The investigation seemed to have reached an impasse.

Su Yao consoled Wei Feng. “I too feel distressed that such a thing has happened, but I believe the Commandery Princess is blessed and will have her own good fortune. Heir Apparent, don’t be too anxious. Let me go back and bring people to search.”

“Thank you.” Wei Feng forced out his thanks.

He had thought his sister’s disappearance was related to Su Yao, but now that the other party had cleared himself of suspicion, no matter how indignant he felt inside, he couldn’t continue to turn hostile.

Su Yao smiled and inquired of Lin Teng in a peaceful tone, “Magistrate Lin, may I leave now? I too wish to contribute to finding the Commandery Princess. Perhaps with more people searching, we’ll be able to find her.”

Lin Teng said calmly, “Editor Su may leave for now.”

Su Yao cupped his hands toward the two men. “Then I shall take my leave first.”

After Su Yao left, Wei Feng immediately questioned Lin Teng. “Magistrate Lin, what exactly is going on here? Your investigation clearly found that someone saw my sister together with Su Yao. How is it that Su Yao’s colleagues are all testifying for him?”

“This still requires further investigation.”

“What more is there to investigate?”

Perhaps having seen many victims’ anxiousness, facing Wei Feng’s interrogation, Lin Teng patiently explained, “Continue investigating the neighbors in the Cat’s Eye Alley area. Perhaps there will be new discoveries.”

“And if there aren’t?”

Lin Teng was silent for a moment, then said honestly, “Then there’s nothing to be done.”

The world was full of unsolvable mysteries. What he could do was exert his utmost effort and have a clear conscience.

Wei Feng’s face turned black with anger. “Magistrate Lin, isn’t this being too irresponsible?”

Lin Teng said calmly, “I’m only responsible for investigating cases. If the Heir Apparent has objections, he can speak with our Minister Zhao.”

“Fine, I’ll go ask your Minister Zhao right now!” Wei Feng flung his sleeves and left.

A yamen runner came over and curled his lip. “Look what state Prince Pingnan’s Manor is in—the Heir Apparent of Prince Pingnan still can’t figure out the situation.”

Did he still think this was the Prince Pingnan’s Manor of the past?

Lin Teng glanced at him and said flatly, “Talk less, work more. Let’s go, back to work.”

When Wei Feng saw Minister Zhao, Minister Zhao was leisurely drinking tea.

“Oh my, why has the Heir Apparent come?”

Wei Feng explained the situation and sneered, “Minister Zhao, is this how your Ministry of Justice conducts business?”

Minister Zhao set down his teacup and frowned. “That Lin Teng truly deserves a beating.”

With that, he ordered a yamen runner to summon Lin Teng.

The yamen runner soon returned to report, “Magistrate Lin has gone out to investigate the matter of Prince Pingnan Manor’s Young Commandery Princess’s disappearance.”

Minister Zhao asked Wei Feng with a hearty laugh, “Heir Apparent, you see, Lin Teng has gone out to investigate the case. How about when he returns, I’ll scold him then?”

Faced with such an accommodating attitude, what could Wei Feng say? He could only take his leave and continue searching for his sister.

Minister Zhao picked up his tea cup and methodically blew on the tea leaves floating on the water’s surface.

Su Yao walked out of the Ministry of Justice yamen. Looking at the distant blue sky and flowing clouds, he lifted the corners of his lips. Under the curious gazes of passersby, he returned to the Hanlin Academy.

His colleagues at the Hanlin Academy immediately crowded around, chattering as they inquired about the situation.

Su Yao said with an air of indifference, “It’s nothing. Thank you all for testifying on my behalf.”

Upon hearing this, several colleagues hastily waved their hands. “Editor Su, you’re too courteous. Yesterday you were indeed with us. We merely spoke the truth.”

“Exactly! How could the investigation of Prince Pingnan Manor’s Young Commandery Princess’s disappearance point to Editor Su? Could Editor Su have hidden the Young Commandery Princess away?”

“Editor Su has it rough—being stuck with such a marriage alliance…”

Su Yao walked forward, listening to the discussion drifting from behind him, and curved his lips.

“Editor Su wishes to request leave?” Having heard Su Yao’s purpose, his superior was somewhat surprised.

