So, Here's What Happened...

Xiao Fan led Gong Su toward the courtyard entrance.

"Forgive my presumption, miss, but your steps are steady and swift as the wind. You must be someone who practices martial arts, aren't you?" Xiao Fan stared into her eyes, probing her slightly as he watched her expression.

"Sir, you have a discerning eye. This humble woman did learn a few superficial skills, but my talent was too poor, so I gave up martial arts long ago."

Gong Su answered smoothly, not the slightest trace of panic in her eyes. She remained perfectly calm.

I can't sense her rank. This woman is too composed—I can't spot a single flaw... Xiao Fan's thoughts raced as he analyzed the matter.

Before long, the two had reached the street outside the escort agency's courtyard. There were few people on the road, and it felt somewhat desolate.

"I heard the destination of your commission is the Northern Plains Wilderness? That is demon kingdom territory. Why would an ordinary person go to such a place?" Xiao Fan continued probing.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he said this, Gong Su smiled with arched brows. She swayed her snake-like waist, rose onto her toes, and leaned close. The white veil covering her face fluttered softly, brushing across Xiao Fan's cheek...

In a soft whisper, she said, "For your own good, don't ask what you shouldn't ask, and don't meddle in business that isn't yours."

Three veins immediately bulged on Xiao Fan's forehead. "What do you mean by that, miss?"

"You tell me."

With that, Gong Su gave a light laugh, turned around, and strolled away.

Gong Su's laughter made Xiao Fan's scalp prickle, while a chill ran down the back of his neck.

This woman named Gong Su gave him many of the same impressions as the black-clad woman from that day.

Both had curvaceous figures and a somewhat twisted, seductive aura. Only their voices were completely different... and he had no way of knowing whether their appearances matched.

On that alone, Xiao Fan did not dare jump to a conclusion. The matter was of great importance; mistaking her for someone else would be troublesome.

"I can't rush this. I need to investigate it thoroughly first... If it truly is her, she will pay for the lives of those who died in this caravan!"

Xiao Fan calmed himself and reined in his emotions before returning to the escort agency's courtyard, casually shutting the main hall's door behind him.

"Uncle Di, there's something I..." He got halfway through, yet no matter what, he could not force the words out.

Di Jintian was an old hand in the jianghu. Seeing Xiao Fan's dispirited appearance, he knew the escort team had met with trouble.

"Xiao Fan, come, sit down. Did something happen to the escort team? In our line of work, we're plainly just earning blood money with our heads tucked into our waistbands. No matter what happened, just tell me."

Xiao Fan took several deep breaths. "Hah... something did happen. At the time..."

Afterward, Xiao Fan recounted everything that had happened on Golden Glow Mountain that night, leaving out no detail and restoring the circumstances as faithfully as he could.

In the imperial palace of the inner city, Ji Xuanyuan had been waiting in the Imperial Study for quite some time.

An elderly eunuch in purple robes, with temples graying white, approached the entrance of the Imperial Study in light, mincing steps.

"Fifth Prince, His Majesty is discussing state affairs with the ministers. I'm afraid he will not be able to come for some time. Why not return first and come into the palace again tomorrow to see His Majesty?"

At this news, a flash of disappointment crossed Ji Xuanyuan's brow...

The moment he had returned to the capital yesterday, he had entered the palace to tell his mother of what he had suffered.

By all rights, Emperor Hongwu should already have known about this matter.

"Thank you for conveying the message, Eunuch Liu. Father Emperor attends to countless affairs each day; I will return another day." As he spoke, he did his utmost to conceal the grievance on his face and headed for the door.

Just as he reached the entrance, a handsome young man in an orange-red round-collared, narrow-sleeved dragon robe strode toward him with an imposing bearing.

The embroidered dragons on this robe were five-clawed like those on the emperor's own dragon robe, with four dragons in total across the front, back, and shoulders. This man was none other than the current crown prince, Ji Xuanzhao.

"Crown Prince Brother!"

Ji Xuanyuan was overjoyed. He was just about to run over and clap his brother on the shoulder when, halfway through extending his hand, he suddenly realized that they were in the palace! He immediately withdrew his hand and bowed. "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Enough. Why are you putting on airs with me?"

