Jian Yang immediately turned pale and said, "I've always been a very timid person, and I'm most afraid of these kinds of ghost and spirit talk. Please don't scare me, Second Brother."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jing'an laughed loudly and said, "The Empress is of noble status and is naturally protected by Heaven, making her impervious to all evil."
After her interruption, Zhou Jing'an stopped being suspicious and personally poured her a cup of pear blossom wine, saying with a smile, "I was a little too hasty and offended the Empress just now. I hope the Empress will forgive me."
Although Jian Yang really didn't want to drink, she was worried that this guy would make things difficult for her, so she took the glass and drank it all in one gulp.
Zhou Jing'an was overjoyed, thinking that Jian Yang's gesture was a sign of reconciliation with him, and quickly poured a second cup.
Jian Yang, however, looked like he was about to vomit from being drunk, and quickly waved his hand, saying, "I really can't hold my liquor."
Zhou Jing'an had no choice but to have someone help her back to her room.
Although she was under house arrest in the Second Prince's residence, her activities covered the entire prince's residence.
So every day after meals, Jian Yang would use the excuse of digesting her food to wander around the mansion.
Firstly, because of her noble status, and secondly, because Zhou Jing'an did not order her to stay at home, she could go anywhere without being stopped, although she was always accompanied by maids.
Jian Yang didn't care. Her purpose was simply to scout the place and, incidentally, to get some information out of the maids.
She quickly figured out the layout of the Second Prince's residence and also learned that Zhou Jing'an spent the most time there and received guests in his study.
However, the study has been locked ever since the last assassination attempt.
Whenever Zhou Jing'an was not at home, the copper lock would be locked.
To outsiders, it would seem that there must be something important in this study, which is why Zhou Jing'an guards it so closely.
But Jian Yang didn't think so.
She always believed that a cautious person like Zhou Jing'an would have moved the valuables that were originally stored in his study to another place after the last assassin intrusion.
As for the lock on the door, it's purely for misleading purposes.
She wanted to continue investigating, but her maidservant always followed her closely, and she could never find a suitable opportunity.
Finally, Jian Yang got fed up with her and drugged her with a sleeping potion. With the help of his bodyguards, he sneaked into the east courtyard where Zhou Jing'an lived.
The guards who were lured away will return soon, and she must find a place to hide.
Jian Yang looked around and realized that the only places where people could hide were behind the artificial hill and in the fishpond.
Of course, she couldn't go to the fishpond, so Jian Yang lifted her skirt and hid behind the artificial hill.
She waited for more than half an hour, and just as she was about to fall asleep, Zhou Jing'an finally finished his official duties and returned to the East Courtyard from his study.
His advisor, Wei Cong, was also by his side.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, Zhou Jing'an instructed Wei Cong, "You can go now. I will take good care of your things."
Wei Cong bowed respectfully and then took his leave.
Jian Yang perked up instantly upon hearing the word "things".
Judging from Zhou Jing'an's cautious tone, that "thing" must be extremely important, and might even be evidence that could bring him down.
Just then, she noticed that Zhou Jing'an wasn't heading towards his bedroom, but instead was walking towards the artificial hill.
Jian Yang's eyes widened instantly.
What happened? Could it be that she revealed her whereabouts, and Zhou Jing'an came specifically to catch her red-handed?
As Zhou Jing'an got closer and closer to her, her heart was pounding in her throat, and she subconsciously took a step back.
"Crack—" A dry branch snapped under her foot, making a crisp sound that seemed particularly loud in the quiet night.
"Who is hiding here?" Zhou Jing'an shouted sternly.
Just as he was about to rush forward to check, a black cat appeared out of nowhere and darted out from behind the artificial hill.
"So it was just a black cat." Zhou Jing'an stopped and chuckled self-deprecatingly.
However, before Jian Yang could relax, a large hand suddenly covered her mouth, and just as she was about to cry out, a familiar voice gently came from beside her ear.
"Don't be afraid, it's me."
He is the emperor.
Jian Yang immediately gave up resistance.
The next moment, the emperor used his lightness skill to use the artificial hill as cover, and with her in his arms, he climbed over the wall behind him.
Upon entering the room, the maid who had been drugged and rendered unconscious by her earlier dose of sleeping potion was still lying on the ground in the same position.
Jian Yang immediately stepped forward to check her breathing, pulse, and pupils, and only felt relieved after confirming that she was still unconscious.
She knew it! After being drugged with her sleeping potion, the girl would have slept for four or five hours. There was no way she would have woken up early and gone to inform Zhou Jing'an.
However, she couldn't understand why Zhou Jing'an had gone straight to the artificial hill.
Fortunately, the emperor arrived just in time to prevent her from being caught red-handed by Zhou Jing'an.
"Why has the Emperor come?"
Because the emperor helped her this time, Jian Yang's attitude towards him improved a lot.
The emperor laughed and said, "I've come to save you."
What a coincidence! They didn't have any telepathic connection, so Jian Yang guessed that he had probably come for something else. After thanking him, she asked in confusion, "How did Your Majesty know that I was in my second brother's courtyard?"
Worried that the emperor would continue to beat around the bush, she added, "Hongguo will wake up soon, so please hurry up and give your instructions."
Hongguo was the maid who was knocked unconscious by her with a dose of sleeping potion.
The emperor had no choice but to say, "The secret guards found an account book in the second son's possession. This account book is evidence of his close ties with many officials in the court over the years, involving both bribery and corruption. However, I have sent people to search his bedroom and study, but found nothing."
Jian Yang's expression turned serious. He thought to himself that this was a treasure, and once he got his hands on it, the Second Prince would definitely be finished.
"Is there a secret room in the study or bedroom?"
The emperor shook his head: "No."
Jian Yang frowned. Anyone who could sneak into the Second Prince's residence without a sound and search his bedroom and study without leaving a trace must be a master.
Since an expert has confirmed that there are no secret rooms, there must be nothing missing.
"Does he have any other villas or estates?"
The emperor shook his head again and said, "Such an important thing, the second prince would not entrust to others."
That's true.
This ledger is not only related to the fate of the second prince, but also to the fate of the officials who colluded with him. Moreover, with this ledger in hand, he can threaten those officials into working for him.
Such an important item would surely be carried close to the Second Prince's body at all times, or if not, it would be placed in a safe place that no one would expect.
But what constitutes an unexpectedly safe place?
Jian Yang began to rack her brains.
The emperor found her furrowed brow and thoughtful expression particularly endearing and couldn't help but chuckle, "Don't overthink it. I'm just informing you. If..."
“Wait,” Jian Yang suddenly interrupted the emperor, “I think I know roughly where the Second Prince hid the account book.”
The emperor's face lit up with joy, and he hurriedly asked, "Where is it?"
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