Chapter 1396: 677 Princess_2 Chapter 1396: 677 Princess_2 This point, Han Shizi did not deny, “The gunpowder contained Paralysis Medicine, and in the end, whatever he used on me wasn’t Paralysis Medicine, but it completely immobilized me.”

Han Yong pondered, “Gunpowder… an unknown poison… could it really be the doing of the National Master Hall?”

Han Shizi then said, “I have neither grudges nor grievances with the National Master Hall, so why would the National Master Hall target me?”

Han Yong nodded, “That’s also true.” The National Master Hall did not collude with any forces nor did it conflict with any, to be precise, no clan dared to provoke a conflict with the National Master Hall, and naturally, the National Master Hall deemed it beneath them to trouble any clan.

Han Shizi asked the servant at the door, “What about the Prince? Hasn’t he arrived yet?”

No sooner had he spoken than the Ming Prince arrived.

Han Yong performed a clasped-hands salute to the Ming Prince. As a concubine-born son of the Han Family, his status could not compare with that of the legitimate heirs.

The Ming Prince gave a slight nod, his attitude towards Han Yong was naturally different from that towards Han Shizi.

“All of you, leave us. Second Uncle, you stay.”

The servants exited in succession, closing the door behind them, leaving only the three of them in the room.

The Ming Prince looked at the badly injured Han Shizi. Even though he had been informed of his injuries on the way over, seeing him in person was still a shocking sight, “Cousin, who has injured you to this extent?”

Instead of answering the question, Han Shizi countered, “First, let me ask you, who did you go to see today?”

“Ah?” The Ming Prince was taken aback.

Han Shizi said gravely, “Will you confess of your own accord, or should I have your Maid fetched?”

The Ming Prince’s pupils shrank in alarm!

Cousin, cousin actually saw that Maid?

Han Shizi hummed coldly, “Or perhaps, I should go and report to the Crown Prince himself, and let him personally question you.”

The Ming Prince pleaded, “Cousin! Please don’t tell my father! If my father finds out… he will kill me.”

The Crown Prince was extremely strict with the Ming Prince, not allowing him to commit any act that would tarnish his reputation; otherwise, he would not have hidden his identity from the beauty and hesitated to reveal himself.

Han Shizi said, “If you don’t want me to go to the Crown Prince, then confess honestly, who did you meet today? What did you do?”

The Ming Prince, left with no choice, recounted his visit to see the beauty in detail, “… Cousin, you promised me, you absolutely cannot let my father find out!”

Han Shizi spoke indifferently, “Someone, escort the Ming Prince back to his estate!”

“Yes!”

After the Ming Prince had left, Han Shizi closed his eyes in frustration, “Second Uncle, what do you think?”

Han Yong said, “That student from the Academy of the Canglan Female Academy is definitely related to this matter; she deliberately led the Ming Prince and the six Jin Yi guards away from him.”

Han Shizi, his eyes deep with thought, said, “Since Second Uncle also believes so, then it is necessary to investigate this person.”

…
On a night with the moon shrouded and the wind high, in a dormitory of the Linglong Pavilion at the Academy, Xiaojiu was already sprawled on the soft bedchamber, fast asleep, snoring gently.

His small mouth was open, and he was breathing evenly and snoring softly.

Xiao Hen called Xiaojiu over to watch over Xiaojiu.

He then went to the gatehouse to say goodbye, gave the gatekeeper’s wife a tael of Silver, and asked her to sit in his room.

Xiaojiu generally would not wake up, but in case he did halfway through, it was always good to have someone there.

Whether or not he got into trouble was one thing, being scared was another.

After having done all this, Xiao Hen cloaked himself with a cape, donned the cape’s hood and veil, and snuck out of the Academy.

On a large tree, a figure in black made a gesture to his companion, “Move! Follow him!”

Xiao Hen’s carriage stopped in front of a Pawnshop on Huayang Street.

Xiao Hen alighted from the carriage.

The shop assistant was closing up, saying, “We’re closing for the day, come back tomorrow!”

Xiao Hen handed him a piece of paper with a written message.

—-I need to see your Shopkeeper.

The assistant paused briefly after reading the sentence and looked more carefully at the other person.

Xiao Hen wore a veil, but it did not conceal his extraordinary beauty–some people could captivate others with just a glance of their eyes and brows.

The assistant swallowed hard, and after noticing a glimpse of the Academy attire beneath Xiao Hen’s black cape, he said in a daze, “You–please wait.”

The assistant ran inside.

From inside, the voices of the assistant and the Shopkeeper could be heard.

“Who is it this late?”

“A–a lady, she insists on seeing you, and it seems that her identity is rather formidable, her Aura is very strong.”

The assistant came out chuckling and said to Xiao Hen, “Right this way, please!”

…
Han Shizi had his own network of informants, and the people he dispatched were naturally unsurpassed in skills; aside from the mishap that occurred while tailing Gu Jiao, the other tasks were all flawlessly executed.