Chapter 132: Stopping a Passerby for Directions

"All right, I understand. Thank you, Father," Yan Heru replied.

The word "Father" left the Regent stunned on the spot.

"You... what did you just call me?" He seemed uncertain, yearning to hear it once more.

Yan Heru had never expected that the dignified Regent of the Nanyang Kingdom could have such an endearing side. She realized that his reaction stemmed from the long years of separation from his eldest daughter, which had clearly left him filled with guilt.

Softening, Yan Heru spoke the word again, "Father."

"Ah! Yes! Splendid! Hahaha!" The Regent burst into hearty, joyous laughter.

"Alright, Father, now that my sister has forgiven you, you can stop standing there grinning foolishly. We must focus on finding the Third Prince and deciding on our respective roles," Qi Shengsheng interrupted the Regent’s mirth.

She was genuinely happy that the Regent had reconciled with her sister; it finally felt like they were becoming a true family. However, they were still one person short of a full reunion—Nan Xing.

"Right, right. We cannot be hasty; we must deliberate carefully. Ru'er is the least familiar with the current situation in the Nanyang Kingdom, so she should accompany you to investigate the Third Prince's disappearance. I will remain here to monitor the Fourth Prince’s movements. If he makes any suspicious maneuvers, I will take immediate action. I am also deeply concerned about the state of the Imperial Palace," the Regent stated.

The two women had no objections to the Regent's plan, so they began their preparations accordingly.

Qi Shengsheng, accompanied by Yan Heru and a contingent of the Regent’s subordinates, began searching the city for the Third Prince. Because the mission had to be conducted in total secrecy, they were forced to rely on intelligence from the underworld.

Despite exhausting their wealth and influence, they found no leads in the murky depths of the city. It was as if the Third Prince had vanished into thin air. Just as they were on the verge of giving up, however, fate finally smiled upon them.

The clue came from a casual conversation between two commoners on the street.

"I saw the Third Prince being taken away a few days ago. Do you think the Fourth Prince’s military strength was acquired through foul play?"

"Don't speak such nonsense! If the Fourth Prince's men hear you, you'll lose your head!"

"That’s why I’m only telling you. It’s been weighing on me, and I couldn't help but let it out."

The other man looked cautiously left and right before whispering, "You can tell me, but keep your voice down! If anyone else hears, your head won't stay on your shoulders!"

"Don't worry, I know. But tell me, do you think my guess is right?" the first man persisted.

The other man replied, "I suspect you're right. Think about it: the Third and Fourth Princes have always been at odds. How could the Third Prince suddenly hand over his military command to the Fourth? There is definitely something wrong here. But we are just common folk; we shouldn't involve ourselves in the affairs of the nobility, or we might bring disaster upon ourselves. Listen, brother, keep this to yourself. I certainly won't tell a soul!"

"Agreed!"

The two men parted ways, heading home. They believed their conversation had gone unheard, but in reality, Yan Heru and Qi Shengsheng had been sitting at the table next to them, catching every word.

The two women exchanged a look, instantly understanding each other's thoughts. Qi Shengsheng immediately drew her sword and led her men to intercept the man who had been speculating about the Third Prince.

Seeing them approach, the man cowered in a corner, trembling and pleading, "Don't press-gang me into the army! Don't take me! I have an elderly mother at home to care for!"

Yan Heru, who had followed, was puzzled. Why would he fear being press-ganged? Was the Fourth Prince forcibly conscripting people? Even so, there was no reason to be this terrified unless the Fourth Prince was snatching anyone he could find, regardless of any standard recruitment criteria.

If that were the case, the Emperor would never have entrusted him with military power. Qi Shengsheng looked at the cowering man and felt a surge of righteous fury against the Fourth Prince. Her tone toward the commoner was sharp, not out of anger toward him, but fueled by her resentment for the Fourth Prince's actions.

"Do you think cowering there will help? If they really want to drag you into the army, hiding won't save you. Now, tell me everything you know!" Qi Shengsheng demanded.

The man grew even more terrified by her harsh tone. Trembling violently, he stammered, "I didn't lie to you! I really do have an elderly mother to support. Please, don't take me to the army. If I go, she will surely starve to death with no one to care for her!"

To prevent Qi Shengsheng from further upsetting the man, Yan Heru stepped in. She gestured for Qi Shengsheng to be silent and spoke in a gentler tone to the man in the corner: "We are not here to press-gang you. We simply have some questions we need you to answer."

Hearing that they weren't there to conscript him, the man felt a slight sense of relief, though he remained suspicious. He peeked out from his corner at the group—two women leading a cluster of men.

"What... what do you want to ask? I'm just a common person; I don't know anything..." the man replied.

Yan Heru offered a smile she hoped appeared kind, though it still carried a hint of threat to the man. "Since we managed to find you, it means you must know what we are looking for. It just depends on whether you are willing to cooperate and tell us what you know."

The man dared not refuse. If he did, he likely wouldn't leave there alive. He nodded frantically, "Ask whatever you want! As long as I know it, I will tell you!"