Chapter 448 - Without Any Trace
Sheng Li and Ying Lili returned to the Imperial Palace. They encountered Xiao Zhan at the Fu Imperial Gates.
"Your highness," Xiao Zhan bowed his head for both of them and lifted his head.
"Is everything alright?" Sheng Li asked him, who looked troubled. Xiao Zhan leaned closer to Sheng Li's ear and whispered something. He drew his brows together. Xiao Zhan stepped back when he heard the Crown Prince say, "Escort the Crown Princess to her chamber."
"What happened?" Ying Lili immediately asked him. "I will accompany you to your chamber. I also want to know," Ying Lili stated.
Xiao Zhan looked at Sheng Li, who said, "I will tell you in the morning.. Have your dinner and have a good sleep." Ying Lili realized that Sheng Li did not want to share it with her. She did not force him and walked away. "Ahh, is she angry?" Sheng Li mumbled.
"I will escort the Crown Princess," Xiao Zhan took his leave while Sheng Li looked at a soldier and ordered him to bring Kongqi.
After a while, the soldier came with Kongqi. A smile appeared on Sheng Li's lips upon seeing Kongqi. Sheng Li caressed him, and he neighed. "How are you, Kongqi? These days I did not come to you. You did not miss me, right?" Sheng Li talked with Kongqi, who moved his head. Sheng Li hopped on him and left.
Kongqi stopped in front of the Wang Residence. The guards at the entrance quickly stepped down the stairs and greeted the Crown Prince. Sheng Li let Kongqi stay in their care and went inside.
Wang Hao was in his chamber, being treated by the physician. "General Wang, the Crown Prince, is here," his assistant informed him. Wang Hao sat up on the mattress and told the physician to stop. However, by then, Sheng Li had come to his chamber.
"Get your treatment first, Wang Hao," Sheng Li ordered him. The Physician stood up from the stool and deeply bowed. "Continue the treatment," Sheng Li commanded the Physician who took the seat and told General Wang to not move his foot.
Sheng Li got seated on the chaise, near the bed. "Why did his highness come to my residence? I was going to come to the Imperial Palace to report to his highness," Wang Hao asserted.
"Your foot is injured," Sheng Li replied and looked at the Physician. "Is it serious? Shall I call the presence of the Royal Physician from the Imperial Palace?" Sheng Li asked.
The Physician stood up. His head was lowered. "It is not a serious wound, your highness. There is no need to trouble the Royal Physician," he assured Sheng Li, who hummed. He again sat on the stool and continued the treatment. He wrapped the bandage around the foot of Wang Hao and handed him two pills.
"General Wang must take these after dinner," the physician asserted. Wang Hao nodded and thanked him. The Physician bowed before the Crown Prince before leaving the chamber with the assistant of Wang Hao.
As the doors got shut, Sheng Li asked Wang Hao about how he got hurt.
"The Forest route was inconvenient to use during the return journey. I fell from the horse, and my foot got a cut," Wang Hao informed the Crown Prince. He frowned and continued, "Your Highness, it is not concerning. The concerning matter is that the Fourth Prince is not in Hazhou town. I searched everywhere, but they were not in the town."
Sheng Li was bewildered to hear that. "Did you ask around? People might have seen them," Sheng Li asked.
"I inquired about them in the neighborhood, but no one saw them. Though, one of them told me that Prince Nianzu had asked about the cleaner to clean the well in the house. However, I also asked in a bookshop, where the owner told me that he wanted to work there. The owner had hired the Prince, but the next day, Prince Nianzu did not go for work." Wang Hao narrated everything to Sheng Li, who got confused.
"Where did Brother Nianzu leave? What could have happened?" Sheng Li menacingly asked.
"Your Highness, there is news of Prince Nianzu's renouncing of the Prince title for a commoner. It seems that because of that reason, Prince Nianzu left the town, without any trace," Wang Hao deduced. Sheng Li agreed with him.
"But we do not know whether Brother Nianzu is safe or not! They might have used carts to go to the other town or village. I will send two spies there to find out about them," asserted Sheng Li. Wang Hao nodded.
"Prince Nianzu should not have left like this. He did not even leave a clue behind," Wang Hao anxiously said.
"Gu Zhenya is looking for the Fourth Brother. I do not know what he is planning. If Brother Nianzu has suddenly left the town then there might be a big reason," Sheng Li concluded.
"Why is Minister Gu searching for Prince Nianzu?" Wang Hao was perplexed.
"That is suspicious. Gu Zhenya doesn't want me to be the Crown Prince. Huo Jin found out only this. Brother Nianzu left the Palace for two reasons- First, he was not happy, and Second, he was concerned about Chuntao. There might be something more, but he did not share it with me," Sheng Li affirmed.
"We need to find out about the whereabouts of Prince Nianzu before Minister Gu would! He might attempt to harm the Prince's wife," Wang Hao stated. Sheng Li nodded his head and told Wang Hao to take a rest for a few days.
"Yes, your highness."
"I shall take my leave. You did a great job, Wang Hao," Sheng Li praised him.
"Crown Prince, I will arrange a carriage for you," he offered, but Sheng Li refused.
"I have brought Kongqi. Do not worry," Sheng Li stated. Wang Hao smiled while Sheng Li walked out of his chamber.
As the Crown Prince came out of the Wang Residence, he decided to go to the Residence of Gu Zhenya.