Chapter 355: Ultimate Goal

In Shang Jing, the Rui Wang Fu, under Prince Rui's series of reckless actions, all the nobles keep their distance from Xiao Yin.

The whole Wangfu is shrouded in a dim, chilling gloom.

The Wangfu, compared with former days, has become even more stifling, returning to its previously oppressive state.

Everyone in the Wangfu must tread with extreme caution, lest they anger the Prince and incur a painful beating.

Even Xiao Yin's close aide Ling Feng speaks and acts with utmost caution.

Suddenly, a rapid footfall broke through the thick night, heading toward the East Garden; two guards handed the pigeon‑delivered letter to Ling Feng.

Ling Feng glanced at it, then hurriedly turned and entered the East Garden study.

The study's lamp was still lit, its amber glow casting a vague silhouette of a tall figure by the window.

It was already ten minutes past midnight, and Xiao Yin remained seated at his desk, unknown what he was writing.

These days Xiao Yin has been frantically handling official affairs, feeling that only this can fill his troubled mind and keep him from recalling the woman who drifted away from him.

At this moment Xiao Yin's heart has already been violently torn, hanging in suspense each day.

He calculated the dates; his two children are probably already born, and he still doesn't know how the three of them—mother and children—are faring, whether they're safe, where they are now.

He has virtually turned Shang Jing and even its surrounding regions upside down; the eight major southern water networks, including the people of the Cao Gang, he has contacted them all, yet still found no trace of Gu Jiu Ling.

The only place that hasn't replied is the Sea Frontier.

The Sea Frontier stretches for ten thousand li, with countless ports; checking each one would likely take ten or eight years without any news.

By now Xiao Yin has seized everything he should, tightened every control, even birds and corpses were not spared, yet not a single piece of information has arrived.

This drove his nerves to the limit; these days he suffers constant insomnia, his mental state deteriorated to the worst.

"Prince," Ling Feng knocked delicately on the door and stepped inside.

Xiao Yin lifted his gaze toward the entering Ling Feng.

Ling Feng's expression showed a hint of excitement; he took the bamboo tube he had retrieved from the pigeon, placed it before Xiao Yin, and said eagerly, "Prince, there's news from the Sea Frontier."

"What did you say?" Xiao Yin sprang up, toppling the chair he was sitting on onto the floor.

He strode a few steps to Ling Feng, snatched the bamboo tube from his hand, and pulled out the silk strip inside to read.

His complexion changed dramatically, and hope reignited in his eyes.

Ling Feng also brightened, chuckling softly, "The brothers' report says that at Quanzhou Port we found traces of Zuo Feichen and Tuo Ba Yu; those two are probably already heading toward Shang Jing."

"Earlier we captured the bird belonging to Tuo Ba Yu's family and unearthed the remains of Zuo Feichen's elders; indeed, someone passed the news to those two."

"Those two can't stay still; they'll return to the capital in a flash. Prince, should we detain them?"

"No need!" Xiao Yin raised his hand, cutting off Ling Feng's words.

He pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "There's no need to stir the grass and frighten the snakes; catching or not catching those two makes no difference."

"Moreover, those two have countless ties with the Princess Consort; we should spare her some face. If I were to lose control and kill them, explaining that to the Princess Consort would be troublesome."

"Let them enter the capital; it's fine. We'll set out for Quanzhou overnight."

"Yes, Prince," Ling Feng turned and hurried out.

Soon, a crowd from the Rui Wang Fu surrounded Xiao Yin as he rode his horse, cutting through the heavy night and charging out of the Rui Wang Fu.

While Prince Rui secretly left the capital to search for his wife's trail, the excavation of the Chongwen Tower was nearly finished the next day.

Yet at the dig site, an astonishing discovery was made.

It turned out to be on the east side of the tower base at the lowest level of the Chongwen Tower, where a hidden passage to a secret chamber was found.

