Gu Qianying withdrew her gaze and gave some instructions to Cai Xia, asking Cai Xia to accompany Bai Qi.
At this moment, on Han Shi's side, after having her attendants inquire at the front courtyard and learning that Gu Qianying had appeared in the sleeping chambers, Han Shi knew something was amiss. She turned and ordered her maidservant, Qiu, to notify someone and have them make preparations.
However, before she could act, she was apprehended by the people Bai Qi had brought.
During the search of the room, Han Shi tried to stop them several times, but Bai Qi and his group paid her no mind.
Every corner of the room was thoroughly searched, and Bai Qi and Cai Xia indeed found many good things.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Palace,
Nan Rong Qi was indulging in wine with the beauty Meng Qi'er beside him. The Emperor's chief eunuch arrived, stating there was an imperial decree to be read.
Meng Qi'er curtsied to Nan Rong Qi and turned to leave.
Nan Rong Qi straightened his robes and received the decree.
The eunuch read the decree:
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, His Majesty has heard that the Ninth Prince brought his Ninth Princess back to her maiden home, and that an interesting event occurred at the Gu Manor. Afterward, the entire Gu Manor was surrounded, and all the people within were arrested. His Majesty has therefore dispatched Your Highness the Crown Prince to go and observe this interesting event. If you have any concerns, you may also bring along the Grand Tutor, Lord Ouyang."
Nan Rong Qi was momentarily bewildered by the meaning of the imperial decree, unable to fathom his father's intentions. It wasn't until Grand Tutor Ouyang Qinglin arrived that he informed him, "His Majesty has received news that the old General Gu and Gu Ye Feng are not dead."
"What?"
Nan Rong Qi exclaimed in shock.
"Then my father's intention is for me to go to the Gu Manor and investigate this matter?"
Ouyang Qinglin, too lazy to waste words with him, stated directly, "Scouts report that the Gu family's army has made no moves in recent days, indicating that the old fossil, Old General Gu, and his grandson Gu Ye Feng are hiding very deeply. If there is no movement from the military camp, then the Gu Manor is the only place that can be searched. Furthermore, the Ninth Prince Nan Gong Mo surrounded the Gu Manor today with such a grand display. Considering his usual reserved nature, have you ever wondered why he is acting so high-profile this time?"
Hearing Ouyang Qinglin's implication, Nan Rong Qi pondered for a moment and suddenly realized, "Could it be because of the tiger tally?"
Ouyang Qinglin did not look at Nan Rong Qi. He walked past him and sat opposite Nan Rong Qi. With his well-defined hands, he picked up the wine pot on the desk and poured himself a cup of wine. He raised the cup, but before drinking, he said, "On the day the Ninth Princess returned to her maiden home, she was almost poisoned. The Ninth Prince, to protect his wife's safety, sent people to surround the entire Gu Manor, both inside and out, to find the culprit who poisoned the Ninth Princess. Such a plausible reason is naturally the most believable to the common people. And often, he will unnoticeably find Old General Gu and seize the tiger tally from his hand, which would be as easy as lifting a finger."
"Bang!"
Nan Rong Qi slammed his hand on the table, enraged, "This is truly damnable. In this way, he has gained the upper hand." He stood up, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go, I will go and spoil his plans! Hmph!"
Ouyang Qinglin remained seated. As he put down the cup in his hand, his bewitching eyes suddenly glanced towards the door.
The figure hiding at the corner, eavesdropping, immediately shifted backward.
The inner chamber door opened.
A figure in red robes appeared.
Nan Rong Qi, dressed in embroidered robes, also walked out.
"Qi'er? What are you doing here?"
Nan Rong Qi frowned, looking at Meng Qi'er, who was standing outside the door holding a food basket.
Ouyang Qinglin also looked at her, his bewitching gaze now carrying a hint of killing intent.
"Your Highness, Qi'er made some delicious pastries for Your Highness the Crown Prince and wishes for Your Highness to try them."
Her voice was soft, her pace normal, and she showed no signs of nervousness, yet the hands holding the food basket were covered in sweat.
"I won't eat them, get lost!"
Nan Gong Qi frowned and shouted coldly.
"Yes, Your Highness, Qi'er will get lost now."
Meng Qi'er hurriedly turned to leave, but Ouyang Qinglin suddenly spoke, "Wait!"
He walked over, circled Meng Qi'er, his bewitching gaze constantly appraising her. Suddenly, he smiled wickedly and turned to look at Nan Rong Qi, "The beauty is so thoughtful, Your Highness the Crown Prince must not chill her heart."
