The cruel little princess

At night, His Royal Highness Prince Jin sneaked into Shen Youyou's boudoir again. This time, he lay down on the Luohan couch in the outer room as if he was familiar with the place. Then he told Shen Youyou about this matter and told her not to go out recently because it was not safe outside. For her safety, he sent An Er to guard her when he was busy with official business in court during the day, and he guarded her personally at night!

Shen Youyou listened quietly to what he said, then responded calmly, "I already know." Then she added, "And I may know more than you."

Upon hearing this, His Royal Highness Prince Jin couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Oh? Is there something else you don't know?"

Shen Youyou smiled slightly and said, "Because I was at the crime scene at the time, and I even performed an autopsy on Miss Mudan myself."

Upon hearing this, Prince Jin was shocked. "So, the young master who performed the autopsy before the coroner Liu yesterday was you! Then why didn't you tell me when I was sleeping here yesterday?"

Shen Youyou nodded calmly, agreeing, "I didn't tell you because I felt the method was too cruel. Even the fetus in the womb was being tortured. I was afraid that if I told you, you wouldn't be able to sleep..."

Unexpectedly, His Royal Highness Prince Jin ignored all this. He simply clapped his hands and said excitedly, "It's like searching for something without any effort! Youyou, do you know who Minister Wu was that went there yesterday?"

Shen Youyou frowned, pondering the conversation between the man in official uniform and His Royal Highness Prince Rui yesterday. After a moment, she replied, "I think his name is Wu Siqi? What's wrong? I don't know him!"

His Royal Highness Prince Jin couldn't help but laugh after hearing this, and said apologetically, "This is all my fault, Youyou. I've never introduced you to my relatives on my mother's side. My uncle is the Minister of Personnel, Wu Ruiyang. My aunt is the sister of the current Right Prime Minister. My uncle only has two sons. My eldest cousin is the Right Vice Minister of Rites, Wu Jianxian, and my second cousin is the Right Vice Minister of Justice, Wu Siqi."

Shen Youyou suddenly understood, "Oh, no wonder I thought Mr. Wu looked very familiar when I saw him yesterday. He looks very similar to you. So you two are cousins. No wonder!"

"My cousin sent someone to bring you back yesterday, but why did you abandon them?" His Royal Highness Prince Jin said sternly, "Do you know how dangerous this is?" He sat up directly on the Arhat couch, his tone tinged with anger, "I really want to catch you and spank you again!"

Shen Youyou pouted and responded coquettishly, "I'm sorry! I don't know your cousin, but I didn't want anyone to know that General Shen's daughter was disguised as a man and secretly visiting brothels. That's why I resorted to this desperate measure to get rid of them." Then, she cleverly changed the subject back to the murder case, "Did Lord Wu find any clues?"

Prince Jin shook his head helplessly. "No, I asked the little maid, and she said that her master, Miss Mudan, was in a bad mood that morning, probably because her virginity was going to be auctioned that evening, so she was restless and fidgeting. Later, Mudan asked her maid to help her prepare a table of wine and food, and she enjoyed it alone in the room, and assigned the little maid to guard the door. The little maid never left, and didn't see anyone enter the room, so she didn't know how Lao Wu and the murderer got in."

"What about Shaoyao? Has she been interrogated?" Shen Youyou asked.

"I asked, but couldn't get anything out of her. Moreover, when the yamen runners went to look for Shaoyao, she was also unconscious. But it wasn't Qi Jue Powder, it was a drug." His Royal Highness Prince Jin sighed, "After the court was dismissed today, my second cousin told me about this murder case and praised the young boy. I didn't know it was you at the time, and I told him that no matter how powerful you were, you were definitely not as good as you! My second cousin said that this young boy was so young but he looked more experienced than Liu the Coroner! If I had known it was you, I would never have let him praise you again!" His Royal Highness Prince Jin said coquettishly, "Youyou, I don't want so many people to see your good qualities! It's enough if only I know it!"

Shen Youyou laughed dumbly, pondering the key point carefully, "Has Lord Wu searched Mudan's room and Shaoyao's room?"

