Princess, she is the one who facilitated the extradition.

"What's wrong with him?"

Watching Zhang Ming being carried back to the East Palace by Xiao Huaijin, the Crown Prince asked Gui Yao, "What happened?"

Wasn't she going to reunite with her relatives? Why did she faint? Is she heartbroken?

Gui Yao glanced at the palace servants guarding the Crown Prince's sides. "Your Highness, can I trust you?"

The crown prince hesitated for a moment, then waved away the palace servants. "What do you mean?"

"Please, Your Highness, protect Zhang Ming's life."

Gui Yao feigned composure and recounted how the Duke of Zhenguo had plotted against Zhang Ming and his mother.

"Zhang Ming cannot accept this truth, and no one in the world can bear such a thing."

He had just gone to find the Duke of Zhenguo with the intention of dying, but I knocked him unconscious.

But there's no guarantee he won't go back once he wakes up. Before his wife arrives in the capital, I would like to ask Your Highness to look after him. Is that possible?

The prince nodded, his hands clasped behind his back, fists clenched tightly.

During the years they spent together in Huangzhuang, Zhang Ming knew that he had never gone on a campaign, but he never revealed a word of it to the outside world.

At the same time, I felt a chill in my heart; how could my maternal grandfather be so despicable and vile?

Zhang Mingke is his adopted son.

Then he thought, Baozhu is his own niece, when has he ever shown any mercy to her?

Gui Yao, observing his expression, knew that his provocation had succeeded. He pressed on, saying, "The Duke of Zhenguo must have had a purpose in sending Zhang Ming to the capital."

If he disappears for several days, the Duke of Zhenguo will surely become suspicious and investigate. Could Your Highness cooperate by staging another charade?

Following Gui Yao's train of thought, the Crown Prince realized that the Duke of Zhenguo wanted Zhang Ming to return to the capital to keep an eye on him.

But was it really just about keeping an eye on him?

The Crown Prince dared not underestimate the Duke of Zhenguo, but he understood Gui Yao's words: "You want the Duke of Zhenguo to believe that Zhang Ming secretly left the capital?"

"Yes."

Gui Yao glanced at Zhang Ming and sighed, "Zhang Ming is doomed if he falls into his hands."

No matter what the Duke of Zhenguo wants to do with Zhang Ming, as long as she hides Zhang Ming, the Duke of Zhenguo's conspiracy will be difficult to carry out.

The darkest place is under the lamp; the Eastern Palace is the best hiding place.

The Duke of Zhenguo was arrogant and probably never imagined that the Crown Prince had already betrayed him.

The Crown Prince nodded slightly. "Very well, I will go to the horse farm tomorrow to select a few good horses. At that time, I will go to the Duke of Zhenguo to ask Zhang Ming to accompany me."

Gui Yao seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "This humble woman thanks Your Highness."

"No need."

The crown prince waved his hand, "How's the matter I asked you to investigate?"

Zhang Ming's affair gave him a new understanding of the Duke of Zhenguo's ruthlessness, and made him even more worried about his sister.

Gui Yao's expression softened slightly. "We're starting to see some progress."

The prince nodded, signaling her to hurry.

Xiao Huaijin was still waiting outside the East Palace. Gui Yao thought that Chai Shiyue also needed to keep quiet, so she took her leave.

After Gui Yao left, he instructed the palace servants about Zhang Ming's whereabouts that day, and then went to the imperial study to tell the emperor about Zhang Ming.

The more he feared the Duke of Zhenguo, the more he trusted and relied on his father, the Emperor.

After hearing this, the emperor frowned and cursed, "A beast in human clothes."

He then said with concern, "Your Highness, this man is wicked and inhuman. You must be careful and not fall into his trap."

The Crown Prince nodded repeatedly, then relayed Gui Yao's request, "Father, is it alright for me to help Gui Yao?"

Although the Emperor seems to treat Gui Yao well, Gui Yao is, after all, the Princess Consort of Nan Yao.

The emperor wanted to roll his eyes again.

He thought to himself, "If your sister hadn't thought you could still be saved and was willing to help you, she wouldn't have come looking for you at all. With Zhuzhu'er's abilities, how could she not have hidden Zhang Ming?"

But he still patiently asked, "Since Gui Yao came to the capital, have any of the people you dealt with been wrongly accused?"

His daughter went to great lengths to stir things up, so he had to cooperate.

The crown prince shook his head. "No."

It also brought in a considerable amount of silver for the national treasury and returned the military power held by the second uncle to the emperor.

The emperor patiently explained, "Last time she dealt with your second uncle, she has become a thorn in the side of the Duke of Zhenguo."

"This time, with Zhang Ming involved, the two of you are bound to clash. Gui Yao's actions against the Duke of Zhenguo are helping us, father and son. Your cooperation with her is also to protect the Feng family's empire."

At this point, the emperor felt a chill run down his spine.

Zhang Lao Er has now fallen out with Bai Shi and is suffering physically and mentally on the road. It is said to be very miserable. Zhang Bingsong must hate Zhu Zhu'er to the extreme.

A person in a high position who suffers such a great loss must seek revenge, but he has not taken any action so far.

