The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1600 - 772 A Family of Drama Masters (Second Update)_2

Chapter 1600: 772 A Family of Drama Masters (Second Update)_2

The sovereign glanced at the pale-faced Xiao Hen, then at Shangguan Yun leaning on her cane, and said in an icy tone, "Very well, let’s hear your explanation."

The Crown Prince inwardly cursed his luck, for he had taken action against Shangguan Yun, who was merely a commoner. Although it was disrespectful, it would have been one thing, but he had also ordered an attack on the esteemed grandson of the Emperor.

The sovereign had not deposed the Emperor’s grandson!

The Crown Prince felt a headache coming on.

But he could not pass up this one opportunity.

He had no choice but to take a dangerous gamble.

He said, "Father, a traitor appeared in my residence, attempting to assassinate me. My guard wounded him, and upon pursuing, they discovered he had fled into the National Master Hall. My insistence on searching was due to my concern that he might harm my third sister and Qingqing, yet for some reason, they vehemently obstructed me."

"Is that so?" The sovereign looked gravely at Xiao Hen and Shangguan Yun.

Mother and son shook their heads in unison, "No!"

The Crown Prince was speechless with frustration.

Shangguan Yun sighed and said, "It turns out it was a search for an assassin. Couldn’t the Crown Prince have simply said so? You had to resort to violence right from the start. Those who know would think you were after the assassin, while those who don’t might think you were after me. Please, go ahead."

With that, she stepped aside to open a path.

Xiao Hen and Gu Jiao also moved to the side.

The Crown Prince was nearly driven mad by the mother and son’s twisting of the truth.

However, why was Shangguan Yun suddenly allowing the search?

Could it be that Long Aotian had already been moved?

Impossible, his men had guarded both the front and back doors of the Qilin Palace—Long Aotian was surely still in the Qilin Palace!

The Crown Prince led the brocade-clad guards into the hall to search.

As he brushed past Shangguan Yun, she airily said, "Your Highness, back when we played hide-and-seek as children, you never once won."

The Crown Prince’s pupils narrowed, and he clenched his fingers, looking coldly at Shangguan Yun, whispering, "Do not worry, third sister, this time, I absolutely will not lose!"

A dozen brocade-clad guards split up to search, sweeping through each room.

The sovereign waited in the Grand Hall with the Crown Prince, Xiao Hen, Gu Jiao, and Shangguan Yun.

It wasn’t long before the brocade-clad guards returned to report.

"Nothing found?" the Crown Prince asked, frowning.

They shook their heads.

The leader of the brocade-clad guards said, "There are two more rooms we haven’t checked: one is the room where the Little Princesses play, the other is the Secret Room guarded by the National Master Hall’s retainers."

The Crown Prince turned his sharp gaze to the trio of Shangguan Yan, noticing a slight change in their expressions, particularly the false Xiao Liulang who seemed on the verge of rushing out to stop the guards.

The Crown Prince sought permission from the sovereign, "Father, please allow me to search."

The sovereign nodded to the Crown Prince and then instructed a disciple of the National Master Hall, "Summon your National Master, I wish to inspect that Secret Room."

Gu Jiao’s fists tightened, and her arms went rigid.

Xiao Hen soothingly gripped her wrist.

All this, the Crown Prince observed keenly.

By the time the National Master arrived at the Qilin Palace, the brocade-clad guards had already searched the room where the Little Princesses and Xiao Jingtian were playing, without finding anything.

The Crown Prince courteously said, "National Master, please allow the men from my residence to search your Secret Room."

The National Master replied, "The Secret Room is guarded by retainers; no assassin could easily break in."

"What if they had to leave for some reason or were lured away? Can you guarantee nothing like that has happened?" The Crown Prince didn’t suspect the National Master of deliberately shielding someone who might harm the Xuanyuan Family. After all, the National Master had animosity towards the Princess as well.

It was only because of the sovereign’s consideration that the Princess was allowed to recuperate in the National Master Hall.

Why would he hide someone for her?

"Well..." The National Master glanced at Gu Jiao, then told the Crown Prince, "You seem to not trust the retainers of the National Master Hall. I assure you, there is no one hidden in the Secret Room."

The Crown Prince smiled slightly, "The National Master is being very obstructive. Could it be that this Secret Room holds something you don’t want seen?"

The National Master opened his mouth but didn’t speak.

The sovereign impatiently said, "Enough, stop arguing. National Master, order your men to stand aside!"

Without any noticeable signal, the National Master looked at Gu Jiao, whose tiny fists were clenched tightly.

But with the sovereign’s decree, even as the National Master, he couldn’t defy the imperial will.

He told the two retainers, "Stand down."

The retainers moved to the side.

The National Master then ordered, "Ye Qing, Ya He, go open the door."

"Yes," they both answered, bowing.

The Crown Prince frowned and gave a meaningful glance to the lead brocade-clad guard.

Once the door opens, remember to rush in immediately and kill Gu Changqing.

The lead brocade-clad guard understood, "Rest assured, Your Highness, I won’t need a blade, I’ll use my internal force to shatter his heart meridian."