The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 712: Chapter 711: Sincerity

Xia Wanqing paused, clenching the handle of his blade, his eyes slightly narrowed.

Upon recognizing the figure, he slowly relaxed his hand, his face as resolute as stone.

That figure leapt a few times and appeared before Xia Wanqing.

The South Alley was inhabited by dignitaries; they always used the main entrance, traveling by carriage or horseback. Who would use a dark, deserted alley?

At this moment, with no one around, Xia Wanqing whispered, ”Old Fifth!”

It turned out that the visitor was Bai Feichen, who had arrived in the Capital City long ago but had not shown himself.

Bai Feichen clasped his hands and said, ”Elder Brother!”

Xia Wanqing said, ”Old Fifth, you came just at the right time. I’ve gathered some information and suspect Wenjin is inside. With your help, we can surely rescue Wenjin!”

Bai Feichen glanced at the courtyard wall, then at Xia Wanqing, ”Does Elder Brother know whose mansion this is?”

Xia Wanqing said solemnly, ”Prince Zhuang Mansion!”

Bai Feichen nodded and said, ”Wenjin is not in Prince Zhuang Mansion!”

Xia Wanqing suddenly turned his head to look at him, and Bai Feichen said slowly, ”The information Elder Brother received, I also have it. On the surface, it points to Prince Zhuang, but I found something amiss. After linking it with what Elder Brother told me to investigate, tracking it revealed Wenjin left the city when the gate opened at dawn!”

Of course, Xia Wanqing trusted Bai Feichen, but the information he obtained wasn’t false either. Considering Wenjin’s situation, he hesitated a moment, ”Regardless, it must be related to Prince Zhuang. What if going out in the morning was just a decoy, and Wenjin is still at Prince Zhuang Mansion?”

Bai Feichen shook his head and said, ”Elder Brother, trust me. Prince Zhuang is wholly focused on seizing that supreme position, and is very sensitive to Court matters. But when it comes to scheming, he’s rather weak. Wenjin does not have a direct link to him; even if he wanted to act, it wouldn’t be now. If Wenjin were indeed in his hands, they’d have already strengthened their defenses at Prince Zhuang Mansion, but everything remains usual. Surprisingly, Prince Zhuang dispatched two teams toward the South City gate, and I also saw Sichen heading south out of the city. If we hurry, we should find Wenjin!”

He looked at Xia Wanqing and continued, ”What Elder Brother asked me to investigate earlier can’t be summed up quickly. I will report thoroughly once we find Wenjin.”

This indicated he had already found results.

Thinking about what he had asked Bai Feichen to look into, Xia Wanqing wasn’t in the mood for the results. ”Then we should quickly exit the city!”

Bai Feichen, however, added, ”Elder Brother, I believe Wenjin won’t be in danger, so don’t worry too much!”

Xia Wanqing said, ”I know what you mean. Sichen has already gone ahead to rescue. His martial arts aren’t weak, but since the opponent has made a move, they surely have experts. Better safe than sorry!”

Bai Feichen said, ”I’m not referring to Sichen, but another person. He’s in the South City Suburb today!”

”Who is it?”

”Huangfu Yuxuan!”

Xia Wanqing looked at Bai Feichen again, with some exploration in his gaze.

Bai Feichen avoided specifics, saying, ”Elder Brother, don’t tarry here; let’s head for the South City gate. We might meet Wenjin safely returning at the gate!”

Seeing Bai Feichen so confident and moving south while speaking.

Xia Wanqing paused, took another look at Prince Zhuang Mansion, but ultimately did not insist on investigating further.

Following Bai Feichen, he pondered the meaning of Bai Feichen’s words.

With Huangfu Yuxuan in the South City Suburb, Wenjin will be safe?

When did Old Fifth become so confident in Huangfu Yuxuan?

He remembered that, unlike Old Two, Three, and Four, Old Fifth always had reservations about Huangfu Yuxuan in the settlement.

Also, how was he so sure they’d meet Wenjin safely at the city gate?

He took Xia Sichen and Xia Xiaozhe brothers back home for ancestral rites, with a much-changed mindset compared to his initial arrival in the Capital City, delaying his return by two days.

If he returned two days earlier, which Xiao Xiao would dare abduct someone under his nose?

But on the night before he returned to the Capital City, was the timing too coincidental?

Now, not seeing Wenjin and worried for her safety, Xia Wanqing couldn’t care about these details and soon caught up with Bai Feichen.

Wenjin’s disappearance, he hadn’t informed Second Brother’s family.

Not because of mistrust or fear of their worry.

But he believed, if he couldn’t find it with Jianghu forces, those constables or government troops couldn’t either—just wasting time!

Additionally, he already decided, should anything happen to Wenjin, he would employ Jianghu methods, dig up to uncover the mastermind and all involved, avenging Wenjin!

Suppressing the unease in his heart, Xia Wanqing propelled himself forward, almost as swiftly as a galloping horse.

Bai Feichen assured him not to worry, yet his pace was just as fast.

But with Xia Wanqing’s great skill, he soon ran ahead of Bai Feichen.

Upon sighting the South City gate from afar, Xia Wanqing’s gaze grew darker, and at that moment, the sound of hoofbeats arrived.

The City Guards probably saw a distance off, dispersed crowds; a group reached the city gate but didn’t dismount. Instead, the City Guard Captain bowed in salute instead of stopping them.

Xia Wanqing abruptly halted his steps; although he didn’t recognize a few riders at first, amidst the group were his son, his Wenjin, along with Huangfu Yuxuan and even Huangfu Jingchen—all had been met.

Old Fifth was surprisingly entirely correct; they indeed found Wenjin safely returning at the city gate?

Bai Feichen also let out a light sound of surprise, evidently surprised by his own prescience.

Seeing Xia Wenjin indeed safe, although Xia Sichen and Huangfu Jingchen seemed a bit disheveled, Xia Wanqing felt reassured, looking over joyfully, ”Old Fifth, you were indeed correct!”

At the settlement, Old Fifth looked the roughest, yet behind his rugged appearance was the heart of a scholar, whose intellect far surpassed their genuinely rugged personalities.

Bai Feichen took a step back and said, ”Elder Brother, there’s still something unclear; it’s not suitable to reveal myself now. Since Wenjin is unharmed, I shall find you later!”

Xia Wanqing nodded, saying, ”Be careful in everything!”

Huangfu Yuxuan used the excuse of being a guard, wishing to ride alongside Wenjin, yet Xia Wenjin preferred not to be close to him, instead riding alongside Xia Sichen.

Huangfu Yuxuan could only slow down a bit, riding alongside Huangfu Jingchen.

He glanced sideways at Huangfu Jingchen, finding him irksome—how is he everywhere?

Today’s plan caused two wounds on his body, but there was no risk to his life. Thinking of the scene observed on the mountain, if Xia Sichen hadn’t led people there, Huangfu Jingchen among those dozen attackers might’ve ended up as a blade’s victim?

What a pity.

Has Prince Zhuang indeed become negligible? Even such minor tasks can’t be accomplished, and yet he provided such an excellent opportunity!

He smiled, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes; just as he was about to speak, his eyes inadvertently caught sight of Xia Wanqing resembling an iron tower standing by the roadside!