Before nightfall, Liu Qingxu took Jiang Jiu around the study hall area so he could familiarize himself with the terrain.
As soon as darkness fell, she went alone to Prince Zhen Manor.
The residence of the current Little Imperial Uncle was bound to be heavily guarded, and she was mentally prepared for that. Even if she were unfortunately caught, she had already thought of an excuse: she would say she was curious about Prince Zhen and wanted to meet her fiancé, while also taking the opportunity to tour Prince Zhen Manor. Then, under the guise of touring, she would look for a chance to carry out the theft.
But when she arrived at Prince Zhen Manor and sat atop its high wall, squinting as she carefully scanned the situation inside, she hesitated for a long time, not daring to step down.
The manor was pitch black, without even a flicker of light in sight. At a glance, it looked like an abandoned ancient mansion, so dark it sent shivers down one’s spine.
That wasn’t all.
What surprised her even more was that not only were there no signs of people moving inside, but the main gate was wide open, without a single guard in sight!
On such a dark and windy night, weren’t they afraid of thieves breaking in?
Wait—she was here tonight to be a thief herself. But looking at this pitch-black manor, with its eerie and unsettling quietness everywhere, she simply didn’t have the courage to go in!
What she didn’t know was that, at this very moment, several pairs of eyes were watching her from the shadows, afraid of missing her next move.
But as they waited and waited, she still didn’t make a move. Yu Hui grew impatient and whispered to Yan Siyuan, “Prince, what exactly does Miss Liu intend to do? Didn’t Jiang Jiu say she was here to steal? Why hasn’t she acted yet?”
Steward Jing Sheng leaned closer to them and said softly, “Prince, in my opinion, Miss Liu must have grown suspicious of our manor. You withdrew all the people—not just Miss Liu, but anyone would likely suspect a trap.”
Yan Siyuan frowned.
Shouldn’t he have withdrawn the people?
He had wanted to let that woman have her fun without anyone disturbing her!
Yu Hui chimed in, “Prince, Jing Sheng is right. You withdrew everyone, and our manor looks like a haunted house. Miss Liu must be too scared to enter.”
Yan Siyuan shot him a sidelong glance. “Then why are you still standing there? Go and call everyone out!”
Yu Hui almost wanted to cry.
It was the Prince’s own idea, so why did it feel like he was the one who had done something wrong!
Just as he was about to step back, Yan Siyuan suddenly strode forward. “Forget it, I’ll go myself! All you need to do is pretend to patrol the manor!”
Yu Hui, “…”
Back on the high wall.
The atmosphere of Prince Zhen Manor made Liu Qingxu suspicious, but thinking of the safety of those children, she remained determined to “tour” the manor once.
Just as she aimed in a direction and prepared to leap into Prince Zhen Manor, a deep voice suddenly came from the side.
“Need some help?”
“You…” She was startled and turned to see who it was, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“Helping you.” Yan Siyuan moved closer to her side.
In the night, the moonlight fell upon him, making his tall figure seem draped in a layer of cool, elegant attire, like a deity descending from the heavens, carrying an aloof and cold nobility. Liu Qingxu looked at his handsome and distinguished face, his deep eyes like bottomless black holes, as if they could swallow a person at any moment.
“Your injuries aren’t even healed yet. Did you come here to make things worse?” She pursed her lips in disdain, then shifted her gaze away, trying not to look at his cold, peerlessly enchanting face.
"I've been to Prince Zhen Manor before, so I have some idea of the layout."
"Ah? Really?" Liu Qingxu was immediately delighted upon hearing this, her previous disdain vanishing instantly as she grabbed his wrist, as if afraid he might run away. "Then tell me, which side does Prince Zhen live on?"
Yan Siyuan lowered his gaze to her hand, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips, then tilted his chin toward the north. "There."
Liu Qingxu followed the direction he indicated, released his wrist, and immediately flew northward using Qinggong.
Yan Siyuan, "…"
Watching his now-empty wrist, he pursed his thin lips repeatedly, his deep eyes revealing profound dissatisfaction.
Upon entering Prince Zhen Manor, Liu Qingxu discovered that the manor was not entirely deserted. A patrol team suddenly appeared from somewhere, nearly colliding with them head-on, startling her into darting swiftly into a flowerbed.
After the patrol moved away, she looked around for a moment before leaping out of the flowerbed and flying toward an open window not far away.
Once inside a room, she instinctively sought a place to hide, confirming no one was present before venturing further in.
The room was vast, nearly half the size of a basketball court. Two intricately carved screens divided the space into three sections: a study, a bedroom, and a leisure area. The decor was grand and luxurious, exuding an aura of opulence even in the dim light, clearly indicating the owner was no ordinary person.
What amazed her most was the massive Huanghuali wood bed, at least three meters wide. She couldn't resist stepping forward to touch it repeatedly, inwardly marveling, "Goodness, how much silver would it take to afford this?"
Indeed, compared to the royal family, even the wealthiest outsiders seemed poor.
Casually feeling under the pillow, she suddenly froze.
