On the way back to Li Mansion, TanTan remained silent, trying to sort out her feelings.
Ever since she had experienced Hua MuTan's latest memories, she had started feeling strange whenever she was close to Prince Li.
Meanwhile, Prince Li said nothing. He simply focused on riding the horse.
When they arrived at Li Mansion, Prince Li helped TanTan dismount without showing any particular expression.
XiaoRue, Aunt Tong, and Uncle Tong, who had noticed their arrival, immediately gathered at the front gate. They were surprised to see TanTan returning with Prince Li. More importantly, XiaoRue noticed that TanTan winced slightly when she stepped down from the horse.
XiaoRue hurried towards her.
"XiaoJie, your leg...?"
"I'm fine... It's just a little sprain."
Prince Li glanced at her but said nothing. He simply walked past TanTan and gave an instruction to Aunt Tong.
"The Third Prince will come later. Aunt Tong, prepare dinner for him. He might eat here tonight."
Aunt Tong immediately obeyed and headed towards the kitchen.
Having Prince FengEr over for dinner was nothing unusual at Li Mansion. He was a regular guest, and Aunt Tong didn't even need to ask about his favourite dishes.
Uncle Tong, meanwhile, remained beside Prince Li, waiting for further instructions.
"XiaoRue, take XiaoJie to her bedroom."
XiaoRue gently held TanTan's arm to help her walk. But before they could leave, Prince Li stopped them and looked sharply at Hua MuTan.
"No. You must come with me to the guest room. I still have many things to ask you!"
He gestured for her to follow him.
TanTan sighed.
All right. Let's get this interrogation over with as quickly as possible. Besides, the guest room is closer than my bedroom. At least I can rest my leg there for a while...
With XiaoRue supporting her, TanTan slowly followed Prince Li into the guest room. Uncle Tong went in with them.
As soon as they entered, XiaoRue helped TanTan sit on one of the chairs. Prince Li took another seat and drank the tea Uncle Tong had served.
Once she was comfortable, TanTan immediately removed her sock and shoe, then lifted the hem of her dress to examine her injured ankle.
Showing a woman's bare foot was considered highly improper for a respectable lady in their society. Traditionally, only her parents or husband were allowed to see it.
The sight surprised everyone in the room. Prince Li was so startled that he nearly choked on his tea.
"Cough... cough! What are you doing, Hua MuTan?!"
TanTan looked at him in confusion.
"Why? I'm just checking my sprained ankle. Is that forbidden?"
"You should do that somewhere more private! Aren't you ashamed to show your foot here?"
TanTan still couldn't understand his reaction. She turned towards XiaoRue, who also looked uncomfortable.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"XiaoJie, a lady usually doesn't show her feet so easily... She should only show them in her bedroom, in front of her parents, or... her husband."
TanTan looked around and noticed Uncle Tong standing beside Prince Li, politely turning his gaze away. Even he seemed embarrassed by the sight of her bare foot.
What a strange tradition...
TanTan quickly put her sock and shoe back on.
Before she covered her ankle, however, Prince Li had already noticed how red and swollen it was.
Her ankle really is sprained... But did she deliberately show it to me to gain my sympathy? No... It doesn't seem that way.
He remembered how Hua MuTan used to behave in the past. She would constantly find ways to attract his attention, from complaining about every little thing to pretending to be weak or fainting just to stop him from meeting ShuangAi.
It had happened so many times that he had grown sick of it.
But this time, things were different.
Since their arrival, Hua MuTan hadn't complained once about her injury or demanded that he treat her. She had even obediently followed his instructions when he told her not to expose her foot in front of others.
This really is a different Hua MuTan...
Prince Li instructed Uncle Tong to leave the room before turning back to TanTan.
"Now, before the Third Prince arrives, tell me the truth. Why did you drag Prince FengEr along with you to the Ironworks?"
So the interrogation begins...
TanTan took a deep breath to calm herself before answering.
"I didn't drag him anywhere. Like I said, I went there to look for clues about the dagger. Prince FengEr was the one who offered to help. You can ask XiaoRue if you don't believe me."
"Is that true, XiaoRue?"
"Yes, Prince Li. This morning, we went into town with Miss ShuangAi to buy a new outfit for XiaoJie's performance. While we were there, we met Prince Li and Princess XiXi..."
XiaoRue then explained everything that had happened at the shop, including how Prince FengEr had helped TanTan after Princess XiXi misunderstood the situation and how he had later offered to accompany her.
Prince Li listened carefully.
Hm... From her story, it seems Hua MuTan really didn't arrange to meet San WangGe deliberately. It was just a coincidence.
