Chapter 15: Nighttime Capture

Chapter 15: Nighttime Capture

Duke Ding's residence was surrounded by a sea of soldiers, all under the command of Imperial City Cavalry Commander Li Kangliang, who stood at the entrance of the princess's mansion.

The door finally opened once more, and Princess Yi Yang, accompanied by her retainers, stepped out alongside Yuan Jun. The prince now wore an exquisitely ornate black robe adorned with a four-clawed dragon, its image both majestic and serene in the glow of the torchlight. On his sister's side, Princess Yi Yang donned a bold purple robe with a qilin pattern, the two siblings radiating an imposing presence as they walked side by side. All the soldiers, trained to be disciplined, instinctively lowered their gazes and heads, not daring to meet the eyes of the nobles.

Li Kangliang's eyelids twitched slightly when he saw Yuan Jun emerge. He had anticipated that the crown prince would try to avoid this situation, but to his surprise, Yuan Jun had come out directly. Sibling affection indeed, he sneered inwardly, but on the surface, he respectfully approached to perform the ceremonial bow to the heir apparent. Then, he repeated the same explanation he had given earlier.

Yuan Jun, however, did not dismiss him. Lost in thought for a moment, it seemed as if he was oblivious to the encirclement of soldiers around the princess's residence. After a while, he asked slowly, "The Imperial City is responsible for apprehending criminals in the capital. Now that a heinous criminal has fled into the princess's residence, how can such negligence be afforded to the esteemed princess? If today, the culprit can seek refuge here, who's to say they won't escape into the imperial palace tomorrow?"

Kneeling on one knee, Li Kangliang maintained his humility before the crown prince, unable to assert any authority. "This is my fault, but time is of the essence. Please forgive my rudeness as I strive to make amends by swiftly capturing the culprit to prevent their escape. Your Highness, my forces are insufficient; with the assistance of the Duke Ding's household guards, we can apprehend this vile criminal promptly."

Yuan Jun nodded, still maintaining his leisurely pace. "General Li makes a valid point, but the Grand Princess is a widow. It would be inappropriate not to inform Duke Ding's residence, even though this is by royal decree. A search may proceed, but the Duke's household guards must accompany us throughout to protect the princess's reputation. I see your troops are inadequate; with the Duke's men, we can ensure the culprit's swift capture."

Li Kangliang grumbled inwardly, well aware that everyone knew the princess had countless favorites – reputation? Did she need such a thing? But with the weight of the argument, he could only reluctantly comply, "As you command." Secretly, he cursed, planning to use the search as an opportunity to ensnare Duke Ding once the crucial item was found – just what he wanted.

Yuan Jun nodded and dispatched someone to inform Duke Ding's residence of the prince's order. Soon enough, Duke Ding Song Shixuan himself arrived, accompanied by his heir, Prince Song Xiang. Their faces were stern, and after hastily paying respects to Yuan Jun, they moved forward. A group of retainers, clad in black and armed with swords, followed closely behind, exuding an intimidating air. Li Kangliang couldn't help but inwardly sigh at their fine leather armor, begrudgingly acknowledging that they were better equipped than the imperial guards. Money truly made a difference.

But what could Duke Ding do once the vital item was discovered? We'll see then. Heh.

Li Kangliang could almost envision the day he would be bestowed a noble title, and his dark eyes drooped with anticipation.

Princess Yi Yang, however, suddenly smiled and said, "The Crown Prince left the palace today to pray for blessings. He plans to visit me tonight. Although General Xie brought the Emperor's decree, matters concerning the safety of the heir to the throne must be handled with great caution. It would be wise to ask the Metropolitan Procuratorate to join in dispatching men to apprehend the culprit, to prevent desperate villains from endangering the foundation of our nation."

