However, Si Lili had already informed Zhan Doudou. Zhan Doudou had sent the Imperial Guards to meet her.
Zhao Tianhao, however, was not at ease. He followed Si Lili from a distance until he confirmed that it was indeed the Imperial Guards protecting the Northern Qi royal family who had come to meet her. Only then did Zhao Tianhao feel relieved and return to the capital.
Upon returning to the capital, Zhao Tianhao saw that Wu Zhu had returned.
He was waiting for him in his room.
"Uncle, you're back." Zhao Tianhao knew where he had gone. He had gone to the places Ye Qingmei had visited to search for his lost memories.
"Hmm, I think I know where the key is."
"Where?" Zhao Tianhao asked knowingly. "Either in Taiping Villa or in the Imperial Palace."
"Okay, I understand. I'll try to find those two places." According to the plot, Si Lili was captured, and Zhao Tianhao learned that the person who wanted to kill her was Lin Gong, Lin Wan'er's second brother.
But now, Si Lili hasn't been captured.
Naturally, Lin Gong didn't need to worry about their deal being leaked, nor did he need to go into hiding.
Therefore, he wouldn't be killed by Wu Zhu.
A few days later, Chen Pingping returned and wanted to see Zhao Tianhao.
Zhao Tianhao arrived at the Overwatch Council, where Chen Pingping had been waiting for a long time by the flowerbed Ye Qingmei had casually planted.
"Come in a little," Chen Pingping said kindly, looking at Zhao Tianhao.
"You're dressed too thinly, be careful not to catch a cold," he said, then looked at Zhao Tianhao again, "Keep your eyes on her."
Zhao Tianhao was speechless. He wasn't wearing Fan Xian's face anymore, but his own body. Was it really such a coincidence?
Or was Chen Pingping simply indulging in affection for Ye Qingmei, believing that because he was his son, he must resemble him in every way?
Chen Pingping continued talking about Ye Qingmei, then changed the subject, "I saw trust in your eyes."
Zhao Tianhao naturally believed in Chen Pingping. "Very well, you can go ahead now. If you encounter any problems you can't solve, come find me, and I'll handle it."
Zhao Tianhao took his leave.
Wu Zhu was incredibly quick; by the time Zhao Tianhao went to see Chen Pingping, he already knew the exact location of Taiping Villa.
However, Zhao Tianhao knew the key wasn't there, but in the Imperial Palace.
Initially, Zhao Tianhao didn't want to go there to look for it, but he suddenly remembered something. He'd been in the capital for so long, and for various reasons, he still hadn't met the mastermind behind it all.
Since that's the case, he decided to meet him. Zhao Tianhao slept at Lin Wan'er's place that night. After feeding Lin Wan'er and Ye Ling'er, they agreed to go on a spring outing together the next day.
Zhao Tianhao's carriage and Lin Wan'er's carriage left the city one after the other.
Upon arriving at their destination, Zhao Tianhao took Lin Wan'er and Ye Ling'er to play along the riverbank.
As for Fan Ruoruo, she went to check the route to Taiping Villa. Fan Ruoruo returned quickly.
"Ruoruo, where have you been?" The girls had already served Zhao Tianhao together several times, so there was nothing between them.
"Hehe, I'll tell you later. I need to borrow you for a bit, brother," Fan Ruoruo said, pulling Zhao Tianhao away.
Leaving behind Lin Wan'er and Ye Ling'er, looking at each other in bewilderment, wondering what they were up to this time.
"Could they be looking for a place for some outdoor fun?"
The two girls exchanged a shy glance, their faces flushed, clearly thinking the same thing.
Spending so much time with Zhao Tianhao had obviously influenced their thinking.
"Brother, just keep walking east along the river and you'll see it," Fan Ruoruo whispered in Zhao Tianhao's ear.
"Okay," Zhao Tianhao said, indicating he understood. "You stay and keep Wan'er and the others company."
"Okay," Fan Ruoruo obediently replied.
Following Fan Ruoruo's directions, Zhao Tianhao headed east and indeed saw the Taiping Villa.
Just as Zhao Tianhao was examining Yan Xiaoyi, he "saw" an arrow flying rapidly towards him.
"Too slow," Zhao Tianhao laughed, tilting his head to dodge the arrow.
Wu Zhu suddenly appeared beside Zhao Tianhao. "You've gotten stronger, ninth rank now, not bad."
Rarely hearing Wu Zhu praise someone, Zhao Tianhao smiled and nodded.
"The one inside is also ninth rank. In close combat, he's no match for you. I'll hold him off. You go in and find the key."
"This place is so big, is there enough time?"
