Chapter 523: Disappearing Witness

He looked at He Lingchuan and asked, "Do you think Cen Boqing might have already silenced Wu Kai, claiming he's returned north?"

Wu Kai was Cen Boqing's trusted henchman, likely overseeing all his illicit activities, including killing demons and collecting pearls. He is a living witness. Once Cen Boqing realizes he cannot escape the messenger case, would he eliminate this witness directly?

"It's highly unlikely," He Lingchuan said, having considered this possibility. "If Cen Boqing had already silenced Wu Kai, he'd only need to fabricate a reason—like a trampling near the lake or an accidental fall. Even if unreliable, the man would be dead, and what could you or I do? We'd just have to admit he was a step ahead."

As soon as the Snail Toad committed its crime at Tide Lake Tower, He Lingchuan summoned Fu Shanyue to Baishajue and simultaneously ordered Commander Lu to surround Cen Boqing's residence. This was a race against time, designed to prevent Cen Boqing from reacting. Mr. Mai had mentioned Cen Boqing lacked quick wit, a point He Lingchuan had observed over several days and agreed with. Otherwise, why would he, despite marrying the eldest daughter of Beijia's Grand Minister of Agriculture and accumulating some military achievements, consistently fail to advance in military rank? A lack of decisive talent is a significant weakness on the battlefield. If Cen Boqing had been given time to return home, eat well, and think for half a night, he might have realized the implications and ruthlessly killed Wu Kai.

"Therefore, I'm inclined to believe that Wu Kai is still alive and is no longer at Cen Boqing's residence."

"Was he really sent to Lingxu City by Cen Boqing?" Fu Shanyue shook his head. "With time so tight, would they really depart in two separate groups? Besides, Wu Kai rarely leaves Cen Boqing's side."

He Lingchuan thought for a moment. "I have another theory: perhaps Wu Kai escaped on his own, right when Commander Lu was besieging Cen Boqing's residence and Cen Boqing was in utter disarray!"

"Escaped..." Fu Shanyue was about to laugh, but the more he considered it, the more plausible it seemed. "Your idea... are you suggesting that Wu Kai reacted quicker than Cen Boqing, realized his life was in peril, and then scaled the wall to flee?"

"When disaster strikes, even husbands and wives scatter like birds, let alone a master and his servant," He Lingchuan analyzed. "We can no longer view Cen Boqing and Wu Kai as a single entity. If Wu Kai had stayed, he would either be silenced by Cen Boqing or captured by us, neither of which is a good outcome. It would be better to simply leave. After all, he also knows that the primary culprit we seek is Cen Boqing. He could follow Mai Xuewen's example and flee far away."

Fu Shanyue stroked his chin. "There's a way to verify this." Jiao Yu, the tiger, stood up and walked over, his tail tip swaying gently.

Fu Shanyue asked him, "You mentioned earlier that Wu Kai's family is also in Baishajue?"

Wu Kai had lost his son in middle age, but fortunately, his grandson had always been healthy. This time, his daughter-in-law had brought their grandson with her to Baishajue. The mother and son were currently renting a residence in Biandan Alley.

This was a lead Mai Xuewen had provided yesterday. Jiao Yu, having overheard it, sent people to stake out the location and had just reported back to the Crown Prince.

"Go now and have them protected," Fu Shanyue said with a laugh, "lest Cen Boqing gets to them first."

He Lingchuan glanced sideways. It had only been over twenty days since they last met, yet Fu Shanyue's way of speaking had become so artful, claiming "protection" when he clearly intended to hold them hostage.

The tiger said nothing, turned, and walked out.

Fu Shanyue then said to He Lingchuan, his expression serious, "To dare to even make an inspector disappear, that fellow Mai is bolder than both you and I."

"Just bolder than you, why include me?" He Lingchuan thought, but before he could voice his retort, Fu Shanyue continued, "Neither the Zhongsuns nor the Grand Minister of Agriculture will let this matter rest. What's more, this incident will likely alarm the Emperor. We must strive for a swift resolution here, gather all the evidence, and definitively prove Cen Boqing's guilt, or Baishajue will face a furious storm."

Then he saw He Lingchuan reaching out to him. "Hmm? What do you want?"

"The case is pretty much cleared up now. Shouldn't you give me what we agreed upon?"

"Hey, the case isn't over until Cen Boqing is brought to justice!" Despite his words, Fu Shanyue took a brocade pouch from his bosom and handed it to him. "Take it."

He Lingchuan took it and saw it was a storage pouch, about seven or eight cubic meters in volume. It was empty except for a few materials piled in one corner.

These were the materials He Lingchuan needed to upgrade his Golden-Armored Bronze Puppet.

There was enough of each material for him to attempt the refining process again, even if his first attempt failed.

Fu Shanyue was finally being generous, no longer the stingy prince from their journey back to the capital. He Lingchuan counted the items and frowned. "Something's missing... What about that book explaining the black dragon patterns?"

He had agreed to investigate the White-Shouldered Eagle messenger case partly because he had negotiated terms with Fu Shanyue. In addition to the materials for upgrading his Golden-Armored Bronze Puppet, Fu Shanyue had also promised to help him find a particular book.

That book featured black dragon patterns.

"Once this case is settled, that book is yours," Fu Shanyue said, stretching as he stood. "I had to sneak into the Imperial Study three or four times to find it. You'd better make my efforts worthwhile."

He Lingchuan rolled his eyes. As if his efforts on this case hadn't been hard! He had nearly lost his life.

Baishajue wasn't large, and Biandan Alley was nearby. About three-quarters of an hour later, the tiger returned.

