Chapter 130 He Has Such Good Taste

Chapter 130: He Has Excellent Taste

"Like?" A Chan blinked slowly, a rare sense of confusion clouding her.

Of course, she understood worldly affections. She even knew what demeanor could make human men bend to her will. Some said that those who treated her so well must be fond of her.

But A Chan had never liked anyone, and she had no idea what that feeling was truly like.

Back then, she had only wondered why human affection seemed so easily given.

"How can I be sure I like him?" Faced with the unknown, A Chan was always eager to learn.

Chen Hui pondered for a moment. Though her life experiences were quite rich, she wasn't particularly seasoned in matters of the heart. Thus, the help she could offer A Chan was only the most rudimentary.

"When you like someone, you unconsciously favor them."

"He's so useful, of course I'd favor him," A Chan stated with righteous conviction. She had even once considered enshrining him in her home.

"And when you see him, joy will well up in your heart."

A Chan thought seriously. "But I don't seem that joyful. Every time he comes, he just brings me trouble."

Before Chen Hui could respond, A Chan quickly overturned her previous statement. "Well, maybe just a little bit."

Seeing Chen Hui's silent gaze, A Chan gestured slightly. "A little more than that."

After saying this, A Chan felt this method of judgment wasn't very reliable and tried to argue, "But isn't that normal? I think he also seems happy every time he sees me."

"That only proves he likes you too," Chen Hui pointed out bluntly.

This required no special evidence; it was plain for anyone with eyes to see.

Chen Hui recalled that Bai Xiuming's attitude toward A Chan had become noticeably different after their trip to Xiling.

A Chan wasn't shocked in the least by Chen Hui's words. Instead, her face lit up with delight. "So he likes me too? His taste is truly excellent."

In that case, she would reluctantly like him back.

A Chan unilaterally decided that they were now in a mutually affectionate relationship.

Chen Hui fell silent, feeling that her worries about A Chan's romantic life were superfluous. She might as well worry more about A Chan's picky eating habits.

When Bai Xiuming returned from Changping Ward, lanterns had already been lit at the Bright Mirror Bureau.

He walked from outside the yamen, his boots crunching on the snow. The guards at the gate respectfully saluted him, and he casually asked, "Has Feng Yang returned?"

"Commander Feng returned with his men just fifteen minutes ago."

Bai Xiuming nodded slightly and stepped into the yamen.

At that moment, Feng Yang was scowling, pointing at a group of subordinates. "No matter what methods you use, you must extract every detail of that so-called 'Master Yu's' recent movements—where she's been, who she's met, and where she might go. I want everything clear."

"Understood!" Several captains responded in unison.

Just then, the door opened. Feng Yang looked up, ready to scold, but seeing it was Bai Xiuming, his heart sank. He quickly stepped forward. "My Lord, I have already inspected the entire Ghost Opera Troupe. Everyone except Yu An has been questioned, and nothing unusual was found on them."

"Where is Yu An?" Bai Xiuming asked.

Feng Yang bowed his head deeply. "This subordinate is incompetent. Yu An left her residence after the curfew was lifted and has been unaccounted for since."

But he quickly added, "I have brought back everyone in the Ghost Opera Troupe who was acquainted with Yu An. They have known her for years and will surely provide some useful clues."

"Well done."

Feng Yang had expected to be reprimanded for his failure but instead received praise.

He glanced up at Bai Xiuming, sensing that his superior seemed to be in a good mood today. The tension in his heart finally eased.

Then Bai Xiuming continued, "Have the confessions ready by tonight. I need to enter the palace tomorrow morning."

"So urgent?" Feng Yang blurted out before hesitating. "But without capturing anyone, how will you explain to His Majesty?"

"Just report the truth." After a pause, Bai Xiuming added, "I want to know Yu An's life trajectory over the years. Question them thoroughly."

"Yes, I will personally handle it."

Since Bai Xiuming wasn't in a hurry to find Yu An, Feng Yang's pressure lightened considerably.

That night, the Bright Mirror Bureau remained brightly lit. Two commanders were dispatched outside the city to search, while Jiang Kai and Feng Yang stayed in the prison, taking statements that were continuously delivered to Bai Xiuming's desk.

In the palace, the emperor had spent a rather unpleasant birthday banquet. However, that evening, after eating the longevity noodles personally prepared by the crown prince, his mood had improved somewhat.

Only in Prince Ying'an's residence did the family remain gathered in the main hall long after dinner, sitting in silence.

