The King of Huainan suddenly slapped his forehead: "Oh dear, I'm getting old and my memory is failing. This jade hairpin was entrusted to me by my betrothed daughter-in-law to be given to Xin'er."

After he finished speaking, he reached for the hairpin, but Zhou Huaichuan did not let go.

The Prince of Huainan's smile deepened: "Hmm? Does Your Highness like it?"

Zhou Huaichuan stared intently at him, his focused and bright gaze reminding the Prince of Huainan of the exceptionally fierce wolf king of the Southern Barbarians.

This is the look in the wolf king's eyes when facing an enemy.

The Prince of Huainan released his hand: "Since Your Highness likes it, then this old minister will take the liberty of giving it to Your Highness. However, this hairpin is a pair, and this old minister has had the other one escorted to Xizhou."

A smile appeared on Zhou Huaichuan's lips: "Your Highness is joking. You're using the word 'escort' to describe something as simple as a hairpin."

The Prince of Huainan shook his head mysteriously: "Your Highness is unaware that what you consider precious may be looked down upon by others, and what others value may be discarded by you like worn-out shoes. Whether it is worth it or not depends on each person's choice."

"I have learned a great deal." Zhou Huaichuan put the jade hairpin back into his bosom. "I will personally repay Your Highness's kindness in teaching me today at the Prince of Huainan's residence another day. Farewell."

Yun Zheng pushed Zhou Huaichuan away, while the Prince of Huainan was still standing there watching them.

"My lord, I will immediately send men to pursue Xizhou."

Zhou Huaichuan shook his head: "She is still in the city. Send a team of men with me to Xizhou. The rest of you stay in the capital and keep a close watch. If Yun Gui is also missing, they must be together. Try to contact her."

Yun Zheng accepted the order and left.

Zhou Huaichuan stood up, took his cloak, and rode away.

......

"Your Highness, Prince An has already set off for Xizhou."

As soon as Zhou Huaichuan left, the news reached the King of Huainan.

“There is indeed something going on between them,” the King of Huainan sneered.

"Your Highness, Chu Xinxin was under tight protection by Qi Yi's men. It was difficult for Prime Minister Chu to even see her. How did you manage to capture her?"

A third voice came from inside the room.

To the left of the King of Huainan sat the eldest prince, Zhou Rui.

"No matter how much we tried to prevent it, we couldn't stop her from coming up with her own ideas." The Prince of Huainan stroked his beard. "We have to thank Your Highness, otherwise this old minister would not have known that the witch could heal Prince An's injuries."

On the day of the horse race betting, Zhou Huaichuan held Chu Xinxin's hand as they rode the horse, a sight Zhou Rui witnessed clearly.

Zhou Rui's eyes flickered. Even when Chu Xinxin came out, she was accompanied by guards.

Not to mention the large number of people, according to the number Qi Yi assigned to her, the number was quite large, but she has not received any news so far.

The King of Huainan must be hiding something from him.

"I merely provided the information; it was mainly Your Highness's keen sense of judgment that made the difference," Zhou Rui said modestly.

The Prince of Huainan declined, saying, "Your Highness's Ziwei star is shining brightly. This old minister is merely taking advantage of this favorable wind to do something insignificant for Your Highness."

Zhou Rui didn't say anything, but the expression on his face clearly showed that he was very pleased.

The Prince of Huainan deliberately said some nice things: "Your Highness can rest assured. Once the Prince of An leaves the capital, there will be plenty of people to help Your Highness clear obstacles."

The second prince accompanied the old minister to the southern barbarians. On the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes, and the old minister could not guarantee his safety.

As for the Third Prince... Your Highness, if you win first place tomorrow, with the city defenses and the Imperial Guards secured, your ascension to the throne will be imminent. This old minister and my good-for-nothing son will have to rely on Your Highness much more in the future!

"Your Highness, rest assured, as long as I live, I will never mistreat a loyal minister like you!"

