Councillor Liu had a hesitant look on his face.
The Xuanying Bureau had strict rules: outsiders were forbidden from entering the armory without permission.
However, remembering the money he had just accepted, Councillor Liu found it hard to refuse. He could only make a welcoming gesture to Zhao Yi.
"Please, Your Highness!"
Before long, Councillor Liu brought Zhao Yi to the armory.
"Your Highness, these are the sleeve darts." Councillor Liu ordered someone to fetch the sleeve darts and handed them to Zhao Yi.
Zhao Yi took the sleeve darts and examined them closely.
"Be careful, Your Highness. These sleeve darts are coated with poison."
"Ah!"
Councillor Liu had barely finished speaking when the tip of a dart nicked the index finger of Zhao Yi's right hand, drawing a bead of blood.
Councillor Liu froze, looking up to stare wide-eyed at Zhao Yi, who stared right back.
Zhao Yi said displeasedly, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and get the antidote!"
Councillor Liu's lips twitched, and he squeezed out a helpless smile. "Right away, Your Highness."
A moment later, Councillor Liu returned holding a small medicine bottle. He unstoppered the bottle, poured out a single pill, and handed it to Zhao Yi.
After Zhao Yi swallowed it, Councillor Liu recorked the bottle and prepared to put it away.
Right then, Zhao Yi snatched the bottle away and said matter-of-factly, "I'll keep this bottle for now. Just in case one pill isn't enough, this prince will be prepared."
"Your Highness..." Councillor Liu looked at Zhao Yi with a bitter expression.
Items from the Xuanying Bureau were not so easily taken; every item coming in or going out had to be logged in detail. Missing an entire bottle of antidote meant he would inevitably face a harsh scolding from his superior.
Seeing this, Zhao Yi pulled a face and said arrogantly, "What? This prince takes one bottle of antidote from you, and you're unhappy about it?"
Councillor Liu quickly plastered on a smile. "I wouldn't dare."
Having achieved his goal, Zhao Yi greased his heels, ready to slip away.
Before leaving, he deliberately instructed Councillor Liu in a loud voice, "Councillor Liu, have your Xuanying Bureau send men to secretly watch all the medical clinics and pharmacies in Capital City. If you find any suspicious women, arrest them immediately."
Hearing this, Councillor Liu's lips twitched violently.
Earlier, he had only made that suggestion to curry favor with Zhao Yi. But implementing such a suggestion was by no means easy.
There were easily over a thousand clinics and pharmacies of various sizes across Capital City. Stationing at least two men per shop meant deploying over two thousand personnel all at once.
Catching a single spy was hardly a major case; the Xuanying Bureau would naturally never mobilize such a massive force for it. He had thought that since Zhao Yi was a prince, he could find his own men to keep watch. He hadn't expected him to set his sights on the Xuanying Bureau instead.
Fortunately, word had come down from the palace, giving Councillor Liu a valid reason to decline. "Your Highness, our Xuanying Bureau is afraid we cannot help with this matter. Word came from the palace that our Xuanying Bureau is forbidden from interfering in this case."
"Ah!" Zhao Yi feigned surprise.
Immediately after, he put on a sullen face, flicked his sleeves, and strode off.
"Finally gone," Councillor Liu exhaled in relief.
Turning around, he saw someone approaching and hurried forward to bow. "Ma Xingcha!"
"Has His Highness Prince Qing left?"
"Just left!"
"Is there any progress regarding the escaped female spy?" Ma Xingcha asked blankly.
Councillor Liu paused briefly, asking curiously, "Ma Xingcha, wasn't this case handed over to Prince Qing and the Pei family?"
"They are both amateurs. Do you think they can catch anyone?" Ma Xingcha glared in dissatisfaction. "In the end, this case will still fall back on our Xuanying Bureau to handle! The Chief Commander said we must capture the Beiyi spy before the peace talks with the Beiyi envoys begin!"
Councillor Liu came to a sudden realization and cupped his hands. "This subordinate will go inquire right away."
***
The secret hideout provided by Consort Hui was on Hengyuan Street in Chaofuyun Ward.
Zhao Yi made up an excuse and directed the carriage in that direction.
