Princess, she is the one who facilitated the extradition.

"They were both around forty years old and carrying swords, so they must know martial arts."

Water Float tried hard to recall, "But it was all a bit childish. It seems like we fought with mud, getting each other covered in it, before going to the river to bathe."

If they possess martial arts skills, they should have been able to detect the appearance of the Chai family.

Gui Yao asked Shui Piao this question.

Shui Piao nodded. "She was indeed discovered. One of the men scolded the old woman, who seemed frightened. She had been covering her face with a veil, but after being scolded, she didn't even put the veil back on and ran away with a pale face, forgetting to take her basket."

He knew nothing about what happened after the old woman left the riverbank; he was trapped in the river and could not see anything else.

What's so special about their appearance?

"They are all quite good-looking and have good figures. Judging from the skin on their faces, they should not be from poor families."

One of them was carrying a bundle. He was wearing white clothes before going into the river, but changed into black clothes after bathing…

Shui Piao carefully recalled the events of that day, "The other one didn't bring any clothes, he dried them himself, I don't know if it was the legendary internal energy."

The two seemed to have a strained relationship; they barely spoke during the shower and parted ways afterward.

This means it doesn't have any special features, but it still provides clues.

Gui Yao handed him the travel permit and placed a wisp of spiritual energy between his eyebrows. "This wisp of spiritual energy can help you send dreams to your wife and daughters."

She took a piece of white paper and said, "Tell me your wife and daughter's information, and I will send someone to give them twenty taels of silver as a reward for providing the information."

The river was right in the passageway, and people often passed by, so it wouldn't be difficult for Shui Piao to find a substitute.

But he stayed in that river for several years, which shows he was kind-hearted. Also, Shui Piao was wearing a coarse cloth short jacket with pudding, which shows his family was poor.

Gui Yao was willing to help him.

Upon hearing this, Shui Piao was overjoyed and knelt down with a thud to express her gratitude, "Thank you, Princess, thank you, Princess..."

He left full of gratitude.

The others, who were offered rewards for providing information, tried their best to recall, but unfortunately, none of them provided any useful information.

Chai Shiyue also said that her mother went out wearing a veil that day, and she probably only took off the veil when she was performing sacrifices at the mass grave and washing herself by the river, so not many ghosts recognized her.

Just when Gui Yao thought there would be no more news, the water sprite from before hurriedly ran back.

"I remember now, the person who left in black had a red birthmark on the back of his neck."

He gestured the famous location and pattern, exactly as Chai Shiyue described.

After Gui Yao finished his funeral rites, he informed Chai Shiyue of the news he had inquired about.

A red birthmark on the back of the neck? That matches the age.

Upon hearing this, Chai Shiyue exclaimed excitedly, "That's my brother! He really is in the capital!"

Then she was puzzled, "But if it's my brother, shouldn't Mother be happy to have found him? Why did she leave in fright, and then come back..."

Did he commit suicide?

This is also the reason why the matter remains unsolved.

"After that, I asked many ghosts, but no one provided any other useful clues."

Shui Piao was just an ordinary person, not skilled in painting, and not even very good at describing people's appearances.

Therefore, she was also unable to find out where Chai Shiyue's brother went afterward, or whether he had any contact with the Chai family.

There's a problem.

The power of her vows grew stronger and stronger around Chai Shiyue.

"Princess, there must be something wrong with my mother's death. She longed to find my brother day and night, so it's impossible that she would commit suicide after seeing him. Please help me find out the truth."

"I will."

Gui Yao glanced at her stomach and said, "You're pregnant, so it's best not to get too emotional."

Zhao Mingyue also tried to comfort her, and Chai Shiyue's condition gradually calmed down, but she couldn't wipe away her tears no matter how hard she tried.

Gui Yao took out a slip of paper and twenty taels of silver from his sleeve and handed it to Zhao Mingyue, saying, "Have someone deliver this to them."

Zhao Mingyue had many servants, so this was a simple matter for her, and she readily agreed.

"I'll go."

Chai Shiyue replied, "I'll go myself."

The water ghost provided a useful clue, and she wanted to repay the water ghost's kindness in person.

Zhao Mingyue was worried about her, "Then I'll go with you."

It's good to give her something to do, so she won't overthink things.

Gui Yao had no objection to this. She didn't sleep all night and went back to Xuanji Tower to catch up on her sleep.

Meanwhile, Zhang Ming slept soundly through the night, and after having breakfast, he went to the Duke of Zhenguo's study.

"Godfather".

He bowed and asked, "What can I do for you?"

After returning home for a few days, his adoptive father always told him to eat and sleep well. He was eager to go home and wanted to finish the tasks his adoptive father had assigned him as soon as possible.

Zhenguo Gongzheng was resting with his eyes closed on a recliner.

The fall that day made him even more worried about death, so he took care of himself whenever he had free time.

Upon seeing him arrive, she slowly rose and gestured for Zhang Ming to sit beside her. "Something happened at home. Are you aware of it?"