Withdrawing her hand, she found a jade pendant in her grasp. She hurriedly brought it to the window, examining it carefully under the moonlight streaming in, and was immediately overjoyed.
The cool jade emitted a faint green glow, dazzlingly vibrant, carved with a giant serpent bearing claws and fangs, its majestic appearance inspiring awe.
This was it!
Suppressing her elation, she gave no thought to why such a precious item had been casually placed under the pillow. Tucking the jade pendant into her inner pocket, she even patted it, as if afraid it might fall out, before flying out through the open window.
On the high wall, seeing the man still waiting for her in the same spot, Liu Qingxu smiled at him, then grabbed his wrist and swiftly led him away from Prince Zhen Manor.
Under the night sky, she hurried toward Xiaoxiao Academy, completely unaware of the man beside her, whose lips curved into a high smile and whose deep eyes gleamed with cunning.
The night was deep, and the children had long since fallen asleep.
To avoid disturbing them, Liu Qingxu did not enter the academy. Instead, she found Jiang Jiu, who was secretly guarding the outside, and inquired about the situation.
Jiang Jiu reported, "Miss Liu, I’ve been keeping watch and haven’t seen any suspicious individuals."
Liu Qingxu said nothing, only asking him to continue guarding, then prepared to head to the magistrate’s office.
Yan Siyuan followed her.
After a few steps, she paused, turned to him, and said, "I have some matters to attend to. You’re injured, so don’t exert yourself. Find a place to rest first."
"It’s fine," Yan Siyuan replied indifferently with two words, stepping ahead of her.
"…" Liu Qingxu frowned slightly. Though he appeared fine, she knew well that his Internal Power had not yet recovered. If any unexpected conflict arose and he had to fight, she would have to protect him!
As they approached the yamen, she couldn't help but pull him to a stop.
She suddenly noticed he had put on a mask at some point, revealing only a pair of dark, profound eyes and a finely chiseled jawline.
"What are you doing?" she asked, puzzled.
"I don't want my beauty to be coveted."
"……?!" She was speechless, feeling a cascade of black lines drop over her head.
Yes, he was indeed handsome!
But the yamen was full of men—who would be so perverse as to covet his beauty?!
Taking a deep breath, she earnestly negotiated with him, "I'll go in alone. You wait for me outside."
"No matter," Yan Siyuan said, stepping ahead of her to knock on the door.
Soon, a side door opened, and two yamen runners emerged with impatience. Without even looking clearly at who was outside, they snarled menacingly, "How dare you! Who are you, disturbing the court at such a late hour!"
Under the mask, Yan Siyuan's handsome face instantly darkened, his deep eyes flashing with a cold, sharp light.
Liu Qingxu, however, paid them no mind. Stepping forward, she raised the jade pendant and declared loudly, "Prince Zhen is here! Cease your insolence at once!"
"Cough!" Yan Siyuan turned his head away uncomfortably. Someone had stolen his token and was now flaunting it in front of others right before his eyes, while he, the rightful owner, had to pretend to be an accomplice. He couldn't help but wonder if he was ill—otherwise, why would he indulge her in such reckless behavior?
The two yamen runners fixed their eyes on the jade pendant in her hand and were immediately terrified, dropping to their knees before her.
"Spare us, miss! We were blind and ignorant, not knowing you were Prince Zhen's person. Please forgive us!"
"We beg you, miss, to be magnanimous and not hold it against us lowly folk!"
Liu Qingxu lifted her chin, lowered her eyelids, and squinted slightly as she scrutinized them, putting on an air of arrogance to the fullest.
"I am here today under Prince Zhen's secret orders to investigate a case. Do not make a fuss—just cooperate with me in the investigation to avoid leaking any information and ruining the matter." She paused, softening her tone slightly. "Rise. Prince Zhen has said that if this matter is handled well, he will surely reward you handsomely. Let me tell you, this is an opportunity to be promoted and trusted by Prince Zhen. You must seize it!"
The two yamen runners were both shocked and delighted, scrambling to their feet with grins so wide they could hardly close their mouths.
"Yes, yes… Miss, rest assured, we will serve Prince Zhen diligently!"
Liu Qingxu nodded, appearing quite satisfied.
She then asked for their names. The taller one was called Chen Kui, and the one with a scar on his chin was Zhou San.
Liu Qingxu also introduced herself to them, presenting herself as a maid from Prince Zhen Manor and describing Yan Siyuan as a guard from the manor.
Chen Kui and Zhou San scrutinized Yan Siyuan repeatedly—his tall stature, the mask he wore, which not only added an air of mystery but also exuded a chilling presence that inspired awe. Both secretly marveled at how extraordinary the people from Prince Zhen Manor were—even a guard possessed such remarkable presence!
Liu Qingxu didn't engage in much small talk with them and soon led them to Xiaoxiao Academy.
Outside the academy gate, she explained the matter of the three missing children, while also issuing orders in Prince Zhen's name: "This is under your jurisdiction. Now that people have gone missing without reason, you cannot escape responsibility. Prince Zhen takes this matter very seriously and demands that you quickly ascertain the whereabouts of those three children. Otherwise, not only will you be punished, but even Magistrate Zhang will bear the charge of dereliction of duty!"
