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However, the next day, Yuhong Xun found that Wang Qing didn't appear in the council, which was quite unusual. It had never happened before. Perplexed, he sent someone to Wang Qing's mansion to look for Wang Qing. However, he was informed that Wang Qing didn't have returned home since yesterday because of some state affairs so Wang Qing might be away for a few days. This made Yuhong Xun feel uneasy because he didn't have assigned any tasks to Wang Qing so where could he have gone? Maybe there was only one person who knew where Wang Qing was, that is, Lord Dun, Yuhong Yang. In concern, Yuhong Xun sent someone to Yuhong Yang's mansion. Yuhong Yang just smiled and said:

"Your Highness, don't worry! Wang Qing will be back in a couple of days. This is about military matters and he needs to discuss with the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Military."

Now Yuhong Xun was getting a bit bewildered. He immediately went to the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Military to find the respective ministers. The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Qian Dayou, was not found and the Minister of the Ministry of Military was busy assembling troops, preparing for deployment to the western battlefield. This revelation caught Yuhong Xun off guard and he couldn't contain his anger. He stormed out of the office after sweeping everything off his desk in frustration and headed back to his mansion in a huff. 

Upon entering his mansion, Yuhong Xun went straight to Zhou Chuyu's room. To his surprise, Zhou Chuyu, who usually spent his time writing his sutra, was unusually cheerful, bouncing around in the room happily. Yuhong Xun, who had never seen Zhou Chuyu like this, silently observed for a moment. When Zhou Chuyu turned and noticed Yuhong Xun standing at the door, he was startled, immediately stopping in his tracks and lowering his head to compose himself. Yuhong Xun couldn't help but smile and said:

"How happy you are! Please tell me about what it is. Maybe I am also happy too." 

After entering the room and seeing Zhou Chuyu's panic, Yuhong Xun couldn't hear any response. Feeling a sense of powerlessness, he sighed, walked over, picked up Zhou Chuyu and embraced him, saying:

"I really like the way you were just now. From now on, you can be like this very often, not just sitting and writing. You're happy and it makes me happy. Can we get along with each other like this? I hope our relationship will gradually be improved, okay?"

Zhou Chuyu tilted his head, avoiding eye contact with Yuhong Xun. Yuhong Xun gently lifted Zhou Chuyu's chin, making Zhou Chuyu look at him and said:

"Could you tell me what makes you so happy? Please tell me in order to make me happy too. Recently I've been troubled with the state affairs. Many things are not going well and there is also a war. I really want something happy to lighten my mood. Please speak to me, okay?"

"Nothing. I'm just tired from writing so I decided to get up and move around a bit."

"It is good. Don't just move around inside. Go to the yard. The scenery in my yard is quite nice. I know you've never been there for taking a stroll. Unlike elder sister, she likes to walk around in the yard. Oh, you also can visit your sister. I don't forbidden you and your elder sister to walk around in the mansion."

After saying this, he wanted to kiss Zhou Chuyu. Seeing no response, Yuhong Xun didn't want to destroy this moment which Zhou Chuyu was obediently in his arms. He added flatteringly:

"Alright. Let me take you for a walk in the yard now."

So, to the surprise of everyone in the mansion, Yuhong Xun personally led Zhou Chuyu, who was wearing a hat, for a stroll in the yard. Yuhong Xun described the scenery in the yard to Zhou Chuyu. Due to a large yard and bad health, Zhou Chuyu felt tired after a short time. However, he gritted his teeth and followed Yuhong Xun. At this moment, an eunuch ran over, panting and said:

"Your Highness, Mr. Ouyang has urgent matters to discuss with you."

"Got it. You take Mr. Zhou back." Yuhong Xun turned to Zhou Chuyu and said, "I have to meet Ouyang. We have a dinner together tonight."

After saying this, Yuhong Xun left. Zhou Chuyu asked that eunuch:

"Sir, Could I take a rest over there?"

The eunuch was startled but quickly nodded, thinking: this person is indeed different from other toy-boys. Those boys usually act arrogant in front of the eunuchs and servants but this one asks for my permission before resting. If the prince knows this , he might break my legs. So he said cautiously:

"Mr. Zhou, please don't speak to me like that. If the prince knows this, he might break my legs."

Zhou Chuyu bowed and apologized:

"Sorry, I didn't consider it well."