Zhang Ming nodded, "I know a little. The Second Master was exiled, and the Empress was deposed."

"That's not all."

The Duke of Zhenguo sighed, "I also almost lost my life in the Hall of State Affairs."

"What?"

Zhang Ming immediately stood up, tense. "Who wants to harm my godfather?"

He had no interest in getting involved in the affairs of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and since no one told him about them, he didn't ask any further questions.

The Duke of Zhenguo pressed his hand down, "Don't be impulsive, sit down and listen to your godfather explain slowly."

Then, the Duke of Zhenguo told Zhang Ming about everything that had happened in the Zhang family in the past few days.

Naturally, the story was a mix of truth and falsehood. "To be honest, it was my fault. I later discovered that the Bai family had replaced Bai Yunshu."

But the second son liked Bai Shi, was happy with her, and had a son named Zhang Ji. Bai Yunshu had no feelings for the second son, and the two were always indifferent to each other.

Privately, I just wanted my children and grandchildren to be happy, so I didn't interfere too much. I knew that Bai was such a vicious person.

My second son's current predicament is partly his fault, but also partly my fault.

As for the Empress, it's probably because of my influence. The Zhang family's excessive power inevitably made the Emperor wary, and deposing the Empress was just the beginning of suppressing the Zhang family.

He touched his forehead with his fingers. "As for my injury, I only know that I was pushed hard that day."

If I hadn't reacted quickly, and had hit my forehead directly, I'm afraid I would have either died or become mentally impaired.

If I were to become mentally unstable and disappear, the Zhang family would naturally cease to be a force to be reckoned with.

Zhang Ming frowned. "Does Godfather mean that the person who attacked you was one of His Majesty's men?"

The Duke of Zhenguo did not answer directly, but only sighed, "In the morning court, under His Majesty's very nose, who would dare to lay a hand on this old man?"

Unless His Majesty gives the instruction.

Zhang Ming's brows furrowed even deeper. "What does Godfather want me to do?"

His adoptive father sent him a message urging him to return to the capital, and then spoke to him about these things; it wasn't just grumbling.

The Duke of Zhenguo's brows furrowed with anxiety. "You know that child is not very shrewd. I'm worried that the Emperor will use him against the Zhang family."

He spent several years in the imperial estate, and you were there for him. The child also appreciated your sincerity.

Therefore, I hope you can get in touch with the Crown Prince and protect him from being manipulated by others. If you have the opportunity, please check on the Empress's current situation for me.

So that's what it is.

Zhang Ming secretly breathed a sigh of relief and agreed, "Okay."

More than getting close to the Crown Prince, he feared that the Duke of Zhenguo would order him to kill and commit evil. In his youth, he thought his adoptive father was the best person in the world.

Until he was seventeen, something happened that made him realize that his godfather was not what he had imagined.

Therefore, he left the Zhang family and never participated in anything related to them again. However, it is true that his adoptive father saved his life and that he was truly grateful for his upbringing.

Over the years, apart from the few years when he was sent to the imperial estate to accompany the crown prince, his adoptive father never ordered him around like he did with his other adopted sons.

They even sent him money, allowing him to live freely all these years without asking for anything in return, which is why Zhang Tuo and the others were jealous of him.

Knowing he owed his adoptive father a debt of gratitude, he received a letter from him and returned to the capital.

The Duke patted his hand, "Once the family gets through this crisis, your godfather will let you return to the world you love, and will never bother you with trivial matters again, okay?"

His face was full of weariness, and there was still a trace of the weakness of old age.

Thinking of the Duke of Zhenguo's youthful vigor, Zhang Ming felt a pang of sadness.

"My godfather saved my life, and it is only right that I repay him."

However, after doing this, he will definitely not return to Beijing again.

Their childhood sweetheart, because of something that happened when they were seventeen, they parted ways and wasted more than twenty years. Three years ago, they finally reconciled and got married.

Last year, his wife gave birth to a daughter who looked like a glutinous rice ball, and the thought of it made his heart melt.

For the sake of his wife and daughter, he could no longer have any contact with the capital. Although he didn't really understand his adoptive father, he knew that he couldn't completely believe what his adoptive father had just said.

This bento box was to repay his kindness. For the rest of his life, his life would only consist of his wife and daughter, and he would stay with them for a long, long time.

Thinking of his wife and daughter, a gentle smile appeared on his lips, and the Duke of Zhenguo took all of this into account.

His face still showed a look of someone who could only rely on his son, but a ruthless edge was hidden beneath his drooping eyelids.

Unaware of this, Zhang Ming quickly composed himself, not wanting his adoptive father to know his current situation. After carefully inquiring about the Crown Prince's current condition, he left the Zhang residence intending to try to contact the Crown Prince.

The person he was looking for was outside Xuanji Tower at that moment.

The Crown Prince wanted Gui Yao to help him find Bao Zhu's soul. This time, he invited the King of Shu to come along, just in case Gui Yao avoided him again...