"A girl who is so articulate and observant can't be simple. Find an opportunity to check her background."
"Yes, sir. I'll follow your order."
The night was perfect.
Zhao Shuning was sleeping in her room. As she had a lot on her mind and candles were not allowed in the Laundry Bureau after nightfall, all the maids went to bed early.
Vaguely, she could hear some rustling sounds.
Zhao Shuning became alert.
She immediately rolled out of bed.
The other maids were fast asleep at this moment.
Zhao Shuning pressed her body against the window.
From her angle, she could see many black-clothed men rummaging through things carefully in the yard.
Were they sent by Jin Yuan?
It didn't seem so.
These men were all quite powerful. Jin Yuan was a young lady from a noble family who had been staying in the boudoir for a long time. No matter how noble her status was, she couldn't afford to hire men with such skills.
After searching for a long time, they stopped.
"The master clearly said today that all the evidence of that girl was hidden in the yard where she lived."
"But we've searched every corner of this yard and found nothing."
"Could it be that the girl was lying to us?"
Zhao Shuning rolled her eyes and came up with an idea. She took out a veil and a hat from her Qiankun Bag, put them on, and then slipped out of the yard.
At this time, the bright moon hung high in the sky, and the gentle breeze blowing on her body was very comfortable.
Zhao Shuning changed into a relatively clean and appropriate dress, then flew towards the Chengxun Palace.
In the past few days, Gu Hanxun should have had enough rest. Now that she went to find him, on the one hand, it was to fulfill her promise, and on the other hand, it was to ask about who the imprisoned old man was.
Inside the Chengxun Palace, it was brightly lit.
On the golden throne, a man sat in a wheelchair with a knitted brow.
Shadow stood beside him.
The flickering candlelight and the quiet atmosphere made the black-clothed men below tremble with fear.
Shadow spoke.
"She's just a little maid. We've searched for so many days, but we still haven't found the slightest clue?"
"Sir Shadow, that girl seemed to have disappeared out of thin air. We've asked all the people in the palace, and they all said that their maids were on duty that day and didn't go out. Moreover, they all had corresponding witnesses. They should not be lying."
Gu Hanxun's face darkened.
His legs had been numb for several years.
She said there was hope for his legs. He hoped she wasn't lying to him.
"Is this your excuse for your incompetence?"
"Sir Shadow, please forgive us. It's really not that we were neglectful of our duties. We've done our best, but that person seems to have never existed. We've even checked the household register in the palace. We've visited everyone who was registered, but the fact is just like this."
Gu Hanxun closed his eyes.
His forehead throbbed with pain.
"Master, are you okay?"
"Shadow, tell them all to leave."
"Master, what about that girl?"
"If she doesn't want us to find her, I'm afraid all our efforts will be in vain."
Shadow nodded.
He turned around and dismissed all the black-clothed men.
Then he turned back and said, "By the way, master, today, I've got some information about the girl you asked me to find out about."
"Tell me. I'm listening."
"That girl seems to have committed some crime. She appeared in the palace that day. The commander of the imperial guards asked all the palaces, but no palace reported a missing maid, so she was sent to the Laundry Bureau."
"The Laundry Bureau?"
"Yes, master. I've inquired. That girl has a peach blossom tattooed on her face. Presumably, she also committed some crime and was punished with this tattoo."
A peach blossom? A criminal?
Gu Hanxun looked at Shadow.
Perhaps guessing his master's doubts, Shadow immediately replied, "I've checked the relevant materials, but there's no file about this woman."
"Could the person who appeared at the memorial ceremony that day be her?"
Shadow also frowned.
"Master, according to Granny Lan in the Laundry Bureau, that maid was indeed at the memorial ceremony that day. But when we returned to the Chengxun Palace, she was cleaning up the remains after the memorial ceremony in the Chenghuang Palace."
"If a girl, and a maid from the Laundry Bureau, had to give something to me and then quickly return to the Chenghuang Palace, even I couldn't do it in such a short time."
So, it couldn't be her?
Gu Hanxun felt his head ache even more.
"Shadow, the medicine."
Shadow quickly handed the pill to Gu Hanxun.
"Master, although this pill is an antidote, the alchemist also said that this pill is still in the research stage. Taking it now may have many side effects."
Gu Hanxun just gave him a look, and Shadow didn't dare to say anything more.
He knew very well that taking this imperfect pill was actually 30% poisonous at this time. But he couldn't wait. He couldn't wait for the alchemist to slowly develop a perfect antidote, because he was so eager to break free from the clutches of Qin Anxin.
The incident at the memorial ceremony was an indelible shame and shadow in his life.
"Shadow, go and get some wine."
In the past few days, the side effects of this medicine have been extremely strong. At night, Gu Hanxun would be tortured by his headache and couldn't fall asleep. He always had to rely on peach blossom wine to barely fall asleep.
"Still from the one in the south of the city."
"Yes, sir. I know."
Shadow quickly disappeared.
At this time, in the huge palace, only eunuchs and maids were waiting around, waiting for Gu Hanxun's orders.
Gu Hanxun's head was hurting badly at this time, and he didn't want these people to look at him with such fearful eyes, so he waved his hand.
"You can all leave."
"Yes."
The people who got the order seemed to have received a special pardon. They immediately bowed and walked out.
After everyone walked out.
Looking at this magnificent but extremely desolate palace, Gu Hanxun couldn't help but feel extremely sad.
The Chengxun Palace.
This place was probably the only place his so-called father could get for him from Qin Anxin.
It was built so brilliantly, but the number of people who came here was pitifully small.
His teacher, who had a deep friendship with him, treated him very well, and taught and solved his doubts, had disappeared for several years. He didn't know if it was because of his involvement.
Gu Hanxun looked at the candlelight in front of him and slowly supported the armrests, trying to stand up.
But as soon as he stood up, he lost his balance and was about to fall off the steps.
Fortunately, he reacted quickly and sat back in the wheelchair.
Gu Hanxun was sweating profusely at this time.
He raised his hands.
Put them in front of him.
Then looked at his legs.
He smiled bitterly and said, "What on earth am I expecting? Just because of that little girl's few words, do I really believe that there's still hope for my legs?"
"Gu Hanxun, you're really too ridiculous."
"If you don't try, Second Prince, how do you know that what I said is not credible?"
A woman's voice came. Gu Hanxun hurriedly looked up and met a pair of elegant and radiant eyes.