NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 16:
Chapter 16: Princess Pays a Visit
Zhao Wujian kicked away a baton-wielding officer who was eager to claim credit and said coldly:
“Now this is truly strange. Chiba Rizhao has been tightly bound in heavy chains, locked up inside my residence. She hasn’t stepped out.”
“Enough with the excuses!” Jingzhaoyin’s eyes sharpened.
“As the victim, would Cao Xiaolan lie? I suggest we take him into custody—Commander Long!”
Long Zhan was about to make a move, but the guards of the Northern Guardian Prince’s residence quickly lined up in front of Zhao Wujian, prepared to fight at any moment.
Zhao Wujian raised his hand. “I told you not to rush. Chiba Rizhao is here and has never left. If you don’t believe me, come in and see for yourselves.”
“Be careful—it could be a trap!” Long Zhan immediately tried to block Jingzhaoyin and Cao Xiaolan.
Jingzhaoyin, whose name was Sun Xiufu, gently brushed Long Zhan’s arm aside and said in a low voice:
“This official is handling a case. No petty tricks can interfere, nor would they dare. Commander Long, be at ease. I am simply here to investigate. I trust His Highness knows how to conduct himself…”
Sun Xiufu gestured for Cao Xiaolan to follow. Together, they walked past Long Zhan and Zhao Wujian straight into the residence.
Seeing that he couldn’t stop them, Long Zhan’s eyes flickered as he followed close behind.
Zhao Wujian turned around calmly.
Elite guards inside the mansion held repeating crossbows aimed at the soldiers of the Imperial Cavalry and the men under the Jingzhao Office.
With a loud clatter of chains, the locked door swung open.
Guards with short weapons pushed open the door, revealing the scene within.
Inside, Chiba Rizhao looked disheveled and worn out. Her limbs were restrained with layers of heavy chains.
The chains were thick and long, only allowing her limited movement within the room.
Seeing her actually imprisoned, Sun Xiufu furrowed his brow, sensing something odd.
But suddenly—
“I’ll kill you… Ah!!!”
The moment Cao Xiaolan saw the one who had murdered her entire family, tears streamed down her cheeks. She lunged toward Chiba Rizhao, a sharp crimson hairpin slipping from her sleeve, aimed directly at Chiba Rizhao’s heart.
[Holy crap! She can’t die!]
Zhao Wujian moved fast. He grabbed Cao Xiaolan in time, snatched away the hairpin, and held her tightly in his arms.
“Let go of me! I’m going to kill her!”
Cao Xiaolan sobbed uncontrollably, struggling in his grasp.
[Dear lady, if you kill her now, even jumping into the Yellow River won’t wash me clean…]
Zhao Wujian sighed inwardly and locked her in place.
Seeing that Cao Xiaolan couldn’t get to her, Chiba Rizhao finally breathed a sigh of relief. Hearing Zhao Wujian’s inner thoughts, her heart warmed slightly.
At this moment, Zhao Wujian was her only hope for salvation.
Sun Xiufu’s eyes flickered as he questioned:
“Your Highness, even if Chiba Rizhao is in your mansion now, it doesn’t prove that she wasn’t let out last night.”
Long Zhan watched the scene with cold indifference and said nothing.
Zhao Wujian already knew—this bastard must be behind all this again.
“As long as you investigate thoroughly, I have nothing to fear.”
“I intend to do just that.”
Sun Xiufu crouched down to inspect the chains and observed Chiba Rizhao’s expression carefully. Then, he slowly stood up.
“This case involves both the Heir and the envoy from Hansang. I will report this matter to His Majesty. Please wait, Your Highness.”
Long Zhan sneered inwardly. The Emperor had long wanted to get rid of Zhao Wujian.
Reporting to the Emperor would be the deadliest blow to Zhao Wujian.
“Keep a close watch. Don’t let His Highness suddenly escape.”
Zhao Wujian caught the implication in Long Zhan’s words, but he remained calm. Seeing Cao Xiaolan crying to the point of collapse, he actually pitied her.
