Chapter 140: No Anomalies

"Did you find anything unusual?" Xiao Shengjie's voice was as calm as still water, revealing neither joy nor anger.

The man lowered his head in thought. After a long silence, he shook his head. "Nothing unusual. After the madam of the house led him to the upper chambers and offered him several girls, he refused them all. The madam did not have any further contact with him."

"Nothing unusual?" Xiao Shengjie mused, resting his chin on his hand with a look of doubt. "Nothing unusual? Then why on earth did he go to the Wanhua Pavilion?"

The man looked up, his eyes darting about with sharp intelligence. "Your Highness, could it be because of the carriage from the Liu estate?"

"Oh?"

The man glanced toward the Jiuling Trading House and continued, "When I was trailing Chu Junhan earlier, I noticed the Eldest Miss of the Liu family's carriage parked in front of the Jiuling Trading House, and Chu Junhan's gaze was fixed precisely in that direction."

"What business does my Crown Princess-to-be have at the Jiuling Trading House?" Xiao Shengjie narrowed his eyes, a flicker of bloodlust in his gaze.

"This subordinate does not know!" The man kept his head bowed. Everyone knew how much the Crown Prince favored his future bride; who would dare to track her recklessly? That would be a death sentence.

"It is fine. Since Yan'er is there, I shall go and see her. I want to see for myself what she could possibly be lacking."

In Xiao Shengjie’s eyes, Liu Yan'er was the most captivating woman in all of Pingzhou; there was no one more beautiful. As they say, a beauty belongs to a hero, and therefore, Liu Yan'er belonged to him, Xiao Shengjie.

"Your Highness, I fear that would be inappropriate!" The man remained on one knee, showing no intention of moving, his face pained.

"And why is that inappropriate?"

"If Your Highness reveals yourself, Chu Junhan will surely realize we have been tracking him. It would render all our previous efforts useless."

Xiao Shengjie flicked his sleeve and scoffed coldly, "Do you think I don't understand that? Since when do I need you to lecture me? If he did nothing, what does that imply? It means either you were exposed, or he is testing us. There is no need to hide anymore." With that, he kicked the man hard and stepped over his body.

The man struggled to his feet in pain, remaining on his knees and biting his lip, not daring to speak another word. He could only watch in silence as the Crown Prince departed.

"Oh? My sworn brother has arrived as well," Chu Junhan murmured, a mocking, spectator's smile playing on her lips as she watched the youth swagger down the street, her eyes filled with cold malice.

"Junhan, how did you know that person was the Crown Prince?"

Tang Chen was suspicious. Chu Junhan had only returned to Pingzhou when she was five. He was already surprised that she had recognized the Liu estate’s carriage, but how could she identify the Crown Prince simply by the back of a youth?

She could recognize him, of course. These were the shadows she had carved into her bones, night after night.

"Did you not see? Pedestrians on the street stepped aside to make way for him. Look at the jade pendant he wears and the guards and attendants by his side—there is even a eunuch among them! Brother Ziyun, tell me, who else at this age could have such an entourage?"

"Someone from the Eastern Palace!" Tang Chen replied with admiration. Their young general was truly meticulous in her observations.

Xiao Shengjie swaggered his way to the entrance of the Jiuling Trading House, just in time to bump into Liu Yan'er as she emerged.

Liu Yan'er looked somewhat displeased. She curtsied slightly to Xiao Shengjie. "Yan'er greets the Crown Prince." Having said that, she made to leave.

How could this Xiao Shengjie be like a persistent ghost? Had she not seen him arriving, she would not have come down from the trading house's upper floor.

Xiao Shengjie acknowledged her with a hum and reached out to help her up. "Sister Yan'er, there is no need for such formalities. Please, rise!"