"Your parents, we are already looking for them." Ye Haoxuan waved his hand to let her get up. "As for the others, itâs not your place to ask."
"Yes! The commoner girl listens to the prince."
"Then go back."
The little courtyard understood his intentions and stepped forward, "Miss Lian, please."
Once they walked far away, Ye Haoxuanâs expression turned cold. Seeing someone in front of him who resembled his younger sister stirred a complex feeling in his heart.
He glanced at Li Luru nearby and returned to the room.
"Continue."
"Yes, subordinates found that the Zhong Residence sent a batch of servants out of the residence ten days ago. But this batch of servants was not sold to slave traders or sent back to their respective parents. Instead, they were sent out of the city. When asked, it was said they were going out to tend to the Zhong Residenceâs estate. Later, subordinates went to the Zhong Residenceâs estate, but upon investigation, no new people had arrived."
"So subordinates suspect that the people sent out are likely from the Lian Family and have probably been killed."
Ye Haoxuan clasped his hands behind his back, pondered briefly, then asked, "How many people are in the Lian Family?"
"Eight in total."
"How many were sent out?"
"Also eight people were sent out, so subordinates guessed that batch should be the Lian Family."
Ye Haoxuan then turned around and asked, "If that is the case, whatâs going on with Lian Xueâer?" Eight people should naturally include Lian Xueâer, but Lian Xueâer is here in the city."
"This..."
"Fool, investigate further!" Ye Haoxuan said, "It must be fast. Also check Zhong Yongqianâs relationship with the Situ Family, investigate whether he truly hasnât reported this matter to the Situ Family."
"Yes!"
After the subordinate left, Ye Haoxuan walked out of the room and saw Li Luru still standing there.
"What are you standing there foolishly for?"
Upon hearing this, Li Luru, who was originally deep in thought, immediately ran over and somewhat hesitantly said, "Why do you have to handle things so troublesome?"
"How so?"
Li Luru said, "Look, you surely know that Lian Xueâer is suspicious, right? And that County Magistrate Zhong is even more problematic. Knowing they have issues, why dawdle? Directly arrest them and interrogate them severely. Use all sorts of torture techniques, are you still afraid you wonât find anything out?"
Ye Haoxuan looked her up and down once more, "People say being close to good influences makes one better. Youâve been following me these days, why are you still so naive?"
"You are really self-absorbed." Indirectly claiming to be smart.
"Isnât what I said true?" Ye Haoxuan cast her a glance, "Only believing Lian Xueâerâs one-sided story and arresting a County Magistrate for it? If this is how things are done, how many wrongful cases would occur?"
"Moreover, havenât you heard the saying? âDonât interfere with affairs outside oneâs responsibilities.â"
He only intended to find the truth, the judgment would be handled by the Prefect.
"But arenât you a prince? Donât you handle such matters?"
"Whatâs wrong with being a prince? Great Zhou has so many princes. Besides, do I have to handle everything? Then what are those Prefects and Prefectural Magistrates for?"
On his journey, he did investigate many things but always relayed the information instead of personally judging.
A prince unrelated by blood, meddling too much could be deadly.
"Youâre right."
Ye Haoxuan walked a few steps, then returned, "Whereâs your Xiaobai?"
"I let it go early on." Li Luru said, "I guess youâll be here for a few more days, so I didnât let it stay. Iâll summon it when we are ready to leave."