Chapter 28 Retrieving the Book
"Guard Wang, you've got it wrong," Xiao Luzi laughed. "This is a palace maid who was just assigned here yesterday, named Xiao Cui. I ordered her to clean the side hall. Is there a problem?"
Guard Wang was taken aback for a moment: "Oh, I see. It was just what Eunuch Xiao Lu ordered." He glanced at Ye Wanning, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
Ye Wanning let out a long sigh of relief; her back was soaked with cold sweat.
"What are you standing there for? Get to work!" Xiao Luzi yelled at Ye Wanning, his tone harsh, but there was a hint of something in his eyes.
"Yes, Father-in-law." Ye Wanning was startled and quickly replied, lowering her head as she followed Xiao Luzi to the side hall.
Once they reached a secluded spot, Xiao Luzi stopped and lowered his voice, asking, "Are you the person Prime Minister Pei sent?"
Ye Wanning nodded and took out the token that Prime Minister Pei had given her from her sleeve: "Yes, the Prime Minister asked me to give it to you."
Xiao Luzi took it, glanced at it, and then returned it: "Come with me."
He led Ye Wanning through several corridors to a side hall. The hall door was tightly closed, and there were two guards at the door.
“This is the Crown Prince’s study, and he is inside right now,” Xiao Luzi said in a low voice. “I’ll go and distract these two guards, and you can go in while I’m at it.”
Ye Wanning nodded: "Thank you, Father-in-law."
Xiao Luzi took a breath, stepped forward, and smiled at the two guards, saying, "Brothers, thank you for your hard work. His Highness asked me to retrieve a book; please let me in for a moment."
"No, the Third Prince has ordered that no one is allowed to meet with His Highness the Crown Prince without permission," the guard on the left said unhappily.
"Oh, it's just a book, I'll be right out." Xiao Luzi said with a smile, while moving his body to the side to block the view of the guard on the left.
Ye Wanning knew her opportunity had arrived. Taking advantage of the two guards' attention being focused on Xiao Luzi, she stealthily slipped around to the back of the palace like a cat, then slipped through a small window. Inside was a small side room filled with a jumble of clutter. Ye Wanning held her breath, listening to the two people talking outside. Once she was sure they hadn't followed her in, she gently pushed open the door to the side room and entered the study.
The study was large but simply furnished, with bookshelves filled with books and writing implements on the table. The prince stood by the window, hands behind his back, gazing at the scenery outside; his silhouette looked utterly forlorn.
"Your Highness," Ye Wanning called softly.
"You...you are..." The Crown Prince turned around, saw her, and was stunned. "You are...Ye Wanning? Minister Ye's daughter?"
"Your Highness, I am Ye Wanning, the daughter of Minister Ye." Ye Wanning bowed respectfully. "I have come to rescue you."
"You... how did you get here? Get out! It's dangerous here!" The prince's face showed a look of surprise.
“Your Highness, I don’t have time to explain.” Ye Wanning walked up to him. “I know you were framed by the Third Prince. I’m here to help you find evidence and clear your name.”
"Evidence? What evidence is there now? With witnesses and physical evidence all present, who would believe me?" The Crown Prince smiled bitterly.
“Your Highness, don’t be discouraged,” Ye Wanning advised. “Xiao Cui was only acting because the Third Prince threatened her brother’s life. As long as we find her brother, we can get her to tell the truth.”
"Really?" The prince's eyes lit up. "Really?"
“Really.” Ye Wanning nodded. “But the Third Prince has hidden her brother very well, and we can’t find him. Do you know where the Third Prince might have hidden him?”
The Crown Prince frowned and thought for a moment: "The Third Prince has several residences in the capital. I don't know where he's hiding people, but..." He seemed to remember something, "I remember that when the Third Prince was a child, he had a separate courtyard outside the city. He liked to go there to play. He might be hiding people there."
"A villa outside the city? Where is that?" Ye Wanning asked hurriedly.
“Near Yuquan Mountain in the western suburbs, there is a large manor that was left by the Third Prince’s mother’s family,” the Crown Prince said.
Ye Wanning was overjoyed: "That's wonderful, Your Highness! I'll send someone there to look for it right away."
As she was speaking, she was about to turn around when she heard a commotion outside.
"Oh no, we've been discovered!" the Crown Prince exclaimed urgently. "Miss Ye, quickly get out the window! I'll hold them off!"
Ye Wanning also heard footsteps and shouts coming from outside, and she knew she couldn't delay any longer.
"Your Highness, please take care! I will definitely find a way to get you out!" After saying that, Ye Wanning ran into the side room. As soon as she squeezed through the window, she saw Xiao Luzi being held down on the ground by two guards, with blood still flowing from the corner of his mouth.
"Eunuch Xiao Luzi!" Ye Wanning's heart tightened.
Xiao Luzi looked at her and struggled to shout, "Quick...run!"
Ye Wanning gritted her teeth, turned, and ran towards the palace wall. Only by getting out could she save the Crown Prince and Xiao Luzi. Behind her, a guard shouted, "Catch her! Don't let her get away!"
Ye Wanning dared not linger and ran forward as fast as she could. Unfamiliar with the layout of the East Palace, she ran towards secluded areas. As she ran, Ye Wanning suddenly saw a small door ahead, slightly ajar. Overjoyed, she rushed over, pushed open the door, and ran out.
Outside the gate was a narrow alley, at the end of which was a bustling street. Ye Wanning dared not linger, and mingled with the crowd, running towards the palace gate. Ye Wanning could sense that someone was chasing her, but fortunately, there were many people on the street, and the guards dared not act recklessly. In no time, they were left behind.
When Ye Wanning arrived at the palace gate, she saw Guard Qin waiting for her next to a carriage.
"Second Miss!" Guard Qin's eyes lit up when he saw her, and he quickly opened the carriage door. "Get in quickly!"
Ye Wanning climbed into the carriage, panting heavily, her body soaked in sweat.
"Hurry...drive faster!" Ye Wanning said.
The carriage quickly sped out of the palace gates, heading towards the Pei residence. Ye Wanning leaned against the carriage wall, her heart calming down slightly. This experience had been dangerous, but thankfully, it hadn't been in vain; she had obtained an important clue. As long as Xiao Cui's younger brother was found at the manor on Yuquan Mountain, the Crown Prince would be saved.
As soon as the carriage arrived at the Pei residence, Ye Wanning jumped down and followed Guard Qin into the mansion. Pei Zhi was already waiting for her in his study. Seeing that she was alright, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at her, "You're back? How was it? Did you see His Highness the Crown Prince?"
"I saw him." Ye Wanning told Pei Zhi about her day's events and what the Crown Prince had told her.
“The manor on Jade Spring Mountain?” Pei Zhi recalled the name. “I know this place, but it’s heavily guarded, and there’s no reason why it would be difficult to get in.”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com