"Opposite the pagoda in the lake, go into the bedroom, check the bookshelves, search under the bed."
"Okay."
Wu Zhu simply grabbed the arrow and casually tossed it out; the arrow that flew was no less powerful than Yan Xiaoyi's.
"Is this what a Grandmaster is?" Zhao Tianhao murmured.
"Pah, is this what a robot is?" Provoked by the arrow, Yan Xiaoyi was successfully lured out, ready to face the arrow.
After seeing Yan Xiaoyi revealed, Zhao Tianhao didn't delay. He leaped, using his lightness skill, and flew over the high wall, entering the Taiping Villa.
Zhao Tianhao saw the lake in the center of the courtyard.
Then he searched for the bedroom along the corridors on both sides.
Reaching the end, before even pushing open the door, Zhao Tianhao already "saw" Emperor Qing sitting quietly reading on the balcony.
Zhao Tianhao pretended not to see anything, acting as if he knew nothing. After all, he hadn't yet advanced to Grandmaster level and didn't know if Grandmasters could project their consciousness outwards like him.
After all, a ninth-rank expert could hear breathing through walls.
A Grandmaster, a hundred times stronger than a ninth-rank expert, shouldn't lack even more advanced methods of observation.
After pushing open the door, Zhao Tianhao pretended not to find anything and began searching the bookshelves and under the bed, slowly approaching the barrier. Upon reaching the screen, he casually spotted someone and quickly hid.
Emperor Qing, of course, had already noticed him. Seeing Zhao Tianhao hiding behind the screen, Emperor Qing rose and approached him.
"Your Majesty, what are you doing here?" Zhao Tianhao asked, feigning surprise.
"That's what I should be asking you," Emperor Qing said, staring intently at Zhao Tianhao, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
There was excitement, relief, guilt, affection, and reminiscence, among others.
As he spoke, he walked to Zhao Tianhao's side, gently touching and patting his shoulder, like an old father reuniting with a child he hadn't seen in a long time, a child who had grown up.
This was the first time Emperor Qing had seen Zhao Tianhao in person.
Zhao Tianhao felt like he was a master of acting.
Pretending not to notice the complex look in Emperor Qing's eyes, Zhao Tianhao nervously said, "I... I had arranged to go on a picnic outside the city with Wan'er today, so I wandered around and came across this courtyard. Feeling a bit thirsty, I came in to ask for a drink of water."
"Got a drink of water? Continue," Emperor Qing chuckled.
"And then, while searching, I found Your Majesty," Zhao Tianhao said with an "awkward" smile.
"Do you know who lived in this courtyard?"
"No."
"An old friend of mine lived here. I often come to visit her in my spare time."
"What kind of person was she?" Zhao Tianhao asked, feigning seriousness and then pressing for an answer.
"Fan Xian, you didn't seem to kneel before me."
"Then I will kneel before you now," Zhao Tianhao prepared to bow.
"Do you want to?"
"No."
"If you don't want to, then don't kneel."
Just as Emperor Qing finished speaking, Yan Xiaoyi's voice came from outside the door, "Your Majesty, there were skilled archers harassing us by the river just now. I feared it was a diversionary tactic, so I came here presumptuously. May I ask how Your Majesty is?"
"I'm fine."
At this moment, Yan Xiaoyi heard two people breathing inside the room, but he didn't alert them. He had already pinpointed Emperor Qing's location from the sound of his voice.
He drew his bow, preparing to shoot at Zhao Tianhao's position.
"If Your Majesty is safe and sound, then I am relieved."
Zhao Tianhao "saw" Yan Xiaoyi's movement and wondered whether to dodge. "I have one more question, Your Majesty. Have you had your meal?" Yan Xiaoyi's question was to confirm Emperor Qing's location.
"I have already eaten." Emperor Qing understood as soon as he finished speaking, quickly pushed Zhao Tianhao aside, and opened the door.
Emperor Qing introduced Zhao Tianhao, "This is Yan Xiaoyi, a palace guard. He possesses strength of at least the ninth rank, only a hair's breadth away from being a Grandmaster. I almost forgot, a ninth-rank expert can hear the breathing of two people separated by just a wall. Put down the arrow; I have not received any threats. This is Fan Xian, the Assistant Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Do not stop him when he goes out later." "Yes," Yan Xiaoyi obeyed.
"Also, convey my imperial decree: after returning, mobilize a battalion of soldiers to guard this place. From now on, no one is allowed around this villa."
"Yes," Yan Xiaoyi withdrew.
"You escaped with your life. You should know that a ninth-rank expert can hear the breathing of someone on the other side of a wall, and can determine my location by sound, then use an arrow to assassinate you."