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Rong Shu followed his gaze and indeed saw a row of wooden cages swaying gently in the snow beneath a few Japanese cedars.

After a long while, she suddenly asked, "Is Your Highness currently in the Eastern Palace?"

Gu Changjin had hurriedly left after escorting her to the Purple Imperial Palace earlier.

The Eastern Palace was where the future emperor would reside, essentially a small imperial palace with vast grounds. Rong Shu had no idea if Gu Changjin was still there.

Zhu Jun answered respectfully with a smile, "Your Highness is in the main study of the Caring Talent Pavilion meeting with Minister Guan. Minister Guan arrived at the Eastern Palace early this morning and has been waiting for quite some time. It seems he has an urgent matter to report."

What Zhu Jun didn't know was that not only Guan Shaowei but also a woman resembling an old crone was present in the main study of the Caring Talent Pavilion.

The woman knelt on the ground, her face marred by a network of scars – it was Ding Shi.

"Get up. We can speak while sitting," Gu Changjin said, looking down at her. "In the Chen Mei murder case, the Censorate has presented new evidence to me. The Supreme Court will soon reopen the case, and I will be attending as well."

Ding Shi wept tears of joy and knocked her head on the floor several times with a loud thud.

She had heard of the prince's accomplishments. He had overturned the verdict in Xu Li'er's case back then. Ding Shi believed that as long as the Crown Prince was involved, Meier wouldn't have to face execution.

Chen Mei had been taken away for half a year, and during this time, Lady Ding had found no peace in her sleep, her body wasting away with each passing day.

Guan Shaowei approached to support her, guiding her to sit down in a nearby armchair. "His Highness cares for his people as he would his own children. If he wishes for you to speak while seated, then so be it."

Only then did Lady Ding feel reassured enough to sit down.

She glanced at Guan Shaowei. Although she knew there was new hope for Chen Mei's case, the words of Magistrate Guan still weighed heavily on her mind.

"Magistrate Guan mentioned that this commoner could aid His Highness the Crown Prince in solving a lingering mystery. May I ask which case it is that the prince requires my assistance with?"

Gu Changjin asked gently, "On your journey to the capital, you were abducted. What did those who took you want from you?"

Upon hearing this, Ding almost tumbled out of her chair. Shocked to her core, she dared not lift her eyes to look at Gu Changjin.

While every word she spoke before the Empress was true, she was well aware that those words were taught to her by that person, deliberately intended to mislead the Empress.

"Your humble servant, I am dull-witted and truly do not understand Your Highness's meaning," Ding said, maintaining her composure. "I have never been abducted before."

"Madam Ding, there's no need to panic. I was dispatched by the Crown Prince to summon the Chief Physician from the Imperial Medical Institute to diagnose Chen Mei. He is capable of neutralizing the poison she has ingested," Guan Shaowei reassured with a gentle smile. "That Chief Physician is the grandson of the Director of the Imperial Medical Institute. It was he who treated His Highness the Crown Prince when he was severely injured in the past."

Madam Ding still shook her head.

That person had warned her when he sent her to the Board of Censors: if she dared reveal even a fraction of the secret, Meimei would immediately succumb to the poison and die a miserable death in prison.

She dared not take that risk.

Seeing her shake her head in silence, Gu Changjin pondered for a moment and said, "I've already arranged for Chen Mei to be secretly transferred from the Department of Justice's prison to another location. Doctor Sun is there to detoxify her. Even if that person intends to harm Chen Mei at the Department of Justice, they won't find her."

He paused before adding, "If you confess everything truthfully now, Her Majesty the Empress will not hold you accountable when she learns the truth."

The study fell silent for a long while.

Neither Gu Changjin nor Guan Shaowei spoke.

After a moment of silence, Madam Ding murmured hesitantly, "Can Your Highness truly guarantee that person won't be able to harm Meimei? And that Her Majesty won't blame this commoner?"

Gu Changjin knew that she was willing to talk now. He glanced at Guan Shaowei and said, "Minister Guan, please step out and summon Shiiun for me."

Guan Shaowei understood that the Crown Prince wanted him out of the way. He quickly bowed and said, "As you wish," then strode out of the study.

Ding Shi ventured cautiously, "May I ask Your Highness, were you referring to the incident that transpired at Great Mercy Temple years ago when you spoke just now?"

Gu Changjin lifted his teacup, gazing into its depths without revealing his thoughts, "Back then, my mother, the Empress, switched me with my sister at Great Mercy Temple and sent her away. These past years, she has been searching for her."

Indeed, His Highness knows!

Ding Shi was well aware that the Empress had given birth to a daughter, not the Crown Prince standing before her. As for why the Crown Prince became the Empress's son, she dared not ponder or inquire too deeply.

Ding Shi bit her lip, finally mustering the resolve to proceed.