Chapter 711: Investigation

Bai Xiaosheng, after finally managing to get Yun Duo to agree to marry him, does not wish to create many troubles; after the wedding, there will naturally be ways for Tuo Ba Yu to bring Xiao Yin's two children over.

Moreover, if Tuo Ba Yu is determined to hide the child, forcing him to take it would also be impossible.

The atmosphere of their conversation remains fairly cordial, and Tuo Ba Yu eventually brings up Gu Jiu Ling.

He lifts his gaze and, with expression, looks at Bai Xiaosheng: "Your Highness, how is Gu Jiu Ling's situation?"

Bai Xiaosheng smiles faintly: "You know the current Empress is eccentric and clever, not easy to get along with; the person is already on the way, but a mishap occurred, so they haven't arrived in Mo Bei yet."

As soon as Bai Xiaosheng finishes speaking, Tuo Ba Yu's expression stiffens slightly.

Seeing Tuo Ba Yu's dejected look, Bai Xiaosheng feels a surge of satisfaction; no one is a fool.

"You, Tuo Ba Yu, promised to hand Xiao Yin's child over to him and exchange it for Gu Jiu Ling's departure, yet now you try to pull an empty‑handed wolf trick."

"If you want to play, then play to the end."

Tuo Ba Yu inhaled, rose slowly: "Your Highness is about to get married soon, you must be busy; I, the Prince, will not stay with you."

He turned to leave, but Bai Xiaosheng stood up and laughed: "Prince, there are some hidden mechanisms and secret passages in the cold house that might injure the Prince. Attendants! Take the Prince to Ke Yuan to stay temporarily!"

"Yes!" the two attendants hurriedly followed Tuo Ba Yu.

Tuo Ba Yu's eyes flashed; he is not letting him go, even keeping an eye on him.

He smiled lightly: "Much obliged!"

Soon Tuo Ba Yu is taken to a secluded manor, surrounded by tall bamboo; the setting is exceptionally elegant, though it is some distance from the other Ke Yuan.

The courtyard, with its in‑and‑out flow, contains flower pots cultivating water lilies and red carp; it feels less like Mo Bei and more like Jiangnan.

Bai Xiaosheng, in Mo Bei where water is pricier than oil, has actually built such a Jiangnan garden; it is indeed rather luxurious.

He lifts his robe hem, sits on a chair, looks at the people who followed Bai Xiaosheng, and smiles lightly: "Thank you both for guiding me. Attendants! Reward!"

The two promptly bow, receive Tuo Ba Yu's reward, then exit the courtyard, but do not go far.

Gu Lv, Tuo Ba Yu's trusted aide, after closing the warm pavilion's door, comes beside him and whispers: "Prince, there are eyes watching from all sides."

Tuo Ba Yu sneers: "House‑arresting me? Good! Truly good!"

"Any news from Xiao Yin's side?"

Gu Lv quickly replies: "Prince, the latest report says the Qian Yuan Emperor is ill and needs to convalesce at the imperial manor in the outskirts; Grand General Zhao Lang may return to the capital to act as regent!"

"What did you say?" Tuo Ba Yu is startled: "Xiao Yin must be insane, letting a heavily armed general become regent?"

Gu Lv hurriedly says: "Prince, the border lands are vacant; should we…"

"No!" Tuo Ba Yu slowly narrows his eyes: "Bei Di is now in chaos; my brother Prince has just ascended the throne, and the tribes below have already rebelled."

"The whole nation is in a mess; where is there capacity to wage war against Southern Qi simultaneously?"

"Moreover, Southern Qi's border defense is not unmanned; Zhao Lang has sealed the frontier city; even if he is summoned back, other generals will replace him; now is not the time to deploy troops."

Gu Lv lowers his head, daring not to speak further.

Tuo Ba Yu suddenly recalls another matter, his brows slightly furrowing.

"Though Xiao Yin was injured in Qi Sha Gu a few years ago, these days Gu Jiu Ling has been nursing him back to health."

"How could he abandon the state and court to convalesce alone in the outskirts? Moreover, with the new dynasty just founded and still unstable, even if his body suffers, he could not rashly leave."

"Unless a major incident occurs, something that forces him to leave."

At this point, Tuo Ba Yu's eyes suddenly brighten.

"If anyone in this world could make Xiao Yin's mind shatter, even abandon the nation, it would be only Gu Jiu Ling."

"It seems this woman has already left Shang Jing."

Gu Lv now realizes and gasps: "Prince, could she be on this island?"

Tuo Ba Yu stands and walks to the window, gazing at the bamboo leaves outside.

He says slowly: "Send word to the people we have placed here, inspect every spot on this island. There are many hidden mechanisms and secret passages; be cautious."

Gu Lv promptly replies, turns, and leaves.

Bai Xiaosheng pays little heed to their master; on the surface the master only brought these dozen or so attendants, but in fact Red Scorpion's people have already infiltrated the island, so checking Gu Jiu Ling's whereabouts is not difficult.

"Stop," Tuo Ba Yu calls out to Gu Lv's steps: "When searching, also see which part of this island has the most people deployed."

"Whether they are covert guards or bodyguards, look closely."

Only a day passes, and Gu Lv, with a solemn expression, stands before Tuo Ba Yu.

"Your Highness, since yesterday guests have been arriving one after another."

"These are well‑known figures from the Great Desert, though they are usually closely connected with Bai Xiaosheng."

"Presumably they are Bai Xiaosheng's confidants, already residing in the courtyard; nothing seems abnormal."

"Only in the southeast corner there is a courtyard where outside there are patrol guards everywhere, and even within the canopy of the flowering trees one can glimpse faint silhouettes."

"As for the number of people… I dare not get too close, fearing to startle the grass and snakes."

"Southeast corner?" Tuo Ba Yu is startled, then waves Gu Lv over.

"You, come here."

Gu Lv hurried to Tuo Ba Yu's side; Tuo Ba Yu leans down, whispers a few instructions into Gu Lv's ear.

Although the island receives many guests, Bai Xiaosheng remains cautious and only invited some confidants.

On the surface it appears to be inviting guests in, but in reality it is the Bai Xiao Men gang's gathering; he only…

Night falls. 590 sits somewhere to mock Yun Duo? The two people A and B are clearly not very skilled. On stage powder, the clothes barely cover those not thin, letting the nearby old women finish… the two later use needles to stitch, using needles to pierce, speaking of adding a point of breakage, somewhat out of place.

The cervical joint exercises and needlework are not great, and moreover it seems there is some matter also related to Yun Duo's indifference, where can he be taken as family.

"Miss Yun Duo is tired, you all go down. Brew some health‑nourishing soup."

"You go to the east side room and bring me the pills I previously left in the east village that you need to give to her; Miss Yun Duo should take medicine now."

"You several go and reduce the flowers in the courtyard by 1000, all know they have reached the sun, each one not to be sad; if your leader finds out, he will truly punish you."

Gu Qiu Lin lines up the maids and old women around him one by one; those maids and old women all know Yun Duo is the hidden heart's tip, now who would dare offend, they must obey Gu Qiu Lin's orders and leave that, after Gu Qiu Lin sends these people out, he looks at Yun Duo before him.

There are still several, and there are still 4 days; that is the day you and Bai Xiaosheng get married. On that day, will we have a meal in Wash Foot City? That example, when reaching the halfway point, after one day 890, at that time you make a little fuss and say you feel unwell. Let me go over and take a look. Afterwards, you don't need to worry about anything; I'll take care of it.