The empress disliked my achievements for overshadowing her own, so she turned her attention to the N

At this moment, Hongming fell into deep thought.

She wanted to point out Chen Nan's mistakes, but she also knew that Chen Nan's analysis was rarely wrong.

On one side is the person behind the theft, and on the other is Chen Nan's speculation.

However, that person was not what Hongming wanted to see at all.

For a moment, it felt like two little people were fighting in her head.

Chen Nan didn't urge him, giving Hongming plenty of time to think.

A full quarter of an hour later, Hongming asked in a low voice, "How did you know that the person who took the golden nanmu robe was Changsun Du?"

Chen Nan explained with a smile, "I don't know if you remember the first time I proposed reforms during my court session."

“When I first proposed the reforms, Changsun Du was very supportive.”

"Because he could see that my suggestions played a very important role in the development of the Northern Wei Dynasty."

"The second person to stand up was Qin Qingmin, who did not agree with the reform at the time."

"Soon after, Changsun Du also expressed his opposition."

"Then those courtiers all stood against me."

"Qin Qingmin is just the dean of an academy."

"I can understand why he could get those officials to stand on the same side as him."

"But what could possibly be the reason that even the Prime Minister would listen to a mere dean?"

After Chen Nan's explanation, Hongming fell into deep thought once again.

Indeed, Chen Nan's words make a lot of sense.

A prime minister holds a higher official rank than a dean, and his actual power is many times greater.

However, when Qin Qingmin disagreed, Changsun Du immediately changed his attitude, and the situation behind this is quite intriguing.

Hongming hadn't noticed this at all until Chen Nan brought it up.

She then realized that Changsun Du had listened to Qin Qingmin's words more than just these few times.

Before Chen Nan came, Changsun Du always stood on the same side as Qin Qingmin.

"Even if Changsun Du really is the person behind it all, are we just going to stand by and do nothing?"

Hongming agreed with Chen Nan's guess, but she was still somewhat unwilling.

"Of course we won't let it go unchecked, but we need to manage this matter in a different way."

Chen Nan still had a smile on his face, as if he didn't care at all.

"Go and explain the situation to the Empress Dowager, and ask her to organize high-ranking officials of the Northern Wei to inspect the national treasury."

"I'll go find Changsun Du alone and find out what's going on inside."

"I'm going to see the Empress Dowager?" Hongming's mouth dropped open.

She didn't have Chen Nan's influence; not just anyone could make the Empress Dowager so obedient.

"It's alright. Explain the reason to the Empress Dowager. If that doesn't work, just say that I asked you to go find her. The Empress Dowager will agree." Chen Nan said this with extreme reluctance.

Sure enough, the next second Hongming's face turned ashen, and he became sarcastic; "Oh, it seems you have a very good relationship with the Empress Dowager."

No matter what, the other party was the Empress Dowager, so Hongming dared not say anything excessive.

Chen Nan took a step back: "You're overthinking it. My relationship with the Empress Dowager is simply good, not as complicated as you think."

"You'd better be!" Hongming sneered, turned and rushed out.

In reality, Chen Nan and the Empress Dowager had a somewhat ambiguous relationship.

She's not stupid; how could she not see it?

When it really came down to it, she even considered betrayal...

Watching Hongming's departing figure, Chen Nan wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed, "Sigh, a woman's heart is truly unfathomable. One second she's fine, the next she's completely changed."

Having said that, he called to Wu Xu, and the two left together.

Along the way, Chen Nan walked very slowly, and even had the time to patronize the street vendors.

Suddenly, Chen Nan stopped, turned around and looked at Wu Xu with a mysterious smile: "Wu Xu, are you hungry?"

Wu Xu asked blankly, "Your Highness, I'm not hungry."

“I think you’re hungry!” Chen Nan said solemnly.

Although Wu Xu didn't understand, he knew that Chen Nan must have his reasons for saying that.

He had no choice but to agree: "Your Highness is absolutely right, I am indeed quite hungry."

As she spoke, she casually rubbed her stomach.

Hearing this, Chen Nan smiled knowingly and pointed to the Fuxiang Building to the side.

"I think this place is pretty good. Let's go in and try the food!"

After saying that, he went inside first.

Seeing that his lord had already gone inside, Wu Xu had no choice but to follow him in.

As soon as the two entered, the waiter came to greet them.

"What would you two like to eat? Our restaurant has just launched a new product, roasted chicken frame. Would you like to try it?"

In reality, Chen Nan wasn't hungry; he was just stalling for time to go to Changsun Du's house.

Seeing the waiter's recommendation, I nodded and said, "Since it's a new product, I'll give it a try."

He then asked, "Wu Xu, what would you like to eat?"

"king……"

As soon as Wu Xu uttered the first word, Chen Nan coughed twice.

Seeing this, Wu Xu quickly changed his mind: "It's fine as long as it's decided by the young master."

After ordering their food, the waiter looked at them with a puzzled expression before leaving.

An hour later, the two came out of the restaurant.

Chen Nan finally quickened his pace, and soon the two arrived at the back wall of Changsun Du's house.

Wu Xu asked, puzzled, "Your Highness, weren't we supposed to be visiting Changsun Du? Why are we in his backyard?"

Chen Nan patiently explained, "Did you think I was merely visiting Changsun Du?"

"He must have a great connection with Qin Qingmin, but I see that his attitude towards Qin Qingmin is very indifferent."

"Therefore, it is speculated that the two are not on the same side, and Changsun Du may have had to listen to Qin Qingmin for some reason."

"The fewer people who know about this trip, the better!"

Without saying a word, Chen Nan suddenly leaped up the three-meter-high wall.

Wu Xu was completely stunned. With his strength as a fourth-rank martial artist, he simply couldn't have done that.

With his mouth agape, he asked, "Your Highness, your strength..."

In all his years of life, he only knew Hongming and Qingyu as seventh-rank martial artists, but neither of them possessed that ability.

Therefore, it is clear that Chen Nan's strength must be above that of a seventh-rank martial artist.

The seventh-rank martial artist is above the eighth-rank, but Chen Nan's presence gave him the impression that he was more than just an eighth-rank martial artist.

Chen Nan chuckled: "I just broke through to the Grandmaster level a few days ago."

As he spoke, he jumped down again, taking Wu Xu with him, and the two of them jumped over the wall together.

At that moment, the servant who was trimming the flowers and plants in the corner of the wall only felt two dark figures dart past in front of him.

When he opened his eyes again, he saw Chen Nan with Wu Xu and another person.

The servants immediately cried out in alarm, "Guards! An assassin has tried to kill the master! Help!!"

Before long, the corner that was usually deserted was full of people.

Suddenly, a deep, aged voice rang out from the crowd: "This Prime Minister wants to see who is so blind as to dare to cause trouble at my Prime Minister's residence!"

Through the crowd, Chen Nan saw that the person who spoke was none other than the Right Chancellor, Changsun Du.