In a residence in Mingdu's eastern district, a richly dressed man stood in his study with a spy before him.
Had Meng Chen been there, he would have recognized the spy as one of those who had been keeping watch on him and Ye Xishui lately.
The spy recounted everything he had observed during this period from beginning to end. After hearing him out, the richly dressed man remained silent, weighing his options.
"A junior from Ye Xishui's family... He seems quite favored. Go, abduct him."
The richly dressed man finally made his decision.
The spy acknowledged the order and withdrew from the study.
The richly dressed man walked over to the window and gazed at the moonlight and the shadows of trees outside, countless emotions stirring in his heart.
Ye Xishui had never kept anyone by her side all these years. That youth was undoubtedly important to her. If he could get the boy under his control, he would have leverage to negotiate with Ye Xishui.
The richly dressed man turned around, and only then did the light from the study's Soul Guidance Lamp fall across his face.
He resembled Xu Tianran but was somewhat younger, with sharper lines around his eyes and brows.
It was none other than the third prince, Xu Litai.
The third prince, who controlled the Inspection Squad, had always favored simple, brutal methods.
Perhaps because schemes with interlocking steps were prone to going wrong, the third prince's simple, brutal approach had actually allowed him to carve out a place for himself amid the chaos of the Sun-Moon Empire's court.
At that moment, Xu Tianran was also reading a confidential report submitted by his subordinates.
The report recorded all of Ye Xishui and Meng Chen's movements through Mingdu's streets during this period, as well as