The innkeeper said to Cheng Liang in a low voice, "After Miss Yi checked in, she changed into men's clothing in her room, had dinner, and then the three of them left together and haven't returned yet. As for the Third Young Master Yi that the general mentioned, according to him, he claims to be Miss Yi's cousin. He also said that he had just found Miss Yi at Wanjiao Pavilion, but was then invited away by someone else. He suspected that the person who came to stay with Miss Yi had ulterior motives and wanted to harm her, so he went upstairs to check the guest's room. Oh dear, I'm still shaken up. Who would have thought that the guest had mysteriously disappeared without a trace? When the Third Young Master Yi saw this, he suspected that Miss Yi was in danger, and he chased after her right after His Highness and the general returned."
"As expected, it was Young Master Yi who did this... It's all just as Master predicted." Cheng Liang finally realized.
But after a slight hesitation, he hurriedly asked, "Do you know where Young Master Yi went?"
After a moment's recollection, the shopkeeper said with a hint of suspicion, "He said he found Miss Yi in Wanjiao Pavilion. I reckon he'll probably go back there to look for her or wait for her. But why would a woman like Miss Yi go to a place like that?"
Cheng Liang ignored the old shopkeeper's doubts, only frowning and repeating "Wanjiao Pavilion" to himself.
Before the old shopkeeper could react, she hurriedly reached out and pulled him up, turned around and went back to Xuan Yuanhan's door, gently knocked on the door, and went inside.
The old shopkeeper was instructed to report everything he knew to his master in detail, without missing a single word...
"Why doesn't Your Highness wait for Miss Yi and take her back with you? It's not safe for her to be here alone."
On a dark and windy country road, the guards asked anxiously and puzzled questions as they hurriedly spurred their horses forward.
At this moment, Mei Zhixuan had removed the butterfly-shaped silver mask from his face, revealing a face with exquisitely handsome features, exuding a noble and gentle aura.
Upon hearing the guard's words, a look of displeasure immediately appeared on her delicate face. "With those two people here, she will be fine. The soldiers in Wanjiao Pavilion just now were sent by Prince Qin, Xuanyuan Han, to find her. Moreover, I personally saw that the Crown Prince of Nan'an was also there."
The guard exclaimed in disbelief, "Your Highness, are you saying that Prince Qin, Xuanyuan Han, and the Crown Prince of Nan'an have also arrived in the south of the city?"
Mei Zhixuan sighed as he recalled the close call he had just experienced. "When I was hiding outside the window of Wanjiao Pavilion to avoid being searched, I glimpsed the leader who came to check the rooms. He was none other than the deputy general who was inseparable from Xuan Yuanhan all day long. I am certain that Xuan Yuanhan is also nearby. If we stay any longer, we will likely be exposed."
"As for the matter of the legitimate princess, we still..." Upon hearing this, the guard suddenly felt a sense of lingering fear, but after a moment's hesitation, he stopped himself, still worried.
"Let's go back to the East Garden first. Our hideout near the Yi Mansion in the west of the city will probably be discovered soon. There's plenty of time. Let's make other plans later. Concealing our identity is the most important thing! ...Oh, right, arrange to meet Yongle as soon as possible. I must see her in person." Mei Zhixuan instructed the guards meaningfully.
...
"Jiang...Zhixuan"
After listening to the news presented by Cheng Liang and the old shopkeeper, Xuan Yuanhan repeated it in a low voice.
But just as Yi Junhao's logic suggests, among the high-ranking officials and nobles of Western Qin, Xuan Yuanhan was naturally more familiar with them than anyone else, and obviously he couldn't find a man with the surname Jiang in his memory no matter what.
At this moment, he suddenly remembered the information that Xuan Yuan Yue had gathered before her arrival: it was two people from Dongning Kingdom who took Yi Shang Yun away.
Suddenly, the first name that popped into his mind was "Mei Zhixuan." Thinking of this, his thick, sword-like eyebrows furrowed deeply.
The old shopkeeper, having discreetly observed the situation, had already cowered in fear, unsure of what to do. He could only lower his eyes, filled with trepidation, awaiting his fate.
After a while, Xuan Yuanhan turned his gaze to the pure white silk handkerchief with the character "Yun" on the desk, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.
At this moment, another long-lasting sorrow rose in his heart; it was truly one wave after another.
Suddenly, Cheng Liang broke the eerily quiet atmosphere with a troubled expression, "Your Highness, what should we do now? It seems difficult to find a breakthrough in this Wanjiao Pavilion?"
He had personally searched the area several times, but still found nothing. Now, not only was there still no trace of Yu Niang's disappearance, but Yi Shangyun had also been involved and had vanished without a trace.
Seeing that Xuan Yuanhan remained silent, Cheng Liang suddenly asked doubtfully, "Could it be that we're going in the wrong direction? Is this matter not only related to Wan Jiao Pavilion, but also involves other forces?!"
When Cheng Liang finished speaking, he looked up and realized that Xuan Yuanhan had lowered his head and closed his eyes, seemingly lost in endless thought.