Bai Yue hadn't gone to the palace that day and only learned what had happened after her mother returned. Now, she sat beside her mother, not daring to speak a word.

After a long silence, Prince Ying'an finally spoke. "What are your thoughts on Xin'an?"

He looked first at the Princess, who still seemed unwell, propping her head up with one hand, her expression weary.

At the mention of Xin'an, the horrifying face flashed before her eyes, and she immediately felt a tightness in her chest, struggling to breathe.

The Crown Princess Consort stepped forward and fed her the prepared medicine, which helped her recover somewhat.

"That child shared years of affection with us after all..."

The Crown Princess Consort, who had been comforting the Princess, paused briefly, uncharacteristically interrupting. "Mother, that affection only existed because she impersonated the real Xin'an. Otherwise, she would never have had the right to appear before you."

In the past, the Princess would have scolded the Crown Princess Consort for such rudeness, but today, she offered no rebuttal.

She sighed. "Fine. It was my mistake for being so blind back then. I thought Xin'an had finally grown up, but it turned out to be an imposter."

Prince Ying'an immediately comforted the Princess. "It's not your fault. It was Xu Zecheng's wolfish ambition, using cunning means to deceive our entire family."

At this, the Crown Prince also added, "I am also at fault for failing to notice something was wrong with my sister."

As the family took turns admitting their mistakes, Bai Yue glanced at her mother, who remained silent and did not comfort her father as she usually would.

Prince Ying'an added, "What happened today was extremely ill-timed, disrupting His Majesty's birthday banquet. His Majesty is surely displeased. Once the case is resolved, His Majesty will likely want to see us again..."

He looked at the Princess and reminded her, "When that time comes, please do not act impulsively."

The Princess waved a hand. "My Lord worries too much. I know what is important and will not speak out of turn again."

"That's good then."

Then, the Crown Prince spoke up. "Father, who do you think did this?"

The Princess glared at her son. "Who else but—"

Her voice suddenly halted as she hesitated, looking at Prince Ying'an. "Could it be Xin'an returning for revenge?"

Prince Ying'an said gravely, "If Xin'an were still alive, why wouldn't she come to us privately instead of making a scene at the Emperor's Birthday Banquet?"

The Princess seemed to recall something and frowned. "That child had always been stubborn in her younger years. Thinking about it now, this might very well be her doing."

The Prince sighed. "If it truly is her, she must have been harboring resentment towards us all this time."

"But she shouldn't have pushed the princely estate into such a precarious position. What a karmic debt."

Although the Crown Prince also felt this reckless disregard for the bigger picture resembled his sister's style, he refrained from agreeing with his parents.

Bai Yue listened as her grandparents spoke, but she quietly disagreed with their words. Her aunt had been impersonated for over a decade—if she truly had returned for revenge, it was only right.

Her grandparents hadn't recognized their own daughter was a fake all these years, yet now they blamed their real daughter for not considering the princely estate.

If it were her, she doubted she'd have the ability of her aunt to lie low for over a decade, waiting for an opportunity for revenge.

Seeing Bai Yue eager to speak up, the Crown Princess Consort returned to her seat and shot her a sharp look.

Bai Yue immediately understood her mother's meaning and pursed her lips, not daring to say a word.

Afterward, the Prince and Princess exchanged many unfounded speculations until they finally ran out of things to say. The Crown Princess Consort then nudged the Crown Prince, who spoke up, "Father, Mother, it's getting late. You should retire early. This case has been handed over to the Bright Mirror Bureau, so we'll likely have answers soon."

Only then did the two finally rise, intending to rest.

After the Prince and Princess left, the Crown Princess Consort said to the Crown Prince, "You go back to your room first. I'll see Yue to her courtyard."

The Crown Prince's expression softened slightly when he looked at his daughter. "Very well. The snow makes the path slippery, so have the maids carry more lanterns and walk slowly."

"Understood. You be careful as well."

Bai Yue linked arms with the Crown Princess Consort, and the mother and daughter walked out of the main residence together.

On the way back to her small courtyard, Bai Yue sent the maids ahead, carrying a lantern herself to light the way.

The mother and daughter walked slowly. After a while, Bai Yue suddenly spoke, "Mother, what if one day I were also replaced?"

Such a sudden event had occurred, and just imagining herself in that situation filled her with fear.

The Crown Princess Consort grasped her daughter's somewhat cold hand, her voice firm. "That day will never come."

"Why not? But didn't it happen to Auntie?"

The idea that the aunt she had lived with for over a decade was an impostor still felt unreal to her.

