The guard standing outside the sedan chair was a confidant of the Crown Prince and immediately heard the endless compassion in the Crown Prince’s heart.

He replied with a smile, "It’s a shame that such a beauty can only guard an empty room alone every night, such a waste."

The Crown Prince chuckled and cursed a couple of words, then prepared to leave in the sedan chair back to the mansion.

However, Prince Jin stepped out of his own sedan chair, came over, and blocked them, "Crown Prince, let’s not leave yet, we might witness some excitement soon."

The Crown Prince lifted the curtain and asked leisurely, "What excitement?"

Prince Jin smiled without speaking.

Not far away, Prince Qi sent his Chief Historian to inquire if the Crown Prince wanted to leave.

The Crown Prince said, "Please let Prince Qi go first, I still have something to discuss with Prince Jin."

The Chief Historian from the Qishan Prince Mansion also came over to inquire, adding, "The Prince has trouble with his legs and sends me to ask if the Crown Prince is well these days."

"He actually remembers, it won’t kill me for a while," the Crown Prince laughed, "When there’s time, let him come to the Eastern Palace to speak with me."

Once Prince Qi and Qishan Prince’s sedan chairs were gone.

The Crown Prince asked Prince Jin, "What are you hiding? We stay here, and these officials don’t dare to move. If the Emperor finds out, he’ll say I’m not considerate of the officials."

Prince Jin laughed, "The Xu family."

"What?"

The Crown Prince was confused.

Prince Jin said, "Doesn’t the Crown Prince know that the Xu family and Sixth Master Gu are in a lawsuit, with Sixth Master Gu insisting that his wife was angered to death by the Xu family for tens of thousands of taels of silver? The Xu family claims that Sixth Master Gu has impure intentions towards their eldest daughter, who’s now missing, leaving Sixth Lady Gu ashamed of her maternal family, which led to her serious illness. Both families are disputing over this. The Xu family says they want to make a public scene to embarrass the Gu Family."

The Crown Prince lazily chuckled.

"This is your fault, if you could help find the Xu family’s missing daughter, solving their deadlock, wouldn’t Marquis Gu be grateful to you? Instead of helping to mediate, you’re watching the joke here. You think Marquis Gu doesn’t know the Xu family is your people?"

The Crown Prince languidly reclined against the window, and after a while, said, "You stay here and watch, I have to go. Look how far they’ve gone, if they were going to make a scene, it would have started already."

Prince Jin stomped his foot and asked, "Could it be the Xu family has backed down at the last moment?"

The Crown Prince snorted lightly, pointed to the guard standing by the sedan chair, "You tell this to Prince Jin."

The guard said, "I saw the Xu family mingling with the crowd to help Sixth Master Gu entertain guests, so this excitement is probably not going to happen."

Prince Jin’s face went dark, "Is it because they see Marquis Gu has gained influence again, so they don’t dare to cause a scene? Deserves to be a declining family, with not a shred of backbone. I don’t know how their ancestors ever gained nobility."

The Crown Prince waved his hand, "Set off, I’m tired, got up earlier today than even going to court. Can catch some sleep once back."

Prince Jin withdrew in irritation and said, "Don’t worry, Crown Prince, I’ll definitely let you witness this joke."

The Crown Prince lightly hummed.

The sound was so soft, if one’s hearing wasn’t good, they wouldn’t catch it at all.

The Crown Prince’s sedan chair was lifted; Prince Jin, finding it dull to stay, also waited for a while and then got in his sedan chair.

Once they were all gone, the sedan chairs of the officials dispersed gradually by rank.

The Crown Prince laughed on the road, "Is Prince Jin at odds with Dingbei Marquis, insisting on stirring up something?"

The guard said, "Prince Jin is trying to make things difficult for Dingbei Marquis, while Prince Qi is trying to befriend Dingbei Marquis."

"What do you mean?"

"It shows Prince Jin has no intention for the throne, but Prince Qi’s motives are unpredictable."