Could it be that Zhang Ming's affair was something he used to get revenge on Zhuzhu'er?

No, he has to remind Zhuzhu to be careful.

The crown prince noticed his unusual expression and asked, "Father, what's wrong?"

The emperor composed himself. "Your father is worried that if Zhang Bingsong realizes that you no longer trust him, he will take action against you. Evil magic is hard to guard against."

If this matter is directed at Zhuzhu, how will he deal with her?

"Your Highness, for your safety, you and I, father and son, must join forces and eliminate him as soon as possible."

The Crown Prince was deeply moved by the words and resolved to use his brain more to share his father's burdens, while ensuring that the Duke of Zhenguo would not suspect anything.

Tomorrow, tomorrow he will go to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and put on a good show.

The Duke of Zhenguo was frowning at this moment.

The secret guards just reported that the man who was tracking Zhang Ming was dead.

The man in black robes asked suspiciously, "Who could have done this?"

The Duke of Zhenguo slowly shook his head. He had not yet found anything, and Zhang Ming was also nowhere to be found.

"I only know that Zhang Ming went to the East Palace today. I will send a message to the palace to see if there is anything unusual there today."

About an hour later, the guard replied, "Zhang Ming had his Yin Eye opened by Gui Yao at the mass grave that day. He came to the palace today to ask the Crown Prince to help him reconcile with Gui Yao."

But Gui Yao refused to make a move, so Zhang Ming chased after her out of the palace.

"Today is the burial of Lady Chai."

The man in the black robe frowned. "Will Gui Yao go there?"

If she goes, wouldn't Zhang Ming, who is with her, also go there? Once Zhang Ming learns the truth, he will come to seek revenge on the Duke of Zhenguo. If he comes, their plan can be pushed forward again.

Wonderful!

The Duke of Zhenguo also thought of this and hurriedly sent someone to inquire. Soon the news came.

"Zhang Ming didn't go to the cemetery; only Gui Yao went. My subordinates were afraid they would lie, so they used some tricks on the Zhao family's servants and interrogated Chai Shiyue's husband's family. Their accounts were consistent."

Gui Yao's speed was too fast, beyond the reach of ordinary people; perhaps Zhang Ming lost track of him.

Seeing her withered fingers, the woman in black robes felt her joy turn to disappointment. She tapped the table in frustration, "So, Zhang Ming still doesn't know anything. The progress is too slow."

She couldn't wait to possess Gui Yao's young body.

The Duke of Zhenguo fell into deep thought, "If Gui Yao can suspect Zhang Tuo, then logically the investigation should also lead to Zhang Ming."

If they suspected Zhang Ming, why didn't they take Zhang Ming to the cemetery to recognize him?

"Could it be that the people at the cemetery are lying, or that Guiyao has erased their memories?"

"Erasing memories consumes spiritual energy, and from what I've observed, Gui Yao cherishes her spiritual energy very much."

The man in black robes pondered, "She has no relation to Zhang Ming, why would she expend her hard-earned spiritual energy for him?"

If it were her, there would be no way she would do it, and Gui Yao doesn't seem like a kind-hearted person either.

But what they didn't know was the financial power Gui Yao was using this time.

However, Zhao Mingyue insisted on paying. Everyone in the cemetery received five taels of gold, and if they kept quiet about Zhang Ming's appearance, they would receive another five taels.

Conversely, if the secret is leaked, not only will the gold have to be returned, but they will also be sold off.

Ten taels of gold was an astronomical sum for slaves and servants. As long as the people from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion didn't take their lives, they wouldn't tell the truth.

The Chai family members who have passed away today are Chai Shiyue's husband and father-in-law. Zhang Ming is Shiyue's brother, so if they are both in trouble, they will all suffer.

Besides, they depend on the Zhao family for their livelihood, so they would never speak carelessly.

The Duke of Zhenguo was unaware of these matters, but he wanted Zhang Ming to know about them as soon as possible. However, he couldn't reveal the truth too obviously, otherwise Gui Yao would become suspicious.

Unable to find Zhang Ming, he thought of Zhang Tuo.

Zhang Tuo had been in a daze for the past few days. When he learned that the Duke of Zhenguo was looking for him, he quickly washed his face, opened his eyes, and went to the Duke of Zhenguo's study.

"Godfather, you've been looking for me."

Seeing his forced composure, the Duke of Zhenguo chuckled, "Were you terrified?"

Zhang Tuo's heart skipped a beat. Just as he was wondering what his godfather meant by those words and whether he knew something, he realized something was wrong.

The Duke of Zhenguo continued, "Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles; since ancient times, the ladder to success has always been paved with blood."

Tuo'er, your godfather has always been strict with you, but isn't that because he values ​​you?

"When you achieve great things in the future, you will be a person of high standing. How can you be so frightened by such a trivial matter and become estranged from your godfather?"

"Godfather has misunderstood."

Zhang Tuo hurriedly knelt down, "Your son has never been estranged from your godfather. Your son... your son just can't understand..."

"I can't understand why my godfather wanted Zhang Ming and Chai to be together?"

The Duke of Zhenguo laughed, "Because neither Lady Chai nor Zhang Ming know what's good for them."