The princess regretted it.

"Master, something happened!" The steward of the Grand Tutor's Mansion had a serious expression on his face. He rushed into the house in a panic, then bent his knees and knelt straight in front of Zhang Hengrui.

Zhang Hengrui frowned slightly, and slowly put down the teacup he was holding in his hand and about to bring to his mouth. He said in a deep voice, "Why are you so panicked? Get up and talk."

The steward stood up upon hearing the noise and said quickly and anxiously, "Master, Qi Kui has been arrested. It's said that he was captured by a man named Jia Wen and has now been sent to the Dali Temple."

Hearing the name "Qi Kui," Zhang Hengrui was stunned at first, his mind racing through Qi Kui's image and the tasks he oversaw. Then, his face darkened, his eyes sharp as a sword. "What's going on? Didn't we tell Qi Kui to stay out of sight lately? Wasn't his influence cleared long ago? Who is this Jia Wen? How did he track down Qi Kui?" Zhang Hengrui's tone was cold and rapid, each word dripping with icy icicles, sending a chill down your spine.

The steward quickly replied, "We don't know who this person is at the moment. I've never heard of such a person in the Dali Temple. I suspect he's using an alias. I've already sent someone to investigate the details. Master, what should we do now?"

Zhang Hengrui was also getting anxious. He was silent for a moment, his mind racing through all the possible scenarios and countermeasures. Then, he said hastily, "First, send someone to the Dali Temple to investigate and see how much evidence they have. Also, investigate Jia Wen's background; I want to know where he came from. And finally, eliminate all contact with Qi Kui. No trace should be left."

The steward took his orders and left, leaving Zhang Hengrui alone in the room. He sat in a chair, his brow furrowed so tightly that it could pinch a fly to death, his fingers tapping the armrests with a rhythmic "tap, tap." He pondered his next move. Qi Kui's arrest would likely lead to further consequences. If the Dali Temple truly possessed crucial evidence, the Grand Tutor's Mansion would undoubtedly be implicated; perhaps even his sister and her son.

He stood up and paced back and forth in the room, his steps heavy and hurried. The uneasiness in his heart grew stronger and stronger. He always felt that a pair of eyes were watching their family closely from behind. This feeling made him feel very irritated, and this feeling of being out of control made him feel indescribably depressed.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He couldn't help but throw the teacup on the table to the ground, smashing it to pieces, cursing, "You're not good enough to do anything, but you're more likely to cause trouble! Idiot! Waste!"

The sudden noise startled Tian, who was about to enter, and the nanny behind her. Tian quickly stepped forward to check on Zhang Hengrui, asking with concern, "Husband, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" The nanny quickly and swiftly picked up the things on the floor.

Zhang Hengrui's expression, though still grim, softened slightly when he saw Tian Shi come in. Some things were truly inconvenient for them to know. He walked back to his seat and sat down, then spoke slowly, "Are you back? Was the Grand Princess's banquet going well today?"

Tian slowly walked to the chair next to Zhang Hengrui and sat down. She frowned slightly and said, "Today's banquet is indeed lively, but it's not the usual kind of lively."

Zhang Hengrui turned to look at his wife, his eyes full of confusion, and asked, "What do you mean?"

Tian leaned forward slightly, approached Zhang Hengrui and said, "My husband, you don't know, today's banquet is really terrifying. That guy from Minister Lin's family at the banquet..." Then, she recounted everything that happened at the banquet in detail.

The more Zhang Hengrui listened, the darker his expression grew. He couldn't help but curse inwardly, "How does Lin Song control his family? This Guo is such a brainless woman."

Zhang Hengrui took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. He frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, "From what you said, it seems that Jin'an has a very close relationship with the Duke of Huguo's Mansion. Didn't the Grand Princess dislike Jin'an in the past?"

Mrs. Tian nodded respectfully. "But judging by how the two interacted at today's banquet, they are indeed harmonious. Furthermore, I've noticed that Princess Jin'an's temperament has changed from before; she seems to have become much more stable."