But she had already planned to investigate alone. If she hadn't met San WangGe, would she still have gone ahead and put herself in danger?
When XiaoRue finished, TanTan added,
"Now you know that meeting the Third Prince was just a coincidence. I went there to look for clues, nothing else."
"Then what clues did you find?" Prince Li asked sharply.
"...So far, I haven't found anything about the dagger."
There was a hint of disappointment in her voice.
Since Prince Li himself hadn't discovered any clues about the poisoned dagger either, he found himself believing her words this time.
However, one thing still puzzled him.
"Then why were you and the Third Prince in the woods?"
"That's..."
Before TanTan could continue, someone entered the room.
"I can explain that."
"San WangGe!"
Prince Li stood up to greet his older brother.
TanTan also tried to stand and greet him politely, but Prince FengEr immediately stepped beside her and gestured for her to remain seated.
"No need to stand, MuTan Mei. It's all right. How is your ankle?"
"It's fine. Thank you, San WangGe."
TanTan sat back down, but Prince FengEr could clearly see from her expression that she was still in pain.
"Hm... Wei Di, shouldn't you treat MuTan Mei's ankle before questioning her?"
Prince FengEr's tone carried a hint of reprimand.
Somehow, San WangGe treats Hua MuTan differently...
Prince Li wasn't particularly pleased by this development. However, as usual, he listened to Prince FengEr's advice.
Among all his brothers, Prince Li was closest to the Third Prince. Their mothers had also been close sisters in the royal harem, which had strengthened their bond over the years.
So Prince Li turned towards TanTan.
"You're right, San WangGe. Hua MuTan, you may return to your room and have your ankle treated."
"No! I want to stay. I also want to be involved in this investigation!"
"Don't be stubborn, Hua MuTan! You can't help with anything. All you do is put yourself in danger!"
"But I've already been involved in this matter! I know about the weapons, so I have the right to know what's happening!"
"What do you mean?" Prince Li stared at her curiously. "What weapons?"
"Wei Di, perhaps MuTan Mei is right. Maybe she should stay. You should hear what happened first."
Prince FengEr then began recounting how he and TanTan had followed the suspicious men into the woods and discovered the hidden lodge.
When he mentioned that TanTan had entered the lodge herself, he turned towards her.
"You went inside the lodge? What exactly did you find there?"
TanTan remembered the dagger she had taken from one of the wooden boxes. She reached into the hidden pocket of her dress and took it out.
"I saw several wooden boxes filled with weapons of unusual designs. They looked like this."
She showed them the dagger.
Prince FengEr, who was standing closer to her, reached out and examined it. His expression changed as soon as he recognised the material and design.
Prince Li also stepped closer to take a look.
Prince FengEr glanced at him.
"This...!"
Prince Li simply nodded. It seemed he already understood what his older brother was thinking.
"A few days ago, we caught some thieves smuggling weapons of this same type. The design and material are almost identical."
"This is a very serious matter, Wei Di."
"Yes. That's what I thought, too. I should report this to the palace immediately."
Both princes seemed so absorbed in their discussion that they had almost forgotten TanTan was still there.
What's so special about these weapons? Why are they suddenly treating this as such a serious matter? Aren't they just weapons?
Prince FengEr seemed deep in thought before he suddenly spoke again.
"Don't report it yet, Wei Di. I don't think it's the right time. We still don't know who's behind the weapons."
"Why, San WangGe? This is a serious matter. Fu Wang must be informed!"
"Because the culprit might be someone holding a high position in the palace. It could be anyone other than Fu Wang himself. If you report it now, you'll only alert them. They'll have time to destroy the evidence or even strike back at you before you can catch them."
"How can you be so sure about that, San WangGe?"
Prince FengEr then repeated the final words of the enemy leader he had fought in the woods.
"Someone more powerful than me...? Hm..."
Prince Li began thinking carefully.
Who could it be? Although Third Prince FengEr is known for his playful nature, his position in the palace is still quite high. Everyone knows he's one of the King's favoured sons.
Except... Yes. There are two people whose positions could be considered higher than his. If those words were true, then our suspects might be...
"Isn't the Crown Prince higher in rank than the Third Prince?"
TanTan suddenly spoke up, wanting to join the discussion.
Both Prince Li and Prince FengEr looked at her in surprise.
She had voiced the same possibility that had crossed their minds.
Yes, the Crown Prince was one of the strongest suspects. But could he really be involved in such an act of treason? He was the future King. Why would he betray his own kingdom?
