"Beauty..." he mumbled, as if in a dream.
Chen Yanyan slapped him.
*Slap!*
Chen An woke up abruptly.
In a daze, he saw Chen Yanyan's cold gaze.
"Who brought you here?"
Chen An frowned, trying to recall, and after a moment, shook his head. "I don't remember. Just some beauty... hehe."
"Hopeless! Take him back!"
"Yes!" Molly helped Chen An up and led him away.
After they were gone, Rong Zhi emerged from behind the garden wall.
It seemed Chen Yanyan didn't know Molly was Yun Heng. What was Yun Heng doing lurking in the Grand Tutor's mansion?
Rong Zhi felt she should inform Xia Yunting and immediately returned to the General's mansion.
To her surprise, Xia Yunting's reaction was unexpected.
"I am already aware of this matter."
"What? You knew? Then why didn't you tell me? What else do you know?"
Rong Zhi was astonished. She had been busy with this, and he already knew.
Xia Yunting hesitated.
"Xiao Mo, leave this matter to me!"
"Do you want me to be deaf and blind, not knowing anything?"
She, Rong Zhi, was never one to hide behind others and be incapable of action.
At that moment, Granny Gu suddenly entered. "General, Madam has caught a cold. Please go see her."
Rong Zhi saw the guilty look on Granny Gu's face. It was likely not Xing Jiahui who had a cold, but just an excuse to see Xia Yunting.
Speaking of which, this madam was quite pitiful. She had been confined as soon as she arrived at the General's mansion, and Xia Yunting showed no interest in her...
"I'll go now." Xia Yunting, contrary to his usual behavior, left with Granny Gu.
Rong Zhi was dumbfounded.
Had Xia Yunting taken the wrong medicine today?
She quickly followed him. A cold? She was best at treating illnesses.
Upon arriving at Xing Jiahui's courtyard, Rong Zhi was locked out.
"The General is visiting Madam. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed inside."
Granny Gu looked smug, her tail almost in the air.
The General was starting to care for his Madam. This was a good sign. Soon, the Madam would regain the General's favor.
*Bang!*
The door almost hit Rong Zhi's nose.
She rubbed her nose. Could this broken door stop her?
Climbing onto the wall, Rong Zhi heard Xing Jiahui's sobbing from inside.
"General, I know I have sinned. I already know my mistakes. Please don't confine me anymore. I am willing to die to prove my innocence!"
Following that, there were sounds of crashing.
Rong Zhi peered through the half-open window and saw Xing Jiahui preparing to dash herself against the wall.
Xia Yunting stopped her. "Why are you trying to die? I didn't ask you to die."
"General!"
Xing Jiahui knelt on the ground and held onto his leg. Xia Yunting did not pull away.
This was considered rare gentleness from Xia Yunting.
Rong Zhi retreated with a displeased expression. Why was Xia Yunting acting so out of character? Not only was he not telling her anything, but he was also being gentle with Xing Jiahui.
Didn't he know Xing Jiahui married him just to monitor him?
Rong Zhi found Chen Xing.
"What is the result of your investigation into the maid from the Grand Tutor's mansion?"
Rong Zhi had mentioned this to Chen Xing last time, so he must know.
He shook his head. "Your subordinate does not know."
"Really don't know?"
Rong Zhi stared sharply at Chen Xing. Seeing that he showed no inclination to speak further.
"Then who handled this matter?"
"Your subordinate does not know."
"What *do* you know?"
Rong Zhi's expression turned cold, and she wanted to kick him.
Chen Xing remained silent and retreated.
Rong Zhi wandered around the General's mansion and finally found Zhang Can in a side room next to the study.
Rong Zhi had saved Zhang Can's life, so he might tell her something.
As she was about to enter, she noticed that Zhang Can was not alone. A group of people were gathered around a drawing, busy with something.
Hearing footsteps, Zhang Can turned around warily. Seeing it was Rong Zhi, he came out alone.
"Miss Lin, why are you here?"
"What are you doing?" Rong Zhi peered inside and saw that the paper was densely covered with squares and circles. As she tried to look closer, Zhang Can casually closed the door.
"I wanted to ask if you knew anything about the Grand Tutor's mansion."
Rong Zhi did not explain in detail.
"I have been in the General's mansion recently. The General's tasks have all been assigned to Chen Xing."
Rong Zhi's heart sank. Chen Xing had lied just now.
Everyone from top to bottom was starting to hide things from her.
"I understand."
Rong Zhi returned to her room, disguised herself, and left the General's mansion.
It seemed she wouldn't get any answers from Xia Yunting. No matter, she wasn't without anyone else to consult.
After she left, Zhang Can carefully locked the door and returned to the table. The drawing on the table depicted formations.
The hidden guards around them looked at Zhang Can. "Is the General taking a desperate gamble?"
Zhang Can's eyes flickered. "At this point, there is no other choice but to invite the elder."
Rong Zhi went to Gushen Hall, intending to discuss with Chu Qingze, but it was empty.
Medicinal herbs were scattered on the floor in Gushen Hall, with signs of struggle.
Had there been a fight here?
Had Chu Qingze been captured by Xiao Yao again?
Rong Zhi examined the area where the fight had occurred and found it unusual.
In a corner of the pharmacy, the stone floor had a deep scratch from a chair leg, almost half a finger deep. This was not the mark of an ordinary fight.
Unless the opponent was a top master, or was determined to kill during the fight.