Zhang Hengrui smiled disapprovingly and said, "She's a princess by nature, and a certain dignity comes naturally from her royal status. However, she now has close ties with the Duke of Protectorate and has reconciled her relationship with the Prime Minister's Mansion. This makes us a little more cautious in our actions. We should try to avoid her in the future and not provoke her easily." At this point, he thought of Qi Kui and suddenly had a guess: "Could it be that someone is behind her, guiding and assisting her? Who could it be? It seems that the only person close to her has always been the Third Prince. It seems that we need to investigate this peaceful and elegant Third Prince."

Seeing her husband lost in thought again, Tian knew he was lost in thought again. She stood up, bowed, and left quietly.

......

On the third floor of Zuixianlou, the shopkeeper stood respectfully in a side room. Zhong Chuzhou wore a turquoise robe with wide sleeves, the fabric gleaming delicately in the light. A matching belt, inlaid with shimmering gemstones, cinched his waist. The cuffs were embroidered with delicate cloud patterns, the delicate stitching highlighting the craftsmanship. He stood tall and straight, his demeanor extraordinary. He narrowed his eyes slightly, toying with a delicate wine glass in his hand, his expression indifferent.

There was a family banquet today, and Grandmother had invited all the women. He knew Jin'an would be coming today, and had originally wanted to stay home to see if he could have a chance to meet him. The shopkeeper had someone send a message saying there was news, so he got up and came here. Upon arriving at the restaurant, he heard the good news.

"You caught him so quickly?" Zhong Chuzhou's voice was cold and tinged with cynicism. There was a hint of surprise in his tone, yet it seemed as if everything was within his expectations.

The shopkeeper lowered his head quickly, his attitude extremely respectful, and said respectfully: "Yes, sir, I just received news that Qi Kui has been detained in the Dali Temple."

Zhong Chuzhou pondered for a moment, a faint smile curling up at the corner of his mouth, a smile that held a touch of mystery and a touch of amusement. "Interesting! It seems Wang Zhengxing has some brains. He understood it instantly! It seems like there must be evidence!"

"You are right, sir. Otherwise, we wouldn't dare to send people to jail directly. But this matter has involved the Grand Tutor's Mansion. sir, how could the Grand Tutor's Mansion let it go?" the shopkeeper asked carefully.

Zhong Chuzhou looked at the wine glass in his hand, which was gently turning between his slender fingers. He said with a half-smile, "It depends on whether Zhang Hengrui can keep his composure. If he dares to kill to silence the witness, Wang Zhengxing is no fool. Now it depends on who makes the first move!"

The shopkeeper quickly smiled flatteringly and said, "Young Master, you are right! You have great foresight and foresight, and I admire you deeply. So, can we assist Lord Wang?"

"No need. Wang Zhengxing is not stupid. He has probably reported it to my uncle. Okay, go back and do your work! Pay attention to what you should pay attention to." Zhong Chuzhou waved his hand slightly, his tone was calm but with a hint of unquestionable majesty.

"Yes, sir." The shopkeeper responded and was about to leave when he suddenly turned around and said, "By the way, sir, there's a message from the other courtyard saying that the man has recovered quite well. There's something I'd like you to confirm."

"Okay, I understand!" Zhong Chuzhou nodded slightly.

"Then I shall withdraw first." The shopkeeper respectfully replied. The room suddenly fell silent. Zhong Chuzhou stood alone by the window, his usually smiling almond-shaped eyes now gleaming with a deep light as he quietly gazed at the bustling scene outside.

After a while, he smiled, picked up the folding fan on the table, and turned the mechanism on the wall. The cabinet against the wall slowly moved away, revealing a secret door. Zhong Chuzhou pushed the door open and slipped inside. The secret door closed, and the cabinet slowly returned to its original position. He left the restaurant quietly.