Chapter 223: Matters of Border State (Part Six)

Chapter 223: Matters of Border State (Part Six)

Su RAO stayed behind, but she seemed to have no interest in the affairs of the Prefect of Border State or Huajian Fang. She spent her entire days shopping and buying things.

Two members of the Eagle Wings Army followed her, acting as her personal servants, carrying bags and even paying for everything, serving as reliable porters.

If it weren't for Su RAO reminding Xian Yi Chishao every day:

"Have you found any trace of Yun Ji yet? And her two guards? They were supposed to find us on their own, so why haven't they shown up yet? The efficiency of Prince Yi's operations seems rather low."

If not for these daily reminders, Xian Yi Chishao would have thought that Su RAO was simply here for sightseeing.

Yet, Xian Yi Chishao had a feeling that there must be a purpose behind Su RAO's constant shopping...

...

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

At the Prefecture Office of Border State.

The Prefect of Border State had been arrested, turning this place into Prince Yi's temporary residence in Border State.

Inside the study of the Prefecture Office.

"Your Highness, the matters have been mostly settled."

Mo Ying reported to Prince Yi about everything accomplished over the past three days.

The follow-up affairs regarding the Prefect of Border State and Huajian Fang had all been resolved. The new Prefect of Border State would be one of their people, soon to take office. However, the brutish man had still not been found; he seemed to have vanished into thin air.

After capturing the Prefect of Border State and Huajian Fang, a portrait of the escaping brutish man was drawn and posted on walls throughout Border State.

Wanted posters.

A reward of one hundred taels for the capture of the fugitive.

But after three days, there was still no progress.

Neither his identity nor his name could be traced.

As if such a person did not exist in Border State.

"Your Highness, it is my incompetence."

Mo Ying knelt on one knee to apologize.

Prince Yi began to ponder deeply about this matter, especially about the brutish man disguised by Su RAO.

To be untraceable by Mo Ying...

He suddenly realized...

That man's behavior when escaping was quite peculiar; he must be extremely cunning, despite his crude appearance.

Now thinking back, that appearance did not seem to match the person.

A flicker of light appeared in Rui Feng's eyes, which should have remained calm.

There was only one possibility...

Disguise and transformation.

"A person who can elude the investigation of my secret guards can only be one..."

Mo Ying suddenly looked up.

Freedom Pavilion...

"Your Highness, do you mean Young Master Xiao..."

"Leave a few men to continue searching. Inform everyone that it's time for me to return to the capital."

This statement carried a profound and indiscernible tone.

"Yes, I will relay the orders immediately."

Mo Ying nodded promptly.

Just as he was about to leave, he remembered another matter and spoke again:

"Oh, Your Highness, there's also the matter of Lady Ronghua."

Speaking of Su RAO, Mo Ying deliberately glanced at Prince Yi.

"Lady Ronghua has shown no unusual behavior. Apart from shopping and buying things, she hasn't done anything out of the ordinary. Her two guards have been looking for her for the past three days and have arrived in Border State."

For the past three days, those two members of the Eagle Wings Army seemed to be working as porters for Su RAO, but in reality, they were monitoring her movements secretly.

And Su CUI and Su CAN had long been under the surveillance of the Eagle Shadow Guards.

It was unclear whether they intentionally exposed themselves or if Mo Ying had already found them.

When Mo Ying mentioned what Su RAO had done over the past three days—nothing but shopping and buying things—there was no abnormal behavior, causing Xian Yi Chishao's eyebrows to twitch slightly. Could he have been overthinking it?

"Your Highness, do you really intend to bring Lady Ronghua to the Capital Region? Prince Jiyue is clearly avoiding Lady Ronghua.

If you send her there, it might lead to conflict with Prince Jiyue. If Empress Rong finds out, she might use this opportunity to cause trouble..."

"No..."

Siam Yi Chishao directly denied it, pondering deeply in his heart.

"Yun Lang Jiyue, the Prince, is not someone with a narrow-minded temperament."

Although Prince Yi had little interaction with Yun Jiyue, there were some people who did not need much understanding for you to know their character.

"Moreover, given Rong Yuer's hatred for Yun Langyu the Emperor, she would not collude with the Yun family to cause trouble. She is not someone so shallow-minded."

Otherwise, she wouldn't have turned around and married his royal brother after failing to get Yun Langyu, plotting for the throne for so many years before making her move now.

Why Empress Rong hated Emperor Yun Langyu—those matters were nothing more than the love and hate of the previous generation. Unable to obtain him, she turned that love into hatred.

Siam Yi Chishao was well aware of Empress Rong's past.

"As for Princess Ronghua..."

Speaking of Su Rao, Siam Yi Chishao's heart sank again. After three days of reflection, he realized how outrageous his behavior had been.

Perhaps from the moment he saw Su Rao again at Huajian Fang, his actions had already been outrageous, unknowingly getting closer and talking too much.

"She is the only daughter of the Su family and must not fall into Rong Yuer's hands, or Rong Yuer will certainly use her to incite war between the two countries."

With these words, Siam Yi Chishao picked up the ledger on the table.

He had gone to Yun Lang for months merely to deceive Rong Yuer, diverting her attention to him and away from this side. Now that he had obtained evidence against her, he would not let her threaten him any longer.

Opening the ledger, the pages...

revealed records of transactions between Empress Rong of Zhu Xian and Huajian Fang, facilitated through the Prefect of Border State.

The ledger also contained letters exchanged between them.

Their deeds...

First, selling official positions and titles to amass wealth, while placing their own people in various prefectures and counties, displacing the existing aristocratic families.

Second, conducting illegal trades and hiring assassins, repeatedly instructing the Prefect of Border State to find the madam and secretly kill officials who opposed her.

With so many such deeds, if the aristocratic families of Zhu Xian learned that Empress Rong was behind them, her situation would be dire...

Another half day passed, and Siam Yi Chishao and Mo Ying conversed in the study, while on the streets of Border State, the figure in bright red appeared once more, laden with goods.

"That place looks lively; let's go there again."

Today was the market day in Border State, and noon was the busiest time.

Su Rao waved her hand, beckoning the two members of the Eagle Wings Army to follow.

Her red dress fluttered in the wind as she pushed through the crowded streets towards the bustling market, her steps light and joyful.

However, when her gaze swept over the wanted posters plastered on houses, a thin smile curled her lips.

Go ahead and look!

As soon as Su Rao moved forward, the two members of the Eagle Wings Army followed closely behind, their hands full of the things she had bought, blocking most of their view.

Before they got close, Su Rao heard the cries of street performers.

Juggling balls, tightrope walking, and diabolo tricks—all impressive skills.

There were also plate spinning and vase juggling, showcasing remarkable talent.

Colorful flower beds painted with dragons and phoenixes, flying up and down, dancing gracefully, phoenixes singing and dragons playing with pearls.

Su Rao watched with great excitement, clapping and shouting:

"Bravo!"

There were also stone-breaking acts, dragon and lion dances, all lively and entertaining.

Su Rao enjoyed herself and called one of the Eagle Wings Army members to give them money as a tip.

"Miss Su, I think it's getting late. Why don't we head back?"

Though the two members of the Eagle Wings Army were physically resilient, they could not endure Su Rao's daily antics, which were more exhausting than training.

The other member added,

"Yes, Miss Su. The prince will return to the Capital Region after finishing his business here. The Emperor's birthday is approaching, and I'm sure Prince Jiyue has already gone to the Capital Region. Miss Su, didn't you want to see Prince Jiyue..."