Su Yao’s face showed some worry. “This subordinate’s fiancée has gone missing. This subordinate wishes to bring people to search for her.”

His superior stared at Su Yao for a long while, then heaved a long sigh. “Editor Su is truly righteous and honorable. Go ahead.”

If Editor Su weren’t already engaged to the Young Commandery Princess of Prince Pingnan’s Manor, he would have wanted to play matchmaker for his own daughter.

What a pity, such a pity.

Lin Teng led numerous yamen runners to question the residents of Cat’s Eye Alley door by door. Wei Feng also brought many servants to search everywhere. Even the newly crowned zhuangyuan, Young Master Su, joined the search party.

For a time, even three-year-old children throughout the capital knew that the Young Commandery Princess of Prince Pingnan’s Manor had disappeared and hadn’t returned for an entire night.

Having heard the news Kou’er had gathered, Luo Sheng fell into contemplation.

When Wei Han entered the courtyard, what he saw was the scene of the young lady sitting by the stone table in a daze.

There weren’t many persimmons left hanging on the persimmon tree. As the wind blew, leaves rustled down, making the branches appear increasingly bare.

Wei Han inexplicably sighed and walked over to sit across from Luo Sheng.

“Miss, His Highness has arrived.” Seeing Luo Sheng had no reaction, Kou’er gently reminded her.

Luo Sheng came back to herself.

Wei Han asked with a smile, “What is Miss Luo thinking about?”

As he spoke, he placed a basket of chrysanthemums on the stone table.

Luo Sheng had become numb to someone’s habit of occasionally bringing a basket of yellow chrysanthemums and said frankly, “I’m thinking about Su Yao.”

Wei Han’s brows moved.

Thinking about Su Yao?

“The rumors outside—Your Highness has heard them, haven’t you?”

Wei Han thought for a moment and asked, “Is Miss Luo referring to how someone saw Su Yao together with the Young Commandery Princess, yet colleagues from the Hanlin Academy testified for Su Yao?”

Luo Sheng nodded.

“I’ve heard.”

“Then what does Your Highness think?”

One person’s plan is limited, two people’s plans are superior. Discussing this with Prince Kaiyang might broaden her thinking.

“I believe the latter.”

Luo Sheng was somewhat surprised by Wei Han’s certainty and quietly listened to him continue.

“Whether it’s the two young misses from the Wang family, the beggar children on the street, or those passersby, their recognition of Su Yao all stems from the mounted parade several months ago. But the colleagues at the Hanlin Academy spend entire days with Su Yao. In other words, the Su Yao seen by the people at the Hanlin Academy must definitely be Su Yao, but what those other people saw might not necessarily be him.”

A vague thought flashed through Luo Sheng’s mind.

“After those people learned that the young lady chasing a man down the street was the Young Commandery Princess of Prince Pingnan’s Manor, when they recalled the man’s appearance, perhaps as long as that man bore three or four parts resemblance to Su Yao, it would be enough for them to identify him as the newly crowned zhuangyuan they had glimpsed from afar…”

Listening to Wei Han’s words, that thought suddenly became clear. Luo Sheng abruptly stood up.

“Miss Luo?”

“Your Highness should go to the main hall for tea and rest. I have matters and must return to the Grand Marshal’s Manor.”

Seeing Luo Sheng leave in haste, Wei Han stood up and remained silent for a moment, then casually plucked a persimmon.

The branches of the persimmon tree swayed, looking even more bare.

Luo Sheng hurried back to the Grand Marshal’s Manor and headed straight for the western courtyard of Xianyun Garden.

The tree canopy in the courtyard still spread like a pavilion. Two men were playing chess.

Hearing the commotion, both looked over.

One possessed extraordinary, stunning beauty; the other was outstandingly handsome.

Luo Sheng walked quickly to stand before the two men. Her gaze settled on Lingxiao’s face as she said flatly, “Come with me.”

Having said this, she turned and walked toward the moon gate.

Lingxiao hesitated for an instant, then silently followed.

Mingzhu watched as the two figures disappeared one after the other through the moon gate, then also rose and walked over.

Outside the gate led to Miss Luo’s living quarters; inside the gate was a cage isolated from the world.

He stood inside the cage. He did not take that step outside.