Chapter 332: Questioning (Fourth Update)

The Si Family. The Study.

Si Yezhi looked at the Empress, Si Huijing, sitting before him with a face full of shock.

"You're saying Elder Meng is dead, and Rongzhen has gone missing?! When did this happen?!"

The Empress's brow furrowed deeply.

"Yesterday."

"Then why are you only telling me now?!"

"By the time this palace learned of the matter, it was already evening. How could I have come out at that hour? Even my coming here today was only after pleading with His Majesty for a long time."

The Empress rubbed her temples in irritation.

She hadn't slept well all of last night, plagued by continuous nightmares, and her head felt like it was about to explode from the pain today.

Though the Empress held a noble status, she was not free; her every word and action was watched by others.

She had told His Majesty that too many things had happened recently and that she felt restless, wishing to return to the Si family to visit, which was how she had made her departure legitimate.

"Did His Majesty say anything?" Si Yezhi asked with some concern.

The Empress closed her eyes.

"His Majesty is currently angry with Rongjin. He is too lazy to bother with this palace, and he likely wants to use this opportunity to give us mother and son the cold shoulder, so naturally, he said nothing more."

Si Yezhi sighed, unable to hide the fury on his face.

"I have heard about the situation. Rongjin is truly too impulsive! To actually do such a thing! He is far too confident in his position as Crown Prince! Does he not know that in the Imperial Capital, there are plenty of people looking for a way to catch him in a mistake?!"

The Empress was loath to mention Rongjin, but since he was her most cherished son, she couldn't help but offer a few words of defense

"I have already reprimanded him. He promised he would never do such a thing again."

Si Yezhi, however, let out a cold snort of disdain.

"If his promises were useful, he wouldn't have done these things!"

Previously, he had only thought Rongjin's capacity was somewhat small, but looking at it now, the problem was far more serious than he had imagined!

This was sheer brainlessness!

The Empress glared at him in dissatisfaction.

"Big Brother, it is one thing for others to say it, but why are you saying it too? You are his biological uncle!"

Si Yezhi was about to say more, but when he looked up and saw the Empress's haggard face, he paused abruptly and swallowed his words.

"Forget it, let's not talk about him! The matters regarding Rongzhen and Elder Meng are more urgent! Tell me exactly what happened."

The Empress's expression turned solemn, and she proceeded to recount the events of yesterday.

"...So, what can be confirmed now is that Elder Meng is dead, and Rongzhen is nowhere to be found?"

Si Yezhi asked, stunned.

The Empress nodded helplessly.

"Regarding Elder Meng's existence, only you and I in the entire Si family know. Once discovered by His Majesty, the consequences would be unimaginable. Therefore, I did not dare to make a scene and only sent people to search privately. We searched for an entire night, but no trace of Rongzhen was found within the palace, nor could we find even a single useful clue."

Si Yezhi fell into deep thought.

"Since Elder Meng took her out, she must have left the palace. Have you sent people to the places outside the palace that she likes to visit?"

"We have, but still nothing." The Empress sighed. "That is why I came here today, to ask for your help, Big Brother. If all else fails, we might need to conduct a secret search of the entire Imperial Capital; perhaps we can find her then."

"Easier said than done."

Si Yezhi stood up, one hand behind his back, pacing back and forth irritably.

"Even for the Si family, achieving such a feat is extremely difficult! Furthermore, making such a commotion will surely be noticed. Within half a day, His Majesty will know what we are doing!"

"Then what can we do?"

The Empress was also growing anxious.

"Elder Meng is already dead, and Rongzhen is out there alone; there is no telling what her situation is! Moreover, now that her Original Core is destroyed, anyone could easily take her life! If His Majesty finds out—Big Brother, surely you know that whenever a Prince or Princess dies, the Palace notices immediately!?"

If something happened to Rongzhen, His Majesty would certainly send people to investigate.

If that happened, Elder Meng would inevitably be dragged into it.

And following that, the Si family, and them, mother and son!

"Rongjin's current situation is already bad enough. If these things are dragged out, it will surely make matters worse! Rongzhen is truly something; as she grows older, her temper gets worse by the day! She never even considered what consequences her actions would bring! She will ruin us, mother and son!"

Si Yezhi glanced at the Empress.

"Isn't Rongzhen's temper a result of your indulgence? Besides... seeing how worried you are about her life or death, it seems you aren't afraid of something happening to her, but rather worried about being implicated by her, which would affect you and Rongjin, isn't it?"

"Then what else could this palace do!?"

Having her thoughts exposed, the Empress reacted with indignant rage.

"The position of Crown Prince was something this palace fought hard to obtain! If Rongjin falls, what leverage will I have left!? Rongqi? His temperament is utterly unfit for great responsibility!"

Rongqi had mediocre talent and mediocre ability; he was completely useless!

Even though he had been enfeoffed as a Prince, he had still achieved nothing!

Comparing him to another Prince, look at Prince Li, Rong Xiu!

Despite not being in the Imperial Capital for so many years, after returning, he stayed in the Prince Li Manor all day without stepping out, yet he still won His Majesty's favor!

Truly, comparing one person to another only serves to infuriate!

Si Yezhi waved his hand impatiently.

"Enough! There is no use saying these things now! We must find Rongzhen as quickly as possible. As long as we keep it from His Majesty, everything will be fine. By the way, do you know why Rongzhen wanted Elder Meng to take her out at this specific time?"

"How would this palace kn—"

Halfway through her sentence, a flash of white light suddenly crossed the Empress's mind!

No!

Rongzhen had previously asked Elder Meng to accompany her out before!

That time... she had gone to find Chu Liuyue!

And it was precisely after that time that Rongzhen would frequently look at a certain drawing over and over again.

The Empress had accidentally seen it; it appeared to be a simplified map.

Rongzhen had also been muttering for the past few days about wanting to find Chu Liuyue.

"Chu Liuyue!?"

She cried out in shock.

Si Yezhi was stunned

"What? What does this have to do with Chu Liuyue?"

"No! Big Brother, you don't know! Rongzhen's disappearance is likely eighty percent related to Chu Liuyue!"

The Empress's hands clasped together nervously, hating herself for not thinking of this sooner!

"It must be her... it must be her!"

Aside from Chu Liuyue, who else could kill a fifth-stage martial artist so easily!?

Perhaps Chu Liuyue herself couldn't do it, but she harbored too many secrets and possessed an endless array of methods!

"Big Brother! Quick! Send people to find Chu Liuyue! Bring her here! Rongzhen must be with her!"

Seeing her like this, Si Yezhi couldn't help but frown.

"Calm down! What do you think the Si family is? The Si family is not the Imperial Guard; how can we just arrest people at will?! Besides, Chu Liuyue is no ordinary person now; who would dare touch her!?"

If something happened to Chu Liuyue, not to mention Chu Ning, the Tianlu Academy would not let it rest.

Additionally, there was the Prince Li Manor!

And most importantly—Mu Qinghe!

The Empress bit her lip

"Then we go and ask her directly!"