Back at the Law Office, a Few Hours Earlier...
Prince Li and Prince FengEr had just finished investigating the dead thief in the prison.
According to the investigation, the thief had been poisoned after eating food delivered to him by an unknown person. One of the prison guards had been bribed by a mysterious old man who claimed to be the thief's grandfather. The bribed guard had already been punished, but apart from that, Prince Li had failed to uncover any further clues.
"The culprit is clever enough to cover their tracks..." Prince Li shared his thoughts with Prince FengEr in his office.
"Our enemy this time is no ordinary opponent. You need to be more careful, WeiDi," Prince FengEr warned him.
"Yes, I know..."
Although neither prince said it aloud, they shared the same suspicion. They still couldn't identify the mastermind behind the incident, but one thing was becoming increasingly clear: whoever was responsible possessed considerable influence and power. There was even a possibility that the culprit had connections within the imperial palace.
Just then, ManQi returned to the Law Office, accompanied by XiaoRue.
Both princes were surprised to see her.
"What happened?" Prince Li immediately asked.
He had a bad feeling that something must have happened to HuaMuTan again. Prince FengEr seemed to have reached the same conclusion, judging from his expression.
XiaoRue hurriedly explained everything, from how HuaMuTan had taken her out of the mansion in disguise as a man to how they had ended up fighting with a group of scoundrels who were subsequently sent to prison.
After XiaoRue finished, ManQi continued the explanation.
"According to the information we obtained from those scoundrels, Young Madam Hua is currently at the gambling house."
"The gambling house???!!!"
Prince Li's expression changed immediately.
Meanwhile, Prince FengEr was equally surprised, but unlike his younger brother, he couldn't hold back his laughter.
"Pfft... Hahaha!"
Prince Li shot him an extremely displeased look.
"Fuh... Ahem! I'm sorry, WeiDi..." Prince FengEr tried to compose himself, although the amusement in his eyes remained. "But thank goodness MuTan Mei is safe from those scoundrels. Now, all you need to do is go and bring her back. That should be easy enough for you, right?"
He smiled and gave Prince Li a gentle pat on the shoulder.
Somehow, however, Prince Li could sense the unmistakable mockery hidden behind that smile.
That woman! Why does she always have to find trouble?! Of all the places she could possibly go, she just had to choose that place to hide! Really... What a troublesome woman!
Prince Li let out an unusually long sigh.
"Perhaps I should just leave her there..."
He said it aloud, surprising everyone in the room.
"WeiDi! You don't actually mean that, do you?" Prince FengEr widened his eyes.
Without bothering to answer, Prince Li stood up and strode out of his office. The others quickly followed him.
Just as they reached the entrance of the Law Office, Prince Li suddenly turned toward Prince FengEr.
"Would you like to come along, Third Prince? I could use your help there!"
He gave Prince FengEr a mischievous smirk.
"No, I'm afraid I can't, WeiDi. I have to return and continue my work. You know... duty calls!"
Prince FengEr smiled apologetically, although he didn't look particularly regretful.
"I knew you'd say that!"
Prince Li snorted before mounting his horse.
"ManQi!"
"Yes, Master!"
"Listen carefully. If I haven't returned within an hour, don't hesitate to bring all the officers and raid that place!"
Prince Li gave him a stern look.
"Yes, Master! I'll make sure to do that. Don't worry!"
ManQi answered seriously, although he was struggling terribly to suppress his smile.
With that, Prince Li rode off toward the gambling house.
After he disappeared from sight, ManQi and Prince FengEr continued staring in the direction he had gone.
Both wore strangely sorrowful expressions, as though they were watching someone head toward an unfortunate fate.
"I really feel sorry for WeiDi..." Prince FengEr sighed. "ManQi, you'll have to make sure you help him later."
"Oh, I certainly will, Third Prince. Don't worry!"
"What a poor WeiDi... I sincerely hope he'll be all right."
"Yes... I hope so too..."
XiaoRue, who had been listening to their conversation, looked utterly bewildered.
What's wrong with those two? Is the gambling house really such a terrible place?
Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, she turned toward them.
"What happened? Is that place really so dangerous? Will Prince Li and my XiaoCie be all right?"
ManQi and Prince FengEr exchanged glances.
And then, both finally burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
"Well, yes... It's certainly a very dangerous place for Prince Li," Prince FengEr replied, still smiling. "But don't worry, XiaoRue. Your XiaoCie will be perfectly fine!"
After reassuring her, Prince FengEr excused himself. He borrowed a horse from the Law Office and departed for his own residence.
XiaoRue watched him leave, still completely confused.
Why was he laughing just now? And what exactly did he mean by saying the place was dangerous for Prince Li?
She turned back toward ManQi, who was also wearing an irritatingly mysterious smile.
"Hey! Tell me! What's so funny about you and the Third Prince?! Is XiaoCie really going to be fine?"
ManQi smiled and gently patted her shoulder, as though he were comforting a worried little child.
"Well, you heard what the Third Prince said, didn't you? Your XiaoCie will be fine. Don't worry!"
XiaoRue still wasn't satisfied.
There was one thing she simply couldn't understand.
"But... why did he also say that the place was dangerous for Prince Li?"
ManQi maintained his smile, but his expression suddenly took on a rather sympathetic look.
"Well, let's just say... it's dangerous for Prince Li because he's too handsome."
With that mysterious answer, ManQi turned around and re-entered the Law Office to prepare the officers according to Prince Li's instructions.
XiaoRue, however, wasn't about to let him get away so easily.
She hurried after him.
"W-WAIT! Explain that properly! I don't understand! How can Prince Li get into trouble just because he's handsome?!"