Yuhong Xun hurriedly returned to his hall, where he found Ouyang Liang pacing anxiously. He quickly inquired:

"What's going on? Do you have found Wang Qing?"

Ouyang Liang, without even bowing, immediately said:

"Your Highness, something bad has happened. The Fifth Prince has disappeared from the prison."

Yuhong Xun was shocked and asked urgently:

"What happened? When did this happen?"

"It was yesterday. The jailer reported that Wang Qing came to the prison and took the Fifth Prince away. Initially, the jailer didn't think much of it, considering Wang Qing's status as the Prime Minister. However, when the Fifth Prince didn't return to the jailer by evening, the jailer reported it to the Ministry of Punishment. The Minister, Mr. Zhang, was also surprised, but since the Fifth Prince was with Wang Qing so he sent people to Wang Qing's mansion to inquire. However, Wang Qing didn't have returned home at all, claiming to be on official duty. Mr. Zhang thought that the errand must be sent to Wang Qing by Your Highness. That was why he didn't report to us. When I heard about it at the prison this morning, I rushed to the Ministry of Punishment. Till then Mr. Zhang knew that Your Highness didn't let Wang Qing do anything. He began to be anxious to search for Wang Qing and the Fifth Prince in whole city, hoping to find them before noon tomorrow."

Yuhong Xun, furious, cursed:

"How carelessly Zhang Jin does his job! You also help him to look for Wang Qing. Additionally, let the soldiers surround Wang's mansion. No one inside is allowed to leave. Once Wang Qing appears, capture him immediately."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Ouyang Liang left. Yuhong Xun's previously good mood from the yard stroll with Zhou Chuyu was completely shattered. He kicked a nearby stool away, sat on a chair dejectedly and lost all interest in having dinner with Zhou Chuyu.

The next morning, the day when Yuhong Zhen would be executed, Yuhong Xun sat with a gloomy expression in the council hall, staring at Zhang Jin. He asked:

"So do you find your prisoner?"

"Your Highness, I can't find him yet."

"The execution time is coming so you're supposed to carry out the execution. The criminal has been missing for two days and you're not even concerned. I really don't understand how you became the minister. If you don't want to do this job, just tell me and leave obediently."

Suddenly Yuhong Yang's voice is coming:

"Don't bother looking for Zhen. He can't be executed today."

Yuhong Yang walked in while handing some papers to Yuhong Xun. Yuhong Xun read them carefully. It was a confession. Yuhong Xun feigned composure and said:

"Oh, my Lord! How could Zhen commit such a rebellious thing?"

Yuhong Yang said to all of the officials at present:

"All of you are leaving now." Once they had left, he continued, "Currently, Wang Qing is intensively interrogating Yuhong Zhen in the palace. Although the confession from those eunuchs and ladies in the palace is enough to make Zhen be executed a thousand times over, he adamantly denies it. We need him to confront with others in the palace."

Yuhong Xun asked in surprise:

"Why are there still the criminal in the palace?"

Yuhong Yang glanced at him casually and said:

"The less significant ones have already been punished. The main roles are still being caught in the palace. Your father, our Emperor, is quite furious this time."

"Is my father still okay?"

"Well, he is much better now. Most of the poison has been cleaned, but his body was indeed injured. He needs some more time to recover."

"That's great."

Yuhong Yang said with a meaningful tone:

"Okay, I have to leave now. You must work hard and don't do something stupid."

Yuhong Yang left but Yuhong Xun was taken aback by Yuhong Yang's last words "don't do something stupid". He wondered: Can Uncle Yang suspect me? Or is he trying to frame me? What's really happening in the palace? Is my father still alive or not? Wang Qing has just entered the palace so who investigated the case of my father's poisoning before? .Uncle Yang? Impossible! He doesn't have this ability to do this. Father? If poisoned, my father doesn't have the energy to investigate. That leaves three main concubines in the palace. Concubine Xian and Concubine Shu are relatively ordinary and they are not smart to handle this case. But there is only one who can do this, that is, Concubine De who is intelligent. She has accompanied the Emperor for many years, spending her focus on inside the palace, not only holding her ground in the entire palace but also gaining the Emperor's love. Perhaps she is using this case to shift the blame onto me through the interrogation of the Fifth Prince. In the end, she might frame me for regicide, ensuring the Eldest Prince ascends the throne smoothly while Father has already passed away.

Yuhong Xun thought about this matter repeatedly. As soon as he returned home, he collected all of his advisors to his hall for discussion.