The crown prince put an arm around Ji Xuanyuan's shoulders and led him back into the Imperial Study. "I've heard all about what happened to you. I originally wanted to visit you yesterday, but Father Emperor suddenly assigned me a task. When I heard you had entered the palace, I came here especially to see you."

"Crown Prince Brother really is the best!" Ji Xuanyuan's eyes immediately welled up.

The crown prince gently patted Ji Xuanyuan's shoulder to comfort him, then turned to the elderly eunuch. "My brother and I will talk here. Eunuch Liu, please report to His Majesty and ask whether Fifth Brother's matter may be entrusted to me. I will certainly investigate it until the waters run clear and the rocks are exposed, share Father Emperor's burdens, and give Fifth Brother the justice he deserves."

"Oh my, His Highness the Crown Prince truly treats Fifth Prince so well. Such profound brotherly affection moves one to the very depths! This old servant will report to His Majesty at once!" With that, Eunuch Liu slowly withdrew.

After Eunuch Liu had left, the crown prince continued, "Fifth Brother, rest assured. Your elder brother will definitely drag out whoever tried to harm you. Tell me the full details of what happened."

Those words finally opened the floodgates for Ji Xuanyuan. He had been feeling stifled with no one to pour out his grievances to.

"It's a long story... Listen as I tell it all to Crown Prince Brother!"

The crown prince's brow twitched almost imperceptibly. A sense of foreboding rose in his heart. Knowing Ji Xuanyuan as he did, this leisurely telling would likely not end anytime soon.

"That night, when the sky was black and the wind howled, demonic gusts swept bitterly through the Golden Glow Mountain range..."

Di Yun Escort Agency, inner hall.

"...That's what happened. Uncle Di, please gather everyone for me. This matter must be told sooner or later."

After listening to Xiao Fan's account, even Di Jintian, an old hand in the jianghu, broke out in a cold sweat from shock.

"Xiao Fan, it's fortunate you escorted the Fifth Prince safely back to the capital. Otherwise, the entire agency might have suffered along with it. You were the one who saved Di Yun Escort Agency."

"I'll handle settling the families of the deceased. Go back and rest properly for a few days. Don't concern yourself with this anymore."

Xiao Fan shook his head. "I believe Master Di can certainly handle it well, but I still want to apologize to the families of the deceased in person. After all, I was the leader. I can't run from it."

"I understand how you feel, but you aren't a member of the escort agency after all. It isn't appropriate for you to step forward and deal with this now. After some time has passed, I'll take you to visit the families of the deceased."

"Also, the reason I told you to go home for the next few days is that this matter involves a prince. I'm afraid it isn't over yet."

At those words, Xiao Fan was immediately puzzled. "What do you mean? I already escorted him safely back to the capital. What else could happen?"

Di Jintian let out a long sigh. "You're still too young. That was a prince! Someone dared to kidnap a prince—how deep do you think the waters behind this run? As someone involved, you'll have no shortage of trouble in the days ahead."

"That's why I'm telling you to go home first. I'll clean up the aftermath at the agency. Before long, those government offices at court will probably come looking to question you. Think carefully about how you'll respond."

Only then did Xiao Fan understand. As expected of an old hand of the martial world—he had considered everything thoroughly!

What was more, Xiao Fan heard a second layer of meaning in Di Jintian's words: he should avoid coming to the escort agency for a while, so as not to drag it into the matter as much as possible.

This was not about shirking responsibility. More importantly, it was to avoid implicating the innocent—a kind-hearted warning.

Xiao Fan understood Di Jintian's meaning and nodded slightly. "I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Master Di."

With that, he rose and left. Just as he reached the doorway, Di Jintian called out to him again.

"Xiao Fan, let me give you one more word of warning..."

"Other than the people in the palace connected to the Fifth Prince, the only ones who knew the convoy's route were Di Yun Escort Agency... Do you understand what that means?"

Xiao Fan's hair instantly stood on end. "You mean... if the court can't uncover the true culprit behind this, or if the forces behind it are too great to move... then the agency and I may be made to take the blame?"

"I'm afraid it won't be as simple as taking the blame... In any case, we must prepare for the worst." Di Jintian spoke earnestly.

Xiao Fan pondered for a moment. "I absolutely can't let everyone get dragged into this!" With that, he strode away.