When Eunuch Xu saw Huang Hongzhong’s stunned expression, he immediately realized what he had misunderstood. His expression darkened, and he irritably tapped the table.
“What are you thinking? What I meant was, His Highness prefers girls who are spirited, decisive!”
Someone like Miss Qi.
Now that she’s dead, naturally he’ll only miss her more and find her harder to let go of.
So of course, any new candidate had to be chosen by Miss Qi’s standards.
Huang Hongzhong let out a heavy sigh of relief. Thank heavens. As long as he still liked women, that was something Huang could understand!
But if Qi Wang really liked men, he wouldn’t even know where to begin finding one.
Huang Hongzhong quickly waved his hand, and someone came in to escort the little beauty away.
He then eagerly poured Eunuch Xu more tea: “I’m truly grateful for your guidance, Eunuch. If not for you, I wouldn’t even know which direction to go!”
But Eunuch Xu raised his hand to decline, frowning with faint distaste: “That’s enough. I still have duties to return to. Lord Huang, if you have nothing else, then pay more attention to the business in Gaojia Town, don’t let anything go wrong.”
He paused, voice turning cold: “Even a small slip-up, and no matter how many beauties you send, you won’t get anywhere!”
Huang Hongzhong immediately patted his chest: “Eunuch Xu, don’t worry. I care even more about this than you do.”
That, at least, Eunuch Xu believed.
Anyone with a working brain would put their best effort into matters that involved their head.
He rose and walked out.
Huang Hongzhong hurried after him to open the door personally, only to see Little Dongzi standing at the threshold, face pale, softly calling out: “Godfather.”
Huang Hongzhong instantly realized that this must be about something urgent from Qi Wang’s residence and quickly stepped back to give them space.
Eunuch Xu asked, “What is it?”
Little Dongzi lowered his voice: “Godfather, Old San and Old Si have returned…”
Old San and Old Si were Gao Qing’s most trusted men, naturally also Qi Wang’s confidants.
They had gone with Gao Qing to the capital. Now that Gao Qing was in Gaojia Town, these two had likely slipped away secretly to report back.
Eunuch Xu’s face tightened with displeasure.
So much for “dependable”, if they’d done the job properly, there wouldn’t be two stragglers left behind.
Though irritated, he wasn’t panicked. He asked calmly: “Did they meet with His Highness?”
Qi Wang’s entire residence was staffed with people he had placed himself. Even if those two returned, they shouldn’t have been able to see him so easily.
But Little Dongzi’s face turned even whiter: “Godfather… they did. They were clever, killed a few eunuchs, stirred up a commotion. His Highness heard there were assassins in the manor and insisted on seeing them personally… they got in.”
Eunuch Xu paused mid-step. When he heard that Qi Wang had already seen the two men, his face darkened. He sneered coldly, but only let out a nonchalant “Oh?”
When he returned to the manor, Qi Wang was already waiting for him.
As soon as he entered, the prince asked in a chilling voice: “Where have you been?”
Eunuch Xu didn’t react to the cold tone. He walked over to the incense burner and added some lily incense, smiling as usual: “Lord Huang invited this old servant out, he wanted to know what kind of women Your Highness prefers.”
He had never lied about such things.
Especially now, those two had returned. Even if they didn’t directly accuse him, their message would be clear. The prince had surely begun investigating him.
All the more reason not to lie.
Sure enough, hearing this, some of the hostility in Qi Wang’s gaze faded. He gave an “Oh?” and asked, as if casually: “Did I not tell you to send a letter to Gao Qing, urging him to return as soon as possible? Did you send it?”
Eunuch Xu raised his head, calm and steady: “Yes, Your Highness. Knowing how anxious you were, I sent someone that very day.”
“Did you?” Qi Wang sneered. “Then how come Old San and Old Si say the message from the manor told them to go to Gaojia Town instead?”
Eunuch Xu’s face changed drastically: “What?! Your Highness, could it be that the Imperial Grandson’s side discovered our plan?”
He spoke with such composure, without a hint of pause, that it seemed this entire matter had absolutely nothing to do with him.
Even Qi Wang, who had been enraged just moments before, hesitated.
Yes, Old San and Old Si had said the message came from the manor, directing Gao Qing to divert to Gaojia Town.
Naturally, he had suspected Eunuch Xu, since it was he who had been given the task.
From every angle, the eunuch was the prime suspect.
But now, after this response, half of Qi Wang’s suspicion melted away.
Eunuch Xu had been with him since childhood, had grown up by his side. Of all the people who might betray him, it couldn’t be Eunuch Xu.
Qi Wang frowned: “Xiao Yunting?”
But then he remembered the arrangements made by Xiong Liangyong and Huang Hongzhong.
The whole point of luring Xiao Yunting to Gaojia Town was because of the rampant plague there.
And yet Xiao Yunting actually brought Gao Qing and Qi Yuan along?!
Was he mad?!
Was this the kind of man Qi Yuan liked?
Furious, Qi Wang grabbed his cloak from the side and turned to leave.
Eunuch Xu didn’t hesitate and followed closely:
“Your Highness! My good prince, where are you going?!”
Qi Wang didn’t even look back. He ordered someone to bring along Old San and Old Si and climbed onto his horse.
Finally, Eunuch Xu couldn’t take it anymore. He rushed forward and grabbed the reins, almost begging: “Your Highness! No matter how serious the matter, you cannot go to Jin County!”
Qi Wang growled in a low voice: “Get out of my way!”
But Eunuch Xu blocked his path, refusing to move: “Your Highness, this old servant knows how much you value Miss Qi. Let me go in your place, you can’t take the risk!”
Tears welled in his eyes as he pleaded: “Your Highness, I’m just a cripple, living in this world without much use. But you’re different. You cannot put yourself in danger. Let me go!”
If earlier, Qi Wang had only mostly let go of his suspicions, now they were completely gone.
He looked deeply at Eunuch Xu and said: “I want Qi Yuan to come back safe and sound!”
Eunuch Xu answered at once: “Rest assured, Your Highness. This servant will do everything in my power.”
Only then did Qi Wang hesitate, then finally dismount.
He truly couldn’t go to Gaojia Town. If he ran into Xiao Yunting there, Xiao Yunting would surely slap him with a major crime.
Even if Xiao Yunting was already doomed, it was still best to be cautious.
Seeing him step down, Eunuch Xu finally let out a sigh of relief and quickly ordered someone to take the horse away.
But Old San and Old Si panicked: “Your Highness!”
They knew full well Eunuch Xu was the one with issues, and yet His Highness was letting him go retrieve Miss Qi?
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