CHAPTER 1989: CHAPTER 1991: TRAPPED

"It’s good that everything is alright, it’s good that everything is alright." Yang Chuxia prayed with her hands clasped.

"These tomb raiders showed up at just the right time." Ye Zi’an said, "Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been easy to shake off Prince Le’s spies."

"It’s a relief that the children aren’t by my side." Yang Chuxia thought about what needed to be done next without being constrained.

"Hmm, you should rest for a while. I’ll make another trip to the governmental office."

"Why do you have to go to the governmental office again?"

Ye Zi’an chuckled lightly, "If we’re going to act, we must play the role completely. If I don’t keep a close watch on the office, how will people know about our urgency?"

So, for the next few days, Ye Zi’an went to the office twice a day, and the people at the Capital Prefecture Governmental Office were now scared whenever they saw him go.

Even Constable Lu, who had been investigating the child trafficking cases, was reassigned to investigate the tomb raiders.

Unfortunately, several days passed without any news.

This news was naturally a source of great pain for the Ye Residence, but for some other families, it was a cause for inexplicable schadenfreude.

Among these were First Madam Luo and Madam of Prime Minister.

First Madam Luo hated Ye Zi’an for cutting off her son’s finger, and felt that the missing children were retribution.

Madam of Prime Minister was envious, wondering why a grassroots family like the Ye Residence had a prince for a son; now that the person is gone, it’s a great relief.

However, Madam of Prime Minister’s happiness was short-lived, as her husband’s opportunistic nature meant she wouldn’t end up well either.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Lantern Festival, Prince Le ordered a palace banquet today, inviting all the court officials, who attended with their families.

In Great Zhou, traditionally a palace banquet was held at the end of each year, but due to a change in power, it didn’t happen. Unexpectedly, it was organized during the Lantern Festival.

Yang Chuxia originally didn’t want to attend, but Ye Zi’an insisted on taking her, and at the banquet, Yang Chuxia even saw the Grand Emperor, who appeared slightly haggard but otherwise fine.

However, when facing Prince Le, the Grand Emperor’s expression was one of hostility, which Prince Le didn’t seem to mind.

Yang Chuxia had expected something to happen at the banquet, perhaps a rebellion, but it turned out to be just a simple banquet with nothing happening.

Only after the banquet ended and they left the palace did events begin to unfold.

"Ah..."

"Who dares to act recklessly here?"

"Do you know who these people are? Move aside quickly!"

"Ming Lan, what’s going on?" Yang Chuxia lifted the curtain but couldn’t see ahead, as many carriages were blocked on the road, and since their carriage was at the back, they had no idea what was happening upfront.

Ye San, who stayed by her side, then said, "Madam, I’ll go ahead and take a look."

Soon the sound of hooves approached, and Yang Chuxia thought it was Ye San, but upon listening, she sensed something was amiss; these were obviously more than a few horses. She poked her head out of the carriage and saw a squad of soldiers surrounding them from behind.

Just at that moment, Ye San returned, "Madam, we are surrounded. These people should belong to Prince Le."

"What?"

"Madam, don’t worry," Ye San whispered, "The young master said when we left the palace that everything would be fine."

Ye Zi’an and many ministers were left behind by Prince Le in the palace, saying there were important matters to discuss. As it seems now, perhaps it’s different, and it’s uncertain if their preparations can be completed in advance.

"Alright, I understand!"

"Madam, Princess Consort Zhuang is still ahead."

Indeed, although Prince Zhuang was imprisoned, now that the guards at Prince An’s Mansion have been removed, Prince Zhuang’s Mansion is also free, and the palace banquet invitation was also extended to them.