"Furthermore, after Lord Fang disappeared, if it was a vendetta, his body should have been found. If it was for money, someone would have sent a letter demanding ransom. But now, Lord Fang has been gone for many days without any news. I suspect someone has hidden him."
"But why would Your Highness hide him? He..." Zhou Quan was speechless. "By the way, Your Highness, could it be that the old Prime Minister discovered some secret?"
Xiao Jingyun nodded. "Yes, you immediately go find Fang Jun and ask him what Lord Fang has been doing lately. Has he offended anyone?"
Zhou Quan bowed and left. Fang Jun had already returned to Fang Zheng's residence. After all, it was his grandfather who was missing, so it was normal for his grandson to stay at the mansion and search everywhere. Moreover, Fang Zheng's two sons were already gone, leaving only this grandson. Even for the sake of the old Prime Minister's lifelong service to the nation, no one would have any objections.
Upon hearing that Zhou Quan had arrived, Fang Jun was very excited. Together with the little maid, they hurried to the main entrance.
"Greetings, Uncle Zhou." Before Fang Jun could finish his sentence, he was choked with emotion, and the little maid's eyes welled up with tears.
Seeing this, Zhou Quan gently patted Fang Jun's shoulder and said in a deep voice, "Alright, stop crying. I believe your grandfather will be back soon." This remark rekindled hope in Fang Jun, who nodded vigorously.
He ushered Zhou Quan into the reception hall. The little maid personally served a cup of tea and then stood behind her brother. Fang Jun had calmed down by then. "Uncle Zhou, what brings you here today?"
Zhou Quan looked at Fang Jun and secretly praised him. Although Fang Jun had lost control of his emotions when they first met, he was now composed. It seemed that Lord Fang had spent a lot of effort on his grandson.
Oh dear, Zhou Quan caught himself drifting. He quickly refocused. "It's like this, Your Highness specifically asked about your grandfather's disappearance today. His Highness feels there's something strange about it. Why has he been gone for so many days without being seen or his body found, and no one has come to demand ransom? This doesn't seem like a vendetta, nor does it seem like a kidnapping."
"Then, then what do you think it is?" the little maid asked impatiently.
"His Highness believes that the old Prime Minister has been hidden away or abducted. It's likely he discovered some secret, and someone doesn't want him to reveal it. Therefore, I've come to ask you two if you know about the old Prime Minister's recent activities."
Hearing this, the little maid shook her head and looked at her brother. "I've been with the Princess outside and haven't been back long. I haven't heard that grandfather knows any secrets."
Fang Jun pondered for a long time, his head down. "If there are any secrets, it can only be about the former Minister of Finance, Feng Pengju."
"Feng Pengju was exiled to the border by the Emperor, who believed he was involved in Gao Shuang's rebellion. But recently, my grandfather found Gao Shuang's steward, Gao Xing."
"According to Gao Xing, Gao Shuang never had any private contact with Feng Pengju. The so-called liaising with Feng Pengju and embezzling official funds were all confessions extracted under duress from Gao Shuang."
"Gao Xing was also supposed to be executed, but the night before his execution, someone secretly took him out and told him to leave the capital immediately and never return."
Upon hearing this account, Zhou Quan shot to his feet. "Where is Gao Xing? Quickly, take me to him!"
Fang Jun shook his head. "My grandfather trusts no one. Even I don't know Gao Xing's whereabouts. My grandfather also said that when he orders a thorough investigation into Feng Pengju's case, he will have Gao Xing come out to testify."
Hearing this, Zhou Quan became troubled. To clear Feng Pengju's name, they had to find Gao Xing. But from Fang Jun's words, it was clear that only Fang Zheng knew Gao Xing's whereabouts, and now Fang Zheng was missing. In other words, perhaps Feng Pengju's enemies, not wanting Feng Pengju to be exonerated, had abducted Fang Zheng. Therefore, finding Feng Pengju's enemies was crucial.
Zhou Quan left Fang Zheng's mansion and went straight to the inn to find Feng Xiaoyue. Feng Xiaoyue seemed a little better today, and her spirits had improved slightly. Seeing Zhou Quan arrive, Feng Xiaoyue tried to struggle to sit up and pay her respects, but Zhou Quan quickly waved his hand. "Young Lady Xiaoyue, please lie down, don't move."
Feng Xiaoyue opened her mouth and said with difficulty, "Brother Zhou, I apologize. I really can't get up." Chen Xiaobei, who was beside her, quickly brought a chair for Zhou Quan to sit down.
Zhou Quan was straightforward, without any pleasantries. "Young Lady Xiaoyue, there's something I'd like to ask you about. Did your father have any enemies when he was an official in court?"
Hearing this, Feng Xiaoyue looked at Zhou Quan with a confused expression. Zhou Quan quickly explained, "It's like this. Today, His Highness the Crown Prince suspects that your father's enemies have abducted Lord Fang, intending to prevent him from seeking justice for your father and clearing his name."
"I also asked Fang Jun. The old Prime Minister found Gao Xing, Gao Shuang's former steward, who was secretly sent out of the capital the night before his execution. Unfortunately, only the old Prime Minister knows Gao Xing's whereabouts. If we can't find the old Prime Minister, it will be difficult for us to know Gao Xing's whereabouts. Without Gao Xing, it's naturally impossible to clear your father's name."
After hearing Zhou Quan's account, Feng Xiaoyue frowned and thought for a long time. Finally, she shook her head. "Brother Zhou, my father has always been kind to others and had good relationships in court. I really can't think of anyone he might have offended."
Chen Xiaobei chimed in, "Yes, Lord Feng was demoted to the border four or five years ago. After so long, are there any grudges that cannot be resolved? Besides, the old Prime Minister went to great lengths to find Gao Xing. If it were truly the work of Lord Feng's enemies, wouldn't they have just killed Gao Xing? Why go to such unnecessary trouble?"
Hearing Chen Xiaobei's words, Zhou Quan fell into thought. He had to admit there was some logic to it. If it were truly the work of enemies, then when Fang Zheng found any clues, he could have simply suppressed those clues, and it would have been a clean slate. There would have been no need to go to such lengths to abduct Fang Zheng. But if that wasn't the case, then why had Fang Zheng vanished without a trace?
Zhou Quan returned to the Crown Prince's mansion and recounted the situation to Xiao Jingyun. Xiao Jingyun also frowned, carefully considering Chen Xiaobei's points. But if Chen Xiaobei's reasoning held merit, then his own deduction might be overturned. The question then arose: where had Fang Zheng gone?
Just as troubled as Xiao Jingyun was Feng Xiaoyue. Her mood had finally improved a little over the past couple of days, and her condition seemed to be getting better. But after Zhou Quan's visit, Feng Xiaoyue became dispirited again.