Who put the yellow robe on me?

He turned and left the gambling table. Just after taking a few steps, Xiong Zhiheng's voice came from behind him: "Your Highness!"

Jiang Chen turned around and saw Xiong Zhiheng approaching. Situ Yongrui also obviously noticed something was wrong and frowned slightly.

Jiang Chen smiled and then turned to Xiong Zhiheng: "Let's go."

Jiang Chen smiled softly, then turned and walked out of the gambling house with Xiong Zhiheng. Behind him, Situ Yongrui stood there, his gaze deep, as if lost in thought. His expression grew complex, as if he wasn't simply skeptical of Jiang Chen's identity, but deeply apprehensive about the entire situation. Although Jiang Chen had turned and left, his presence and the atmosphere that followed seemed to be deeply imprinted in Situ Yongrui's mind.

Jiang Chen and Xiong Zhiheng left the gambling house, the night breeze bringing a hint of coolness. Though they'd left the bustle of the casino, Jiang Chen felt a fire burning within him. He knew that today's conversation, while seemingly lighthearted, concealed a greater secret. Situ Yongrui, the young master of Tianxiang Pavilion, had clearly sensed something unusual. The "night watchman's murder" and Boss Zhen's nephew exuded a subtle sense of unease.

"Mr. Xiong, what do you think about what happened just now?" Jiang Chen asked in a low voice, his eyes deep and calm.

Xiong Zhiheng obviously knew what Jiang Chen was thinking. His brows furrowed slightly, and his tone was solemn: "Your Highness, the confession of that gambling clerk was indeed a bit too hasty. It felt like someone was manipulating him from behind."

Jiang Chen's eyes flickered and he nodded slightly: "That's right." He paused and said, "His attitude changed too quickly, as if he was suddenly forced to confess. Did we overlook something?" His tone gradually became heavier, and every word seemed to leave a deep imprint in his heart.

Xiong Zhiheng followed up, "Although we don't have any further evidence, I still feel something is amiss. At first, the guy refused to confess, but then, as if he were suddenly forced, he revealed everything. If someone is truly manipulating him, things might not be as simple as we thought."

A cold light flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes: "Which direction do you think is wrong?"

Xiong Zhiheng pondered for a moment, then said, "We already know all the superficial information about Bai Yinlang's murder—the cause of death, the modus operandi, and some connection to Boss Zhen's nephew. But if that guy really did it, why would he suddenly cooperate so well? It seems very unreasonable."

Jiang Chen took a deep breath, his gaze piercing the night sky, as if searching for some hidden secret. His mind flashed through Situ Yongrui's expression at the gambling table. At that moment, Situ Yongrui's expression and the caution in his words had already given him more associations.

"Master Xiong," Jiang Chen whispered, "Did you notice what Situ Yongrui just said?"

Xiong Zhiheng glanced at Jiang Chen doubtfully: "Did he say anything?"

Jiang Chen smiled, recalling the conversation at that moment. "He said, 'My father told me to avoid public appearances.' I initially thought he was being wary of something, but on closer inspection, this statement itself was problematic. How could the young master of Tianxiang Pavilion be afraid of 'public appearances'? He's not only a powerful figure, but also one of the masterminds behind that gambling house. Since he doesn't want to be noticed, it means he has a deeper plan behind the scenes."

Xiong Zhiheng's eyes grew increasingly serious. "Are you saying that Situ Yongrui already knows something? Could it be that the murder in this gambling house is related to Tianxiang Pavilion?"

Jiang Chen didn't answer immediately, but smiled. "It's not necessarily about Tianxiang Pavilion, but it's definitely related to 'someone behind the scenes.' Boss Zhen was so eager to distance himself from the matter because he knew someone was targeting this gambling house. And Situ Yongrui's mention of 'my father' might not have been a casual remark, but rather had a purpose."

"So, there's probably more than a simple exchange of interests between Tianxiang Pavilion and Boss Zhen's nephew," Xiong Zhiheng added.

Jiang Chen nodded: "That's right. We need to carefully investigate the 'mastermind' behind this."

The two of them were silent for a moment. Jiang Chen suddenly turned around and gazed at the Baotong Casino, still shrouded in darkness. A sense of unease grew stronger. He realized that this seemed to have far exceeded a simple murder investigation. If he delved deeper, he might uncover a huge vortex, a vortex that would not only concern the casino and Bai Yinlang's death, but also potentially trigger a huge storm.

"Master Xiong, let's go to Jingzhao Prefecture next." Jiang Chen suddenly said, his eyes firm and his words filled with an almost unquestionable determination.

Xiong Zhiheng was slightly stunned. "Jingzhao Prefecture? Your Highness, do you want to check the night watchman's autopsy report?"

Jiang Chen's eyes lit up, and a smile played at the corner of his mouth. "Yes, that's right. The night watchman's death may seem like an ordinary murder on the surface, but there must be something fishy in the details. Only by understanding his autopsy report can we uncover the secret."

After hearing this, Xiong Zhiheng nodded and said, "Shall we leave now?"

Jiang Chen chuckled softly, "Let's go. The sooner we know, the better. Who knows what's hidden behind this?" In front of the Jingzhao Mansion, the pitch-black night enveloped the entire city. The lights on both sides of the street were dim, and a few pedestrians occasionally hurried by, seemingly oblivious to the secrets hidden behind this ancient government office. Jiang Chen and Xiong Zhiheng walked steadily, quickly passing through the alley and arriving at the side gate of the Jingzhao Mansion.

"Your Highness, do you think those people in Jingzhao Prefecture will cooperate with us?" Xiong Zhiheng lowered his voice, as if afraid that others would hear what they said.

Jiang Chen smiled slightly, with a cold look in his eyes: "If we can't get them to cooperate, then we can only take 'other measures'."

He knew that some officials in Jingzhao Prefecture had subtle ties to Tianxiang Pavilion and Boss Zhen. Many ostensibly loyal to the court, but in reality, they were controlled by the powerful. If this murder case implicated higher-ups, they might try to prevent the truth from being revealed. But Jiang Chen wasn't afraid. This was all just part of a political conspiracy; any truth that could be concealed would eventually surface.

The two soon entered Jingzhao Prefecture, where they were greeted by a middle-aged official—Lord Li. He was the prefecture's chief coroner, responsible for autopsies and verifications in all criminal cases. Lord Li was a calm and tactful man. Although he knew of Jiang Chen's extraordinary status, he remained very restrained when he met the "Sixteenth Prince."

"Your Highness the Sixteenth, Lord Xiong." Lord Li bowed respectfully, "Please follow me."

Jiang Chen nodded, his eyes cold, a hint of suspicion forming in his heart about Lord Li's attitude. Despite the outwardly gentle demeanor, the atmosphere in this government office felt off. Jiang Chen secretly observed his surroundings, taking in every little detail, his inner vigilance undiminished.