Li Kangliang was filled with frustration, almost unable to contain his anger. As he was about to erupt, he suddenly realized something. Princess Yi Yang had not only asked the Duke Ding's household guards to accompany her but also summoned the Prefect of the Capital. Naturally, she was concerned that they might take advantage of the chaos to frame and defame others. However, what they could not have anticipated was that the crucial item, which could be fatal, did not need to be placed by himself at all.

Thoughts of triumph swelled within him. If the City Governor were present, wouldn't there be one more witness to the Prince and Princess secretly conspiring late into the night? And upon discovering that damning evidence, coupled with Duke Ding's involvement, they would all be seized in one fell swoop, leaving none to escape!

Li Kangliang also gritted his teeth and agreed. Before long, the Prefect of Jingzhao, with a team of Jing military troops, arrived in a fluster. Upon arrival, he paid his respects with a grand ceremony and then humbly said, "There are thieves in the Princess's residence, which is due to my lax governance. Tonight, no matter what, I must capture that thief!"

Princess Yi Yang offered a slight smile and nodded to Duke Ding, Song Shixuan. Song Shixuan turned and waved his hand, causing the imperial guards, the private soldiers of Duke Ding's residence, and the capital's troops to surround the princess's mansion before they split into groups and entered each room.

Princess Yi Yang then invited Duke Ding Song Shixuan, Inspector Zhou Danxin of the Jingzhao Prefecture, and Li Kangliang to the flower hall to sit down, also ordering servants to serve tea.

As the five sat, Yuan Jun spoke to Song Shixuan with a pleasant expression, "Today's visit was rather sudden, and I didn't have the chance to inquire about your well-being, Duke. Are you in good health? And how is your respected mother?"

Song Shixuan hurriedly replied, "I dare not accept such concern from the Crown Prince. I am in good health, as is my wife. If I had known of Your Highness's visit, I should have come earlier to pay my respects."

Yuan Jun chuckled and said, "We're all one family, so there's no need for formalities." He then asked Song Xiang about his studies in a gentle tone. Princess Yi Yang occasionally chimed in, creating an atmosphere of warmth and intimacy. Inspector Zhou Danxin, known for his social skills, added comments now and then, making Li Kangliang feel rather awkward by comparison.

He merely sneered inwardly, wondering how long their triumph could last. All the while, he kept a watchful eye on the changing colors of the sky outside.

The search continued until dawn was breaking.

Just as the sky began to turn a pale shade of white, a plume of black smoke suddenly rose from a section of the princess's residence.

Li Kangliang shot to his feet, barely containing his glee, his face twisting into a grotesque expression of delight. "Surely, the culprit, realizing the situation is dire, attempts to set fire and escape! Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Princess! I shall investigate immediately!"

Princess Yi Yang exchanged a glance with Yuan Jun and rose with a smile. "Then this palace and the Crown Prince shall accompany you."

Li Kangliang hurriedly smiled and said, "Why should Princess Yi Yang put yourself in harm's way?"

Princess Yi Yang gave him a quizzical smile. "I might not witness such an event twice in my lifetime. How could I miss it? With so many guards protecting me, General Li surely doesn't think that this ruthless bandit would dare to barge in and harm me amidst all these imperial soldiers, do you?" She emphasized the word "bandit" with emphasis and looked at Li Kangliang with a mocking smile.

Li Kangliang had an illusion that the term 'ruthless' was directed at him personally.

Let them come, he thought fiercely. He eagerly awaited the sight of these haughty nobles, panic-stricken and terrified, being surrounded by his imperial guards, confined, investigated by the Ministry of Justice, and ultimately deposed...

A smug yet concealed smile crept into his eyes, and he bowed to gesture for them to proceed before striding out with purposeful steps.

Sure enough, his trusted aide-de-camp rushed over to report, "General, we've spotted the villains setting fire to the storeroom in the backyard. We have the area heavily guarded, and all that's left is to search each building systematically!"

