The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1597: 771 Hand-torn Crown Prince (First Update)_2

Chapter 1597: 771 Hand-torn Crown Prince (First Update)_2

The crown prince smashed his fist on the table in fury, “He sure knows how to hide!”

The only place in all of Shengdu that couldn’t be searched at will was the National Master Hall, not to mention the Imperial Palace. Even if Long Aotian hid in the Imperial Palace, it wouldn’t be as tricky since there were plenty of reasons to search the palace, but very few to search the National Master Hall.

Claiming an assassin had entered?

The National Master Hall would retort, “We can root out the assassin ourselves, there is no need for your highness to trouble yourself.”

Grinding his teeth, the crown prince said, “He knows too many secrets; he can’t be left in the hands of the National Master Hall. Somebody, prepare the carriage! I must go to the National Master Hall!”

Two quarters of an hour later, the crown prince’s carriage arrived at the National Master Hall.

“Your Highness.”

The disciples of the National Master Hall came forward to greet him.

The crown prince rolled down the carriage window and said to the disciple of the National Master Hall, “I want to see your National Master.”

The disciple of the National Master Hall hurried off to inform him.

Before long, the National Master arrived unhurriedly, with Ye Qing by his side holding an umbrella for him.

“Your Highness,” the National Master greeted him indifferently.

The crown prince remained seated in his carriage, his gaze falling on the National Master’s stern face. He had seen the National Master in his youth—a man rivaling the beauty of the Duke of An.

Time flies, the years slip by.

Lines and worldly weariness now marked the National Master’s face.

The rainy day always made one feel melancholic, what nonsensical things he was considering.

The crown prince gathered his wandering thoughts and said to the National Master, “Plainly speaking, a traitor has emerged from my residence; my imperial guards saw him fleeing into your National Master Hall.”

The National Master said, “Is that so? Ye Qing, take some people and look around. See if there is the assassin his highness mentioned?”

Ye Qing said, “Yes.”

“Hold on!” said the crown prince authoritatively, “I will search myself!”

Ye Qing replied with neither inferiority nor arrogance, “Your Highness, this is the National Master Hall, not the crown prince’s residence.”

The implication was clear: you do not have the right to search here.

The crown prince did not look at Ye Qing but stared directly at the National Master, “What if I insist on searching today?”

Their gazes locked, with a strong intent to kill flashing in the crown prince’s eyes.

His stance was firm; he must search today, whether it was allowed or not!

Even if it meant causing a rift and getting scolded by his father the emperor for disrespecting the National Master, he resolved to drag Long Aotian out!

In the end, the National Master yielded and said, “Ye Qing, lead his highness to search.”

The crown prince arrogantly replied, “No need, my men will search by themselves!”

The crown prince stepped down from the carriage.

A guardsman at his side opened an umbrella for him.

The National Master and Ye Qing stepped aside, as the crown prince, followed by his splendidly dressed imperial guards, marched past them.

Gu Changqing had been seriously injured; logically speaking, he should have left a trail of blood, but the heavy rain had long washed away any tracks on the ground.

The imperial guards left no stone unturned, almost turning the National Master Hall upside down, even sweeping through the third floor of the Book Pavilion and the bamboo forest.

The National Master asked, “Did your highness find anything?”

The crown prince frowned deeply and softly asked the leader of the imperial guards, “Did he really enter the National Master Hall?”

“He did,” replied the leader of the imperial guards.

At that moment, an older and more experienced imperial guard said, “Your Highness, there’s one place we haven’t searched.”

The crown prince uttered a sound of interest, “Where?”

He said, “Qilin Palace!”

…

“You cannot enter!”

At the gate of Qilin Palace, two imperial guards were stopped by disciples guarding the National Master Hall.

The imperial guards said coldly, “We are here by the order of the crown prince to apprehend an assassin!”

The disciples of the National Master Hall responded, “There is no assassin here; His Highness Changsun and the commanding general have already retired to rest; please don’t disturb them.”

The imperial guards sneered, “How ridiculous, a mere Prince Changsun dares to block the crown prince’s men!”

“A mere dog from the crown prince’s residence dares to question Prince Changsun?”

The voice of Shangguan Yun came unhurriedly from behind the Grand Hall.

Although she leaned on a cane, her gaze was sharp, her aura formidable, and she exuded a powerful royal presence.

The light inside the Grand Hall was dim, outlining only her slender figure, but then a lightning bolt streaked across the sky, illuminating the entire National Master Hall clearly.

In that moment, everyone clearly saw the imperial aura on Shangguan Yun’s face.

There was a sudden sense of apprehension in everyone’s heart.

It was as if they were seeing the Princess who once dominated Shengdu once again—

Shangguan Yun, with her cane, took steps that mirrored the Ascension Ceremony, approaching the entrance, her powerful Princess aura instantly imparting a pressure that weighed on one’s soul.