They walked a circle around the completely burnt warehouse. Xiao Shao kicked aside two collapsed wooden beams, revealing the grayish-black scorched earth. He then lifted the hem of his robe and half-knelt, his fingertips crushing against the ground and picking up a layer of floating ash.

Qi Yan similarly half-knelt beside him. "It's porous and loose. This is charcoal."

Xiao Shao pinched the wood fragments between his fingers, crumbling them apart. His fingertips poked around in the ashes and bumped into something hard.

The object was cast from pig iron and had been scorched pitch-black by the fire. It felt surprisingly heavy in his hand.

Qi Yan leaned over and took it. "It's a lock from a silver chest."

Silver was piled into wooden chests, secured with iron clasps, and then stacked layer upon layer in the warehouse. This object was the padlock of a wooden chest.

Xiao Shao kicked away a few other wooden beams, revealing a large section of the foundation. He casually poked around and unearthed several more locks.

Qi Yan said, "It seems these were the wooden chests used to store the silver. The massive fire turned the wood into charcoal, leaving only the locks behind."

Xiao Shao straightened up. "How bizarre."

He looked at Qi Yan. "If the silver really was transported away within three days, why didn't they take the chests?"

The entrance to the silver vault was narrow, preventing carriages from passing through. If two people were tasked with carrying a chest, they could transport a whole chest of silver in one trip. However, if they didn't use the chests, a person could at most carry a few pieces of silver at a time. Why abandon a convenient container and take the more difficult route?

Qi Yan frowned in agreement. "It is indeed bizarre."

They circled around twice more, but the warehouse had been utterly destroyed by the fire, leaving behind only ruins and a brick-and-stone foundation. Xiao Shao randomly brushed aside a patch of ashes and knocked on the ground. The warehouse's foundation was made of solid stone slabs, any random piece weighing several hundred catties.

Xiao Shao said, "The possibility of an underground palace is slim."

Qi Yan nodded in agreement.

When the silver vault was first built, the possibility of theft was taken into account. The soil here was soft. If a massive space were excavated underground, it wouldn't be able to bear the weight of the stone slabs and silver ingots; it would inevitably cave in and collapse.

They frowned and searched some more, but they couldn't find any additional clues. Estimating the time until dawn, Xiao Shao was just about to tell Qi Yan to return to the manor when the person beside him suddenly froze. Qi Yan hastily took two steps back, his spine pressing against Xiao Shao's chest as he directly backed into Xiao Shao's arms.

Xiao Shao raised an eyebrow and wrapped an arm around him. He was just about to tease him when he noticed the shoulders and back under his hand give a sudden shudder, as if the young man had seen something terrifying.

Qi Yan reached back and touched Xiao Shao, as if wanting to hold his hand, but ultimately his fingers landed on a sleeve. The little Tanhua nervously gripped Xiao Shao's sleeve and whispered, "Your Highness, look at the door."

Xiao Shao followed his gaze and paused slightly.

Standing there was an old man.

An old man who was little more than skin and bones, his back hunched like a skeletal frame.

The old man's hair and beard were completely white, his gaze murky, and his eyes full of cataracts. He carried a dim, yellow lantern in his hand, its candlelight flickering and swaying in the wind, as eerie as a will-o'-the-wisp.

It was unknown how long he had been there, just standing quietly at the door, watching Xiao Shao and Qi Yan.

Xiao Shao raised his hands in greeting and called out, "Old sir?"

The person did not answer.

Xiao Shao grasped Qi Yan's wrist, pulled him forward two steps, and called out again, "Old sir?"

It wasn't until the distance between them was less than ten meters that the old man dazedly raised his eyes. He opened his mouth, revealing a pitch-black abyss; most of his teeth had fallen out, leaving only blackened, shriveled gums. "You, you..."

He raised a hand and pointed at Xiao Shao, but his fingers trembled unnaturally.

More accurately, the old man's entire body was spasming. Every patch of skin and muscle was trembling, as if he had contracted an incurable disease. He struggled to manipulate his tongue, asking with a slurred and strange pronunciation, "Who... are you... Why are you here to disturb... Prince An's peace..."

Qi Yan whispered to Xiao Shao, "He should be the gravekeeper for the tombs on the mountain."

There were eight princely tombs on Mount Qinglong, each equipped with an area for sacrificial rites. In the previous dynasty, there were supposed to be dedicated personnel guarding the tombs, even holding official titles. However, with the change of dynasties, the once prosperous princely estates had long since fallen into decline. After all the twists and turns, only a dying old man was left.

Even knowing the old man's identity, encountering such a person in the desolate wilderness still made Qi Yan panic.

