The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 1397

Chapter 1397: 677 Princess_3

"Young Master, Sun Feng and Zheng Hai have returned."

The guard outside reported.

"Let them in," commanded Han Yong.

Han Yong sipped his tea.

The two entered.

Sun Feng reported, "Young Master, I have inquired, and the student surnamed Gu is from Zhan Country."

Han Yong, surprised, laughed and said, "Yet another person from Zhan Country. Xiao Liulang is also from there, isn’t he? Could they potentially be related?"

"It’s hard to say." Han Yong continued to question Sun Feng, "What else?"

Sun Feng answered, "Furthermore, we followed her and discovered she went to a pawnshop in Huayang."

Han Yong asked, "There are several pawnshops on Huayang Street. Which one did she go to?"

Sun Feng quickly said, "Guiren Hall."

Han Yong took a slight breath and, touching his chin, asked, "Is it the one that used to be a pharmacy before being turned into a pawnshop?"

Han Yong’s eyes narrowed slightly, "That’s right."

Han Yong, puzzled, said, "Wait a moment, we’ve investigated that pawnshop before. What was the name of the shopkeeper... Wang Fugui! Right, that’s his name! Isn’t he an informant for the Crown Prince?"

Han Yong declared, "He is also an informant for the Nangong Family. Guiren Hall is one of Nangong Family’s hubs for gathering intelligence."

Han Yong laughed mockingly, "So this Wang Fugui is playing both sides. He works for the Crown Prince and the Nangong Family. Isn’t he afraid of capsizing?"

Although the Nangong Family is part of the Crown Prince’s faction, the prince surely wouldn’t fancy them buying off his own people to serve as informants.

"If you knew this, why didn’t you tell the Crown Prince?" questioned Han Yong to his nephew.

Han Yong replied, "What difference would it make if I did tell him? Instead of the Nangong Family buying a new person, it’s better to keep this Wang Fugui under my watch."

Han Yong smiled, "That makes sense."

Han Yong turned to Sun Feng, "Did she go to the pawnshop to meet with Wang Fugui?"

Sun Feng respectfully answered, "Yes, she waited until the pawnshop was about to close before going. She met directly with Wang Fugui. What they discussed was unclear to me—she is mute! She communicated everything in writing!"

Having tracked so many people, this was the first time they encountered a situation where they could not listen in.

As for Wang Fugui, he also communicated in writing.

Han Yong said, "Her choosing to go when the shop was closing and devoid of customers is suspicious in itself. It seems this matter can’t be unlinked from the Nangong Family."

The Nangong and Han Families, although both belonging to the Crown Prince’s faction, always have been far from harmonious, each wanting to be the prince’s most favored vassal.

The Han Family holds the advantage of blood relations, while the Nangong Family holds the military power advantage. The open and secret rivalry between them was nothing new.

Han Yong said, "They not only insulted you, Young Master, but they also turned their schemes toward Prince Mingyue. If Prince Mingyue were truly bewitched by that girl from a lesser kingdom, they would have the opportunity to surpass the Han Family."

Han Yong frowned and said, "Uncle’s reasoning is solid, but I still feel something is off."

Han Yong said, "Don’t overthink it. Trust your uncle—besides the Nangong Family, there’s no one else!"

...

When Xiao Hen left the pawnshop, a light rain began to fall from the sky.

The coachman handed him an umbrella. Xiao Hen didn’t immediately board the carriage; instead, he went to a shop diagonally across the street to buy candied hawthorns.

With an oil-paper umbrella overhead, he walked in the tranquil rain, passerby hurrying by his side occasionally.

His veil was gently lifted by the night breeze, revealing an astonishingly beautiful face.

In a tea house on the street, sitting near a window, were two men - one dressed in white, holding a folded fan; the other in gray, with a sword at his side.