Ouyang Qinglin's words held a hidden meaning.
Nan Rong Qi glanced at him, then walked over to Meng Qi'er.
Meng Qi'er quickly opened the food basket in her hand. On the top layer, there was indeed a small plate of exquisite, fragrant pastries.
Nan Rong Qi picked up a small piece and tasted it, "Hmm, it is indeed good."
"Since it is good, then Your Highness can take it to eat on the road. Bring this beauty along as well. I see this beauty is very attentive to Your Highness, and I'm sure she will take good care of you on the journey."
With that, he flicked his sleeve and left.
Nan Rong Qi looked at Ouyang Qinglin's receding back, utterly bewildered.
Meanwhile, Meng Qi'er, standing beside him, her expression slightly stiff, her complexion not looking good.
At this moment,
Outside the Gu Manor gate,
The crowd of onlookers grew larger, and the whispers in the crowd also increased.
"Oh my, what is happening? Could it be that the Gu clan has committed some crime again?"
"Don't you know? The Ninth Princess, who is also the eldest daughter of the Gu Manor, Gu Qianying, was poisoned when she returned to her maiden home and almost lost her life. The Ninth Prince was furious upon hearing this and decided to find the person who poisoned the Ninth Princess and tear them to shreds."
"Oh, the Ninth Prince treats the Ninth Princess so well! We are all envious. How wonderful it would be if our daughter could be favored by the Ninth Prince."
"Pah! With your daughter's ugly face, how dare you covet the Ninth Prince? You should just give up."
"You... you...!"
"Hahaha! Look, Aunt Hua is so angry she can't even speak, hahaha..."
The crowd was in quite a lively state.
And amidst the crowd, there was a woman wearing a veil, dressed in a white floor-length gown. The wide hem was embroidered with pink patterns, and her arms were adorned with a silken purple scarf several feet long. Her slender waist was tied with a purple belt inlaid with jade brocade.
Her black hair was tied with a light purple ribbon, with a few strands of hair playfully falling onto her shoulders, making her delicate skin appear even fairer.
Her face was unadorned by makeup, yet she was fresh and captivating.
Her playful, bright eyes were fixed on the Gu Manor gate.
She watched for a long time.
The maidservant beside her softly called to her, "Princess, we should leave."
The woman in white did not reply. She continued to look at the Gu Manor gate.
After an unknown amount of time, she murmured, "Bi Zhu, do you think Brother Mo still remembers me?"
"Princess, there is no need to worry too much. At that time, if it weren't for you defying your father's orders, secretly letting him go, and then finding a renowned physician for him, treating his injuries, and caring for him for many days, how could he have had the fortune to return to the capital and continue to be the Ninth Prince? Princess, you have shown him kindness, he will definitely not forget you."
Hearing the maidservant say this, the woman in white was somewhat relieved, but then she frowned, "But... now, he has a beloved by his side. What am I?"
"Princess, your maidservant has heard that the Ninth Princess is a physician with excellent skills. The reason she married into the Ninth Prince's manor is because she claimed she could cure the Ninth Prince's legs and the illness of the wet nurse in the manor. She used this as leverage, insisting that the Ninth Prince marry her. That is why the Ninth Prince took her as his wife."
"Such a woman, how shameless!" The woman in white stomped her foot in anger, "Bi Zhu, such a shameless woman is not worthy of being by Brother Mo's side. I will definitely drive this shameless woman away from Brother Mo!"
With that, the woman in white turned around and said indignantly, "Bi Zhu, let's go back to the inn and prepare. Tomorrow, this Princess will go to the Ninth Prince's manor to find Brother Mo and have him marry me."
"Yes, Princess."
The woman in white rushed out of the crowd, leaving with her maidservant.
And following her receding figure, in the opposite direction, on the second floor of a restaurant, by the window, sat an old man and a young man disguised as a woman.
"I really didn't expect the Ninth Prince Nan Gong Mo to have such a flourishing peach blossom luck. It seems our Qian Ying will have more trouble..."
The old man opposite threw a handful of sunflower seed shells at him, "Still making sarcastic remarks. In that case, why aren't you preparing yourself to infiltrate the Ninth Prince's manor at an appropriate time and help Qian Ying more?"
Covered in sunflower seed shells, Duan Xi Feng angrily brushed the shells off his body and face, scattering them on the ground. He snorted, "Alright, alright. I know, I know. If it weren't for the fact that I need to infiltrate the Ninth Prince's manor to investigate my sister's affairs, I wouldn't bother with her business. Hmph!"