"Prince Jin has always been loyal to me; as for Prince Qi, there’s nothing unpredictable, it’s simply because my health is bad he’s eyeing the position of Crown Prince, but unfortunately, the Emperor won’t entrust the great cause to him."

The Crown Prince was indifferent. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The guard didn’t speak for a while and then said softly, "If we can find the Xu family’s daughter, would Dingbei Marquis..."

The Crown Prince chuckled, "Doesn’t Prince Qi know to look? Everyone is searching, her life and death are unknown. But what you said is true, before we only thought of using the Chang family’s daughter, didn’t expect Marquis Gu’s illness; that move couldn’t be made."

The guard whispered, "Subordinate heard, the Dingbei Marquis Mansion has been busy recently, even beggars and storytellers are recruited to find the Xu family’s daughter. They must have spent a fortune. With the Empress Dowager’s birthday coming up, the Five Cities Military Department is checking the household registrations, should we also let someone take a look? If we find her, it would be a favor."

"Okay, handle it."

Prince Jin stomped his foot in frustration, making the sedan chair bearers suffer in silence.

"The Xu family actually left me with a hand. They are truly bold, call Xu Tang to speak."

The guard outside said, "Xu Tang is probably in the palace now."

"What’s he doing in the palace?"

Prince Jin was puzzled.

"It’s said that last time Prince Qi recommended him to kick ball in the palace and gained the Emperor’s appreciation. Chief Wang kept him for a few days to accompany the Empress Dowager and Emperor."

Prince Jin paused for a while and said, "Forget it, never mind, it may not succeed. But crisis may turn into blessing."

He rubbed the Moyu Ring on his thumb, narrowed his eyes, and an intriguing smile appeared on his face, no one knew what he was plotting.

Qin Yuan and others made their way to the city gate, everyone was quite exhausted.

The generals under Marquis Gu set up a tent at the city gates, endless rows, with the Xu family squeezed in the middle.

Marquis Gu led people to thank each one in front.

Finally leaving the city, the carriages for the clan members were already waiting by the roadside.

The older men mounted horses.

The elderly women got into the carriages.

The road was too long, and could hardly bear otherwise.

Qin Yuan took Sister Lan into the carriage, halfway through, they found a household to come down for convenience, gave some silver, borrowed a stove to boil water, and made rice porridge for Sister Lan.

Sent it forward for Brother Kang and Fuguo’er.

Busy for half a day, seeing Sister Lan’s small face gaining some color and her spirit returning, then got back in the carriage. Upon reaching the family temple, Mrs. Xu’s coffin was already placed for the wake.

The monks had also set up an incense altar according to the agreement and started religious ceremonies.

Mrs. Xu’s coffin was placed in the inner room’s side chamber in the temple, with Brother Kang, Fuguo’er, and Sister Lan sitting inside accompanying the wake.

Marquis Gu, along with Sixth Master Gu, Gu Jingcheng, and others were outside entertaining the guests.

Qin Siyuan also came to help for half a day but was called back by Qin Jijiu.

Before leaving, Sixth Master Gu said, "Brother Siyuan, it’s hard for you to come and help; I have to stay in the temple for these three days, if I write a poem, I’ll send a servant to show you, just focus on your preparation for exams."

Qin Siyuan replied, "Sixth Master doesn’t have to strive like this, students in the Imperial College know of your determination to study poetry and privately say it’s never too late to set your mind on it. Take your time, you’ll eventually succeed. Staying in the temple is hard, and if you exhaust yourself writing poetry, that won’t do. The mountains are high, the waters are long, there’s plenty of time."

These words made Sixth Master Gu sigh, "Brother Siyuan is truly my confidant. Among the thirty-three heavens, the Heaven of Ultimate Separation is the highest; of four hundred and four illnesses, lovesickness is the bitterest."

Marquis Gu’s fists involuntarily clenched tightly.