Chapter 264 Three Winters

Looking at the young man slumped on the table, Prince Xiu and Kong Rui exchanged glances, shaking their heads with a smile. "I didn't expect Xin You's alcohol tolerance is so low."

Kong Rui stood up. "Thank you for your hospitality today, Your Highness. It's getting late, so I won't disturb you further. I'll take my cousin, Xin You, home."

Cousin Xin You—

Hearing Kong Rui's address for Xin You, Prince Xiu's eyes flickered slightly, and he smiled. "Since Xin You is my guest, it's only right for someone from the mansion to escort her back. I wouldn't want to trouble you, cousin."

"It's no trouble at all. I was heading back anyway, so it's on my way," Kong Rui insisted.

"Then I'll leave it to you, cousin."

After personally seeing them off outside the second gate and watching Xin You and Kong Rui board the same carriage, Prince Xiu turned and walked back.

"Mr. Zhang, what do you think?"

The sky had just begun to darken, and Prince Xiu's mansion was brightly lit.

Walking beside Prince Xiu was Mr. Zhang, a trusted advisor of the mansion who had accompanied them during the evening banquet.

Upon hearing Prince Xiu's question, Mr. Zhang thought for a moment before responding. "Xin You doesn't seem to have any ill feelings toward Your Highness, but we'll need to observe further. As for Marquis Jing'an, it seems he has some reservations about Your Highness, as if he's worried you might harm Xin You."

Prince Xiu smiled. "It's natural for him to have such concerns. Since childhood, I've heard about the deep bond between my aunt and the late Empress. My aunt loves her dearly, and Kong Rui naturally feels the same."

In the dim light, Mr. Zhang looked at Prince Xiu's handsome face and advised, "Your Highness, don't take it to heart, and don't let it show any displeasure toward Xin You."

"I know," Prince Xiu said with a slight smile. "I can't get close enough to Xin You; why would I be displeased?"

Mr. Zhang gave Prince Xiu a deep look, finding this prince he had known for years somewhat inscrutable.

In the carriage bearing the lanterns of Prince Xiu's mansion, Xin You leaned against Kong Rui, appearing quite drunk.

Kong Rui remained quiet until the carriage stopped at the gate of the imperial-granted residence. "Cousin, we're here."

Xin You's eyelashes fluttered as if struggling to open her eyes.

"Cousin—"

Just as Kong Rui was about to help her down, Xin You opened her eyes. "Where is this?"

"We're in the carriage. We're home now. Let me help you down."

Kong Rui helped Xin You out of the carriage and insisted on escorting her into the courtyard. Before leaving, he sternly advised, "Cousin, your alcohol tolerance is low. You should drink less in the future."

"Oh," Xin You nodded vaguely.

Seeing that she was still not fully conscious, Kong Rui knew further words would be useless. After giving instructions to the servants, he finally left.

Xin You entered the room, lay down on the bed, and closed her eyes.

She would have to break her appointment with Lord He today.

She wasn't actually drunk, but with no trusted people in the residence, sneaking out would be too risky.

Fortunately, Lord He's side must have someone watching here, and they would understand why she didn't show up.

He Qingxiao not only quickly received the news of Xin You getting drunk at Prince Xiu's mansion but also reported it to Emperor Xingyuan the next day when asked.

Emperor Xingyuan slightly furrowed his brows.

Drinking is one thing, but how did he get drunk?

"I understand, you may go now."

"Your humble servant will take his leave now."

As He Qingxiao left the palace, a plainclothes subordinate approached and reported, "My lord, Xin You has gone to Chicken Feather Street."

It was the tenth day of the sixth month, a day off for government officials.

He Qingxiao gave a slight nod to show he understood, and the subordinate quietly slipped away.

Chicken Feather Street, located quite a distance from the imperial city, was a melting pot of all sorts of people. Xin You moved with ease through the bustling, lively streets, stopping here and there, until she noticed someone deliberately approaching her.

She turned her head to see.

A man in a bamboo hat and green robes stood just a step away from her.

Xin You recognized him immediately: "Lord He."

"Let's talk over there," he suggested.

It was a small, unassuming shop selling incense, candles, cinnabar, and other items, tended by an elderly woman.

He Qingxiao entered the shop and took off his hat, instantly brightening the dim and quiet little store.

As they sat down in the inner room, Xin You smiled and said, "No wonder Lord He wears a hat when coming to such places."

From childhood, He Qingxiao had heard countless compliments about his appearance, to which he had long been indifferent. Yet, hearing Xin You's teasing now inexplicably made his face warm.

With only a bowl of coarse tea in front of him, he took a sip, his expression returning to normal: "Has Xin You been adapting well these past two days?"

Xin You tugged at her sleeve and smiled: "Very well."

This was, after all, the attire she was accustomed to.

He Qingxiao couldn't help but take a closer look at Xin You.

He always worried that her disguise as a man might reveal her true identity, prompting him to repeatedly check.

Fortunately, her behavior and mannerisms were flawless, and there were plenty of slender, delicate-looking youths of fifteen or sixteen without prominent Adam's apples or beards.

Feeling somewhat reassured, He Qingxiao turned to the matter at hand: "After these days of investigation, we've found three officials in the capital with the childhood name Dong Sheng."

"Three?" Although she had anticipated some progress from He Qingxiao's note, this development was still somewhat unexpected.

He Qingxiao's next words surprised her even more: "Of these three, you've met two."

"Lord He, please continue."

He Qingxiao paused.

"Lord He?" Xin You was puzzled.

He Qingxiao took another sip of tea, this time hastily, and began to cough.

Xin You silently handed him a handkerchief.

He Qingxiao hesitated for a moment, meeting those clear black-and-white eyes, and found himself taking the handkerchief.

"Apologies," he said, wiping the corner of his mouth. It felt improper to return the soiled handkerchief, so he calmly tucked it into his sleeve.

Xin You was entirely focused on the identity of "Dong Sheng": "Lord He, who are those two people I met?"

"One is Inspector He."

"Inspector He?" Xin You was startled.

Inspector He was renowned for his integrity. Although he had spent many days with He Qingxiao during a trip to Dingbei, he had always maintained a distance.

When He Qingxiao mentioned Inspector He, his expression grew slightly odd: "Lately, Inspector He has been visiting Qingsong Bookstore often."

"What does Inspector He do at the bookstore?"

"He reads books—" He Qingxiao thought of his subordinate's report, his expression becoming even more troubled. "After leaving the office, Inspector He goes to Qingsong Bookstore to read travelogues for a while."

Hearing this, Xin You gave He Qingxiao a penetrating look and asked seriously, "Lord He, what do you think Inspector He's intentions are?"

He Qingxiao: "..." He had expected this.

He often went to Qingsong Bookstore to read travelogues because he enjoyed such books, but buying every one would empty his wallet. As for Inspector He—oh, Inspector He was also poor.

Realizing this, He Qingxiao paused, firmly believing that Inspector He was different from him: "Inspector He didn't seem to have a habit of reading travelogues before. This sudden change must have a reason. If we keep an eye on him, we might uncover the reason."

Xin You nodded: "Later, I'll switch back to my identity as Miss Kou and visit Qingsong Bookstore to ask Hu Boss and the others. Who is the other person?"

"The other is a colleague of yours, the painting official."

The painting official?

From the strange scenes she had seen, Xin You had already suspected that the painting official had disguised himself. Now, hearing this, her heart raced.