Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

"Your Highness, the bandits are extremely agile. Seeing that they could not break into the Prime Minister's residence, they quickly dispersed and retreated. They split into several small teams and fled in different directions, scattering our forces."

My subordinates feel that they don't seem to want to confront us head-on; rather, they seem more like…

"More like what?"

Xie Jingxing's frustration and doubts grew stronger, and he roared impatiently.

"More like..."

It's like they're making a fool of us...

"You mean, these people don't want to antagonize you, they just want to lure you out of the Prime Minister's residence?"

Liu Wei asked in surprise.

The man nodded.

"Yes, they run very fast, we can hardly catch up with them!"

When we couldn't catch up, they deliberately slowed down to lure us into following them.

They did this repeatedly, without ever getting tired.

Our people, on the other hand, were exhausted and panting, and we couldn't figure out what those people's purpose was.

"A bunch of useless trash, get out of here!"

Xie Jingxing was so angry that he kicked him directly.

The soldier retreated tremblingly.

He felt as if he were trapped in a thick fog, with his opponent moving silently in the shadows, and although he had clearly captured the key figure, it seemed that he had captured nothing at all.

"Your Highness, shall we return to the manor now?" Liu Wei asked cautiously.

Xie Jingxing did not answer immediately.

He stood in the courtyard of the Prime Minister's residence, gazing at the dark night sky and the faint light emanating from the mourning hall.

The upright figure of Prime Minister Xiao Wen could be vaguely discerned.

Xiao Wen is still inside; the items haven't been found, and there isn't even a single clue.

Everything that happened tonight seemed suspicious and was definitely not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

Xie Jingxing slowly exhaled, his eyes becoming sharp and cold again. "Liu Wei, that person just said the bandits didn't enter the Prime Minister's mansion. What about the guard who fainted at the entrance of the mourning hall?"

They couldn't have fainted on their own.

Someone must have come in tonight and met with the Prime Minister.

However, the person who met the Prime Minister was not a bandit from Jingmeng Mountain, but someone else entirely.

That old man just won't admit it!

We have no evidence, and there's nothing we can do about it!

"Then, Your Highness, what kind of person do you think will meet with the Prime Minister tonight?"

"Are they the Prime Minister's men, or the missing young master and that young cook?"

Liu Wei asked.

"Liu Wei, what do you think?"

Xie Jingxing countered with a question.

"I think that young cook is just a little girl, she probably doesn't have the guts."

Knowing full well that the Prime Minister's residence was guarded by soldiers, how could she and the young master, who had finally managed to escape, possibly come back to their deaths?

Surely they wouldn't be that stupid?

The subordinate thought that he might be one of the Crown Prince's men.

Although the Crown Prince is currently under house arrest in his residence, his people are still free to move around without any restrictions.

Liu Wei shared his thoughts.

"Hmm, you're right. We're trying to avoid this little girl like the plague!"

How could I possibly take such a risk, knowingly doing something that is impossible!

Xie Jingxing paused for a moment and continued, "However, don't you find it strange that Xiao Wen didn't leave with the Crown Prince's men tonight?"

With such a good opportunity, why wouldn't he run away, preferring to wait for exile three days later?

"Your Highness, Xiao Wen is born with a strong will, and a scholar values ​​integrity above all else."

If there weren't solid evidence, it would be difficult to bring him down this time.

If he escapes, then his crime will be truly confirmed.

So he won't run away.

This is my opinion, Your Highness. Please just take it as a suggestion; ultimately, it depends on Your Highness's own thoughts.

Liu Wei had followed King Cheng for many years and knew that he was ruthless, suspicious, and extremely ambitious.

So every time he shared his opinion, he would end with a sentence that depended on his thoughts.

"Liu Wei, you're right. Xiao Wen is just an old stubborn man. Otherwise, he wouldn't have ended up like this."

Since he cannot be used by me, then I will destroy him.

However, you cannot die in Shengjing. Do you understand what I mean?

This is right under the emperor's nose; if something really happens here, he'll be the first one to be implicated.

"Understood!"

Liu Wei nodded.

"It's a pity that tonight's plan has completely fallen through. We were hoping to catch them like turtles in a jar, but we ended up falling for the thieves' diversionary tactic."

This is absolutely infuriating!

And that damned young master and that wretched maid have been at large for days.

"Your Highness, please don't get anxious or upset."

With such a commotion today, His Majesty will surely summon you to the palace for questioning tomorrow.

You should go home and rest early!

This mansion has been burned to the ground, and there is nowhere for you to rest.

Rest assured, your subordinates and others will stay here.

"Tomorrow morning, after Old Madam Xiao's burial, I will escort Prime Minister Xiao back. I won't let him escape."

"No, tonight's matter is of utmost importance, I cannot postpone it until tomorrow."

Xie Jingxing turned around and looked in the direction of the palace: "I must go to the palace immediately to see my father."

What happened tonight must be reported immediately.

Xiao Wen did not flee, and things seemed peaceful, but beneath this calm, there were probably more turbulent undercurrents.

The opponent used a "luring the tiger away from the mountain" tactic, but he still doesn't know what their purpose is.

He recalled Xiao Wen's unfathomable eyes and his extraordinary composure.

That's not the look of a desperate prisoner.

There seemed to be a cold, all-knowing scrutiny in those eyes, as well as an unyielding arrogance.

He had tried to subdue him more than three times before, but he was like a rock in a latrine, smelly, hard, and stubborn.

Xie Jingxing shook his head, trying to shake off the unpleasant thought.

In any case, Xiao Wen is still under control, which is the most important thing at the moment.

As long as he's still alive, he can report back to his father.

However, he had a vague premonition that tonight was just the beginning.

The real contest may have only just begun.

This contest may involve far more than just Xiao Wen's life or death, or the whereabouts of a certain "thing".

Xiao Wen will die sooner or later, and so will his good brother, the Crown Prince who is under house arrest.

That supreme dragon throne can only belong to Xie Jingxing; no one else can even dream of touching it.

"Your Highness, it's alright if you go to the palace tomorrow. Aren't you going to the palace to attend court anyway?"

If the emperor doesn't ask you about it in court, don't report it. Let it go and make a big deal out of it.

Anyway, the Prime Minister hasn't left!

"I have something more important to tell you now."

"That's a good plan!"

Is there anything more important? Tell me.

Xie Jingxing toned down his fierce aura and suppressed his emotions considerably.

"Your Highness, two or three days have passed, and you still haven't found the young master of the Xiao family. If you go to the palace now, you might be punished by His Majesty."

"I have a way that might help me find the young master and the others."

"What method?"

Xie Jingxing's eyes showed a hint of urgency.