After my father was sent to marry into the princess's household, I became the darling of the en

Inside the Dali Temple government office.

Early in the morning, Xiao Changgeng and Marquis Weiyuan Qin Feng sat in the hall.

The two were separated by the coffee table, neither giving the other a friendly look.

The night before, Xiao Changgeng waited for a long time in the flower hall of the Lian residence but did not see Lian Jiliang.

Only after asking the steward did they learn that Lian Jiliang had left the study and headed to the flower hall half an hour earlier.

Who would have thought that this short stretch of road would vanish into thin air?

They searched the entire mansion from top to bottom but couldn't find him. The servants were so frightened that they reported the incident to the authorities that very night.

The matter involves the disappearance of an official appointed by the imperial court, and also implicates the powerful families of the Princess's Mansion and the Marquis of Weiyuan's Mansion.

The Prefect of the Capital City dared not take on this hot potato, and immediately passed the case to the Court of Judicial Review.

Thus, Xiao Changgeng, the last outsider to appear at the Lian residence, and Qin Feng, the defendant in the Dengwen Drum case, were summoned by the Dali Temple at dawn.

Chen Huainian, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, was a seasoned smooth talker who was good at smoothing things over.

He personally carried the teapot in and politely poured tea for the two of them.

"Please be patient, gentlemen. This is just a routine inquiry. Please have some tea."

"Utterly absurd!" Qin Feng pushed the teacup aside, spilling tea all over the table.

"Mr. Qian disappeared several months ago, and I have sent people to search for him everywhere without success."

"Now, out of nowhere, a madwoman has appeared, falsely accusing me. Instead of investigating her background, Lord Chen suspects that I am connected to Lord Lian's disappearance?"

He was so angry that he blew his beard and glared at his opponent.

"Bring that woman up here. I want to confront her face to face!"

Chen Huainian took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead, forcing a bitter smile.

"My lord, please calm down. It's not that I'm unwilling to interrogate her, but... yesterday, along with Lord Lian, the woman who filed the complaint also disappeared."

Qin Feng's eyes widened as if he had heard something utterly unbelievable.

"What do you mean by that? Are you trying to pin this on me too?"

"I've never even seen whether that woman is round or flat!"

Xiao Changgeng, standing to the side, lowered his eyes, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The person who filed the complaint has disappeared, so the case cannot be brought before the emperor for the time being.

As long as he and Qin Feng stubbornly deny it and drag it out until their adoptive mother returns home, there will always be a way to resolve the situation.

But who is this person who secretly kidnapped them? Are they friend or foe? And what is their purpose?

It's still shrouded in mystery.

At this moment, a clerk strode into the hall.

He whispered a few words in Chen Huainian's ear, confirming that both Qin Feng and Xiao Changgeng had alibis from last night.

Chen Huainian waved his subordinates away, and the smile on his face became even more genuine.

"Thank you both for your cooperation. The Dali Temple has investigated and determined that this matter has nothing to do with you two."

"If any new clues emerge in the future, I hope you two gentlemen will be able to lend a hand."

After exchanging pleasantries, Chen Huainian personally escorted the two to the gate of Dali Temple.

As soon as he stepped out of the gate of Dali Temple, Xiao Changgeng stopped in his tracks.

"Lord Qin, may I have a word with you in private?"

Because of Qin Lie, Qin Feng didn't want to get involved with the people from the Princess's residence.

But then he thought about it again, and since it concerned his own head and the future of the Marquis of Weiyuan's mansion, he gritted his teeth and agreed.

Inside a private room of a quiet teahouse on a street corner.

Xiao Changgeng personally poured a cup of tea and pushed it towards him, "Lord Qin, let's not beat around the bush, are you really not the one who kidnapped him?"

"What does Commander Xiao mean by that?" Qin Feng slammed his hand on the table.

"I have done nothing wrong. Mr. Qian's disappearance has nothing to do with me. Why should I be afraid of a madwoman's complaint?"

