Chapter 614: The Princess Has Disappeared Again

After hearing Eunuch Ling’s words, Ji Youzhi was completely dumbfounded.

"What do you mean? Did my Suisui also go to Yunhang?"

Eunuch Ling remained silent and, pretending not to hear, ran away.

Ji Youzhi was so furious he completely lost his composure. He stopped interrogating the prisoner, threw down his whip, and stormed out of the Celestial Prison.

As he passed the cell where Xie Si was held, he suddenly stopped. Turning his head to look inside, he was surprised to see an old man with half-white hair who was actually Xie Si’s cellmate!

"Grand... Grand Tutor Wei! W-why are you here?"

This Grand Tutor Wei was none other than the Grand Tutor who had taught Ji Youzhi, his brothers, and His Majesty the Emperor when they were children.

"Youzhi," Grand Tutor Wei said with a sigh, "I offended His Majesty a few days ago, and he had me thrown into this Celestial Prison."

"Offended His Majesty? How could you suddenly offend His Majesty? And for what reason did you offend him?"

"It was all because of the Crown Princess," Grand Tutor Wei explained. "A few days ago, she set up a gambling table in Taihe Hall and played dice with the ministers. Such an act is unbecoming of a wise ruler. I simply submitted a memorial, imploring His Majesty to refrain from such absurd behavior. Unexpectedly, His Majesty flew into a rage and had me thrown into this Celestial Prison."

Hearing this, Ji Youzhi’s mouth twitched involuntarily.

He had thought that if the matter wasn’t too serious, he could plead on Grand Tutor Wei’s behalf.

After all, Grand Tutor Wei had tutored him and his brothers for several years.

But now, he said nothing. He merely cupped his hands in a bow and said, "I have other matters to attend to. I must take my leave." Then he walked away.

Watching Ji Youzhi’s retreating figure, Grand Tutor Wei couldn’t help but scratch his head.

Why do I feel that something isn’t right?

Xie Si glanced at him, then in the direction Ji Youzhi had disappeared, and suddenly asked, "Did you tutor Lord God Hunter in his youth?"

"I not only tutored him, but I also tutored his brothers and even His Majesty the Emperor. I was their first formal teacher."

Upon hearing this, Xie Si asked doubtfully, "Then why didn’t he offer to plead for you?"

Grand Tutor Wei suddenly realized and slapped his forehead. "Exactly! I knew something was off about that boy! Come, come, let’s continue. You were saying, regarding Meng Zizhong..."

Grand Tutor Wei urged Xie Si to continue their scholarly discussion.

After Ji Youzhi left the Celestial Prison, he rushed straight back to the Ji Mansion. As he was passing through the rear garden, he happened to see his second brother, Ji Youran, who had lost his memory, clinging to his second sister-in-law, Huo Xing’Er, and begging for comfort.

"Xing’Er, look at me! Am I poisoned again? WHIMPER WHIMPER WHIMPER... Xing’Er, I feel awful..."

Listening to Ji Youran whining pathetically like a small puppy, trying to act cute, and watching him grab Huo Xing’Er’s arm, shaking it back and forth, Ji Youzhi shuddered and quickened his pace, hurrying away.

Back in his room, he quickly packed a few clothes and picked up his satchel. Just as he was about to walk out the door, shouts of alarm came from outside.

"Trouble! The Crown Princess is missing! The Crown Princess is missing! Old Madam, the Crown Princess is gone!"

Ji Youzhi rushed out of his room just in time to see Old Madam Ji, Ji Youyuan, Wang Dongxue, and the others anxiously heading towards Qinxin Courtyard.

"What happened? How did that little girl disappear again? She just caused a commotion at Qixia Temple, and now she’s vanished right after returning home?"

Old Madam Ji rubbed her temples, her head aching with helplessness.

"This servant doesn’t know either!" the person replied. "Last night at dinner, the Crown Princess was clearly in her room, eating and sleeping normally! But early this morning, when this servant went to call the Crown Princess for her etiquette lessons, I discovered her room was empty."

"What about Pan’Er? Did you ask her if she knows where Suisui went?"

"Miss Xie isn’t in Qinxin Courtyard either! We’ve searched Qinxin Courtyard from top to bottom. Not only is there no sign of the Crown Princess, but we haven’t seen Miss Xie either!"

"That girl, where could she have gone? All she ever does is play with Feifei and run off, causing trouble by disappearing," Old Madam Ji said, utterly exasperated.

"She’s gone to Yunhang."

Just as Old Madam Ji, feeling helpless, was about to send people to search, Ji Youzhi, carrying his satchel, suddenly emerged from the Moon Gate and delivered the bombshell.

"What did you say? Where has she gone?" Old Madam Ji completely lost her composure and asked with deep worry. "How did you know she went to Yunhang? Why didn’t you know to stop her?"

Old Madam Ji pointed at Ji Youzhi’s nose, her expression one of utter disappointment.

"Mother! Suisui has her own hands and feet, and she’s so capable. How would I know where she intends to go? But don’t worry, I’ll go find her and bring her back right away!"

"Good, good! Go quickly! You must bring her back to me safe and sound! Do you understand?"

"I understand, Mother. Please don’t worry! I will definitely bring her back safe and sound."

Ji Youzhi set off without delay.

"What are you thinking about, dear?" Ji Youyuan asked Wang Dongxue, who was frowning in confusion.

I was just wondering, Seventh Brother hasn’t been home for days. How did he know Suisui went to Yunhang?

Wang Dongxue thought.

Ji Youyuan shrugged.

Xiaosuisui isn’t an ordinary child these days; he wasn’t worried anything would happen to her.

He quickly reached out to support Wang Dongxue. "Don’t worry about these things. The most important thing is to take care of yourself and your pregnancy. You’re carrying two babies, you know!"

Wang Dongxue didn’t respond to him, instead murmuring her thoughts aloud again. "Suisui is just a child; she can be reckless and impulsive, running off whenever she pleases. But that Miss Pan’Er doesn’t seem like a careless person! If she knew Suisui was planning to leave, why didn’t she try to stop her?"

Muttering to herself, Wang Dongxue returned to her own courtyard.

When Xie Pan’Er woke up, her entire neck ached. She looked at the two figures in black standing before her—no, there was also a small, dark bundle. A look of utter exasperation crossed her face.

"Crown Princess, you... you hit me too hard! You knocked me out with one blow!"

Last night, after dinner, Xiaosuisui had started rummaging through chests and cupboards, looking for black clothes, as well as a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone.

Xie Pan’Er had watched this, deeply alarmed, and quickly asked, "What are you doing? Why are you looking for black clothes? And why do you need a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone?"

"I’m going to Yunhang to help with disaster relief. I’ll go to the Imperial Palace shortly to join His Majesty, my adoptive father. I need to leave a letter for Grandmother and Eldest Uncle first."

"What? You’re running away from home again? And to a dangerous place like Yunhang? Absolutely not! You can’t go!"

Xie Pan’Er objected immediately. However, just as she voiced her protest, a sharp pain shot through the back of her neck, and she... had been knocked unconscious by Xiaosuisui.

Not only had she been knocked unconscious, but Xiaosuisui had also dragged her out.

She was currently, by her estimation... Yes! She’d been dumped in a secluded corner outside the Imperial Palace.

"If I hadn’t knocked you out," Xiaosuisui retorted, "you definitely would have stopped me from coming out!"