Along the way, Zhao Yi was troubled by a headache of a problem.
If the guards around him kept following him everywhere, it would be extremely difficult for him to move freely.
A prince's estate guards were allocated according to imperial court regulations—two hundred guards in total, assigned directly by the Imperial Guard. The Imperial Guard was part of the Imperial Guards; among them, there were bound to be the Emperor's eyes and ears.
Without a reasonable excuse, it was hard to dismiss these guards and act independently. He had to find a way to shake them off.
Having made up his mind, Zhao Yi lifted the curtain to observe the side of the road.
Before long, the carriage passed the mouth of the alley where the secret hideout was located. Zhao Yi took a brief glance, and the carriage continued forward.
"Good sir, come on in and sit a while!"
"Oh my, young master, please step inside!"
"Sir, every girl in our establishment is as fair as a flower. We guarantee you'll be satisfied!"
Just then, playful calls echoed from up ahead. Intrigued, Zhao Yi rested his head against the window frame of the carriage and looked out.
As the calls drew closer, a grand and magnificent entrance came into view. Hanging over the center of the entrance was a plaque inscribed with the words: Xiaoyue Pavilion.
At the entrance, several gorgeously dressed women were calling out energetically to passing young gentlemen.
*This must be an ancient brothel!*
Zhao Yi smiled to himself. Suddenly, a spark of inspiration hit him, and a plan formed in his mind.
His former self had been a dissolute prince who frequently visited the Capital City's pleasure houses. Brothels were crowded and chaotic, making them the ideal place to lose his guards.
Zhao Yi lowered the curtain, the corners of his mouth curving upward slightly.
Upon returning to Prince Qing's Estate, a tall, slender man in his thirties wearing a pale blue gown and a scholar's scarf led a few servants forward, bowing together in greeting.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
This man was Chief Officer Xu Shuming of Prince Qing's Estate. The Chief Officer was an official assigned to a prince's estate, essentially acting as the chief steward.
Zhao Yi cast a cold glance at Chief Officer Xu and walked toward the inner courtyard with his hands behind his back.
In his memories, his former self did not have a good relationship with this Chief Officer. The original host had often acted out, while Chief Officer Xu liked to nag him, irritating him to no end. Since the Chief Officer was appointed by the Emperor, the original host could do nothing about him and could only give him the cold shoulder.
"Your Highness, please wait," Chief Officer Xu hurried forward and stepped in front of Zhao Yi.
Zhao Yi frowned and snapped, "Say what you have to say!"
Chief Officer Xu pursed his lips and spoke, "Your Highness, this official heard that His Majesty ordered you to capture the Beiyi spy. May I ask what your plans are?"
Zhao Yi gave Chief Officer Xu a suspicious look, feeling somewhat helpless. He was certain there were imperial spies in Prince Qing's Estate, but who exactly they were and how many there were, he had no idea.
It seemed he would have to find a way to clean up the personnel in Prince Qing's Estate. Otherwise, being watched constantly would leave him unable to eat or sleep in peace!
"I have my own plans for this matter. You don't need to ask," Zhao Yi replied coldly, walking right around Chief Officer Xu.
Watching Zhao Yi's retreating back, Chief Officer Xu shook his head helplessly.
After dinner.
Zhao Yi changed into casual clothes, preparing to go to Xiaoyue Pavilion.
The original host frequently visited brothels, and Centurion Yao, commander of the estate guard, would always send six elite guards in plain clothes to accompany him. Today was no exception.
Accompanied by six guards and a steward, Zhao Yi had just reached the main gate when Chief Officer Xu rushed up from behind to block his path.
"Your Highness, where are you headed?" Chief Officer Xu asked, looking stern.
As Chief Officer, it was his duty to strictly record the prince's travels.
Putting on a fearless, arrogant front, Zhao Yi snorted. "This prince is going to Xiaoyue Pavilion. Out of my way!"
"Your Highness, you are a prince of the realm. How can you visit such a place of ill repute?" Chief Officer Xu said with deep, pained sincerity. "Your Highness, please reconsider!"
"Where this prince goes is none of your business!" Zhao Yi barked, shoving Chief Officer Xu aside, and swaggered right out the door.