Who put the yellow robe on me?

Jiang Chen watched Guo Wulie kneeling, a complex wave of emotions welling up in his heart. Guo Wulie, now seemingly no longer the smooth-talking official, seemed to be a veteran minister trying to secure a glimmer of hope. His confession and promises made Jiang Chen sense a subtle change.

"Alright, Master Guo," Jiang Chen said softly, turning to leave. He didn't pause, as if everything had been arranged, leaving Guo Wulie alone in the empty hall, lost in thought.

After Jiang Chen left the Guo residence, his heart was still heavy. His steps were steady, but his eyes were filled with deep thought.

Guo Wulie's words weighed on his heart like a heavy stone, leaving him feeling an invisible pressure. The Ninth Prince's schemes were becoming increasingly complex, and the enemy he faced was clearly not just a temporary power struggle, but a conspiracy concerning life and death, and the entire world.

He slowly walked out of the Guo residence. The sunlight spilled onto the street, illuminating his calm face. The crowds around him bustled, seemingly oblivious to him. But within Jiang Chen, a storm was quietly brewing. He knew he had to be extremely cautious with every step forward. Any slight negligence could lead him into an irreversible situation.

"Deng Yunde." He called in a low voice.

The guard Deng Yunde, who followed closely behind him, immediately stepped forward with a respectful look, "Your Highness, what are your instructions?"

Jiang Chen turned around, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's. "Go find Guo Wulie and have him take you to the military's armory to find out if there's any trace of the Thirteenth Princess there. I don't want any more of her missing."

Deng Yunde nodded in response, "Don't worry, Your Highness, I will definitely get it done as soon as possible."

Jiang Chen's eyes darkened slightly, and he nodded. "Remember, be extremely cautious. Guo Wulie may seem trustworthy now, but I'm not entirely sure of the subtleties involved. You must observe everything carefully and never take it lightly."

"Yes, Your Highness." Deng Yunde quickly agreed, turned around and disappeared into the crowd.

Jiang Chen stood quietly, looking into the distance, his mind brewing his next plan. He knew that the Ninth Prince's challenge had begun, and he had to find his own breakthrough in this game as soon as possible.

The only thing that could help him turn the tables is the mystery of the Thirteenth Princess' disappearance. But now, Su Yunliang, Guo Wulie, and the unfathomable officials in the court have become walls that hinder his progress.

He took a deep breath and slowly returned to Prince Yan's Mansion.

As soon as he entered the mansion, Jiang Chen saw Xianyu Linyuan and Zhou Liangwei already waiting in the hall. Both of them looked solemn, and it was obvious that they had returned from the slaughterhouse.

When Zhou Liangwei saw Jiang Chen, he immediately stood up and saluted. "Your Highness, the two of us have already visited the slaughterhouse. Although we checked every corner, we didn't find any signs of abnormality."

Jiang Chen frowned slightly, "Are you sure?" There was a hint of impatience in his tone. After all, the slaughterhouse is not an easy place. If there is a hidden secret, it must be hidden very deeply.

Zhou Liangwei nodded, a hint of helplessness on his face, "Your Highness, we have confirmed that we have searched thoroughly, even turning over the weeds outside the slaughterhouse, and we have not found any traces of the kidnappers.

We even bought over 200 kilograms of spareribs just to follow them into the deepest reaches of the warehouse to see if there were any kidnappings taking place." His last words were tinged with self-mockery.

Jiang Chen was speechless. While Zhou Liangwei's approach was a bit too... blunt, it was still a thorough investigation. He looked at Zhou Liangwei, then at Xianyu Linyuan beside him.

Xianyu Linyuan's expression was serious, clearly not as relaxed as Zhou Liangwei. He spoke gravely, "Your Highness, the slaughterhouse appears clean, but during our investigation, we discovered that some areas appear to have been cleaned. Especially those corners, where traces should have been left, are surprisingly clean." He paused, his tone deepening. "If my suspicions are correct, there may be a larger conspiracy behind this."

Jiang Chen's brows raised slightly, his heart trembling at Xian Yu Linyuan's words. While the slaughterhouse itself wasn't a place worthy of special attention, if there were any signs of cleanup, it would indicate that some kind of secret transaction or activity had taken place there. Furthermore, there were no clues in the blind spots, not even the slightest trace. This "cleanliness" actually made people more alert.

"You mean, the slaughterhouse was secretly dealt with by someone?" Jiang Chen asked coldly.

Xianyu Linyuan nodded. "That's right, Your Highness. I suspect this place was once a transit point for some kind of transaction, or perhaps a place to hide some important clues." He pondered for a moment, his eyes flickering with thought. "However, these are only my speculations. The specific circumstances still require further investigation."

Jiang Chen's eyes grew deep. "In that case, we can't let go of any possible clues. Xianyu Linyuan, you and Zhou Liangwei, go to the slaughterhouse and conduct a thorough inspection. I hope you can find any clues that can reveal the secrets behind this."

"Yes, Your Highness." The two responded in unison.

After hearing this, Zhou Liangwei turned and left, while Jiang Chen fell into deeper thought.

He knew that time waited for no one. Every minute and every second, the situation in the court was quietly changing, and the Ninth Prince's actions were becoming more and more obvious.

He must find all the key clues in the shortest possible time and uncover the truth behind the Thirteenth Princess' disappearance in order to regain lost control.

He re-examined the movements of Guo Wulie and Su Yunliang, and also considered their possible hidden motives. All of this made him dare not take it lightly.

Jiang Chen's thoughts grew heavier, like a heavy stone weighing down his heart. The Ninth Prince's schemes and power struggles left him feeling even more isolated and helpless, but he knew he couldn't give up easily. If he failed in this round, not only would the Thirteenth Princess's whereabouts remain unsolved, but the fate of the entire Prince of Yan's Mansion would be in jeopardy.

Just as he was immersed in deep thought, he heard hurried footsteps outside. Jiang Chen looked up and saw Deng Yunde hurriedly walking in, holding a key in his hand.

"Your Highness," Deng Yunde said in a deep voice, "I have obtained the key to the armory from Guo Wulie. Lord Guo said that there is no one hiding in the armory, which completely fits his description. However..."

Jiang Chen raised his eyebrows slightly, a sharp light flashed in his eyes, "But what?"

Deng Yunde paused and whispered, "But I found some other things in the armory..."