Xiao Shao, however, didn't mind at all. He stepped forward composedly, cupping his hands in concern. "The night is deep and the dew is heavy, why is an old sir like you out here alone? Oh, you needn't be alarmed. We are passing merchants looking to cross Mount Qinglong to the neighboring town. We originally planned to rest for the night in the village at the foot of the mountain, but for some reason, the village was unexpectedly deserted."

Qi Yan felt slightly astonished. Following from behind, he watched the noble and esteemed Second Prince skillfully make small talk with the old man.

In just a few words, Xiao Shao had established himself as a lost traveler. He smiled and said, "My brother traveled this route before. He said there was a bustling village at the foot of the mountain, and the apricot blossom wine sold at the tavern by the village entrance was the best in Hedong, urging me to definitely come and try it. That's why I traveled through the night to get here. Yet when I looked, the village was empty and devoid of life, without a single ghost in sight. Left with no other choice, we had to travel up the mountain overnight."

His tone was familiar, as if he had genuinely grown up in the Hedong prefecture, and really did have a brother in business who frequented the area year-round.

Hearing him say this, the old man smiled. He opened his mouth, baring his yellowed teeth, and spoke in a hoarse, strange voice, "That village down the mountain... perhaps it really does have ghosts?"

Xiao Shao paused, then laughed. "Old sir, you're deceiving an out-of-towner like me. I, surnamed Yan, have traveled extensively over the years, yet I have never seen a ghost. May I ask, old sir, where this rumor came from?"

Qi Yan paused, then saw Xiao Shao mouth the words: "Xiao is the imperial surname. Borrowing your name for a bit."

Qi Yan fell silent, but a strange, inexplicable feeling washed over him. He quietly followed behind Xiao Shao, listening to him converse with the old man.

Intermittently and with slurred speech, the old man said, "That village down below... within three months, half the people in the village died. Does that count as having ghosts?"

Xiao Shao said, "Oh?"

Within three months, plus the fact that the village had been abandoned for over three months, that made a total of half a year. This exactly coincided with the time the Silver Case occurred.

He exchanged a few more words with the old man, who explained that the illness in the village was peculiar. Many people began experiencing full-body convulsions overnight, broke out in rashes, and then died. As a result, the remaining able-bodied youth scattered and fled. Those with relatives sought refuge with them, and those with money moved to other towns. Within a few months, the once-prosperous village fell into a state of ruin and desolation, becoming the sight it was today.

Xiao Shao thanked the old man and bid him farewell, then swung onto his horse and reached out a hand to Qi Yan. "Come up."

The sky was growing light. They had to rush back to the manor before the sun rose; there wasn't much time left.

Qi Yan swung onto the horse. Xiao Shao reached around his waist to grasp the reins, his palm inadvertently brushing against Qi Yan's waist. The heat was scalding. As if he had been burned, Qi Yan instantly recalled yesterday when he was panting while being pressed by his waist, and his lower abdomen involuntarily tensed up.

Xiao Shao patted him comfortingly. "It's alright. My riding and archery skills are excellent, I won't let you fall."

Qi Yan pursed his lips. Though physically weak, he had learned the Six Arts of a Gentleman in his youth and knew how to ride and shoot. But in Xiao Shao's eyes, he was treated as if he couldn't move his four limbs or distinguish the five grains.

By now, Xiao Shao had tightened his grip on the reins. He turned the horse around and galloped down the main road leading off the mountain. However, leaning against him, Qi Yan not only failed to relax, but actually grew increasingly tense. His shoulder blades pressed against Xiao Shao's chest, hard and uncomfortable.

Xiao Shao slowed down and asked, "Do you want to say something?"

Qi Yan hesitated for a moment before saying softly, "You are very different from what I imagined."

Rumors said that the Second Prince was ignorant and incompetent, a wildly extravagant, idle, and dissolute playboy. Previously at the manor, he hadn't shown his true colors. Although Qi Yan faintly sensed that something was amiss, he had no way to investigate further. But today, Xiao Shao's logical analysis of the case was meticulous and hit right at the heart of the matter. While conversing with the old man, he was perfectly composed, knowing exactly when to advance and retreat. Watching from the sidelines, Qi Yan felt genuinely surprised.

What kind of playboy acted like this?

Xiao Shao hadn't intended to hide anything from him anyway. Qi Yan was destined to follow him into the Imperial Study to review memorials; they were grasshoppers tied to the same rope. He merely gave a muffled laugh and drawled out, "Little Tanhua, remember to keep this a secret for me."

Rising and falling with the horse's movements, Qi Yan couldn't see Xiao Shao's expression, but he could imagine his open and handsome features. His heartbeat inexplicably accelerated, his earlobes and neck flushing a deep red, as he nodded in agreement.

