Liu Rumei was just about to open her mouth to stop him when Xue Zhan had already jumped down.
Seeing this, several yamen runners glanced at each other. Gritting their teeth, they could only follow suit and jump down.
About the time it took to drink a cup of tea later, Xue Zhan returned with the others.
Zhang Yan instantly let out a sigh of relief. "My lord."
Xue Zhan patted the dust on his forehead and said to Liu Rumei, "Come with me."
Liu Rumei nodded and followed him out of the dye - works and headed outside the city.
The yamen runners who stayed there quickly stepped aside when they saw the two coming.
Looking at the towering city wall in front of her, Liu Rumei frowned. "This is..."
Zhang Yan said indifferently, "One li forward along this city wall is the city gate."
Liu Rumei looked at the exit of the secret passage. Turning around, she soon found the hole that Yun Xi had mentioned before. "After getting out, it's the place where Li Yin was killed."
Zhang Yan nodded. "That's right. It's exactly here."
They never thought that Zhao San had been right under their noses all along.
Looking at the messy footprints at the entrance of the hole, Liu Rumei frowned slightly. "He's leading so many people. He shouldn't have gone far."
How could Xue Zhan not understand this truth? "I've already sent people to search. But now that they've left the capital, I don't know where they've gone. However, Zhao San should also know that I'll surely send people to chase after them. So, he'll surely find a place to hide and wait for an opportunity. In this case, it'll be even more difficult for us to find them."
Liu Rumei pondered for a moment and suddenly said, "I always feel that Zhao San won't leave the capital! Otherwise, he would have left when his tracks were exposed and he was targeted by Lord Xue."
Nor would he have gone to the Flower Tower.
Xue Zhan thought for a while and also nodded. "But now, we've already alerted the enemy. Unless we can make Lin Chunhua talk, I'm afraid..."
Thinking of this, Zhang Yan also sighed.
By the time Liu Rumei finally took a rest and returned to the Prince Guoan's Mansion, it was already the period of Chou (1:00 - 3:00 am).
After a hasty wash, she lay in bed, tossing and turning, but couldn't fall asleep all night.
The next day.
When it was broad daylight, Liu Rumei was munching on a sugar - coated hawthorn stick as she walked towards the outside of the city.
Sixi followed beside Liu Rumei, full of puzzlement in her eyes. "Miss Liu, aren't we going to the yamen today?"
Liu Rumei shook her head. "No. We've been through a lot these days. Today we'll go for a stroll outside the city."
After saying that, she turned to Ye Zhe beside her. "Don't show up today without my order."
Ye Zhe's expression paused for a moment. He glanced at Liu Rumei and immediately nodded. "Yes."
As soon as the words fell, Ye Zhe beside her disappeared.
Sixi looked extremely stunned. "Where... where did he go?"
Liu Rumei shook her head. "I don't know."
Then she dragged Sixi out of the city gate. The intense summer heat was gradually receding, and it was a good time for a stroll. When they came to the lake, the clear blue water was rippling, the willows swayed gently, and the gentle breeze carried the faint fragrance of flowers.
Liu Rumei lazily stretched her waist, walked into the pavilion, and sat down leisurely. Her beautiful eyes looked at the calm lake, enjoying this rare scenery.
Seeing Liu Rumei looking so comfortable, Sixi frowned again. "Miss, the case hasn't been solved yet. Is it really okay that we don't go to the yamen?"
Liu Rumei smiled. "I'm just a coroner. Naturally, Lord Xue and the Crown Prince will handle the case. Why should I worry about it? However, what you said reminds me that I haven't informed Lord Xue yet. How about you go and tell him?"
Hearing this, Sixi frowned even more. She always felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
Liu Rumei urged her, "Hurry up. Don't let Lord Xue worry."
"But..."
Seeing Sixi hesitating, Liu Rumei whispered in her ear, "With Guard Ye here, I'll be fine. Hurry back and tell Lord Xue. He'll understand what I mean."
Thinking of Ye Zhe who suddenly disappeared, Sixi couldn't help but feel relieved. She bowed respectfully to Liu Rumei. "I'll go right away."
Liu Rumei nodded with a faint smile. "Be careful."
"Yes."
Not far away.
Ning Yan'er in a purple dress looked at the indifferent figure standing in the pavilion. Almost instantly, she recognized who it was.
A deep - seated hatred flashed across her eyes!
A Bi noticed Ning Yan'er's strange expression and couldn't help but follow her gaze. Seeing Liu Rumei standing in the pavilion, she also gritted her teeth. "Your Highness..."
Ning Yan'er withdrew her gaze and said indifferently, "Steer the pleasure boat closer."
A Bi nodded and then turned to give instructions to the boatman.
At this time, a girl in a pink dress walked out of the pleasure boat. Seeing the boat getting closer to the shore, she frowned and walked up to Ning Yan'er affectionately. "Your Highness, what are you doing?"
Ning Yan'er smiled. "I've seen an acquaintance. Sister won't mind, will you?"
The girl in the pink dress smiled sweetly. "Of course not. But I have to see which sister it is!"
However, when she saw Liu Rumei standing in the pavilion, her face instantly changed. "It's her?"
There was still a smile on Ning Yan'er's lips. She softly called out, "Miss Liu."
Hearing this familiar voice, Liu Rumei's expression paused for a moment. Then she calmly said, "Greetings to Your Highness."
Ning Yan'er slowly stepped off the pleasure boat. "Why is Miss Liu alone today?"
Liu Rumei smiled calmly. "I just went out for a stroll."
Ning Yan'er nodded, with an elegant smile on her face. "In that case, would Miss Liu like to come on board and have a chat?"
Liu Rumei looked up and saw the girl in the pink dress who had danced in the palace that day.
Ning Yan'er said with a faint smile, "This is Miss Bai of the Bai family, Bai Jinmian."
Bai Jinmian saw the smile on Ning Yan'er's face and forced a smile. "Miss Liu."
Seeing the forced smile on Bai Jinmian's face, Liu Rumei said with a faint smile, "I'm not feeling well today. Your Highness might as well enjoy the scenery with Miss Bai."
Seeing Liu Rumei being so ungrateful, Bai Jinmian's face instantly showed displeasure.
However, Ning Yan'er stepped forward, walked into the pavilion, and sat down beside her. "That's fine. The scenery of the pavilion where Miss Liu is staying is also nice. Jinmian, let's take a rest here."
Bai Jinmian gritted her teeth and nodded. "I'll do as Your Highness says."
Liu Rumei frowned slightly and then stopped talking.
Looking at Liu Rumei's indifferent face, Ning Yan'er was so angry that she gritted her teeth. But the smile on her face remained unchanged. "Does Miss Liu know where the prince has gone recently?"
Liu Rumei shook her head. "I don't know."
Bai Jinmian leaned against the railing unhappily. Suddenly, she noticed that the railing was in disrepair. A smile curved her lips. "Miss Liu lives in the Prince Guoan's Mansion. How could you not know where the prince has gone?"
Just then, a maid came into the pavilion with tea. When passing by Bai Jinmian, Bai Jinmian suddenly stood up and bumped the maid towards Liu Rumei.