Ling Hua had sent three letters to His Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and Yan Qing before setting out for Ling Mountain. Instead of leaving immediately, she tidied up and went to the residence where Minister of Revenue Zhao Jiang was staying for disaster relief.
She planned to meet with Zhao Jiang.
By that time, it was already night, and Zhao Jiang was sitting at the desk, full of anxiety.
The second prince, Xiao Zhen, had been missing for one month and twenty days. The guard, Xiyu, who had followed the second prince, had kept it a secret from His Majesty, not daring to let this news out. He had witnessed the massacre at Shangdong Palace on the day the second prince took over and had come to understand the second prince's cunning and courage along their journey. Although initially not by his own choice, after reaching the Barrier Poison Forest, he had willingly given his allegiance.
For the second prince was indeed kinder, much kinder than the Crown Prince.