Unexpectedly, His Highness didn’t bring up the suspicion about Gu Chengyu again, which makes sense. Such a frail youth, seemingly without the strength to even truss a chicken, how could he be an assassin?
Gu Chengyu remained expressionless as the guard leader scrutinized him.
Since they were guards from the Prince Mansion, he probably was a Captain.
After everyone had gone inside, Zhu Pang tugged at Gu Chengyu, "Chengyu! Don’t overthink, it’s just an inspection. As long as there are no assassins in the mansion, they’ll leave."
Zhu Pang comforted Gu Chengyu, feeling that dealing with the Eldest Prince was quite normal.
What kind of person is the Eldest Prince? The Prince most adored by the Emperor, possibly about to beco Crown Prince soon, offending him is out of the question.
Gu Chengyu smiled upon hearing this, "It’s fine! Let’s go take a look!"
It’s good if they don’t find anything, but if they do, he might have to take a gamble.
"Everyone from your estate co out," Jin Canling shouted towards Steward Xu’s direction.
A group of people spread out, five stayed to identify everyone on the estate, while the rest began searching various parts of the estate.
Gu Chengyu felt a surge of resentnt arise; if today the owner of this estate was a high official from the Capital, the Eldest Prince would certainly give him so face, wouldn’t he? Why would they act so imperious?
Steward Xu glanced at Gu Chengyu, who nodded at him. Xu was sensible enough not to ignore his master even though he saw the Eldest Prince.
After about half an incense stick’s ti, everyone on the estate stood in the flower hall. Even Sun Xian and his companions, who were drunk, were awakened by the servants, now holding their heads in bewildernt.
"Chengyu! What happened?" Ye Zhiqiu also had a headache! Being awoken, he hadn’t slept well.
As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard, he was taken aback by the sight of these people.
Gu Chengyu shook his head, "I’ll explain to you later, keep quiet for now."
The servants knelt before the Eldest Prince and greeted him. Ye Zhiqiu and his group followed suit, kneeling.
Gu Chengyu discreetly glanced at a woman standing in the third row with her head lowered.
Seeing this, he almost burst into laughter.
At first glance, she appeared to be a sowhat coly woman, slightly plump, but those ample breasts made Gu Chengyu struggle not to laugh.
It’s exaggerated! Why disguise oneself to be so voluptuous?
The Eldest Prince’s gaze road across everyone, and Gu Chengyu noticed that his focus was mainly on the n.
The Eldest Prince picked out people whose physiques didn’t match that of the assassin, among them was Hui An.
Hui An wore slightly elevated shoes, with extra layers of clothing beneath. At present, he was disguised as a woman, with rouge and powder on his face, vastly different from his male attire.
"Everyone, extend your hands; I need to check carefully, everyone!"
Jin Canling ordered everyone to open their hands for close inspection. Due to poor visibility at night, he even felt the hands himself.
Zhu Pang gave Gu Chengyu a glance and unfolded his hands as well. Since they lived on the estate, until the assassin was caught, they were also suspects.
Gu Chengyu was unfolding his hands just as Jin Canling approached him.
He looked at Gu Chengyu’s palms, noticing how fair and slender they were with delicate fingers. He turned them over for a look; undeniably, these were the hands of a scholar, devoid of any calluses.
Gu Chengyu often bathed with diluted spring water, leaving no calluses from holding a pen or sword.
He dismissed his doubts about Gu Chengyu entirely; could soone not even have calluses from holding a pen?
Hands accustod to wielding swords were apparent to him; there should be calluses at the base of the thumb and in the palm, yet Gu Chengyu’s palms were smooth without any calluses.
He passed by Gu Chengyu, moving to the side. Gu Chengyu thought of Hui An, hoping the preparations would suffice to get through.
However, every situation has exceptions; if discovered, it would be his mont to go on a killing spree.
The Eldest Prince glanced at Gu Chengyu, noticing his quiet deanor, almost lost in thought.
He always felt that this Gu Chengyu wasn’t as harmless as he appeared; he seed self-assured throughout, not altering his deanor upon knowing his identity, baffling him as to where his arrogance stemd from.
Jin Canling scrutinized every pair of hands and was now approaching Hui An.
Gu Chengyu did not glance up, knowing to pay too much attention would also draw attention.
"Your Highness, sir, I have already led a search, and no one else is hiding in the estate,"
A guard rushed over to report the search results to the two.
Jin Canling pondered for a while, realizing that everyone on the estate was present.
Gu Chengyu anwhile considered that Lichun, Banxia, and several other maids were all of the Ding Generation, trained regularly, not likely to reveal themselves.
As for the servants on the estate, they were unfamiliar with the mansion’s staff, not likely to cause problems.
"Where are your hands? Why aren’t you extending them?" Jin Canling eyed the slightly coly woman in front of him, his gaze brushing past her chest.
The woman seed frightened, shrinking back.
Next to her, Lichun hurriedly grabbed her hand, stretching it open.
"Please excuse her, sir, this woman is my sister-in-law, a mute and deaf,"
Lichun said with a smile towards Jin Canling.
"Oh? Lift your head," he said suspiciously; a woman could also be an assassin, and if an accomplice, it’s quite possible.
Lichun quickly lifted her sister-in-law’s chin, the woman seemingly dodged, appearing more fearful.
Jin Canling examined the woman, her appearance ordinary, sowhat coly.
Then from behind ca a "cough," jerking him back to focus, looking at those hands.
Upon closer examination, suspicion arose.
"What’s been applied to these hands?" he questioned Lichun.
The woman’s palms were sared with ointnt, dark and unclear.
"Sir! My sister-in-law works in the large kitchen, before New Year, my brother got sick and passed away, I pleaded with the steward to let her in. Yet she can’t hear, can’t speak, doesn’t have much sense, burned her hands on the stove today, and I applied burn ointnt to her. I brought her to seek so recognition from the master for a reward."
Viewing from a distance, Gu Chengyu saw Lichun speaking with tears in her eyes, portraying the grief of soone who lost family vividly.
Gu Chengyu’s mouth twitched; she deserved an award, better at acting than him.
The large kitchen staff on the estate hadn’t seen Hui An; saying he worked on the estate feared exposing issues. Saying he was brought from the mansion was best, as he ca with few close servants.
Seeing Jin Canling still suspicious, Lichun added, "Sir, would you like a closer look? Should I scrape it off for you to examine?"
Seeing the situation, Gu Chengyu tily intervened, "What? This gentleman interested in my estate’s cook? Consider her a gift!"
Gu Chengyu spoke with a mocking smile.
The Eldest Prince frowned, realizing Jin Canling was unusually attentive to the woman. With such an appearance, it was unlikely to interest him.
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