"Yes, Miss Liu, we will do our utmost to find the whereabouts of those three children as quickly as possible!" Chen Kui promptly responded.
Liu Qingxu instinctively glanced toward Zhou San, only to see him lower his head unnaturally and reply, "Miss Liu, rest assured, we will do our best to find the three children."
She hadn’t managed to catch his expression before he lowered his head, but the suddenness of the movement made her narrow her eyes. Her gaze dropped, feigning nonchalance as it swept over his slightly shifting feet.
She suddenly said, "To find the three children as quickly as possible, we must split up. You two are most familiar with the area, so choose your directions first."
Zhou San immediately raised his head. "Miss Liu, I’ll take charge of searching the west."
Liu Qingxu nodded, politely adding, "Thank you, Brother Zhou San."
Chen Kui said, "Then I’ll take the east. My home is in that direction, so it’ll be easier to inquire around."
Liu Qingxu nodded again. "Good, thank you for your efforts."
Soon, the two men headed off toward the west and east respectively.
Once they were gone, Liu Qingxu turned to Yan Siyuan beside her and asked meaningfully, "What does Lord Si think?"
The corners of Yan Siyuan’s lips suddenly curved upward as he tilted his chin toward the direction Zhou San had left.
Without hesitation, Liu Qingxu leaped into the night, stealthily pursuing Zhou San.
Seeing her abandon him and run off just like that, Yan Siyuan’s face instantly turned cold. He immediately shouted, "Jiang Jiu!"
…
To the west of Xiaoxiao Academy lay a riverbank, a place rarely visited even during the day, let alone at night. The night wind rustled through the grass and trees along the embankment, the rustling sounds resembling something crawling in the darkness—enough to deter anyone faint of heart.
Following Zhou San all the way, Liu Qingxu was careful not to make any unnecessary noise. Fortunately, Zhou San was solely focused on running, frantic and hurried, with no mind to pay attention to anything else.
Watching him slip into a bamboo hut by the riverbank, she stopped as well, crouching in a patch of grass to observe the hut’s movements.
Soon, the sound of children crying came from inside the bamboo hut.
She clenched her teeth tightly, her hands digging forcefully into the soil beneath her.
She recognized that voice—it was Xiao Cong’s!
"Shut up! Keep crying and I’ll kill you!" A vicious curse echoed from the hut, followed by the sharp sound of a slap.
Unable to bear it any longer, Liu Qingxu sprang from the grass, flying over the waist-high weeds and charging straight into the bamboo hut.
Her sudden, unexpected intrusion startled not only Zhou San but also the three children.
The interior of the hut had been dim, but as moonlight streamed in through the broken door, the familiar figure became clear. All three children burst into loud, simultaneous wails.
"Miss Liu…"
"Miss Liu, save us…"
"Miss Liu… Miss Liu…"
Zhou San glared at her with ferocious eyes, swiftly grabbing the child closest to her.
"You damn woman, if you don’t want them dead, get the hell out of here! Otherwise, I’ll strangle them right now!"
The three children were tightly bound with ropes. Though they had seen their rescuer, they couldn’t hide their terror and fear.
Hai You and Xiao An, being slightly older, remained somewhat composed, but Xiao Cong, whom Zhou San was choking, was only five years old and couldn’t withstand such a deadly threat. He cried so hard he nearly choked.
"Let them go, and I’ll let you leave," she said, struggling to stay calm as she attempted to negotiate with him.
"You think I’d believe you?" Zhou San retorted with outright disdain.
"You have no choice." Liu Qingxu dared not act rashly, but her gaze was sharp as she glared at his hand. "If anything happens to them, you'll pay with your life. If you let them go now, I can't split myself to deal with you alone, and you'll still have a chance to escape."
Zhou San's wide eyes suddenly narrowed, and the hand gripping Xiao Cong's neck stiffened slightly.
He pricked up his ears to listen for any movement outside—there was none.
At this moment, he was determined to find a way to escape, but he wasn't foolish enough to release all three children. Immediately, he scooped up Xiao Cong and dashed out the door.
"Sister Liu…" Xiao Cong cried out in even greater terror.
"Xiao Cong!" Hai You and Xiao An, seeing him being taken away, couldn't help but shout.
"Don't move! Someone will come to rescue you soon!" Liu Qingxu had no time to untie them. With those words, she sprinted after them.
Zhou San fled in panic, clutching the child. Seeing Liu Qingxu hot on his heels, he roared a threat, "You bitch, if you keep chasing, I'll kill him right now!"
Liu Qingxu truly had no choice. If she pressed too closely, she feared he might harm Xiao Cong; if she didn't pursue, she worried he would take Xiao Cong away.
After chasing for several hundred meters, her heart burning with anxiety, a shadowy figure suddenly flew out from Zhou San's side like a ghost. Before Liu Qingxu could react, she heard Zhou San let out a piercing scream and then collapse straight to the ground.