After hearing his master's words, the Lotus Cult Leader dared not act presumptuously. He bowed and said, "I will obey your command, Master. Tomorrow morning, I will go find my disciple, Princess Zhaoning, and have her enter the palace to find out the truth."
"If this little Dezi has indeed disappeared, then we can indeed go to the Crown Prince's mansion, demand the corpse, and go to the Emperor to seek justice."
With the plan settled, no one felt like sleeping. They sat there waiting for dawn.
As the sky began to lighten, Bai Han rushed to see Crown Prince Xiao Jingyun.
Xiao Jingyun was very diligent. Ever since he started overseeing the state affairs, he would wake up at the fifth watch to read various memorials. Upon hearing that Bai Han had arrived, he thought his father had sent some important instructions and quickly put down the memorial he was reading, ordering his attendant to bring him in.
After Bai Han entered, he clasped his hands towards Xiao Jingyun and said, "Greetings, Your Highness, the Crown Prince."
Xiao Jingyun nodded. "Does my father have any important instructions?"
Bai Han bowed again, respectfully saying, "The Emperor has ordered me to relay a message to you. If no clues can be found regarding the Huang Ying incident, then bury her."
Xiao Jingyun frowned upon hearing this. "Chen Xiaobei is taking Huang Ying back. We must give an explanation."
"We cannot just let it remain unresolved..."
Bai Han glanced around and remained silent.
Xiao Jingyun understood his meaning and waved at Zhou Quan. Zhou Quan immediately led everyone away.
Seeing that they were alone, Bai Han spoke in a low voice, "Your Highness, rather than investigating fruitlessly, it is better to let it go.
"It would be better to humble yourself and go to their place to explain, saying that there are too few clues and no solid evidence can be found. If there is an opportunity to solve this cold case in the future, you will explain at Huang Ying's grave."
Xiao Jingyun was stunned by Bai Han's words.
"But some clues have already been found, and I am currently investigating them."
Bai Han sighed and spoke again, "Your Highness, the Emperor has said this much, you should understand his meaning. I suggest it is best to end it here.
"Although Huang Ying does not accept a state funeral, you can bestow generous gifts of wealth and property. Let Chen Xiaobei take them back as a form of honor for Huang Ying."
After hearing Bai Han's words, Xiao Jingyun seemed to understand something. He nodded slightly.
"I understand. After I make arrangements, when the sky is a little brighter, I will go to see Chen Xiaobei."
Bai Han bowed slightly and turned to leave. Xiao Jingyun, however, fell into deep thought.
Zhou Quan entered and saw Xiao Jingyun in this state. After waiting for a long time, he tentatively asked, "Your Highness, is there any difficult matter that you need me to..."
Xiao Jingyun looked at him and sighed faintly. "My father might have sensed something and sent Bai Han to tell me to close the case as soon as possible, and to reward Chen Xiaobei with more wealth and property."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Quan was first stunned, then bowed again and replied, "Your Highness, in my opinion, this is not a bad idea. Frankly speaking, even if it is true, what if it turns out to be little Dezi?"
"If the Emperor insists he was unaware and that this was little Dezi's private act, then Chen Xiaobei will have achieved nothing in the end."
Hearing Zhou Quan's words, Xiao Jingyun nodded and stood up.
"Yes, you are right. If my father denies it, then we have no real proof..."
"So, after a while, you can go to Chen Xiaobei on my behalf and sound him out."
With their plan made, they were waiting for Zhou Quan to leave after breakfast when someone rushed in.
"Reporting to His Highness the Crown Prince, the Princess requests an audience."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingyun couldn't help but smile. He said to the messenger, "Go and tell Jing Feng to dispense with such formalities when she comes to me. She can come straight in. Oh, and tell someone to prepare breakfast. I suspect she hasn't eaten yet."
Xiao Jingyun quickly got dressed and hurried to the reception hall.
When he arrived at the reception hall, he saw Princess Zhaoning already waiting. As soon as she saw her elder brother, she eagerly rushed forward.
"Brother, I have important news. Please help me."
Xiao Jingyun looked at Princess Zhaoning and raised his hand, signaling her to sit down.
Princess Zhaoning did not sit. Instead, she said urgently, "Brother, I have conclusive evidence. The perpetrator is the Emperor's personal eunuch, little Dezi."
Xiao Jingyun's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, but he had to feign a look of doubt. "Really? Have you found any evidence?"
"To be frank, Brother, my master compared those shoes in Wannian City yesterday. Someone later said that someone from the palace had bought them, and it was a eunuch."
"I thought about it carefully, and little Dezi, who is usually by the Emperor's side, hasn't been seen for a few days. So, I suspect it was little Dezi."
After listening to Princess Zhaoning's analysis, Xiao Jingyun secretly lamented his carelessness. He should not have let the Lotus Cult Leader take the shoes away yesterday. He hadn't expected them to unravel the truth step by step.
But now it was too late. They had already found a lead through the shoes.
What should he do next?
Xiao Jingyun suddenly felt a headache coming on. If it were just his sister, a straightforward girl, he might be able to fool her with an excuse.
But now that the Lotus Cult Leader also knew, it meant Chen Xiaobei would know too. It would not be so easy to get away with it.
Seeing Xiao Jingyun remain silent, Princess Zhaoning became impatient. "Brother, say something! What should we do?"
Several thoughts flashed through Xiao Jingyun's mind. His father wanted him to close the case quickly, which must mean he had heard some rumors. His sister and Chen Xiaobei would naturally have their own leads, and sooner or later, everyone would be pressuring him.
After much deliberation, Xiao Jingyun finally decided to adopt a strategy of delay.
He nodded and said to Princess Zhaoning, "Since you suspect little Dezi, when I go to pay my respects to the Emperor tomorrow morning, I will help you keep an eye out and see if little Dezi is still by Father's side."
Princess Zhaoning was a little stunned by Xiao Jingyun's reply. It was just after breakfast, and there was a whole day of work ahead. The Crown Prince had postponed her matter until tomorrow.
However, there seemed to be no flaw in the Crown Prince's reply. After all, it was too late to go to the palace to pay respects to the Emperor now. Even for the Crown Prince, it was not difficult to enter the palace other than for official greetings, but seeing the Emperor depended on his will.
So, Princess Zhaoning could understand that her elder brother indeed had difficulties.
Thinking of this, she clasped her hands. "Then I will trouble you, Brother. I will await your reply tomorrow."
Watching Princess Zhaoning leave, Xiao Jingyun let out a long sigh of relief. But soon, a cloud of worry returned to his brow.