“Prince Nanping, Lady Leng is suspected of murdering the Third Prince. We ask that Prince Nanping’s manor not obstruct us, otherwise…”
“Otherwise, what do you want? You, a dignified commander of the Imperial Guards, breaking into Prince Nanping’s manor without authorization, what is your intention? Could it be that you have designs on this Prince’s esteemed guest?” Prince Nanping said angrily.
Chen Mingsheng was startled and quickly said, “Prince Nanping, please do not misunderstand. This subject is merely performing his official duty. Lady Leng will be brought to the Ministry of Justice for questioning. If Lady Leng is innocent, the Ministry of Justice will surely vindicate her. We ask for Prince Nanping’s understanding.”
“This Prince does not permit it,” Prince Nanping said coldly.
Upon hearing this, Chen Mingsheng said, “Prince Nanping, do you also intend to murder the Third Prince? Otherwise, why are you obstructing me?”
“So your purpose is revealed now, isn’t it? To use such despicable means to confine this Prince, are you worthy?” Prince Nanping suddenly attacked. Chen Mingsheng did not expect him to strike so suddenly and had no time to dodge, taking a direct palm strike.
Chen Mingsheng staggered backward, fortunate that the Imperial Guards behind him supported him, but he still spat out a mouthful of blood. “Prince Nanping, you are going to…”
“If you can treat my Prince’s guest like this, then this Prince needs no courtesy towards you,” Prince Nanping said coldly, looking at Chen Mingsheng.
Chen Mingsheng clutched the spot where Prince Nanping had struck him. “Prince Nanping, are you going to defy His Majesty’s command?”
Prince Nanping heard this and said coldly, “Am I defying? Why don’t you say that you are going too far??”
Chen Mingsheng said, “Prince Nanping, by doing this, you are making things very difficult for this subordinate.”
“Difficult? But you are already doing it, aren’t you?” Prince Nanping said coldly.
“Since Prince Nanping will not cooperate, then this subordinate must offend you,” Chen Mingsheng said. With a wave of his hand, all the Imperial Guards surrounded the area tightly.
Xue Xingyue was also somewhat surprised by this scene. Was Emperor Qi truly planning to imprison them? Why? What had caused him to suddenly change his mind?
“Fan Yan,” Prince Nanping suddenly snorted coldly.
Fan Yan, along with the shadow guards, blocked in front of Prince Nanping.
However, Xue Xingyue knew that this resistance could only hold them off for a moment. After all, this was the capital, and Emperor Qi’s people were everywhere.
“Your Highness…”
“Rest assured, this Prince will protect you,” Prince Nanping suddenly whispered. For Ze’er, he would also protect Lady Leng with all his might.
She was slightly startled and frowned.
Chen Mingsheng did not rush to capture them all at once but instead withdrew from the sleeping quarters with the Imperial Guards.
“Your Highness, the outside is already tightly surrounded by the Imperial Guards,” Fan Yan reported to Prince Nanping after another inspection.
Xue Xingyue knew that it seemed Prince Nanping had now openly fallen out with Emperor Qi.
However, seeing Prince Nanping without any trace of dejection from being confined, but rather a sense of strategic planning, as if all of this was within his expectations.
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but ask, “Your Highness, have you thought of a countermeasure?”
She saw Prince Nanping turn around, his deep gaze as calm as ever. “You don’t need to worry, this Prince will handle it.”
Seeing his confidence, she didn’t press further. As long as her safety was assured, that was enough.
“Then I will trouble Your Highness. This commoner will return to her room first.”
Saying this, she returned to her room.
Wu Hen, who followed, closed the door and walked forward, then whispered, “Your Majesty, do you have any instructions?”
“Have your people keep an eye on Fan Yan’s movements.”
“Your Majesty, do you suspect there is a plan?” Wu Hen asked.
“I am not entirely clear about the plan, but I feel that things will absolutely not be this simple.” Unless Prince Nanping had already made preparations, what could make him so fearless?
Unless he had grasped what Emperor Qi cared about the most, then the question arises, what did Emperor Qi care about the most?
“Wu Hen, send someone to check on Emperor Qi’s recent actions,” she sensed the coming of a bloody storm.
“Your Majesty, rest assured, your subordinate understands!” Wu Hen left after receiving the order.
She did not know why she felt a vague sense of unease, but what was that unease?
Prince Nanping did not appear again until evening. He had been in the outer hall discussing matters with Fan Yan and others. However, in the capital now, even information sent out would likely be intercepted.
Then, what method did Prince Nanping have?
As she was thinking, she didn’t know when she fell asleep. She seemed to feel someone calling her and opened her eyes to look at the person in the darkness.
“Lady Leng.”
“Is that you, Wu Hen?” she asked, sitting up.
“It is your subordinate.” Before the words even fell, candles were lit in the dark room.
Wu Hen stood before her, looking somewhat disheveled. “Wu Hen, what happened to you?”
Wu Hen smiled. “Your subordinate did not expect the security outside to be so tight. Fortunately, your subordinate was not caught,” Wu Hen said.
“Are there any clues?” she asked.
Wu Hen replied, “In the past few days, Emperor Qi has indeed not attended court. He has only confined himself to his sleeping quarters, forbidding anyone from approaching.”
She narrowed her eyes and said, “Then did he have any strange actions?”
Wu Hen said, “There were no strange actions, but there was one strange occurrence.”
“What strange occurrence?”
Wu Hen answered, “It seems a troop of Imperial Guards left the palace.”
This news was not only known to Wu Hen, but Fan Yan also reported this to Prince Nanping. Prince Nanping looked calmly at the secret letter in his hand and suddenly said, “Fetch Fan Wanbai.”
Soon, Fan He arrived. “Your Highness, you called for this concubine, is there something?”
“Has there been any progress on the information this Prince asked you to investigate?” Prince Nanping asked.
Fan Wanbai nodded. “Yes. That person was lingering outside the Imperial City, but this concubine has already captured him and made arrangements.”
“Good,” Prince Nanping said, looking at Fan Wanbai. “You spread the news, but do it cleanly when you tamper with it, so that Emperor Qi’s people cannot find it so quickly.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!” Fan Wanbai said.
“After the matter is accomplished, this Prince will reward you.”