The eastern sky had already turned white. Servants in the manor hurried back and forth, bringing up towels and hot water, and waiting at the door. The maids and guards that Song Luyang had reassigned here were lined up at the entrance. The leader among them had a lithe and sturdy build, looking as though she practiced martial arts. She pressed her ear to the window, frowning as she listened for movements inside.

The main doors to Xiao Shao's bedroom were tightly shut. It was perfectly quiet inside, without a single sound.

The maids exchanged glances for a moment, their expressions grave. The leader knocked on the door and called out loudly, "Your Highness?"

Though she said 'Your Highness', there wasn't much respect in her attitude.

No one in the room replied.

The maid raised her voice again. "Your Highness! Lord Song is hosting a banquet and invites you to ascend the heights and enjoy the view today. Would you be so kind as to grace us with your presence?"

Still, no one replied.

As the saying goes, even a mighty dragon struggles to suppress the local snakes. As an imperial envoy, Xiao Shao had only brought a few attendants, along with Supervisor He who had accompanied him.

Supervisor He stayed in the room next to Xiao Shao's bedroom to make it convenient for his master to summon him. Hearing the commotion, he frowned and got up. "Why all the clamor so early in the morning? The Second Prince is resting. What kind of decorum is this, making such a racket here? Fall back at once!"

Supervisor He had also come from the capital, but the maids completely ignored him. The leader furrowed her brows deeply, and surprisingly raised her arm, using her elbow to directly bash the door open.

Before Supervisor He even had time to stop them, the maids filed in. Their gazes swept across every corner of the room, only to find it completely empty. Even the tea set, table, and chairs showed no signs of use. Only the Su-style filigree embroidered bed curtains hung down in front of the bed, indistinct and obscuring the view inside.

Supervisor He was utterly dumbfounded, repeatedly scolding, "Preposterous, where did you learn your manners!"

His voice was shrill and particularly ear-piercing when he yelled, but the maids turned a deaf ear to him. They walked straight up to the bed and reached out to pull back the curtains—

Instantly, a sharp pain shot through her wrist as it was caught in a vice-like grip.

Xiao Shao's entire body was wrapped in a brocade quilt, exposing only a section of his arm. He gripped the maid's wrist like a pair of tongs, applying a clever bit of force that rendered her unable to advance or retreat. With a smile in his eyes, he said, "Be careful, miss. The beauty in my arms is still sleeping soundly. If you startle him, you'll have to pay with your life."

Although Xiao Shao was smiling, the smile didn't reach his eyes. His gaze was terrifyingly calm, like a deep and freezing pool. The maid glanced downward and saw that another person was wrapped in the quilt. His entire body was bundled up, revealing only a single wrist. The skin tone was a dazzlingly cool white, but there was a section of red marks on it, looking as though he had been pinned down and restrained above his head—a deeply ambiguous sight.

As if sensing the maid's gaze, those fingers struggled unnaturally for a moment before gently intertwining.

Xiao Shao said coldly, "Have you seen enough?"

Although the maids were Song Luyang's people, they still had to consider Xiao Shao's status as a prince. They immediately bowed and withdrew out the door.

Beneath the quilt, Qi Yan let out a long sigh of relief.

Xiao Shao threw back the covers and stood up. Both of their clothes were perfectly intact, and they hadn't even had time to take off their shoes. They had only rolled their sleeves up to their upper arms—having rolled around in a pile of charcoal, their clothes were stained with quite a bit of dirt and were completely pitch-black. One look was enough to tell they had just returned from the mountain.

He and Qi Yan had been in a rush. The sky was already brightening when they returned to the manor, so they could only slip in through the window. By then, the maids had already arrived at the door and were about to push their way in. There was no time to tidy up their clothes, so they hastily wrapped themselves in the quilt, exposing their forearms to create an ambiguous illusion.

Xiao Shao got down from the bed first. Qi Yan subsequently tidied up and changed his clothes. He sat down opposite Xiao Shao and said with lingering fear, "Song Luyang is keeping such a close eye on us, the matter is probably not trivial. He would rather offend you than let the secret out."

"If he keeps the secret, the Crown Prince might still be able to protect him. If he fails to keep it, he'll die without a burial place."

Xiao Shao drank some tea, playing with the teacup in his hand as he spoke carelessly, "This tea set is Jian Ware, worth a thousand pieces of gold. For a mere prefect like Song Luyang to put this out to entertain guests..."

He half-reclined in his chair and smiled lazily. "Not to mention Song Luyang keeping a constant watch on us despite such generous hospitality, he also called over such sensible and tactful maids to attend to us. I truly feel deeply honored. It seems it's about time we arrange for this Lord Song's death."