"Your humble servant is foolish and has never before seen a young and strong man disappear during the spring plowing season. I have no idea where they have all gone. What is the mystery behind this?"

"But I am willing to take the order to investigate what conspiracy lies behind this!"

Zhou Zhizhi, who had just stood up, knelt down again with a thud.

"His Majesty also has this intention, then I will trouble Grand Preceptor Zhou to investigate thoroughly what exactly happened."

"His Majesty has been unwell lately. As his subjects, we must do our best to share his burdens. Don't you agree, Grand Preceptor Zhou?"

“Eunuch Zhou is right. I will do my utmost to find out the truth as soon as possible,” Zhou Zhizhi said, bowing her head.

"Then there's nothing else. Please, Grand Preceptor Zhou, return home." Eunuch Cao smiled and saw Zhou Zhizhi off.

After leaving the old emperor's palace, Zhou Zhizhi pondered carefully the whole way.

Upon entering the palace to meet the emperor, the old emperor merely raised his arm without uttering a single word. Was he ill and unwilling to speak, or was he simply unable to speak at all?

It seems that the emperor has been completely controlled by the Eastern Depot, and Eunuch Cao of the Eastern Depot has a close relationship with the empress and is a staunch supporter of the Third Prince.

Therefore, it is impossible for the Third Prince to have privately conscripted young men for training and to create an army known only to himself.

All of this was actually just a pretext to frame Xiao Xiyou.

Her frequent visits to the Second Prince's residence had already attracted the attention of those with ulterior motives.

That's why this questioning took place in front of the palace.

This also explains the assassination attempt at Xiao Xiyou's residence.

"Sigh! Not only do I have to save Xiao Xiyou's life, but I also have to help him find the traitor in the manor. The road ahead is long and arduous! System! Can't you give me a little reward?"

[This is a good idea. If the host can help Xiao Xiyou resolve this crisis, I will apply to my superiors to reward the host with 30 Beauty Points.]

Zhou Zhizhi's face darkened upon hearing this. What use do I have for beauty points?! What I need is to save my life!

Being beautiful is nothing compared to surviving.

[If the host fails to complete this mission, you will be immediately eliminated, darling.] Ignoring Zhou Zhizhi's impotent rage, the system spoke the harshest words in the gentlest tone.

I hate it!

Resigned to her fate, Zhou Zhizhi changed into her night clothes and sneaked towards Xiao Xiyou's residence.

Ever since she learned that the Third Prince had spies at Xiao Xiyou's residence, Zhou Zhizhi understood that the usual way to climb over the wall was now blocked. As soon as she appeared there, his whereabouts would be immediately reported to the Third Prince.

The Third Prince was treacherous and cunning, and because his mother was the Empress, her family wielded immense power in the court. Therefore, even as a prince holding significant military power, no one dared to criticize him.

After a moment's thought, Zhou Zhizhi headed towards the moat outside the city. If he remembered correctly, he could swim three kilometers southeast from the moat, past a cold pool, and reach the artificial lake within Xiaoxi Youfu.

This was an escape route that Xiao Xiyou painstakingly preserved during the construction of the mansion. It's likely that only Xiao Xiyou and Zhou Zhizhi know this.

Because the workers who helped Xiao Xiyou build this passage had already been wiped out by Xiao Xiyou without leaving any survivors.

But Zhou Zhizhi couldn't care less about anything else at this moment. The matter at hand was far more urgent than letting that ruthless little grapefruit know that there were still people in the world who knew the secrets of his mansion.

Moreover, Zhou Zhizhi believed herself to be exceptionally skilled in martial arts, so how could she let Xiao Xiyou discover that she had arrived at the mansion through the moat?

Zhou Zhizhi emerged from the bottom of the lake, found a secluded corner, and used her internal energy to dry her clothes and hair. Carefully avoiding the sparse servants and patrols along the way, she quietly made her way to Xiao Xiyou's study.

Little did she know that all of her actions had been observed by Xiao Xiyou.

Xiao Xiyou was shocked, his eyes darkening involuntarily. "How did this woman know the road leading from my residence to the city gate?!"

She knows too much; it seems we can't keep her here...

Before Zhou Zhizhi arrived at the study, Xiao Xiyou was already there, savoring the Pu'er tea in his cup, waiting for her arrival.

"Second Prince, would you be interested in accompanying this humble lady on a field trip today?" Zhou Zhizhi asked with a smile as she pushed open the door to make sure no one was around.

Bright sunlight streamed through the doors and windows, illuminating his smiling face, and his hair, ruffled by the breeze, shimmered faintly. Her nighttime attire further accentuated her curvaceous figure.

"The Imperial Advisor invites me to go on a field trip with you dressed like this? Is this really a field trip? Or is it something else?" Xiao Xiyou looked at Zhou Zhizhi with a mocking expression.

Although he had just made up his mind to kill the woman in front of him.

But no one has ever invited him to go out and play since he was a child. He remembers that when he was very young, he longed to have friends.

"Brother, brother, can I go hunting with you at the horse farm?" Young Xiao Xiyou followed closely behind the eldest prince with his short steps.

"No way, we won't play with that little bitch!" The eldest prince, Xiao Dongyang, refused Xiao Xiyou without even thinking.

"You think you can play with us? Don't you even know if you're worthy!" A group of attendants around the First Prince, seeing Xiao Dongyang's attitude, quickly chimed in, trying to intimidate him.

Young Xiao Xiyou stood there stunned, bewildered by the laughter of those around him. Then, someone pushed him, and Xiao Xiyou fell to the ground, scraping his elbows and knees. Instead of showing any pity and helping him up, the group of people in front of him intensified their beating.

The palace maids and eunuchs following them seemed to have no eyes, and not a single one of them tried to stop them. After they had bullied Xiao Xiyou enough, they scattered and left, leaving him lying on the ground alone for two whole hours.

It wasn't until evening, when it was time for him to go to bed, that his maidservant hurriedly came to find him.

And arrogantly warned him not to try to climb the social ladder, as it would only bring trouble to those of them who were servants.

But at that time, young Xiao Xiyou did not know what kinship was; it was the teacher in class who told them to be friendly and respectful to their elder brothers...

“Who says you can’t go out for field research if you’re wearing night clothes?” Zhou Zhizhi replied with a bright smile, her radiant smile shining right in front of Xiao Xiyou.

“Sure, I’d be happy to oblige.” Xiao Xiyou suppressed the strange feeling in his heart and took a step back without making a sound.

First, take her out to have some fun, then make your move... After all, a dignified national advisor disappearing in his own residence, he can't escape responsibility.

Xiao Xiyou changed his plans in his heart and even brazenly made excuses for himself, completely disregarding the fact that only he knew that Zhou Zhizhi had entered through his secret passage and that no one else would know her whereabouts.

"To maintain uniformity, I would like to ask the Second Prince to change into the same clothes as me," Zhou Zhizhi said eagerly after seeing that Xiao Xiyou had agreed.

"Oh?" Xiao Xiyou raised an eyebrow, deliberately teasing Zhou Zhizhi.