Suddenly, he exhaled a deep breath, opened his deep eyes, and said with absolute certainty, "My guess is definitely right. Wanjiao Pavilion doesn't allow Yu Niang to receive guests, yet they only use poison on her. There must be some huge conspiracy. Yun'er mentioned before that this poison only grows in Bei Lie. Yu Niang has been staying in Wanjiao Pavilion, but after suddenly meeting a Bei Lie tea merchant, she disappeared not long after. Tea is as indispensable to Bei Lie as salt is to the people of Xi Qin every day. It's not something that ordinary merchants can access. In addition, didn't our spies in Bei Lie send word a few days ago that the eldest prince of Bei Lie, Tuoba Ze, has infiltrated the streets of Xi Qin?"
Cheng Liang seemed to understand something and quickly interjected, "Your subordinate understands. The one who could order the poisoning of Yu Niang, the one who could be a tea merchant in Bei Lie, and the true master behind Wan Jiao Pavilion, is probably none other than the eldest prince of Bei Lie, Tuoba Ze. Yu Niang must have reached the point where she could be used by them, so it is highly likely that she has already..."
As Cheng Liang spoke, an ominous premonition arose in his heart. He then frowned, clenched his fists tightly, and gritted his teeth.
However, Xuan Yuanhan calmly said, "No, Yun'er must have learned about Yu Niang's situation from Granny Ling'er at the Prince's Mansion on New Year's Eve. Fearing she would lose her freedom after entering the Prince's Mansion after the Lantern Festival, she took the risk and rushed here with two strange men to gather information. Just now, I saw her leave Wanjiao Pavilion with a woman dressed as a prostitute. That woman must know something about Yu Niang, which is why she lured her out of Wanjiao Pavilion. If Yu Niang has already met with misfortune, then Yun'er would have returned empty-handed, already taken back to Ruyi Residence by Young Master Yi or that Jiang... Zhixuan."
Cheng Liang felt somewhat relieved after hearing Xuan Yuanhan's words, but then anxiously asked, "In that case, where will that woman take Miss Yi?"
Xuanyuan Han hesitated for a moment. "That's exactly what I don't understand. But the most dangerous place is also the safest place. Wanjiao Pavilion is full of all sorts of people, making it the perfect place for Tuoba Ze to cover his tracks. So, I'm certain they won't move Yu Niang away from Wanjiao Pavilion. But if that woman really knows something and wants to help Yun'er, why would they lure her out of Wanjiao Pavilion?"
Suddenly, the room fell silent, filled only with deep contemplation among the group...
Suddenly, Xuan Yuanhan looked up and coldly stared at the old shopkeeper. The shopkeeper was startled, thinking it was time to hold him accountable, and then lowered his head in fear, not daring to utter a sound.
Unexpectedly, Xuanyuan Han only asked, "Where are the Crown Prince and Princess? Have they already retired for the night?"
Only then did Xuanyuan Han remember the two burdens and asked with concern.
The shopkeeper breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the matter wasn't being pursued for his unintentional mistake. He quickly replied, "Your Highness had just left when the princess, disguised as a man, went out with the Crown Prince, declaring that she was determined to do something that would impress Your Highness."
"Nonsense! Has he not returned yet?" Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanhan slammed his hand on the desk in front of him and roared angrily.
With a thud, the shopkeeper almost simultaneously knelt on the ground, trembling with fear. Lowering his eyes, he said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, please calm your anger. This old servant deserves to die, but I couldn't persuade him no matter what I said..."
At this moment, Cheng Liang glanced at the terrified old shopkeeper and hurriedly stepped forward to persuade him, "Your Highness, please calm down. The princess and the crown prince are always mischievous, but they are also very intelligent. Since they have already disguised themselves, no one should recognize them. Besides, I have deployed a large number of troops in the south of the city, and each point is guarded by the most capable secret guards from the Prince's mansion. They all know the princess and the crown prince. Your Highness need not worry too much. I will go out and search for them myself."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanhan waved his hand at him, and Cheng Liang then walked over and helped the trembling old shopkeeper up. The shopkeeper looked at him with a face full of gratitude.
He quickly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead as he stood up, and together with the two others, he respectfully bowed to them and withdrew, gently closing the door behind him.
After everyone left, Xuan Yuanhan seemed somewhat flustered, yet he still suppressed his anger and sorrow. However, he suddenly slumped slightly, revealing an unusual look of exhaustion.
After a long while, he finally reached out one hand and slowly picked up the silk handkerchief with the character "cloud" embroidered on it from the desk. Then, with his other hand, he carefully and gently stroked the embroidered "cloud" character on it again and again...
"Before we came out, we said we wanted to impress the Imperial Uncle. But now we've found nothing and are going back like this. It's utterly shameful." Xuan Yuanhao muttered to himself as he walked away dejectedly with a sour face.
Xuan Yuan Yue, who was beside him, was also sullen and hadn't said much for half a day.
It had been more than half a day since Xuan Yuanhao and Xuan Yuanyue came out. The night was growing deeper and deeper, and the dew was heavy everywhere.
Finding no trace of the cloud on their clothes filled them with frustration. They looked like wilted eggplants, drooping and utterly pathetic.
Suddenly, a very quiet street appeared faintly in the distance ahead.
On the street, a very inconspicuous doorway had two large red lanterns hanging high, their lights glowing with a warm, fiery red light, which caught Xuan Yuanhao's attention.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com