"Why would I be so bored as to kidnap a high-ranking official of the imperial court?"

A faint smile appeared in Xiao Changgeng's eyes as he picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"Lord, aren't you afraid that woman will accuse you of murder to silence her? But aren't you afraid that others will find out... that you had a son with that Northern Di woman, Helian Shuang?"

"you……!"

Qin Feng suddenly stood up, knocking over the armchair behind him.

He looked around in surprise and doubt, and seeing that the doors and windows of the private room were tightly closed, he lowered his voice and angrily rebuked.

"Xiao Changgeng, the Princess's fate is currently unknown. If that boy's background is exposed, it will implicate your entire Princess's residence. Aren't you afraid?"

Xiao Changgeng chuckled softly and drank the tea in his cup.

"My adoptive mother was kind-hearted. Back then, she just picked up a poor child who had been abandoned by his biological father and was almost dying of illness on the roadside."

"Over the years, the Princess's residence has carefully taught him, cultivating him into a pillar of the Great Yong Dynasty who guards the border."

"My adoptive mother is doing good deeds, she has a clear conscience before heaven and earth, what is there to fear?"

Qin Feng was speechless, his face turning ashen. He opened his mouth, about to retort.

Xiao Changgeng didn't give him a chance and changed the subject.

"It's just that Ah Lie is simple-minded, and as his older brother, I don't want to see him saddened by the dirty deeds of the previous generation."

"We are even less willing to let some people with ulterior motives take advantage of this critical juncture."

He looked up at Qin Feng, his gaze sharp as a knife.

"I've come to see you today, Lord, to discuss countermeasures."

"If you insist on judging others by your own standards and making sarcastic remarks, then we have nothing more to discuss."

Qin Feng stood frozen in place, his expression shifting unpredictably.

He knew very well that even if the Princess's residence was implicated, it would at most be due to oversight.

But he himself will likely face the destruction of his family and the loss of his home!

After a long while, he slumped down in his armchair and sighed heavily.

"Since Commander Xiao has put it this way, may I ask what your insightful opinion is?"

Xiao Changgeng twitched the corner of his lips.

"This will require your cooperation, Lord."

……

The mysterious disappearance of an official appointed by the imperial court is no small matter.

The following morning at court, Chen Huainian reported the entire case of Lian Jiliang's disappearance to Emperor Xiao Chengyu.

However, he was cautious and did not mention the Dengwen Drum case at all.

That was originally Lian Jiliang's job, but it was also a hot potato that would offend powerful people.

Now that both Lian Jiliang and the woman who filed the complaint have disappeared, the case will most likely become an unsolved mystery.

The Dali Temple must be crazy to overstep its bounds and wade into this mess.

On the dragon throne, Emperor Xiao Chengyu was furious after hearing the report.

"Right under the emperor's nose, a high-ranking official vanished into thin air from his own residence!"

"Chen Huainian, I order your Dali Temple to investigate this case thoroughly within ten days!"

Standing at the lower end, Xiao Jingchen was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

His carefully laid plan was about to be completed, but why did it go wrong at this crucial moment?

This case must not be left unresolved.

He stepped out of the court and said loudly, "Father, please calm your anger. I am deeply disturbed that such a terrible thing has happened under the emperor's nose. I am willing to assist the Court of Judicial Review in thoroughly investigating the case of Lord Lian's disappearance, so as to share your worries."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Second Prince Xiao Jingyu stepped out as well.

He lifted his robe and knelt beside Xiao Jingchen, his face full of righteousness.

"Father, I am also willing to assist the Court of Judicial Review and share your burdens!"

Xiao Jingchen turned and glared at Xiao Jingyu, his teeth itching with anger.

Why does this idiot keep ruining his plans?!

With resentment in his heart, his tone naturally carried a hint of barely suppressed anger.

"Second brother, what does this case have to do with you? Why are you insisting on fighting me for it?"

The emperor looked down at him from his high position and spoke slowly.

"Oh? Then tell me, what does this have to do with you?"