How can you rule the world if I'm just a substitute for you?

After calming the students outside Chengtian Gate, Lin Xuan went straight back to the East Palace.

Shen Qingyi was already awake and was leaning against the headboard. When she saw him come in, she propped herself up to get up.

Lin Xuan quickly went over and held her down, getting straight to the point: "It's done. My father-in-law has given his permission. Your father-in-law's case will be handed over to the Jingzhao Prefecture for retrial, and I will personally oversee it."

Shen Qingyi felt a sense of relief, and the anxiety that had been hanging over her for many days finally subsided.

She looked at Lin Xuan with admiration in her eyes. From kneeling at the palace gate to vying for power in court, he had calculated every step of the way and linked them together. He had turned a dead end around by relying on a flaw in a secret letter.

Seeing her like this, Lin Xuan chuckled and teased, "Speaking of which, I was wondering why my beloved concubine was acting so well today, making it seem like she was really fainting. So, in the end, you actually fainted from anger?"

Shen Qingyi blushed and turned her face away, somewhat embarrassed.

But after a moment, she frowned again and said worriedly, "Your Highness, more than a month has passed since Father's case. The evidence that should have been there has probably been destroyed long ago, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to investigate."

Lin Xuan waved his hand, took her hand, and said firmly, "Don't worry, I have a plan. I will definitely rescue your father within three days. You just need to rest well and leave this matter to me."

Shen Qingyi nodded and said no more.

Lin Xuan gave a few more instructions, then got up and left the East Palace, heading straight for the Jingzhao Prefecture.

In the main hall of the Jingzhao Prefecture, Prefect Xu Nian stared blankly at the official documents on his desk, showing no interest in handling official business whatsoever.

He had heard about the commotion in the palace and was quite anxious.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw Lin Xuan. He immediately stood up and went to greet him: "Your Highness! You've finally arrived! What happened? Why are you kneeling outside Chengtian Gate with the Crown Princess?"

Lin Xuan walked to the main seat and sat down, then briefly explained the whole story.

Xu Nian was both surprised and amazed after hearing this, secretly hoping that if they could really rescue Grand Tutor Shen, the Crown Prince would have the top civil official in his hands, and with the added power of the Jingzhao Prefecture, his strength would surely increase dramatically.

Lin Xuan ignored what he was thinking and turned to the yamen runner beside him, instructing, "Go and summon Song Lian, the head of the Household and Civil Affairs Department."

The yamen runners withdrew in response.

A moment later, Song Lian strode into the main hall, bowed, and said, "Your subject Song Lian greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Lin Xuan looked at Song Lian and got straight to the point: "How's the investigation of the shops in the capital going, which I asked you to do a few days ago?"

Song Lian quickly bowed and replied, "Your Highness, we have almost figured it out. We have a record of what goods each shop sold, who they sold to, and the quantities. There are a few shops that refused to cooperate, and I have already led people to seal them off."

Lin Xuan nodded, finding Song Lian to be fairly reliable, and then asked, "Have you figured out the shops selling moisture-proof materials that I asked you to investigate?"

Song Lian immediately took out a small booklet from his pocket and handed it over: "Your Highness personally instructed me to take this matter seriously. All the shops in the capital that sell moisture-proof materials have been registered. The buyers and how much they bought are all recorded without any error."

Lin Xuan took the booklet and handed it to Xu Nian beside him: "Xu Nian, take a look and see which store in the capital buys the most moisture-proof materials."

Xu Nian had just opened the booklet to examine it closely when the Director of the Inspection Department rushed in, his face panicked: "Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!"

Lin Xuan raised his eyes: "Speak."

"The two minor officials who testified against Grand Tutor Shen and insisted that he forced them to steal grain died in the Ministry of Justice prison. The Ministry of Justice announced that the two committed suicide out of fear of punishment."

Lin Xuan listened without any surprise, and simply said, "The third brother is quick to act, but unfortunately he miscalculated. I never expected to get anything out of these two."

Xu Nian had finished flipping through the booklet and looked up to reply, "Your Highness, the Wei family bought more than half of the moisture-proof materials sold in the capital."

Lin Xuan did not respond.

He naturally knew the Wei family; they were a long-established noble family. The head of the family, Wei Hu, was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Weiwu and was an old subordinate and a true confidant of Duke Qin Lie.

The Wei family also has a legitimate daughter named Wei Lingxi, who is engaged to the third prince Lin Fu, but they haven't officially married yet. In a sense, Wei Hu is Lin Fu's future father-in-law.

He took the account book and glanced at it twice, then whispered, "The three hundred thousand dan of official grain are most likely hidden in the Wei family."

Xu Nian was taken aback, somewhat puzzled: "Your Highness, why are you so certain?"

"Three hundred thousand dan of grain is too large a volume. It won't be easy to transport it out of the capital." Lin Xuan tapped the table with his fingertips. "They must have hidden the grain first, and then transported it out in batches to sell after the storm has completely passed. With so much grain piled up, if it doesn't get damp, it will all be ruined if it gets moldy."

Xu Nian reacted instantly.

So the Crown Prince's order for Song Lian to investigate all the shops in the city was just a pretext; what he really wanted to investigate was moisture-proof materials.

The Third Prince was busy silencing the minor official, thinking that killing the witness would solve everything, little did he know that the Crown Prince had not taken that route at all.

He couldn't help but sigh, "Your Highness's foresight is truly admirable."

Lin Xuan waved his hand, ignoring the compliment.

He knew perfectly well that the third brother had completely miscalculated, thinking he would keep an eye on those two minor officials.

However, there is a problem right now: the grain is most likely in the Wei family's possession, but there is no concrete evidence.

The Wei family is a long-established noble family with considerable power. It would be unreasonable for them to send troops to search their home without any evidence, and they might even be falsely accused in return.

After a moment of silence, he looked up at the crowd, his tone resolute:

"Tonight, I will personally investigate the Wei family."

Upon hearing this, Xu Nian immediately became anxious and stepped forward to dissuade him: "Your Highness, you must not!"

Your personal nighttime incursion into the Wei family is far too dangerous! The Wei family is a long-established noble family with numerous private soldiers and tight security. If anything were to happen to them, no one could bear the consequences!

"Why don't we send someone else to investigate? You can stay in the capital and wait for news!"

Shen Hu, who was standing nearby, immediately stepped forward and said firmly, "That's right, brother-in-law! Your status is too important to take any risks!"

Leave the infiltration and reconnaissance to me. I guarantee I'll find out everything and come back safe and sound!

The two men took turns trying to dissuade him, and neither of them agreed that Lin Xuan should personally take the risk.

But Lin Xuan had his own plans.

He was a special forces soldier in his previous life, and infiltration and reconnaissance were skills ingrained in his bones.

In addition, after these days of training since transmigrating, although his skills are not comparable to those of his previous life, they are still far beyond those of ordinary people.

For this kind of clandestine reconnaissance, it's safer to entrust it to anyone else than to do it himself.

Lin Xuan waved his hand, his tone firm and leaving no room for argument: "There's no need to dissuade me."

Tonight, I will go in person.

You need not worry, I know what I'm doing.

If you sense anything amiss, immediately withdraw and retreat; do not force yourself into danger.

Seeing his resolute attitude, Xu Nian and Shen Hu dared not persuade him any further and could only worry in silence.

Before we knew it, it was late at night, midnight.

The night was pitch black, and the entire street was silent and deserted.

Lin Xuan changed into a neat black night outfit, his figure disappearing into the night, and quietly slipped out of the back gate of the Jingzhao Prefecture.