Bai Han took a step back in fear and bowed, "Your Majesty's actions naturally have their reasons."
Xiao An nodded and looked at Bai Han, "It is not Liu Xiangnan whom I feel I have wronged."
"After so many years, Liu Xiangnan should have enjoyed enough wealth and honor."
"It is only Liu Rumai for whom my heart holds some guilt."
"To grant her marriage to Chen Xiaobei was indeed a bit unfair to her."
Hearing this, the Lotus Cult Leader and Shen Ziyan exchanged glances. Although they could not see each other's eyes in the darkness, they understood that the arranged marriage was not Chen Xiaobei's fault, but entirely the work of this damned emperor.
Bai Han replied again, "Your Majesty, you could give Liu Rumai more rewards to compensate her."
Xiao An nodded, "Yes, when she marries Chen Xiaobei, I will certainly reward her handsomely and let her marry with great fanfare."
As they were speaking, they heard someone call from outside, "Your Majesty, your bird's nest soup has arrived."
With that, Xiao Shunzi entered with a tray.
Xiao An looked at him, a complex look flashing in his eyes, and gave Bai Han a signal.
Bai Han stepped forward, took the tray, and placed it on the desk. He then gestured to Xiao Shunzi, who bowed and retreated outside the study.
After Xiao Shunzi left, Xiao An appeared lost in thought and shook his head.
Bai Han understood what was happening. He opened his mouth but finally said nothing, merely placing the bird's nest soup beside Xiao An. "Your Majesty, please drink the soup first."
Xiao An picked up the bowl and took a sip, then set it down again.
"Tomorrow, you will go to Jingyun's place and ask if there are any clues to the murder case. If nothing can be found, then bury the body. What kind of situation is it to keep a dead body in the Crown Prince's residence?"
Bai Han was clearly taken aback by the Emperor's words. He paused for a moment. "Your Majesty, why do you suddenly bring this up?"
Xiao An looked up at the doorway. "Seeing Xiao Shunzi reminds me of Xiao Dezi, who has served for over ten years."
"I had promised him that if anything happened to him, I would send his remains back to his hometown in Xishan."
"And now, I really cannot think of any way to get the body from Jingyun, so it has to be this way."
Outside, the Lotus Cult Leader and Shen Ziyan shivered almost simultaneously upon hearing this. The truth was too shocking; it turned out the Emperor had ordered the murder.
And because of this shiver, a tile under the Lotus Cult Leader's hand shifted slightly.
Bai Han, inside the room, his ears twitched, immediately detected the anomaly on the roof. He raised his hand and extinguished the oil lamp, then stepped forward and pulled Xiao An back.
Seeing the light in the Imperial Study suddenly go out, the Lotus Cult Leader immediately realized her noise had been detected. She pulled Shen Ziyan and they both turned to flee.
Bai Han, having settled Xiao An, rushed out of the room and leaped onto the roof. Seeing two dark figures fleeing into the distance, he raised his hand, and a signal arrow shot into the night sky.
"Assassins!"
With his shout, the surrounding golden-armored guards snapped back to attention and began shouting.
Then, some people also leaped onto the roof and followed Bai Han down.
Seeing the pursuers behind them, the Lotus Cult Leader sneered. She looked at Shen Ziyan and said, "Junior Sister, can you outrun them?"
"Of course. Them? Even with ten more legs, they couldn't catch me," Shen Ziyan replied with great confidence.
"Very well, let's split up and meet at the inn."
The Lotus Cult Leader finished speaking and leaped forward to the left.
Seeing this, Shen Ziyan's heart warmed. The left front led directly to the street outside the palace.
In essence, the Lotus Cult Leader was going to lure the pursuers away.
She could not let her Senior Sister's good intentions go to waste.
Shen Ziyan lowered her body, using the cover of the buildings behind her, and darted into the darkness to the side. She then rolled twice and hid behind the eaves of a house.
Soon, Bai Han and several other experts were in pursuit. Because the targets were not obvious, they did not notice Shen Ziyan hiding nearby and continued to chase after them.
Seeing the pursuers receding and the silence behind her, Shen Ziyan finally stood up, oriented herself, and hurried away.
At this time, Bai Han had led his men out of the palace. He saw the dark figures ahead moving at varying speeds, always maintaining a certain distance, but Bai Han could not catch up.
In a nearby alley, the dark figure turned and disappeared. Bai Han rushed over and looked at the empty street, then stomped his foot.
"Ah, I've been tricked. There were two dark figures at first, but only one was running ahead just now."
Bai Han smacked his head in frustration. He suddenly realized something was wrong. He had been talking to the Emperor about Xiao Dezi at a crucial point.
Thinking of this, Bai Han hurried back to the palace. When he returned to the Imperial Study, Xiao An was pacing nervously back and forth.
Seeing Bai Han return, Xiao An asked impatiently, "Were the assassins captured?"
Bai Han cupped his fist. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the opponent's martial arts are superb, and their Qinggong far surpasses mine. I am truly powerless."
Xiao An sighed to the heavens upon hearing this. "Alas, since they came here in the dead of night, I suspect they have already uncovered some clues and are here to probe my secrets."
"Your Majesty, please forgive my impertinence, but if I hadn't said so much, you wouldn't have mentioned Xiao Dezi."
Xiao An slowly sat down on the chair. "It is too late to cover this up. Tomorrow morning, you will go to Xiao Jingyun and say that Xiao Dezi has been missing for several days and ask him to help investigate discreetly."
He then said with a solemn expression, "Xiao Dezi, oh Xiao Dezi, at this point, I can only make you take the blame."
Bai Han naturally understood Xiao An's intention, which was that this was Xiao Dezi's doing, and had nothing to do with the Emperor.
At this time, the Lotus Cult Leader had returned to the inn.
When she arrived, Shen Ziyan was already there, reporting to the Nanhai Divine Nun.
Seeing the Lotus Cult Leader arrive, Shen Ziyan motioned to her emotionally and said, "Fortunately, Senior Sister lured away the pursuers, or I wouldn't have returned so easily."
The Nanhai Divine Nun looked at the Lotus Cult Leader and nodded approvingly. "Lotus, Ziyan has told me everything. You have worked hard."
The Lotus Cult Leader bowed. "Master, since you already know, we will go find that old emperor first thing tomorrow morning and ask him why he sent someone to harm our Junior Sister Huang Ying."
The Nanhai Divine Nun waved her hand. "Wouldn't that be telling the Emperor that you were the assassin tonight?"
Hearing this, the Lotus Cult Leader was momentarily speechless. She thought about how her master was right.
"But, Master, we can't just let this go."
The Nanhai Divine Nun frowned. "No, we absolutely cannot let this slide. Tomorrow morning, you will go find the Princess and have her go to the palace to investigate again and see if this Xiao Dezi has truly disappeared."