In a very secluded courtyard in Nanhong District,

Xiao Jiangzi led Mo Shaoze inside.

"Master, I've come to see you."

A thin, pale old man was lying on a rattan chair in the courtyard.

Hearing the sound, he opened his eyes.

"Little Jiangzi..."

Upon seeing Mo Shaoze, he immediately stood up from his chair.

A habitual bow.

"I don't know which distinguished master you are. This old servant greets you."

Even though he had already left those palace walls, his deep-rooted servility caused him to react instinctively.

Xiao Jiangzi hurriedly said, "This is the Fourth Prince."

"The Fourth Prince?"

The old eunuch paused, clearly having no recollection of it.

Mo Shaoze stepped forward and helped the person up.

“I’m being raised in a separate residence, and I’ve only recently started to help my father with his affairs. It’s normal that you don’t recognize me.”

The old eunuch had served in Zhaoyang Palace his entire life, and he knew exactly what was going on.

He immediately understood the meaning and quickly bowed again.

"This old servant greets Your Highness. May Your Highness live a thousand years."

Mo Shaoze had Xiao Jiangzi help him up and then casually took a stool to sit down.

"Since there are no masters or servants here today, I've come to ask you some questions."

The old eunuch wanted to stand with his head bowed, but Xiao Jiangzi helped him sit down.

"Your Highness is a kind person, Master, you don't need to stand on ceremony. What we want to ask is not some important matter of the court."

Even so, the old eunuch felt as if half of his buttocks had landed on the edge of the chair.

"What does Your Highness wish to ask?"

Mo Shaoze said, "When the Sui Dynasty sent envoys to the Zhou Dynasty, two illusionists came. Do you remember them, sir?"

Seeing that it wasn't a big deal, the old eunuch breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.

"This old servant remembers that their methods were exquisite, and the Emperor, who is now the Retired Emperor, was very pleased to watch them."

Mo Shaoze took out Bai Shu's portrait from his sleeve and handed it over.

"Father-in-law, look, is this one of them?"

The old eunuch hurriedly accepted it with both hands.

After looking at him for a while, he said, "Although he's aged, his features are about 80% similar to the person in the picture. This should be him."

All the guesses came true.

Mo Shaoze made up his mind.

It seems that all of this is the work of the remnants of the Sui Dynasty.

They must have had people active in Beijing all along.

If we can find a way to dig them all out and eliminate all the rebels, it will be a great achievement for both the Emperor and the Ninth Prince.

Xiao Jiangzi asked curiously, "Master, is this person really that powerful? If he can travel to the heavens and the earth, why was the Sui Dynasty still so easily destroyed by our Zhou Dynasty?"

The old eunuch glanced at him sideways.

"What do you know? Back then, the Sui Dynasty delegation came to the capital to make peace, but a strange thing happened. A perfectly fine concubine in the harem became a demon and died. That was the emperor's most beloved woman. The emperor was furious and ordered a thorough investigation of everyone in the capital who knew the art of magic. These two illusionists were the first to be targeted, and the Sui Dynasty delegation started making trouble. How could the peace treaty possibly be made?"

Mo Shaoze frowned slightly.

"Became a demon? Is she the Ninth Prince's mother? Did you see it with your own eyes, sir?"

The old eunuch then realized his slip of the tongue and knelt down with a thud.

"Your Highness, this old servant is old and my mind is becoming increasingly confused. Whatever I say is just nonsense. Please don't take it to heart."

Mo Shaoze knew he wouldn't get any more information by asking, so he didn't press the matter further.

He left a silver ingot, then took his leave with Xiao Jiangzi.

...

Inside the Cheng residence,

Qin Run has been living a very comfortable life these past few days.

Cheng and Su Yulan treated him like an emperor, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

They were all eagerly waiting for him to be recognized as a member of the Cheng family, so that he could bring endless glory to the Cheng family.

At this moment, Qin Run was leisurely eating grapes in the garden pavilion.

At that moment, the gatekeeper rushed in.

"Young Master, something terrible has happened! Prefect Liu of the Capital Prefecture wants to see you. He says he has a case to investigate with you."

Qin Run was so frightened he almost fell off the rattan chair.

"Just say I'm not here."

He had barely finished speaking when Cheng Nan led Liu Ruzhi in.

"Run'er, Lord Liu has some questions for you. Don't be nervous. Just answer truthfully."

Qin Run was so anxious he was practically jumping up and down.

With a stern face, he roared, "Who does he think he is, to dare question me? Get him out of here!"

Liu Ruzhi was taken aback by his attitude.

He couldn't help but look at Cheng Nan, "What's wrong with Young Master Qin?"

Before the family reunion was even planned, Cheng Nan, fearing complications, quickly went over and tugged at Qin Run, whispering a reminder.

"Things are accomplished in secrecy; remember not to create unnecessary complications."

Qin Run could only suppress his panic and impatience and wave his hand.

"Then ask."

Liu Ruzhi raised her hand and beckoned.

The constable beside him immediately unfolded a portrait.

Liu Ruzhi pointed to the person above and asked, "Young Master Qin, do you know this person?"

Qin Run glanced at it once and then hurriedly turned his head away.

It was a denial that came almost without thinking.

"I don't know him."

Liu Ruzhi raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Oh, this person is Mu Tianheng, a student from Yulin Academy. He was your classmate and reported you for plagiarism in front of the Emperor during the martial arts competition at Taihe Palace. You don't even recognize him?"

Qin Run's heart was pounding.

He retorted, his neck stiff with shrug, "Who is he? Just a lowly commoner! And who am I to know him? He dares to slander me; he'll be dead sooner or later!"

A sharp glint flashed in Liu Ruzhi's eyes.

How do you know he's dead?

Qin Run choked, his expression changing repeatedly.

Liu Ruzhi asked in a deep voice, "Seven nights ago, Mu Tianheng's classmate confessed that he had an argument with you in the birch forest in the East Third District, after which Mu Tianheng was murdered. It was raining heavily that night. How long did you stay in the East Third District, and where did you go afterward?"

Under his powerful, interrogative aura, Qin Run's legs went weak.

He can't even speak properly anymore.

"I...I forgot, anyway...I didn't kill him."

Liu Ruzhi continued, "That day in Chunxiang Pavilion, I personally heard you say that you killed someone, and that it was Mu Tianheng. Confess now!"

Qin Run's heart nearly jumped out of his chest.

Cheng Nan suddenly blocked his way.

“Lord Liu, this is the Cheng family, not the Jingzhao Prefecture. Run’er is so young, how could she withstand your interrogation? I know you are eager to solve the case, but if there is solid evidence, the Cheng family will not cover it up. If not, although the Cheng family cannot match the prestige of the Su family, we will never allow anyone to bully us.”

Liu Ruzhi composed herself slightly.

After years of investigating cases, he can almost conclude that Qin Run is related to Mu Tianheng's death.

But he really had no evidence.

Thinking of the coroner's judgment, he looked up at Qin Run.

"Young Master Qin, may I take a look at your hairpin?"

Qin Run was greatly alarmed.

She instinctively covered the hairpin on her head.

Only after touching him did he realize that the hairpin he was wearing was not the one that killed Mu Tianheng that day.

Feeling slightly relieved, I pulled it off and threw it over.

"I'm giving it to you as a reward."

Liu Ruzhi bent down and picked up the hairpin.

He examined it carefully, then placed it on the table in the pavilion.

"Sorry to bother you."

After speaking, he bowed, turned and left.