The Prince of Huainan raised his teacup and offered tea to Zhou Rui in lieu of wine, thus concealing the mockery in his eyes.

......

On the other side.

Zhou Huaichuan rode his horse out of the palace and rode a short distance towards Xizhou, where he met up with Yun Zheng, who was waiting nearby.

"Master, Haitang said that Miss Chu and Yun Gui went to the Prince of Huainan's mansion."

"Um."

Zhou Huaichuan dismounted and quickly changed his clothes into coarse linen clothes, then smeared them with black charcoal powder, instantly transforming himself from a noble prince into a groom.

"I have already made contact with the spies of the Prince of Huainan's mansion. The spies have reported that Miss Chu is being held in a courtyard deep within the mansion."

Zhou Huaichuan led another horse over: "Follow me, we'll talk as we go."

Zhou Huaichuan was extremely anxious, and Yun Zheng almost couldn't keep up with him.

When the two arrived in the capital, they disguised themselves as peasants delivering firewood and knocked on the back door of the Prince of Huainan's mansion.

For a long time, there was no sound from inside the door.

Zhou Huaichuan and Yun Zheng exchanged a glance. Yun Zheng took out a dagger and slowly slid it through the crack in the door. The lock on the door fell to the ground with a dull thud.

The two pushed open the door and went inside. The Prince of Huainan's mansion was quiet, with only the flickering shadows of lanterns under the eaves.

Yun Zheng carefully carried his sword forward, his eyes warily observing his surroundings.

"careful."

Yun Zheng swung his sword behind him with a swift motion, the sharp blade striking a tree stump.

Due to inertia, he took two steps back, his heel hit something, and he fell backward onto his buttocks.

"Holy crap, who's so heartless as to leave a person... a person, in the middle of the road at night?"

Yun Zheng rubbed his buttocks and stood up, checking the person's breath; he was still alive.

I slept so soundly, I was even snoring.

Zhou Huaichuan pointed with his sword: "There are two hanging on the tree on the left, and three fallen in the pavilion on the right. In the entire Huainan Prince's Mansion, I doubt you can find five awake people."

Yun Zheng: "...Oh no! Miss Chu and Yun Gui are in danger!"

Following the clues given by the scout, the master and servant quickly found the courtyard where Chu Xinxin was being held. They pushed open the door and went inside, where the people inside were all crooked and disheveled.

Yun Zheng searched the entire courtyard but didn't find anyone.

But it was clear that Chu Xinxin's coat was still hanging on the hanger.

"Master, let's look again."

The vast Prince Huainan's mansion was eerily quiet, and everyone seemed to be sleeping soundly as if possessed.

Even the well-informed Yun Zheng felt something was off.

It seemed as if only the sounds of his and his master's breathing filled the entire world...

"This human bone bracelet is beautiful..."

"Human bones...are worthless..."

"What a big heart..."

Two small, shrill female voices, tinged with suppressed excitement, suddenly rang out in the quiet courtyard. Yun Zheng's heart skipped a beat: "Master, Master, did you hear anything?"

Zhou Huaichuan raised a cold brow, pushed aside the obstructing Yun Zheng, and strode over in the direction of the sound.

This must be the main courtyard, spacious and bright, with many shadows cast by the trees; it would be very cool in the summer.

But it's very strange in the dead of night...

The sound became clearer and clearer.

"The human skin drum, made from the tenderest skin of a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, involves first making a hole in her head and then pouring mercury through it. The girl must remain conscious throughout the process so that the skin can be peeled off more completely... and there's also the human head bowl..."

Zhou Huaichuan pushed open the door and entered, his voice abruptly ceasing.

Yun Zheng peeked out from behind and saw Chu Xinxin holding a bronze drum in her right hand and a bowl in her left, sitting on a mountain of treasures, telling a ghost story to the pale-faced Yun Gui with great emotion.

"......"

Yun Zheng: "Miss Chu, going to someone else's storeroom to tell ghost stories, that's quite a unique hobby of yours, huh?"