Half an hour later—
Sun Xiufu returned with an imperial edict:
“His Majesty commands that you must find the true murderer within three days. If not, you will be held responsible for the deaths of Lord Cao and his family. The punishment…”
Zhao Wujian nodded and accepted the decree.
What a damn Emperor. Why would the investigation fall on me, the heir? You throw every pot at me to carry…
“Additionally…” Sun Xiufu added,
“The Seventh Princess asked me to tell you that she still believes in you.”
Zhao Wujian had grown used to Li Yunrui’s shows of goodwill by now.
What troubled him more was how to resolve this disaster…
Meanwhile, Long Zhan stood to the side, his face dark. That affection was clearly meant for him.
“Your Highness, you’d better hurry.”
With a cold snort, Long Zhan turned and left.
Back in his own residence, Long Zhan was in high spirits.
The Emperor had ordered Zhao Wujian to find the murderer in three days—but how could he? After all, the real killer was with him!
Seated in the main hall was a woman identical to Chiba Rizhao. She asked, “How did it go?”
Long Zhan cupped his fists and said:
“With Senior Sister’s help, Zhao Wujian has only three days left to live. Your illusion art, Mirror Flower, Water Moon, is truly indistinguishable from reality!”
The face of the woman morphed, revealing her true appearance—Ling Qingxue, with a cold and fairy-like aura.
“Fourth Senior Sister, by wiping out the entire family of the princess’s trusted aide, not only did you frame Zhao Wujian, but you’ve also stirred up enmity between the princess and him, making his situation even worse. This is truly a masterstroke—two birds with one stone. I owe it all to you.”
“It’s actually three birds with one stone,” Ling Qingxue corrected him.
“Once Zhao Wujian and the princess become enemies, and you eventually eliminate Zhao Wujian, you’ll be doing her a favor. That debt can then be used to gain influence over her forces.”
“Please enlighten me, Senior Sister,” Long Zhan asked, puzzled. “What power does the princess have?”
But Ling Qingxue was known for her mastery in disguise and intelligence gathering.
She must have uncovered something he didn’t know.
Ling Qingxue explained in detail:
“The princess isn’t as simple as she appears. Her secret network runs deep. She’s been keeping a low profile, but her influence spans both civil and military officials. Ten miles outside the capital, there’s a village not inhabited by civilians, but by her hidden troops.”
Long Zhan was shocked.
So the princess was this powerful?
If he could gain control of her forces, then rising through the ranks and holding absolute power would be as easy as reaching into a bag!
…
In the Northern Guardian Prince’s residence—
Although things had briefly calmed down, the air was still heavy with an impending storm.
Such a massive burden—how was he supposed to carry it?
As Zhao Wujian struggled with this dilemma, Cao Xiaolan entered the residence, bringing with her a veiled woman in light silk.
Zhao Wujian sized up the veiled lady. Her figure was truly stunning—curvy and elegant. Her noble aura couldn’t be hidden by her clothing, and she moved with natural grace.
As she approached, he caught a whiff of her fragrance—pure and familiar. He felt like he had smelled it somewhere before.
[What a fragrant woman… this scent—it’s the scent of a refined married woman.]
The woman heard Zhao Wujian’s thoughts and smiled softly. She slowly lifted her veil.
“Zhao Wujian? Don’t you recognize me?”
As the veil was lifted, the delicate and flawless face of Princess Li Zhaohua was revealed—elegant and well-maintained, glowing with maturity and grace.
[So it’s her. Without the heavy palace makeup, she looks even more beautiful today.]
[This kind of mature woman looks best in light makeup—she’s already stunning without needing much enhancement.]
“I was just wondering which celestial beauty had descended to the mortal world… I hadn’t yet seen her face, but my soul was already stirred. Now that I see it’s the princess, everything makes sense.”
Li Zhaohua chuckled inwardly at his thoughts but was even more surprised by how smooth-talking Zhao Wujian was.
“You’re quite the sweet-talker. If your father had your silver tongue back in the day, would I have ended up like this…”
Her radiant smile faltered slightly, as if some old memory resurfaced, but she quickly shifted the topic.
“Zhao Wujian, I’ve come today because of Chiba Rizhao’s murder case.”