Thinking of this, Rong Zhi became increasingly worried. If it was indeed Xiao Yao, then fine. But if not, she wouldn't even know where to look.
She quickly went to the Xiao mansion. In her haste, she did not bother knocking and climbed over the wall.
Using her Qinggong skills, Rong Zhi evaded the guards and was about to head to Xiao Yao's room from memory when she suddenly felt a gust of wind behind her.
She instinctively leaped onto the rooftop. The person opposite her struck with a palm, accompanied by a sharp wind.
Killing intent!
Rong Zhi retreated swiftly, not intending to engage in combat.
Who possessed such powerful internal energy? She couldn't afford to provoke them, but she could avoid them.
Unfortunately, the person behind her pursued relentlessly. Rong Zhi entered the bustling market, picked up a discarded basket by the roadside, covered herself with it, and squatted by the roadside pretending to be dead.
A pair of feet passed by her, hesitated for a moment, and then left.
Rong Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. Peeking through the gaps in the basket, she met a pair of sharp eyes.
She had been discovered.
In a wine shop, Rong Zhi looked at the man calmly sipping tea opposite her, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
She had thought he was skilled, and wondered when such a master had appeared in the Prince Xiao's mansion, only to find it was Prince Xiao himself.
Prince Xiao's hair was white, but he showed no signs of old age; he was more energetic than young people.
He put down his teacup and appraised Rong Zhi. "You say you entered the mansion to look for a friend?"
Rong Zhi nodded. "Yes, the County Princess brought him into the mansion before."
"Brought" was too polite; she had clearly snatched him away.
Prince Xiao was a wise man. Although Rong Zhi hadn't said it, if he were truly a welcomed friend, why would she need to scale walls and sneak in to find him?
"What is his name?"
"Chu Qingze."
"Oh?" Prince Xiao's expression showed interest.
"I remember this person. He treated my leg ailment not long ago."
Rong Zhi smiled. Chu Qingze had mentioned he had dealt with Prince Xiao's mansion; she hadn't realized it was to treat the Prince.
"However, I haven't seen him recently."
Rong Zhi's heart sank. Chu Qingze, a newcomer, was not in Prince Xiao's mansion. Where else could he be?
"Something happened?"
Prince Xiao saw Rong Zhi's worry at a glance.
"Yes." Seeing that Prince Xiao seemed to have a favorable impression of Chu Qingze, Rong Zhi recounted the previous events.
"There are no leads now, and I have no way to investigate."
Prince Xiao said nothing but got up and left.
Rong Zhi sighed. Although Prince Xiao did not seem to mind her trespassing into his mansion, he and Chu Qingze were only acquaintances. To get his help, she needed to think of a way.
As she pondered, Prince Xiao returned, holding a piece of paper.
He handed the paper to Rong Zhi. She found it filled with unfamiliar names, about twenty to thirty of them.
"These are some of the most skilled martial artists in the Imperial City. You can try looking for them based on this list."
"Thank you!" Rong Zhi was overjoyed.
Why hadn't she thought of this? Such fighting marks would certainly not be made by ordinary people. With this list, it wouldn't be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Time was pressing, so Rong Zhi thanked him and left. She hadn't expected Prince Xiao to be so approachable.
In the past, she had only heard that he had served on the border for many years and was an even more formidable general than Xia Yunting. This prince by bestowed title had earned his status through military achievements.
Someone with such honor and prestige to be so patient was truly rare.
Rong Zhi was unaware that after she left, Prince Xiao's gaze gradually deepened, and a flicker of bewilderment appeared in his eyes.
Were the moves that woman used just now the "Imperial Wind Technique"?
Rong Zhi took the list and did not search blindly. Instead, she first went to Bai Cao Ge.
Bai Cao Ge was a place with many people, making it easiest to gather information.
When she entered, she saw Cui Xi, dressed as a man, busy outside.
"Cui Xi, where is Doctor Fang?"
"In the back courtyard."
Rong Zhi was about to go find him when she suddenly remembered something and asked, "Where is Zhang Yajing?"
Cui Xi finally looked up. However, Rong Zhi's appearance was slightly different today, so she did not recognize her and only said, "She went out on some business."
"Looking for Chu Qingze?"
"Precisely. Who are you?"
Rong Zhi's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Zhang Yajing and Chu Qingze were captured together?
She hurried to the back courtyard and heard Cui Xi shouting from behind, "What happened?"
Rong Zhi quickly found Fang Tianhua. "Master, do you recognize anyone on this list?"
Fang Tianhua looked bewildered upon seeing Rong Zhi, but a hint of understanding quickly flashed in his eyes.
Rong Zhi often used disguises. Although her appearance was different, her demeanor and actions still indicated she was the same person.
He took the list and complained, "What a messy collection of names..."
As soon as he glanced at it, his expression changed drastically. "Who are these people? What are you trying to do?"
"Chu Qingze is missing. He was likely taken by someone with strong martial arts. These are all suspicious individuals."
"Nonsense!" He threw the list aside.
"We cannot afford to offend anyone on this list. It's useless to even look for them."
"You don't have to take action. Just tell me who these people are."
Fang Tianhua looked unwilling and repeatedly warned, "If anything happens, absolutely do not say you are my disciple."
After receiving Rong Zhi's affirmation, Fang Tianhua circled a few names on the list. "These are all Imperial Guards. Forget fighting them; you won't even get to see their faces."