"No one was caught. Wu Kai's daughter-in-law and grandson have already fled Biandan Alley."

Fu Shanyue asked in surprise, "Didn't you send people to stake out the place?"

"Earlier, we saw them moving about through the window, but by the time we moved to apprehend them, they were gone," Jiao Yu admitted, looking a bit embarrassed. "It turned out there was a secret door in that house, leading directly to the neighboring rice shop."

"No wonder Wu Kai rented that house. Ha, 'rented'—it might well be property owned by his subordinates," Fu Shanyue sneered. "This person is indeed careful."

"Also, the room was meticulously cleaned and fumigated with herbs; not even a single strand of hair was left behind."

"They haven't been gone for two hours; they should be trying to leave the city as quickly as possible," Fu Shanyue instructed Jiao Yu again. "Take people to search from the West and North city gates separately. At the same time, dispatch the Eagle Guards to observe travelers on the roads."

Eagle eyes are far sharper than human eyes, capable of spotting prey from high altitudes. "Understood."

Jiao Yu turned to leave when a gray eagle suddenly flew in from outside and landed on a large tree beside Fu Shanyue. "Your Highness, I originally intended to return with Lord Jiao, but before leaving, I saw someone enter the residence Wu Kai rented for his grandson."

"Oh? Who was it?"

"I followed them and discovered they were two guards from Cen Boqing's residence." Although Commander Lu had surrounded Cen Boqing's manor, it wasn't a prison; servants still went in and out for errands like buying groceries or emptying night soil, making it impossible to stop everyone. "These two didn't return to Cen Boqing's manor. Instead, they went to the second floor of a shop across the street and used mirrors to signal into it."

Well, well, mirror signals were even being used now. Fu Shanyue thought about it, then burst into roaring laughter. "Ah ha ha ha ha! Cen Boqing was actually outmaneuvered by his own loyal old servant!"

"You're right, Wu Kai wasn't sent away by him; he secretly fled on his own. Otherwise, why would Cen Boqing send people to search for his grandson?" Fu Shanyue clicked his tongue twice. "No wonder Cen Boqing's expression was so grim when I demanded Wu Kai at his residence. Not only could he not produce the man, but he was also used by Wu Kai as a shield to cover his escape!"

"Our siege of Cen Boqing's residence also blocked Cen Boqing's search for Wu Kai," He Lingchuan said blandly. "You could say we were also Wu Kai's shield."

Fu Shanyue's laughter abruptly stopped.

"It's better not to state the obvious if we want to remain good friends."

"Wu Kai also took precautions against Cen Boqing, which indicates that this master and servant aren't as mutually trusting as they appear on the surface. That's good news." He Lingchuan knew Fu Shanyue had no scruples and was capable of kidnapping someone's grandson. He hadn't intended to interject, but such a simple action leading to complex consequences intrigued him. "The bad news is that Wu Kai and his family didn't flee in a panic, so they might not be easy to apprehend."

"How so?" Fu Shanyue raised an eyebrow. "Fleeing calmly? How can you tell?"

"Wu Kai didn't know that Mai Xuewen had provided us with leads. This means he couldn't have predicted that you would search for his family, yet he had already made preparations for them to escape Baishajue," He Lingchuan explained. "If he could prepare a house with a secret door, he could certainly plan his family's escape routes and measures from Baishajue in advance. He probably already arranged for available personnel and transportation; it wasn't done in a hurry. Such a premeditated and prepared departure shouldn't be called fleeing, but rather an evacuation."

Looking back at Wu Kai's attitude now, it already explains everything.

The old man was very confident.

No wonder he didn't let his daughter-in-law and grandson stay at Cen Boqing's residence, but instead had them rent a place outside; he had clearly prepared to escape at any time.

Fu Shanyue was unconvinced. "If Wu Kai truly understood how to plan ahead, why didn't he send his family away earlier? You and Cen Boqing had already clashed days ago."

He Lingchuan slowly replied, "He was taking precautions against more than just us."

"Not us?" Fu Shanyue, being intelligent, let out an "oh" after a moment of thought. "Are you saying he was also guarding against Cen Boqing?"

"Probably. And it turns out he wasn't wrong to be cautious," He Lingchuan continued. "Cen Boqing knew his daughter-in-law brought the child to Baishajue to play. If the mother and son had suddenly left early, Cen Boqing would have realized that Uncle Wu had also become wary of him."

"This master and servant pair is truly interesting," Fu Shanyue said playfully. "From this perspective, if Wu Kai hadn't managed to escape in time, my detaining him would have actually played right into his hands, wouldn't it?"

"Otherwise, Cen Boqing, for his own safety, would very likely kill him to silence him as soon as he returned," He Lingchuan mused. "The fact that he didn't do so before indicates that Wu Kai was either very important or Cen Boqing had other concerns. But now that Zhongsunsun Mou is dead and everything is developing unfavorably, Cen Boqing might not be able to consider so many factors."

He paused, then added, "Wu Kai has already fled, and Cen Boqing isn't likely to confess. If this drags on for a few more days, and the special envoy from Lingxu City arrives, things might change again. Just as you said earlier, how could the Grand Minister of Agriculture stand idly by while his son-in-law is in trouble?"

Fu Shanyue folded his arms. "According to what you're saying, was my trip pointless?"

To convict Cen Boqing, the key lies in Wu Kai's confession. Everyone knows Wu Kai is a confidant of both Cen Boqing and his father. Only if he confesses can Cen Boqing be brought to justice.

But Wu Kai disappeared at this critical juncture.