Chapter 25

Search

“Get up,” Li Shimin said. He walked in front of Shen Mo Ping, a half-smile playing on his lips. “It seems we can’t be too careful. You almost got away again.”

Shen Mo Ping remained silent, secretly straining against the ropes. However, this time the knots were tied too tightly, and the ropes were as thick as a thumb—no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break free.

Li Shimin saw his efforts and said, “It’s useless. Unless you have the strength of a thousand men, once you’re tied up, there’s no way to escape.”

Shen Mo Ping glared at him and said, “Did you set this trap?”

“That’s right,” Li Shimin admitted with a nod. “When Eldest Brother wanted to lay an ambush at the pharmacy, I thought the assassin would more likely go to the kitchen. After all, since the assassination attempt, they’ve been on the run with nothing to eat. The medicine was already taken, and the next step would be to steal food from the kitchen to survive. I was right. I not only had guards stationed inside the kitchen, but I also personally set up an ambush outside. I was determined to capture them.”

“Tell me where the other assassin is. I can’t spare your life, but at least I’ll give you a quick death.”

Shen Mo Ping gritted his teeth and said, “I don’t know anything about any assassin. I was just starving and came here to steal some buns. Do I have to die for that?”

One of Li Shimin’s trusted subordinates stepped forward and slapped Shen Mo Ping across the face, shouting harshly, “You’re talking nonsense when your life is on the line. We’ve already investigated your connection with Shen Yunyi, so don’t bother denying it. Speak the truth, and you might spare yourself some pain.”

Shen Mo Ping turned his head, not saying a word. His silence only fueled the guard’s anger, and the guard raised his hand to strike again. But Li Shimin’s voice rang out, “Zhi Xuan, step back!”

Although Duan Zhi Xuan was frustrated, he had always followed Li Shimin’s orders, so he reluctantly retracted his hand and stepped back behind him.

Li Shimin spoke slowly, “Shen Mo Ping, this is your last chance. Once my Eldest Brother arrives, even if you do speak, he won’t let you die easily. Moreover, do you really think a sick and injured woman like her can hide for long? Even if we don’t find her, she’ll die of illness or starvation—she has no way out.”

Shen Mo Ping stared at him for a long while, suddenly chuckling. “Don’t waste your words. If you have the ability, go search for her yourself. You’ll never get anything out of me!”

He knew Li Shimin was speaking the truth. With Yunyi in her current state, it would be hard for her to survive, but at least there was still a slim chance. Once he revealed her whereabouts, there would be no hope for her.

Li Shimin frowned slightly and was about to speak again when hurried footsteps approached, followed by Li Jiancheng’s anxious voice. “Where is the assassin?”

“Big Brother.” Li Shimin called out and pointed to Shen Mo Ping. “This man is the accomplice of the female assassin. I’ve questioned him, but he refuses to reveal where she is hiding.”

Li Jiancheng gave Shen Mo Ping a cold look and smiled icily. “Don’t worry, I’ll make him tell everything, and I’ll make sure he doesn’t leave a single word out!” He then raised his voice and ordered, “Take him to the dungeon and interrogate him properly. Don’t let him die before he reveals where his accomplice is hiding.”

After Shen Mo Ping was taken away, Li Jiancheng showed his first smile in days. “It’s all thanks to you, Second Brother. You knew he would go to the kitchen.”

“As long as he’s human, he still needs to eat grains. After a few days of confinement, he wouldn’t be able to hold out,” Li Shimin replied, furrowing his brow. “But it’s strange—although they’re in the mansion, why can’t we find them? Where are we missing something?”

Li Jiancheng also frowned. “Apart from Father’s residence, Songtao Residence, and Second Mother’s Yuxiu Pavilion, we’ve searched every other place at least three times, including our own rooms. It shouldn’t be that we’ve missed something.” His expression suddenly changed as he blurted out, “Could they be hiding in Father’s or Second Mother’s residence to avoid our search?” He hadn’t considered the ice cellar at all because it was too cold to endure.

Li Shimin thought for a moment and said, “If we suspect that, I’ll take people to search first thing tomorrow. We won’t be able to rest easy until we find the other assassin.”

Li Jiancheng shook his head and sighed. “Rest easy? That’s not so easy. After we capture these two, who knows when another group will be sent? It’s impossible to guard against.”

Although he didn’t explicitly say it, Li Shimin understood the implication. He immediately said, “Don’t worry too much, Eldest Brother. When we go to Songtao Residence tomorrow, if the opportunity arises, I’ll try to speak with Father about it.”

Li Jiancheng nodded. “It seems we have no choice. I hope Father makes a decision soon. By the way, be careful when you go to Yuxiu Pavilion tomorrow. I’m afraid Second Mother won’t let you search it easily.”

“I understand, don’t worry, Eldest Brother.” After dealing with the follow-up matters in the kitchen, Li Shimin returned to Jingde Hall to rest. As dawn broke, he opened his eyes, quickly freshened up, and instructed Duan Zhihong to bring people to Yuxiu Pavilion. As he was about to step out of Jingde Hall, a servant hurried over and whispered something in his ear. After hearing the message, Li Shimin nodded and said, “Got it, you can go now.”

When they arrived at Yuxiu Pavilion, Wan Shi was still in the process of getting dressed. Upon hearing the report from the servant, she raised an eyebrow. “Search Yuxiu Pavilion?”

“That’s what Second Young Master said. The people are already here, waiting outside,” the servant replied. As soon as the servant finished speaking, one of the maids who had been combing Wan Shi’s hair scolded, “How dare they! Is this how the Yuxiu Pavilion is treated—just searched whenever they want? Second Young Master clearly has no respect for the mistress.”

She then turned to Wan Shi and asked, “Mistress, should I send someone to send Second Young Master away?”

Wan Shi sneered coldly. “They’re already here. Do you think they can be sent away just like that?”

The maid hesitated. “Then should we just let Second Young Master search Yuxiu Pavilion? They’ve already shown their displeasure with the mistress before. If we allow this, they may grow even more disrespectful, and then…”

“Whatever their dissatisfaction is, I am still their Second Madam. I am the Second Lady of this residence!” Wan Shi said firmly as she inserted a white jade hairpin into her hair. Turning to the servant waiting nearby, she ordered, “Go ahead and invite Second Young Master in.”

“Yes, Mistress.” After the servant left, it wasn’t long before Li Shimin, dressed in a sky-blue brocade robe, entered and respectfully said, “Greetings, Second Madam.”

Wan Shi stood up with the help of her maid and walked over to Li Shimin. She spoke slowly, “I hear that Second Young Master is here to search Yuxiu Pavilion? Do you suspect I’m hiding an assassin?”