She had heard that the imposter's entire face had fallen off, and the officials from the Bright Mirror Bureau had determined that she had replaced her real aunt's face.

"Because if you were ever replaced, Mother would know right away."

What kind of parent wouldn't even know their own child had been swapped?

The next morning, the court officials seemed to have collectively forgotten, avoiding any mention of the previous day's incident at the birthday banquet as if it had never happened. No one wanted to risk incurring the emperor's displeasure.

But many knew that the previous day, the entire Imperial Astronomical Bureau had been mobilized, entering and exiting the residences of various imperial relatives, and seemingly arresting a few individuals.

After the court session, the officials left in twos and threes. As Bai Xiuming stepped out of the grand hall, a young eunuch waiting outside stopped him.

The eunuch bowed respectfully. "Lord Bai, His Majesty awaits you in the Imperial Study."

The eunuch led Bai Xiuming to the Imperial Study, where the emperor had already changed into informal robes. Seeing Bai Xiuming enter, he asked, "What have you uncovered?"

"I have ascertained the cause and effect, and identified the mastermind. However, I have only traced her last known whereabouts and have yet to locate her."

Uninterested in the details, the emperor went straight to the point. "Who is the mastermind?"

"The real Princess Xin'an," Bai Xiuming replied. "She now goes by the name Yu An and earns her living as a stage performer. Recently, her troupe was invited by Prince Ying'an's household to perform in the capital."

"So, father and daughter had already met before this?" The emperor snorted. "Couldn't they have settled this privately? Did they have to cause a scene at my birthday banquet?"

"Continue. Why haven't even you found her?"

"I traced her last movements to outside the city and sent men to search for her, but she disappeared after leaving the city."

"Vanished? Did someone help her?"

Bai Xiuming shook his head. "Unlikely."

"Then how did she disappear?"

"I suspect she changed her appearance and assumed a new identity—became a completely different person."

"Changed her appearance?" The emperor's eyebrows shot up. "How?"

Bai Xiuming explained, "From the fake county princess, Han Xiaotong, I learned that only two pieces of *wei* snake skin were used for the face-swapping, both of which have been used up. After Yu An's face was removed, it could neither be restored nor replaced with another's."

"Later, I discovered that Yu An's adoptive father was skilled in crafting human skin masks. Many of the theatrical masks she used were his work, and Yu An was particularly renowned for her lifelike masks, so real they looked alive."

"I suspect that beneath such a mask, her true face may now resemble Han Xiaotong's current appearance. Yu An's original face might have merely been another mask, making it easy for her to assume a new identity."

The emperor nodded, seemingly convinced by Bai Xiuming's reasoning.

"If that's the case, why would she conceal her whereabouts? Is she afraid of my punishment?"

Though displeased by her actions, the emperor had no intention of harsh reprisals. Her evasion, however, only deepened his irritation.

"...This likely has nothing to do with Your Majesty."

Noticing Bai Xiuming's evasiveness, the emperor grew more intrigued. "Oh? Do you know the reason?"

"During my investigation into the Xu family, I uncovered a piece of news. The son born to the real Princess Xin'an and Xu Zecheng did not go missing; he is actually dead."

"What?" The emperor was startled. "Were they responsible for his death?"

Bai Xiuming inclined his head. "The child sensed something amiss with his mother and grew increasingly restless. Later, under the pretense of being too occupied with prayers for Princess Ying'an's health to care for him, the two arranged for his abduction, intending to send him away from the capital. Unfortunately, he broke his neck while attempting to escape the carriage."

The emperor slammed his hand on the desk. "Xu Zecheng is utterly despicable—to harm his own flesh and blood!"

Bai Xiuming lowered his head slightly, waiting for the emperor to calm before continuing. "I also learned that the child had previously gone to the princely residence to inform the prince of this but was dismissed and sent back, ultimately leading to his death."

"The Xu family servants relayed this to Yu An. I believe she harbors deep resentment toward Prince Ying'an's household and has no desire to reconcile with them."

After hearing this, the emperor felt a pang of sympathy for this niece he barely remembered.

After a long silence, the emperor finally said, "Enough. Though her actions were reckless, they were not without cause. Disrupting my birthday banquet is no grave crime. If she cannot be found, so be it."

Bai Xiuming's lips curved slightly. "Your Majesty is most merciful."

"Now that the case is resolved, Prince Ying'an's household should be informed of the truth." The emperor turned to the eunuch beside him. "Send someone to summon Prince Ying'an and his family to the palace."