Three days later, Lanqin finally boarded the carriage with Fourth Master back to the capital, while another carriage, containing a cage with the fake Zhou Zhenggang imprisoned inside, was heading towards the capital at several times the speed of Fourth Master and his companion. To ensure that he wouldn't be intercepted, Fourth Master had twenty guards escorting this carriage.

Fourth Master had originally planned to escort her personally, but he couldn't bear to see Lanqin go through such a arduous journey, so he borrowed twenty carefully selected guards from the prefect of Xiangzhou. After staying in Xiangzhou for a day, Fourth Master personally hosted a dinner, inviting Lanqin's half-brother and Du Zhiqian to join him. The guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely. Fourth Master instructed them to gain valuable experience in Xiangzhou, and that he would transfer them back at the appropriate time.

"Master, what happened to those Taoist priests in the end?" Lanqin finally had time to ask Fourth Master.

Because the Fourth Master had been very busy these past few days, making arrangements, Lanqin hadn't had a chance to ask. Now that they were finally on the carriage heading back, Lanqin asked.

"The reinforcements arrived just in time! Otherwise, the second and third stewards alone might not have been able to defeat them," said Fourth Master.

"Weren't the head steward and the second steward supposed to be working together? How did it become the third steward?" Lanqin asked.

"The head steward deliberately colluded with the second steward from the beginning, and had actually secretly informed the fake sect leader. Fortunately, he wasn't told about that poisoning method that **** came up with, otherwise the fake Zhou Zhenggang would have been very difficult to subdue. Surprisingly, the third brother actually switched sides at the last minute and went to help Zhou Xingchuan, otherwise he probably wouldn't have survived until reinforcements arrived and would have died at the hands of his own senior brother and fourth junior brother," said the fourth master.

"Was the old sect leader in that dungeon rescued?" Lanqin asked with concern.

"He's been rescued. The fourth brother didn't dare to actually kill him. After the reinforcements arrived, they subdued all of the eldest and fourth brothers' men, and the fake sect leader was captured due to poisoning," the fourth master said.

"Alas, I never imagined that three out of the old sect leader's four disciples would betray him," Lan Qin said. "But this time we can finally expose Zhou Tiangang, who is by the Emperor's side. He is actually the Grand Master's eldest disciple. The so-called elixir of immortality is nothing but a deceptive trick."

"Yes, so this fake sect leader is crucial. I specifically ordered so many people to escort him back and send him directly to the Dali Temple prison," Fourth Master said. "I have already sent a message back by carrier pigeon, instructing them to keep a close watch on this person and wait for my return."

"Is Master worried that someone might do something to him?" Lanqin asked.

Fourth Prince nodded and said, "Someone must have acted as a go-between for him to get so close to Father Emperor. Otherwise, how could a mere wandering sorcerer like him have placed someone by Father Emperor's side?"

Lanqin nodded, naturally thinking of the Eighth Prince. She felt even more acutely the cruelty of the struggle for the throne among the nine princes, where even the bonds between brothers and fathers could be extinguished in the end.

"What are you thinking about?" Fourth Master asked, noticing the dimness in Lanqin's eyes.

"My lord, I am a little worried. If one day, if you really sit in that position, will you be heartless towards me as well?" Lanqin said.

The Fourth Prince immediately raised his hand and flicked Lanqin's forehead, saying, "You are my concubine, and you will have an even more honorable position in the future. How could I be heartless towards you?"

Lanqin saw that the Fourth Master was slightly angry, but she still felt sweet inside. She said coquettishly, "Master, may I ask you for a get-out-of-jail-free card?"

The Fourth Prince opened his eyes wide and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Only the emperor can grant someone a pardon from death."

"Your Highness is now Prince Yong, so why can't I have Prince Yong's pardon?" Lanqin said coquettishly.

"Nonsense, you don't need a get-out-of-jail-free card, because I will never be heartless towards you." Fourth Master pulled Lanqin into his arms, followed by a barrage of passionate kisses.

Lanqin endured the Fourth Prince's long and passionate kiss. Although she was somewhat afraid of royal family affection and shocked by their enthusiasm for power, the Fourth Prince's genuine love at this moment dispelled her fear.

The carriages traveled for seven or eight days, almost day and night, and finally returned to the capital. The carriage convoy that had been carrying the fake Zhou Zhenggang had arrived at the Dali Temple prison three days earlier than them.

Fourth Master dared not delay. He sent Lanqin back to the mansion and immediately went to the Dali Temple prison to interrogate her for days.

But no matter how they tortured him, the nearly seventy-year-old man refused to say anything.

“Your Highness, this old man is getting on in years. If we continue to use torture, I’m afraid he won’t be able to withstand it,” a steward from the Dali Temple who was in charge of executions said to the Fourth Prince.

"He didn't utter a single word?" Fourth Master asked with a stern face.

“He didn’t say a word. This servant can tell he knows that if he speaks, he’ll face certain death, so he won’t say a word,” the steward said.

Fourth Master frowned. He knew this person was key. If he couldn't get him to talk, then Zhou Tiangang's lies wouldn't be exposed, and he wouldn't be able to find the person behind him.