The passage was oddly out of place, appearing directly beneath the tower.

The excavating craftsmen were stunned; after all, it involved the late Emperor, and no one dared speak up.

Emperor Longqing was also taken aback; how could his father's library tower, the Chongwen Tower, have a hidden passage underneath?

Where does this passage lead?

The craftsmen on site dared not touch the passage; Emperor Longqing hurriedly ordered the Ministry of Works to send people to excavate it.

Unexpectedly, the Ministry of Works uncovered an even more shocking secret: the passage wound its way into the palace city itself.

Moreover, the passage's exit was right inside the sleeping quarters of Consort Duan, causing a stir throughout Shang Jing.

Apparently, when the craftsmen pushed the passage forward, it was blocked halfway there.

Now the passage clearly pointed toward the inner palace, and Emperor Longqing erupted in anger, "How could a passage be built into my Imperial Harem?"

Isn't this a way to enter the palace city from outside, as if stepping into an unguarded realm?

If someone were to climb through the Chongwen Tower opening into the palace city and take Emperor Longqing's head off, he wouldn't even know who did it.

Enraged, Emperor Longqing ordered the blocked half of the passage to be dug further; this time he personally oversaw the matter, waiting for news in the Imperial Garden.

Unexpectedly, the passage led straight into Consort Duan's chambers, and at that moment her palace maids were frantically using assorted items to block the opening.

But once such a secret passage is discovered, how can it be sealed?

Immediately, Emperor Longqing summoned Consort Duan to his own chambers for interrogation.

This caused a commotion; Consort Duan's chambers were connected to the Chongwen Tower secret passage, meaning someone could directly enter her quarters.

Consort Duan's status in the Imperial Harem was evident, second only to the Empress.

Because the Emperor recalled old ties with the Li family, he did not elevate Consort Duan to Empress, yet she co‑managed the Imperial Harem and could command its affairs—though not Empress, she was better than one.

Now that this secret passage to Consort Duan's chambers was uncovered, everyone thought of one question.

If the esteemed Consort Duan wishes to see her family, she could simply send a messenger; there's no need for such secrecy.

Only a lecherous husband and concubine would dare sneak into Consort Duan's chambers in this manner.

The entire Shang Jing's public opinion ignited instantly, a massive uproar.

Worse still, someone discovered that the passage beneath the Chongwen Tower was newly constructed.

When the Chongwen Tower was originally built, there was no passage; it was dug out later.

The Ministry of Works officials, seeing it involved a royal scandal, naturally did not delay, dispatching experienced craftsmen to the site for investigation, to reach a consensus.

They said this secret passage was only built when, a year ago, during the re-repair of the Hall of Esteemed Literature's foundation, it was constructed.

And the project of building the Hall of Esteemed Literature's foundation a year ago was contracted out to the Hanlin Academy.

After all, it was just a foundation; the Hanlin Academy's personnel themselves went to the folk to find craftsmen for repairs, and the Imperial Court allocated silver funds.

At that time, the Hanlin Academy had newly appointed an official, namely Gu Cheng of the Gu family.

Gu Cheng was fully responsible for repairing the Hall of Esteemed Literature's foundation; because he handled this task well, his position in the Hanlin Academy became increasingly secure—until this time, when his younger brother replaced him, and now all fingers point at Gu Cheng.

The Gu Minister's Residence was already in an uproar; Gu Shijie turned deathly pale with fright, slammed the table hard and stood up, walked straight to his eldest son's face, pointed at his nose and shouted: 'Speak! What exactly is going on with that underground passage?'

The construction of that foundation—you were the one who handled it back then; when did you dig such a secret passage? Come on, tell us!

If you don't make it clear, the whole Gu family is doomed!

Gu Cheng's face turned livid, his palm clenched into a fist, his brows furrowed, his eyes flickered slightly, and he gritted his teeth and whispered: 'Well done, Gu Kang—after all this trouble, the ultimate target is me!'