"It could be someone else besides him..."
Prince FengEr replied cautiously, uncertainty lingering in his voice.
Hearing TanTan speak reminded Prince Li that it might be better to keep Hua MuTan away from this dangerous matter. Besides, there was someone else he had suspected for a long time—a person who had a close family connection to Hua MuTan.
"I think it's time for you to return to your room, Hua MuTan. XiaoRue, take your XiaoJie back."
"NO!"
TanTan understood that Prince Li was trying to stop her from becoming involved in the investigation. But she had a feeling this case might be connected to the people who had tried to kill her.
At the very least, it gave her somewhere to start.
"Let me stay and help! San WangGe, you told me before that I had enemies in the palace. Isn't it possible that my enemy and the person behind this weapons smuggling are one and the same? If that's true, then we might be looking for the same person!"
"Well... I did say that. But it's only speculation, MuTan Mei."
Prince FengEr actually didn't want TanTan to put herself in danger again either.
Prince Li added his own argument, hoping to make her give up.
"Listen, you have plenty of enemies, Hua MuTan! How can you be so sure they're all the same person? Do you have any proof? No, you don't! So why don't you stay in your room while we handle the investigation?"
"It's true that I don't have any proof right now, but I trust my instincts!"
She had relied on those instincts throughout her years studying law and criminal cases.
"How ridiculous! You want us to trust your instincts? All you'll do is throw yourself into danger! Don't expect to be rescued over and over again!"
"Well, I won't ask you to rescue me again!"
"Fine! I won't rescue you next time!"
The tension between them grew so intense that Prince FengEr felt he had to intervene.
"All right, Wei Di, MuTan Mei. I think we can continue this discussion later. Why don't we have dinner first? All this investigating has made me hungry!"
"Very well. As San WangGe suggested, let's continue later. We can discuss it over dinner."
Prince Li once again followed his older brother's advice. He stood and gestured for Prince FengEr to go ahead.
"San WangGe, please."
However, TanTan remained seated, which puzzled Prince FengEr.
"Aren't you joining us, MuTan Mei?"
TanTan widened her eyes and looked towards Prince Li.
Ever since she had returned to Li Mansion, she had never shared a meal with Prince Li. They had always eaten separately in their own rooms.
"Can I join you for dinner?"
Prince Li still seemed upset with her, but he didn't want to reject his older brother's invitation.
"Of course."
TanTan could tell that Prince Li wasn't particularly enthusiastic about the idea. She suspected he had only agreed because Prince FengEr had invited her.
Although she was also upset with Prince Li, she didn't want the dinner to become awkward.
So she suggested something else.
"Can FangFang join us, too?"
Prince Li looked at her curiously, while Prince FengEr smiled.
"Of course! It's been such a long time since I've seen your little girl, Wei Di. Let her join us. The more, the merrier!"
Prince Li sighed.
"Very well. If she hasn't had dinner yet, she can join us."
He then instructed a servant to fetch FangFang.
"Do you need anything else?" Prince Li asked TanTan sharply.
"No... That's enough. Ah!"
As TanTan tried to stand, pain shot through her ankle again.
Prince FengEr immediately looked concerned. He wanted to help her, but he knew it wouldn't be appropriate to touch TanTan in front of Prince Li, her husband.
"XiaoJie, be careful!"
XiaoRue quickly supported TanTan and helped her stand.
Seeing her condition, Prince Li felt uncomfortable. For a brief moment, he couldn't help feeling sorry for her, but he didn't want to show it.
"Just walk slowly. We'll wait for you in the dining room."
His voice softened slightly.
He then gestured for Prince FengEr to go ahead, and the two princes left for the dining room, which wasn't far from the guest room.
Meanwhile, in a cave on a nearby hillside, several black-clothed men were busy carrying wooden boxes inside.
Their leader stood nearby with his right-hand man, watching the work.
"Make sure no one discovers the existence of these weapons. Prince Li has tightened the inspections at the town gates. We can't transport the weapons to the Han territory for now. Wait until I find a way to get them past the inspections."
"What about the woman in the woods, Master? Should we kill her?"
The masked leader, wearing a silver-black mask, raised his hand to stop the suggestion.
"Don't worry about her. I'll take care of her myself. Just focus on keeping these weapons hidden."
"Yes, Master!"
The right-hand man immediately went to supervise the others.
Meanwhile, the masked leader remained where he was, lost in thought.
Hua MuTan... Even though you seem to have forgotten your past, you've once again stuck your nose into my affairs.
If you continue like this, perhaps I'll really have to send you back to your mother... What a pity.