Li Kangliang's face was contorted with urgency. "Search now! Dawn is almost upon us! If the culprit escapes and harms any esteemed personage, how will we atone for our failure? Lead the way quickly, I must oversee this personally! Remember! Under no circumstances are you to damage the princess's valuables! Should a single item be harmed, you will be held accountable!"

Princess Yi Yang and Yuan Jun followed slowly behind, watching Li Kangliang's lively performance, which was so amusing that they couldn't help but smile. As the sky began to brighten, Princess Yi Yang had comfortable seats brought over, and she sat comfortably in the center. While exchanging jokes with Yuan Jun, they observed the imperial guards entering and exiting the warehouse, rummaging through its contents.

Only Duke Song wore an air of profound concern, casting frequent glances at Yuan Jun and the princess.

Princess Yi Yang wore a relaxed expression, merely observing their comings and goings with a cold gaze. Soon, a deputy general approached Li Kangliang and whispered something into his ear. Li Kangliang's face darkened, and the air of arrogance and triumph around him cooled slightly. With long strides, he entered the warehouse himself.

Of course, they found nothing.

The heavily sealed trunk that had been marked was already open, its contents thoroughly searched, but to no avail. Undeterred, they continued to pry open the surrounding trunks. At this point, the household retainers of Duke Ding's estate noticed something amiss and angrily interjected, "It's impossible for someone to be hiding in this trunk! General Li! This is part of the princess's dowry. Can't you tell the difference between what's important and what's not? If you damage any of the imperial gifts, will you be able to shoulder the consequences?"

Li Kangliang's face turned ashen, his ears ringing with the din of his own frustration. He stubbornly paced around the warehouse, observing its meticulous order. The heavy black sandalwood shelves were laden with countless treasures, all of them rare and precious commodities. It was evident at a glance that there was no way a living person could be concealed among them.

This warehouse primarily stored textiles, garments, screens, and other delicate items. Every stack and every trunk had been opened and searched, leaving no possibility that a living soul could still be hidden within.

With his vision fading and despair gripping his heart, he reluctantly accepted the grim reality that his mission was likely doomed to fail.

Li Kangliang, his complexion pale from his fruitless endeavor, led the imperial guards away. As they bid farewell to the Crown Prince and Princess Yi Yang, the princess coldly remarked, "General Li, I shall report this matter to the Ancestral House Bureau. The blame for your inadequate pursuit and the offense to our royal family, you shall bear it well."

Silent and dejected, Li Kangliang bowed a few times before departing, resembling a dog that had lost its home.

After seeing off the Metropolitan Procurator, Princess Yi Yang turned to Prince Song Xiang, who was visibly worried. "Crown Prince, Princess, it seems this search was not for the purpose of capturing someone but rather to find something."

Princess Yi Yang sneered. "Thank you for your concern. Rest assured, I have already taken care of it." She then smiled at Duke Song and said, "I have kept Your Grace up all night. Please, return to your residence and get some rest."

Duke Song glanced at Yuan Jun and said solemnly, "Princess, the audacity to engage in such a confrontational act suggests that there might be changes within the palace. That imperial decree allowing the search of your residence must be genuine."

If it's genuine, it implies the Emperor's support. Princess Yi Yang and Yuan Jun fell silent. Duke Song whispered, "The relocation of the palace was too sudden. Tonight's events were not directed at the princess nor my residence, but rather at the Crown Prince. Please take care, Your Highness."

Yuan Jun bowed his hands in gratitude. "Thank you for your concern, Duke. I am aware of the situation."

Duke Song shook his head. "When one's intentions are revealed, they become fearless. If their plan failed tonight, they must have backup measures and support. Be cautious, Crown Prince and Princess." In this palace, no one would easily turn against each other unless they were absolutely certain. The fact that they dared to search the princess's residence at night showed that all pretenses of affection had been cast aside. The Second Prince has grown powerful!

He took Song Xiang with him, bowed, and bid farewell. Before leaving, Song Xiang turned to look at Princess Yi Yang, his eyes filled with concern.