behind his back, his face iron-blue.

Lin Teng blocked Wei Feng: “Heir apparent, don’t be hasty. Let me question her first.”

Wei Feng remained unmoved: “This base woman actually dared to conceal that my sister came here. If I don’t teach her a lesson, she’ll really think Prince Pingnan’s residence is a soft persimmon!”

Even a garment workshop’s shopkeeper dared to lie to him and treat him like a fool. He absolutely could not swallow this insult.

“Heir apparent, spare this humble woman! This humble woman didn’t know at the time that you were looking for the county princess. I thought it better to avoid trouble—”

Wei Feng was too lazy to listen further and shouted: “Smash it!”

Lin Teng’s expression darkened: “The heir apparent truly wants to smash it?”

“Naturally.”

Lin Teng cupped his hands: “If the heir apparent insists, then smash it. I’ll return home to rest first. It’s the same if I question her tomorrow.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Feng’s momentum deflated.

Getting the garment workshop’s shopkeeper to reveal the truth was Lin Teng’s achievement. If Lin Teng washed his hands of it, that would be troublesome.

In the past, he could have used Prince Pingnan’s reputation to pressure people, but now he couldn’t pressure the grandson of the Imperial Academy’s chancellor.

Wei Feng suppressed his anger and backed down.

Lin Teng swept his gaze over the dense crowd watching the excitement and said to the shopkeeper: “Let’s go inside the shop first.”