"Your Majesty, this humble servant has been in this room all along and hasn't seen the suspicious person you mentioned," Li Zongguan replied humbly. Xin Yeheng stared directly at Li Zongguan. The wrinkled eyes were clear, showing no trace of falsehood. It seemed that he was really telling the truth. Xin Yeheng smiled. "Although Li Zongguan says so, Fenghe Hall is so large. I still want to search it. After all, you, Li Zongguan, are a favorite in front of the Crown Prince. I can't neglect you. If you get hurt, how can I explain it to the Crown Prince when he comes back?"
"This... Your Majesty, you think too highly of this humble servant. This humble servant has a worthless life and is not worth your attention," Li Zongguan's words still carried a hint of neither over - humility nor over - arrogance, which didn't displease Xin Yeheng. Xin Yeheng smiled. "Li Zongguan, look at what you're saying. Those who work in my palace, I'm responsible for safeguarding their safety. So, Li Zongguan, don't say any more. Guards, go in and search carefully for me."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Commander Zhang, who led the troops behind the Eleventh Prince, waved his hand at the soldiers behind him. "Search thoroughly and clearly for His Majesty. Don't miss any corner of Fenghe Hall!"
Xin Zizhao and the others hiding in the dark heard the conversation between Xin Yeheng and Li Zongguan. They were very grateful to Li Zongguan for covering for them, but this was enough. From then on, it was up to them to handle the situation. They couldn't let Li Zongguan take more risks for them.
Your Majesty, Empress, please don't be discovered! Li Zongguan silently prayed for his two beloved masters in his heart.
After the soldiers entered Fenghe Hall, anxiety and worry were all written on the old man's face. Xin Yeheng glanced at him. Sure enough, the Crown Prince and Sister Xuan were here. Xin Yeheng was quite glad that he had snatched Qi Ha'er's task. Otherwise, they would surely have been discovered by Qi Ha'er.
Xin Zizhao and Wei Shuxuan were hiding in the flowing water under the small bridge in the back courtyard. Both of them could dive, but Wei Shuxuan was obviously a better swimmer than Xin Zizhao. After all, she had received systematic training before time - traveling. She puffed out her cheeks and saw that Xin Zizhao, who was holding her, seemed a bit uncomfortable.
Wei Shuxuan didn't expect Xin Zizhao to run out of breath so quickly. She looked around and saw a lotus pond nearby. It was just the blooming season of lotuses. The lotuses were in full bloom, and large green lotus leaves were clustered together, head to head. She held Xin Zizhao and swam under the lotus leaves. Taking advantage of no one noticing, she quickly poked her head out, took a big breath of air, and then exhaled it into Xin Zizhao's mouth.
Originally, it was Xin Zizhao who was holding her, but now it was her holding Xin Zizhao, who was a bit uncomfortable due to lack of oxygen. She looked at Xin Zizhao and shook her head, signaling him not to move. Xin Zizhao nodded.
As for Wei Wei and Xin Shang, they had fled to the exit of the back hall of Fenghe Hall and escaped. So, the soldiers didn't find any of the four of them.
"Report, no one was found in the back hall!"
"Report, no one was found in the rooms or the main hall either!"
"Report, no one was found in the garden, the kitchen, or on the rooftops!"
Xin Yeheng glanced at Li Zongguan and smiled gently. "Li Zongguan, you've really worked hard. And if you see any suspicious people, please inform my men immediately. We'll protect you well."
"Yes, Your Majesty. This humble servant understands."
Li Zongguan was extremely scared when the soldiers were searching Fenghe Hall, but he couldn't show it on his face. He could only silently worry about Xin Zizhao and Wei Shuxuan in his heart. However, his eyes and expressions had already betrayed his inner thoughts. Xin Yeheng saw it but didn't say it out directly.
"Let's go!"
"Seeing Your Majesty off!" Li Zongguan immediately bowed to Xin Yeheng.
As soon as he saw Xin Yeheng leading the soldiers walking away, Li Zongguan immediately closed the main gate and softly called Xin Zizhao and Wei Shuxuan's names. "Your Majesty, Empress, where are you?"
"We're here, Li Zongguan."
Wei Shuxuan supported Xin Zizhao and poked their heads out of the water. Li Zongguan reached out his hand to help them. After they got on the shore, their whole bodies were wet. Wei Wei and Xin Shang had already noticed that Xin Yeheng had led the soldiers away and had returned to Fenghe Hall.
Li Zongguan found two sets of clothes in their original room for Xin Zizhao and Wei Shuxuan to change into. "You two change your clothes quickly. I'll go to the kitchen to cook some ginger soup for you to dispel the cold. Why did you hide in such a place..."
In Huaman Palace, Xin Yeheng lowered his head and didn't look at Qi Ha'er. Qi Ha'er frowned and looked at the young man in front of him whose stature had grown. "What did you say? You couldn't find them?"
"Yes. There was nothing in Fenghe Hall except an old servant."
"Call Commander Zhang over. I'll ask him myself."
"Yes."
After repeatedly confirming with Commander Zhang, Qi Ha'er finally believed what Xin Yeheng said. "Forget it. Since they're not there, then it's fine. Maybe it's just a rumor. Go back and rest."
"Yes."
After the search, Fenghe Hall became quiet. Wei Shuxuan thought that as long as Ge Zian received Xin Zizhao's message sent by carrier pigeon, the Ge Family Army outside could surround the palace at any time, forming a tight encirclement net.
After changing his clothes, Xin Zizhao immediately started writing a letter to Ge Zian. Outside, Ge Zian was extremely worried because he hadn't received Xin Zizhao's message by carrier pigeon for so long. Had something happened to them inside?
"Stop thinking about it. Let's charge in now!" Ge Long'an had already put on his armor.
"Father, what are you talking about! You'll tip off the enemy and implicate Xuan'er and Young Master Xin!" Ge Zian was really at a loss with his father.
"Okay, okay. I'll wait here."
Ge Long'an sat aside, waiting for Xin Zizhao's notice. Soon, a white pigeon flew out and landed steadily in Ge Zian's hand. He quickly glanced at the letter from Xin Zizhao. "It's okay. Let's set off now!"
Ge Zian led the vanguard troops. First, they quietly sneaked into the palace and replaced all the guards with their own people. Then, Ge Long'an led most of the troops. After the elite soldiers entered the palace, the vanguard troops guarded all the exits of the palace, preventing anyone from leaving, while Ge Long'an led the men straight for the enemy's lair.
"Zian should have already entered. Let's go out too."
The Ge Family Army formed an encirclement net both inside and outside the palace.