Inside Prince Xu's residence, Wanyan Yong glared furiously at the subordinates kneeling on the ground. "What are you people good for? A living person vanished into thin air, and none of you noticed?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, Miss Zhao preferred peace and quiet by nature. She usually forbade us from approaching her separate courtyard, so our response was a little slow," one of the men said through gritted teeth.
"And you still dare make excuses!" Wanyan Yong swept all the tea ware from the table onto the floor. "Who was responsible for security around Miss Zhao's garden today? Bring them to me."
"Reporting to Your Highness, not long ago, they... they were all killed by a mysterious person," the subordinate answered, dripping with cold sweat.
"What?" Wanyan Yong abruptly rose to his feet, his thoughts churning like stormy seas. Who exactly is targeting me? The Emperor, the Ever Victorious King, or the King of Hailing?
Meanwhile, in the former Grand Tutor's Mansion, Puchai Alihu anxiously watched the doorway. When she finally saw her daughter return, her entire body nearly went limp with relief. "On the way back, you said you had something to take care of first, then left with such a grim expression. I was worried you'd gone back to settle accounts with Song Qingshu. Listen to your mother, my dear girl. That devil is ruthless and vicious. We can't afford to provoke him."
"Ruthless and vicious?" Wanyan Chongjie could not help rolling her eyes. "If he were truly ruthless and vicious, I wouldn't have needed to clean up his mess."
Puchai Alihu blushed. "What nonsense are you saying, a young lady like you? 'Clean up his... mess'? How awful."
Only then did Wanyan Chongjie explain, "Today, he and I were taken to that Zhao woman's separate courtyard