"He didn't mention that." His Royal Highness Prince Jin thought carefully, "He was too busy praising you to say much. What's wrong? Did Youyou think there was something wrong with their room?"

Shen Youyou nodded, with a glint of wisdom in his eyes: "Indeed, if what the little maid said is true, she has been guarding outside the door, and the windows are closed and difficult to open, then where did the murderer enter the room? There must be a passage in Mudan's room, which allowed the murderer to sneak in smoothly. In addition, the murderer must be acquainted with Mudan, otherwise how could he know the existence of this secret passage! However, how did His Royal Highness Prince Rui enter the room? This means that there may be a problem with Shaoyao's room. If not, it can only mean that there is a problem with the little maid herself!" Shen Youyou's few words awakened His Royal Highness Prince Jin like a revelation!

Upon hearing this, His Royal Highness Prince Jin couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration. He stepped into the inner chamber and gazed at Shen Youyou in the bright moonlight. Under the moonlight, Shen Youyou looked like a fairy descending from the earth, breathtakingly beautiful. Her exceptional intelligence and quick thinking captivated His Royal Highness Prince Jin.

"Youyou, I suddenly realized that I don't seem to be worthy of you..." There was a hint of grievance and helplessness in the voice of His Royal Highness Prince Jin.

Shen Youyou laughed silently, "Don't be depressed. Go to bed early. Whether it is true or not, tell Lord Wu tomorrow and let him check it carefully and you will know! If it doesn't work, ask An Shijiu for the psychedelic powder I gave him last time." Shen Youyou turned over with her back facing outwards to indicate that she was going to sleep.

His Royal Highness Prince Jin walked out again and lay down on the Arhat couch. In the unique fragrance of Shen Youyou, he quickly fell asleep. Shen Youyou also quickly fell asleep surrounded by a sense of security.

The next morning, His Royal Highness Prince Jin stealthily tidied his bedding and departed unnoticed. He first asked An Shijiu for some hallucinogenic powder, then, after the morning court session, dragged his second cousin to his Prince Jin residence. He then recounted Shen Youyou's analysis to Wu Siqi, stating that they had indeed searched the entire place, but hadn't found any secret passages or anything like that.

His Royal Highness Prince Jin took out some hallucinogenic powder and told him its benefits and drawbacks. He said that the drug was indeed effective, but the effect was irreversible and could only be used once, because after using it, the patient would become demented and would not be able to answer any questions. He asked him to be cautious and not use it unless absolutely necessary.

"I didn't expect that girl to be so amazing!" Wu Siqi praised. "She can even develop something like this. Huaijin, you have to introduce her to me. I want to ask her if she has any other good things that our Ministry of Justice can use! No wonder I praised that young master yesterday, but you refused to accept it, saying that the Rui'an County Master was much more capable than that young master. Turns out they're the same person!"

Prince Jin couldn't contain his inner turmoil when he heard him calling her a little girl, and blurted out, "Cousin, you should be more careful with her in the future. She is my chosen consort!"

"Good boy!" Wu Siqi was shocked and incredulous, "Are you serious?!"

"Absolutely true!" His Royal Highness Prince Jin nodded again.

"Good boy! Good boy!" Wu Siqi said, "If your aunt knew this, she would definitely be pleased! Does your father know about this? Would he agree? After all, that little girl is General Shen's daughter! General Shen was just conferred the title of First-Rank General!"

His Royal Highness Prince Jin nodded, "Father already knows about it and hasn't expressed any disapproval."

"That's good. Your aunt passed away early, and you grew up in our family. My brother and I treated you like our own child. No matter what happens in the future, we hope you can marry a woman you're happy with. Home is where your heart is!" Wu Siqi patted his shoulder with relief. "Just keep this medicine for now. I'll use it as a last resort." He carefully placed the psychedelic powder in his arms, fearing it might get lost. Then he sent someone to search for the mechanism in Mudan's room again.

Prince Jin also felt that this was not right. Normally, if the doors and windows were closed and the door was guarded, it would be impossible for someone to enter from outside, unless the maid was hiding something. Just when they were about to go to Chunmanlou to find out what was going on, Wu Siqi's confidant came to report that a hidden panel had been found under Mudan's bed!