The Eastern Palace!
Jiang Shun knelt on the ground, not daring to lift his head. There were several broken teacups in front of him.
"Jiang Shun, what use are you all to me? I asked you to look after the Xie family mansion, which has been sealed off, and you couldn't even do it properly. You're a bunch of good-for-nothings."
"This is infuriating! If that thing is discovered, you, me, and the entire Jiang family will be doomed, do you understand?"
Jiang Shun only realized today how incredibly stupid his subordinates were; they only reported that Old Wang had been missing for two days.
"Your Highness, please don't be anxious. The Xie residence has only been suspected of being broken into. What if it was just some thieves trying to steal some valuables and not actually targeting the booklet?"
That booklet was written by Xie Tingzhi. Although Xie Tingzhi is dead, that booklet still cannot be found.
This has always been a hidden danger; if it falls into the wrong hands, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Don't talk to me about 'what ifs'. I'd rather kill the innocent than leave the slightest danger. Investigate for me."
"Your Highness, the old king is nowhere to be found, neither alive nor dead. How can I possibly begin my investigation?"
Upon hearing this, Nangong Jingming flew into a rage: "You come and ask me, find a way to investigate for me. If I knew everything, what would I need you for?"
Jiang Shun was at his wit's end. Old Wang couldn't have just vanished into thin air; he could only start by searching for Old Wang's whereabouts.
Expand the search area further and see if any suspicious people went there that night.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Before Jiang Shun had even left, another guard came in to report.
"Your Highness, the man keeping an eye on the Second Prince reported that after court today, the Second Prince went to Fumanlou Restaurant and brought a woman back to his residence with him."
Even the dead Xie Tingzhi couldn't keep him at ease, so what kind of trouble is his second brother causing?
"Did you see clearly who that woman is?"
The messenger reported, "The woman was wearing a veil, so her face was not visible, but she had a cinnabar mole on her forehead."
Nangong Jingming didn't think much of it and said irritably, "She's just a woman, let her be."
Jiang Shun was still kneeling on the ground when he heard the guard say the words "cinnabar mole." He knew in his heart that something was wrong; it was a cinnabar mole on his forehead.
"Your Highness, something terrible has happened! Do you remember Xie Ting's daughter, Xie Wanwan, whose beauty was famous throughout the capital?"
Nangong Jingming was furious with Jiang Shun. He thought Jiang Shun was a good-for-nothing, not only failing to do his job properly but also thinking about those brothels.
"As the Crown Prince, I have no interest in the affairs of women."
Jiang Shun was anxious and hurriedly knelt down in front of Nangong Jingming.
"The Crown Prince is busy with political affairs and is unaware of many things. Xie Tingzhi's daughter, Xie Wanwan, is known as the most beautiful woman in the capital and has a cinnabar mole on her forehead."
Upon hearing this, Nangong Jingming stared at Jiang Shun in disbelief, a look of panic and confusion on his face.
"You mean, the woman the second brother took away today is Xie Tingzhi's daughter, Xie Wanwan?"
Jiang Shun was just guessing; he hadn't seen the real person, so he wasn't sure.
“Your Highness, if it really is Xie Wanwan, then it makes sense. Otherwise, who would dare to break into the Xie residence in the middle of the night?”
Old Wang's body couldn't be found; she probably killed him and disposed of the evidence.
Nangong Jingming was determined to find that book, but he searched the Xie mansion thoroughly and still couldn't find it. Could it be that the book was in Xie Wanwan's hands?
That doesn't make sense either. If the booklet was in Xie Wanwan's hands, she wouldn't have waited more than a year after the Xie family's residence was raided before taking it out.
Or perhaps she broke into the Xie residence just two days ago and took the missing booklet? If that's the case, then she's now siding with the second son...
This is really going to be a big problem.
"Jiang Shun, you official, get up!"
Nangong Jingming grabbed Jiang Shun by the collar, his fist trembling involuntarily: "Have you seen Xie Wanwan? I order you to draw her figure."
The crown prince's expression was as if he was about to devour him; how could he dare to resist?
"Yes! I'll draw it right away, I'll draw it right away..."
Jiang Shun suddenly realized that being a playboy wasn't entirely useless. At least he had done a lot of outrageous things back then in order to see Xie Wanwan, otherwise how would he know what Xie Wanwan looked like?
After a long time, he finally finished drawing. Although he couldn't capture Xie Wanwan's beauty, he could still get a resemblance to her figure.
Nangong Jingming showed the painting to the subordinate who was keeping an eye on Nangong Jingyao. He could barely make out that the woman in the painting looked similar to the person in the painting.
"Your Highness, this is the woman. She came out of Fu Man Lou with the Second Prince this morning."
Nangong Jingming gritted his teeth so hard he almost broke them, and tore the scroll in his hand to pieces on the ground.
"That booklet must not fall into the hands of the Second Prince. Men, summon a few assassins and go to the Second Prince's residence to kill Xie Wanwan for me."
Jiang Shun dared not speak. The Crown Prince could kill people without hesitation. He had also failed in his duty to oversee the matter, and he didn't know how he would be punished later.
"What are you still standing there for? Go back and call your father to see me. If I lose power, your Jiang family will be the first to be destroyed."
Nangong Jingming kicked Jiang Shun to the door, and in a fit of rage, he pushed all the books off the table.
"Get out of here now."
Jiang Shun scrambled to his feet, enduring the pain, and said, "This humble official takes his leave."
...
Xie Wanwan felt uneasy after settling into the Second Prince's residence, as if something was about to happen.
The evening wind was slightly chilly, but Xie Wanwan felt stuffy. She opened the window, and an arrow flew in with the cold wind and stuck in the windowsill next to her.
There was also a note on it. Xie Wanwan took the arrow down, opened it, and saw that it was written by A Xu in slightly crooked characters.
He said, "Wanwan, I'll keep watch outside. Don't worry."
Xie Wanwan smiled. Upon seeing the note, her inner turmoil and unease immediately subsided. She knew that someone was sharing her burden.
Her room was in the attic on the second floor, and she could see outside from the window, but it was already late and she couldn't see anything outside.
As if they were telepathically connected, a tinderbox suddenly lit up on a tall tree branch, then went out. Xie Wanwan knew that it was Ah Xu.
Xie Wanwan responded to Axu, keeping the lights on in the room. As long as the candles didn't go out, it meant she was not in danger.
At midnight, Xie Wanwan's window was suddenly pierced by four or five arrows. She got up to look, but there was no more movement.
"Oh no, Ah Xu..."
Looking out to the side, outside the Second Prince's residence, sparks flew from the friction of weapons. After a few rounds, it quieted down again.
"Miss Xie, are you alright?"
Several guards entered Xie Wanwan's room, and as soon as they entered, they saw the arrows on the window.
Xie Wanwan pointed outside and said, "Someone wants to kill me!"
The guards immediately protected Xie Wanwan, and one of them gave instructions.
"Leave two people here to protect Miss Xie; the rest of you come with me."
The guard who came in went out. She didn't know how Ah Xu was doing or if he was injured. If Ah Xu hadn't been guarding outside, she didn't know if she would still be alive.
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