“There’s no movement from the Crown Princess’s quarters…”
The Crown Prince rushed out.
A eunuch chased after him with his shoes: “Your Highness, your shoes—”
The Crown Prince whirled around and slapped the eunuch, shouting in rage: “What shoes? Damn it all!”
The dazed eunuch dropped the shoes.
The Crown Prince hastily put on his shoes and strode into the darkness.
The Crown Princess’s chambers were dark. The palace maids guarding the door hurriedly bowed: “Greetings, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince ignored them and walked straight in.
The maids tried to stop him: “Your Highness, the Crown Princess is already asleep—”
“Get out of my way!” The Crown Prince shoved the maid aside and strode in.
The maids inside came to meet him but couldn’t stop him either.
He rushed to the inner chamber, and seeing no sign of the Crown Princess, grabbed a maid and demanded: “Where is the Crown Princess?”
“Your servant… your servant doesn’t know…”
The Crown Prince released the maid and rushed to Young Master Chun’s quarters.
Young Chun was sleeping, but still no sign of the Crown Princess.
The Crown Prince turned and left, finding another of the Crown Princess’s maids, and shouted: “Tell me clearly, where has the Crown Princess gone?”
“Your servant truly doesn’t know.”
“Won’t talk, eh?” In his fury, the Crown Prince grabbed a wooden stool and smashed it against the maid’s head.
The maid screamed and collapsed, blood gushing from her forehead.
The Crown Prince held the bloodied stool, glaring ferociously at the other maids: “Speak! Where exactly has the Crown Princess gone?”
Seeing what the Crown Prince had done to the Crown Princess’s maid, the other maids were terrified. Finally, one whispered: “The Crown Princess seems to have gone to the Palace of Female Tranquility…”
The Palace of Female Tranquility?
The Crown Prince shuddered.
Pan Hai was searching the Eastern Palace, while the Crown Princess had gone to the Palace of Female Tranquility – what did this mean?
Even someone as slow as the Crown Prince could guess by now: surely the Crown Princess had discovered his actions and gone to inform the Empress!
Which meant his father already knew about the figurine…
A eunuch came running, out of breath: “Your Highness, Com-Commander Pan has reached your chambers with his search party…”
The Crown Prince swayed.
“Your Highness—” The eunuch hurried to steady him.
The Crown Prince gathered himself, pushed the eunuch away, and rushed toward his chambers.
If Pan Hai couldn’t find the figurine, he might still have a chance to escape this disaster!
Meanwhile, Pan Hai was facing his dilemma.
Searching the Crown Prince’s chambers wasn’t an easy decision to make.
If they found nothing suspicious, and should anything happen to the Emperor, he would face the Crown Prince’s revenge after his ascension.
The Crown Prince rushed in, shouting: “Commander Pan, what do you think you’re doing?”
Seeing the Crown Prince arrive, Pan Hai put aside his thoughts and bowed: “Greetings, Your Highness. Your servant is following orders to find something.”
“Orders? Whose orders?”
“Naturally, His Majesty’s commands.”
The Crown Prince’s face paled as he thundered: “Nonsense! Father Emperor would be sleeping at this hour – how could he order you to search the Eastern Palace? Moreover, what could be in the Eastern Palace to warrant such a search?”
“Your Highness jests. Your servant wouldn’t dare falsely claim Imperial orders.”
The Crown Prince sneered and called out loudly: “Everyone stop!”
The searching eunuchs paused.
“Pan Hai, if you want to search, produce Father Emperor’s written edict, otherwise cease immediately! This is the Eastern Palace, and I am the Crown Prince – I won’t allow such impudence!”
The Crown Prince’s aggressive tone reassured Pan Hai somewhat.
Usually submissive before the Emperor, the Crown Prince’s current forcefulness indicated guilt and desperation.
A fierce exterior masking inner fear – that perfectly described the Crown Prince’s current state.
“With His Majesty’s verbal orders, Your Highness’s demand for a written edict puts your servant in a difficult position. If Your Highness doubts me, why not accompany your servant to the Palace of Heavenly Purity? His Majesty is still awake,” Pan Hai replied righteously.
“You—” The Crown Prince pointed at Pan Hai, his face darker than the storm clouds, forcing words through gritted teeth, “Pan Hai, have you considered the consequences?”
Pan Hai bowed to the Crown Prince: “Your servant follows only His Majesty’s orders, without any other considerations.”
Then he glared at the stopped eunuchs and shouted: “What are you all standing around for? His Majesty awaits our report!”