Chapter 22: News on the Poison Master
In another world, the Crown Prince was surprised at what the shadow guard had just told him. "News of the poison master?"
He hadn't expected to get news this early. Normally if he had asked his people to go all out then it wouldn't be surprising to have news this early or even earlier, of course it would depend on the difficulty of the task. But because he was presently being watched all around, he had to be as subtle as possible.
"Yes, Master, we spotted him in a village close to the border..."
'Even up to the border?' Xiao Chen couldn't help but think.
"....he seemed to be looking for a young girl, and he kept asking the villagers. Master, it turns out he didn't have such appearance, he's a man in his 50s, he didn't have a scar." He explained that they had informed the crown prince's people at the border about the person their Master was looking for, and those at the border began their search, it was at the cause of them chatting at a restaurant with the poison master that they heard him declare who he was to them, when he was drunk.
At first they didn't believe him, but they still detained him.
"He was looking for a young girl?" Asked the Crown Prince.
"Yes whenever he asked he'd say she was about this tall, had big round eyes, our speculation she should be a young girl around 6 to 7 years of age. But we have no news on her identity, he kept silent about it."
"So young?...So where is he now?" The Crown Prince asked.
"....." The shadow guard was silent for a few seconds, putting a frown on his Master's face. He then hastily replied, "Crown Prince we were incompetent, he is indeed a Poison master, he was clearly drunk, and muddled, that he revealed his identity but, who would have thought he'd have poison on him that paralysed our men, and run away?"
The Crown Prince and Xiao Chen: "..."
What else were they expecting?
The Crown Prince let out a chuckle, it was really interesting. "So you lot lost track of him?"
The shadow guard broke into cold sweat. "Yes."
Zhang Zhengyang felt a bit irritated by the answer, just a bit more. At this moment he thought about his master. He hated him a bit more as well.
"You may take your leave." He said. But the shadow guard didn't leave.
"Anything else?"
The shadow guard didn't waste any time as he quickly responded, "It's about the figure that entered the tea house, that person was indeed there to meet the Fourth Prince. Only there was something strange about this person."
"Something strange?" Zhang Zhengyang asked.
"One would think that this person was a man if you saw them, but upon closer inspection, their stature and their hands, the fairness of the, including their way of walking, gave off a feminine feel, it didn't seem person used to rough life. These speculations have also been confirmed by the female shadow guards. It is either a woman or a protected young master. But we are not so sure."
Hearing all this, Zhang Zhengyang smiled. 'it turns out fourth brother knew more about disguises than I do.'
He waved his hand indicating for the guard to dismiss himself, to which the guard heeded to immediately. He bowed and left, only Xiao Chen and his Master were left.
"Master..."
"There's nothing we can do about the poison master case, let's just be patient. As for that person, let's just wait and see." Zhang Zhengyang responded. Zhao Xing, you'd better read those documents and give me results.
The next day, he returned from morning court in a good mood. Yesterday night, his ninth brother had people spread rumors about a few corrupt officials. And today as early as 3 in the morning, Documents related to some unsolved cases, as well as proof, appeared at the Magistrate's table. No one could trace where they came from.
But today's court session was really lively, when the matter was mentioned, the officials involved all had interesting expressions on their faces. They had never expected for such a thing to happen, for proof of their crimes to be brought out in the open so suddenly, and now once they start investigating he wasn't sure how many of them would be able to run away.
He was most interested about the crime concerning the hidden mines, and illegal exploitation.
'Humph, just take it as a thank you gift for the journey you guys made me take.' Of course among these corrupt officials were many of the Fourth Prince's supporters.
When he arrived his study, Zhao Xing was already waiting for him at the entrance. "Crown Prince." Zhao Xing greeted.
Zhao Xing had a guilty conscience, she forgot all about the documents from yesterday, she had so much fun with her friends, came back home to have another round of fun watching her favorite show with her family. That wasn't her fault. It was her mother that dragged her! Though she was actually happy about it.
They had more fun and talked until…the 'spirit' of this world came to carry her away. Right at the moment she was carrying the documents in her sore arms.
Seeing what she held in her arms he asked, "Did you read through it?"
Zhao Xing coughed, "that…I…"
It seemed like the Crown Prince had expected it or just didn't care because he didn't look mad. "Let's read it together then."
They both went inside.
"Read." The crown prince instructed, as he took his seat. Zhao Xing put the documents on the table, took one and began to read.
She took a random scroll and began reading, "Guo Qiucheng, a scholar, involved in …." As she read the name and occupation, some pictures appeared in her mind. She didn't mind it and continued. The crown prince watched her intently, making her nervous. She didn't finish and the Crown Prince asked her to stop and take another scroll.
Zhao Xing did as he instructed, she read it, and different pictures appeared in her mind again. The Crown Prince asked her a few more times, to drop this scroll, and pick another one.
"Eh?" Her sudden exclamation made the prince alert.
"Did you see anything?" He asked.
Zhao Xing looked at him puzzled. "Huh?"
The prince asked again, "You didn't see anything weird?"
Zhao Xing had no idea what he was talking about. So she thought it was because of her exclamation earlier, "Oh, I just thought this name looked funny, hehe…" She said with an embarrassed laugh.
The Prince expression was blank, and he said nothing. Zhao Xing, in attempt to atone for her misdeed put down the scroll in her hand down and took another one, she didn't dare not take it seriously this time.
She finished them after an hour or so, but whatever the Crown Prince was looking for he didn't find.
As for Zhao Xing whatever pictures she saw in her mind, of course she didn't think it was whatever the prince was looking for, she thought he wanted her to find something about the officials from the scrolls. But she looked and didn't find.
Seeing the prince's serious face she could tell he was dejected and felt even guiltier that she didn't go through it earlier, "Eh…Zhang Zhengyang, the time limit you've given me was too short, I didn't mean not to take it seriously, it's just…"
The Prince waved his hands making her stop talking. His master didn't tell him the tutor was going to have that ability, he just said they'd advise him on what to do. He looked at Zhao Xing and sighed inwardly, she could do neither.
"As much as I wish I could release you, but I don't have the ability to do so."
Huh? Release her? Like let her go back to her normal life. She thought of all the fun she had yesterday with her friends, she loved that normal life filled with the warmth of those who love and care about her.
"You can't have me released?"
The Prince shook his head, he really couldn't make use of her. The only dilemma that she had helped solve was his father's illness, which was later discovered to be poison instead.
She did help, but he wondered if she couldn't do what his master could, there was no point keeping her.
Zhao Xing on the other hand thought it was ok even if the Crown Prince couldn't let her go, as long as she helped him achieve his goal, she'd be automatically brought back.
"It's ok, I'll just help you achieve whatever it is that you want, and I'll probably be automatically sent back."
The Crown Prince didn't want to tell her that she might not be able to help much seeing her hopeful expression. 'It doesn't matter, she is a bit witty, and this could come in handy at one point or the other.'
He sighed, "We've got more news about the poison master, but he got away."
"Ha? How…why did you let him get away?"
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