Chapter 203 3 clues
As Zhuang Shao expected, the people who went to the Supervisory Office to investigate the news returned before noon.
Xiao Xiangshuo and Gao Ji were jointly responsible for this matter.
As soon as his soldiers came to report, Xiao Xiangshuo couldn't wait to pass on the news.
"Your Majesty, there is news about the princess!"
Yan Yu, Yun Boyu and Zhuang Shao smiled in surprise at the same time.
Yan Yu waved her sleeves and supported him lightly, while Xiao Xiangshuo stood up according to the etiquette and continued to report.
"My men were near the jewelry store, asking passersby. Some of them saw it with their own eyes. They said that the princess got on a carriage and went to the northern suburbs. One of them also said that he lived in the northern suburbs and happened to see the princess' carriage parked near Yitian in the northern suburbs."
Yan Yu smiled happily and gave an order.
"Great."
"You are to lead your troops and go to Yitian in the northern suburbs to find her immediately."
Xiao Xiangshuo responded proudly.
"Yes."
Gao Ji then came in, jogging all the way and called out to him.
"Master Xiao, wait a minute!"
When he arrived in front of Yan Yu, he bowed and spoke in a serious tone.
"Your Majesty, the princess has other news."
After looking at Zhuang Shao for a while, Yan Yu asked in confusion.
"What's the news?"
Gao Ji took a shallow breath, adjusted his breathing, and replied seriously.
"A team of my men found a trail of apricot blossoms that led directly to the southern suburbs."
"The mark is special. I boldly guess that it might be the clue left by the princess."
Yan Yu's starry eyes were startled, her brows furrowed in distress.
"One is in the northern suburbs, the other is in the southern suburbs, in completely opposite directions?"
Gao Ji nodded in response, his tone also filled with worry.
"Yes, besides this, there is another piece of news."
Yan Yu's brows suddenly frowned with surprise.
"besides?!"
Gao Ji continued to report.
"I sent people to search along the jewelry store in four directions. Along the way, they found the princess's handkerchiefs, sachets and other personal belongings. Finally, the clue was found at Qitan in the eastern suburbs."
Yan Yu lowered her eyes slightly and fell into deep thought.
"Dongjiao Qitan..."
Yun Boyu was completely confused.
"How come there are so many clues?"
After asking, Yan Yu already had a guess.
"Perhaps this is a trick arranged by my brother to create multiple false impressions and confuse the real clues."
Zhuang Shao agreed.
"What the prince said is absolutely true."
Yan Yu quickly made a decision and gave orders.
"If we delay, I'm afraid it will endanger my little sister's life. Anyway, the soldiers and guards stationed in and outside Shengjing by the Supervisory Office add up to 60,000 people, enough for three places to send a team to each place."
"How to arrange the number of people for each team will be in the charge of Mr. Xiao Aiqing."
Xiao Xiangshuo responded respectfully.
"Yes."
Zhuang Shao stopped him immediately.
"Your Majesty, please don't be impulsive."
As he spoke, he began to analyze the pros and cons.
"The troops stationed in Shengjing by the Supervisory Office are mainly responsible for protecting the safety of Prince Dijin's palace. How can they be easily transferred away?"
"In my humble opinion, in addition to the place pointed out by Xi'er's clues, there must be ambushes in the other two places. Sir Xiao rushed straight there, fearing that danger would arise. The situation is precarious. You must not rashly walk into the emperor's trap."
"On the contrary, the clues Xi'er left behind must have cleared the way for future troubles, just like the trip to Cisha Mountain. I humbly believe that Xi'er must want us to follow her clues and act accordingly."
Yan Yu reacted belatedly and sighed with self-blame.
"I really cannot bear to see Xiao Aiqing and the others fall into danger. I was reckless."
After saying that, he felt distressed again, so he asked.
"In your opinion, Lord Fang, which of these three clues is true?"
Zhuang Shao was also powerless to solve this problem.
"Please allow me to think carefully."
He blurted out the thought process.
"The emperor can easily arrange it by letting the people spread the news. I think it's not true. The apricot blossom mark is too rough and will be messed up when the wind blows. Xi'er will never choose such a clue."
"Therefore, I speculate that the place where Xi'er is trapped must be the Qi Beach in the eastern suburbs!"
Yan Yu immediately agreed.
"That makes sense. It is indeed difficult to fake something that you carry with you."
After praising, he immediately gave instructions.
"In this case, please ask Lord Xiao to go to the Qi Beach in the eastern suburbs as soon as possible to rescue my little sister."
Before Xiao Xiangshuo could respond, Zhuang Shao hurriedly stopped him.
"Lord Xiao is of great importance and cannot leave the capital at will. Why don't we replace him with a deputy chief inspector to lead the soldiers?"
As he spoke, his already weak momentum became even more cowardly.
"What if, by some chance, I make the wrong choice and cause Lord Xiao to never come back? Your Highness will lose a trusted confidant and the Supervisory Office will be left without a powerful leader? I am deeply afraid that I cannot bear this responsibility."
Yan Yu just felt puzzled and disapproving.
"Lord Fang, you are too modest. How could you have made the wrong choice?"
Zhuang Shao was so nervous that he was speechless for a moment.
"This... Your humble servant..."
Noticing his pleading look, Yun Boyu spoke out his advice in time and helped him solve his dilemma.
"Since Zhixuan is worried, there must be some hidden meaning behind it. May I ask Your Majesty for your approval?"
Yan Yu nodded in sudden realization.
It turns out there is a deeper meaning.
I remember that Aunt Fang’s plan was also so obscure and profound.
After thinking about it, he immediately agreed.
"OK then."
"Lord Xiao, go and select a chief inspector to rescue them immediately."
Xiao Xiangshuo responded and left.
"The minister obeys the order."
This went on until late at night, but they still didn't come back.
In a state of anxiety, he only heard Xiao Xiangshuo coming to report.
"Your Highness, the spies have sent news that Lord Tang has not returned, and his soldiers have disappeared without a trace, leaving no trace along the way!"
Zhuang Shao was horrified.
Yun Boyu was worried.
The medical book in Yan Yu's hand fell to the ground in shock. He couldn't read a single word to begin with, and now, he was even more worried.
"what?"
"impossible."
"How could Lord Fang make the wrong choice?"
Zhuang Shao subconsciously avoided sight, feeling very uncomfortable.
Yun Boyu hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
"Your Highness may not have heard the rumors from the early years. I have heard them several times while living among the common people. They all said that among the Fang clan, Zhixuan was the most dull."
"Look, Shu'er's plan to replace the pillars with the beams has failed. It shows that the facts are indeed as the rumors say."
"I would like to speculate that it may be because he left the mansion early and lacked education."
Yan Yu's eyes were deep and filled with suspicion.
"A descendant of the Fang clan, no matter how slow he is, he can't be much different from me, right?"
"He can't be..."
Zhuang Shao's hair stood on end.
Yun Boyu was feeling uneasy and interrupted him without caring about etiquette.
"Why belittle yourself?"
"Your Majesty is wise and good at planning. There is no one who can compare with Your Majesty before or after."
"You are all so modest that I feel ashamed. I humbly believe that being able to guess the emperor's intentions and guess the clues can be considered as resourceful."
Yan Yu was puzzled and began to doubt himself.
"is it?"
"I... am not considered resourceful, am I?"
Yun Boyu's eyes were firm and resolute.
"Your Majesty definitely counts!"
"Xi'er's talent is renowned throughout the world. Even she says that she is ashamed of herself compared to the prince."
Before Yan Yu could think about it, a notification came from outside.
Gao Ji came hurriedly.
"My Lord, there is news about the princess again!"