The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1397 - 1397 677 Princess_3

Chapter 1397: 677 Princess_3 Chapter 1397: 677 Princess_3 “Young Master, Sun Feng and Zheng Hai have returned.”

The guard outside reported.

“Let them in,” commanded Han Yong.

Han Yong sipped his tea.

The two entered.

Sun Feng reported, “Young Master, I have inquired, and the student surnamed Gu is from Zhan Country.”

Han Yong, surprised, laughed and said, “Yet another person from Zhan Country. Xiao Liulang is also from there, isn’t he? Could they potentially be related?”

“It’s hard to say.” Han Yong continued to question Sun Feng, “What else?”

Sun Feng answered, “Furthermore, we followed her and discovered she went to a pawnshop in Huayang.”

Han Yong asked, “There are several pawnshops on Huayang Street. Which one did she go to?”

Sun Feng quickly said, “Guiren Hall.”

Han Yong took a slight breath and, touching his chin, asked, “Is it the one that used to be a pharmacy before being turned into a pawnshop?”

Han Yong’s eyes narrowed slightly, “That’s right.”

Han Yong, puzzled, said, “Wait a moment, we’ve investigated that pawnshop before. What was the name of the shopkeeper… Wang Fugui! Right, that’s his name! Isn’t he an informant for the Crown Prince?”

Han Yong declared, “He is also an informant for the Nangong Family. Guiren Hall is one of Nangong Family’s hubs for gathering intelligence.”

Han Yong laughed mockingly, “So this Wang Fugui is playing both sides. He works for the Crown Prince and the Nangong Family. Isn’t he afraid of capsizing?”

Although the Nangong Family is part of the Crown Prince’s faction, the prince surely wouldn’t fancy them buying off his own people to serve as informants.

“If you knew this, why didn’t you tell the Crown Prince?” questioned Han Yong to his nephew.

Han Yong replied, “What difference would it make if I did tell him? Instead of the Nangong Family buying a new person, it’s better to keep this Wang Fugui under my watch.”

Han Yong smiled, “That makes sense.”

Han Yong turned to Sun Feng, “Did she go to the pawnshop to meet with Wang Fugui?”

Sun Feng respectfully answered, “Yes, she waited until the pawnshop was about to close before going. She met directly with Wang Fugui. What they discussed was unclear to me—she is mute! She communicated everything in writing!”

Having tracked so many people, this was the first time they encountered a situation where they could not listen in.

As for Wang Fugui, he also communicated in writing.

Han Yong said, “Her choosing to go when the shop was closing and devoid of customers is suspicious in itself. It seems this matter can’t be unlinked from the Nangong Family.”

The Nangong and Han Families, although both belonging to the Crown Prince’s faction, always have been far from harmonious, each wanting to be the prince’s most favored vassal.

The Han Family holds the advantage of blood relations, while the Nangong Family holds the military power advantage. The open and secret rivalry between them was nothing new.

Han Yong said, “They not only insulted you, Young Master, but they also turned their schemes toward Prince Mingyue. If Prince Mingyue were truly bewitched by that girl from a lesser kingdom, they would have the opportunity to surpass the Han Family.”

Han Yong frowned and said, “Uncle’s reasoning is solid, but I still feel something is off.”

Han Yong said, “Don’t overthink it. Trust your uncle—besides the Nangong Family, there’s no one else!”

…

When Xiao Hen left the pawnshop, a light rain began to fall from the sky.

The coachman handed him an umbrella. Xiao Hen didn’t immediately board the carriage; instead, he went to a shop diagonally across the street to buy candied hawthorns.

With an oil-paper umbrella overhead, he walked in the tranquil rain, passerby hurrying by his side occasionally.

His veil was gently lifted by the night breeze, revealing an astonishingly beautiful face.

In a tea house on the street, sitting near a window, were two men – one dressed in white, holding a folded fan; the other in gray, with a sword at his side.

If Gu Jiao were here, she would recognize them as the ones who had bought Xiaojin’s abacus.

Xiaojin was the monk who sold his beloved abacus to gather silver to buy Gu Jiao a wedding dress.

The grey-clothed guard expressed surprise, “Young Master, isn’t he just Zhan Country’s top scholar? Look at his face!”

Mingyue Young Master shook the folding fan in his hand, smiling yet not smiling, he said, “So what if he is, and what if he isn’t?”

The grey-clothed guard thought for a moment before saying, “He deliberately let those two people trail him earlier, what does he want to do?”

Mingyue Young Master laughed, “Whatever he wants to do is none of our business, we just need to keep a close watch on the little monk by his side.”

The grey-clothed guard muttered, “We’ve been watching for half a year now, but that person hasn’t shown up yet. Could it be he no longer wants his disciple?”

“Doesn’t want his disciple?” Mingyue Young Master glanced at Xiao Hen, who looked like a painting holding an umbrella in the rain, and snorted coldly, “Then who do you think provided their admission letters?”

Scratching his head, the grey-clothed guard said, “Who? Ah, does Young Master mean… it was that person who provided them?”

Mingyue Young Master laughed, “I’m truly curious now, what exactly does he want to do by bringing this bunch of people to Yan Country?”

…

After several hot days, it finally rained.

Prince Ming braved the pitter-patter of the rain to return to his mansion, and as usual, went to pay respects to his father the King.

Although the hour was late, since he was coming from the Han Family, as long as he said he had been with his cousin, the Crown Prince the entire time, his father was unlikely to blame him.

He had just arrived at the door to the Crown Prince’s study room when he was stopped by the guarding guard.

“Prince Ming, the Crown Prince is discussing important matters with someone. Please come back tomorrow.”

“Then remember to tell father that I came to pay my respects.”

“Your subordinate will do so.”

Prince Ming dared not eavesdrop around his father’s corner and left with his umbrella.

In the study room, the Crown Prince sat in the official hat chair behind the desk.

In front of him was a brocade-clad guard of very high rank.

The brocade-clad guard had just finished reporting the news he had gathered.

The Crown Princes’ hand resting on the armrest suddenly clenched into a fist, and he said in a deep voice, “What did you say? The Princess is coming back?”

The brocade-clad guard replied, “Yes, the King’s oral decree has already been delivered to the Imperial Mausoleum.”

The Crown Prince pondered, “Has he finally decided to execute her or is he planning to pardon her?”

The brocade-clad guard replied, “Your subordinate does not know. The oral decree did not mention this matter.”

The Crown Prince loosened his fist, caressed the armrest of the chair, “We cannot let the Princess return.”

The brocade-clad guard hesitantly looked at the Crown Prince, “Your Highness means…”

The Crown Prince said coldly, “Kill the Princess!”

…

Xiao Hen bought the last string of candied haws in the shop.

His luck wasn’t too bad.

It seemed that ever since he assumed Gu Jiao’s identity, his streak of bad luck had diminished greatly.

Walking on the street, he could find money, and when bad things happened, he could avoid them.

But why…

Why had his mood suddenly turned so strange?

Xiao Hen held his umbrella, looking up into the pouring rain.

It’s because of the rain, isn’t it?

He suddenly felt a bit melancholic.