Su Fan accompanied Xiao Xue'er for a day, and his mission was finally complete.
[Mission Complete, Reward: 100000 Experience, 100 Reputation]
Su Fan was now only 400 reputation points away from unlocking the next main quest.
"Shall I escort you back?"
Su Fan's mission was done, so there was no need for Xiao Xue'er to tag along anymore.
"No!"
Xiao Xue'er immediately became displeased, pouting and glaring at Su Fan.
"Then I'll inform your imperial brother and have him send someone to pick you up," Su Fan said indifferently.
"You!"
Xiao Xue'er was so angry she couldn't retort. If her imperial brother found out she had sneaked out of the palace, she would definitely be scolded again.
"You scoundrel! Hmph!"
Xiao Xue'er angrily shoved Su Fan and left with a cold snort.
Su Fan shook his head and stopped paying attention to her.
"Heh!"
In the crowd on the street, Zuo Junyi, who had been secretly following the two, let out a cold laugh. He gritted his teeth, his mind already concocting a new scheme. Su Fan was unaware that a seemingly insignificant person was causing him trouble.
Su Fan went straight home to rest. The next morning, he was awakened by the commotion outside.
"What's going on?"
Su Fan walked out of his bedroom and asked Qi Ling with confusion.
Outside the door, Qi Ling was confronting dozens of soldiers. Since the soldiers didn't understand Qi Ling's sign language, the situation was tense.
"Lord Su, by order of His Majesty, please accompany us." The leading soldier said to Su Fan with a serious expression.
Su Fan was slightly taken aback. The soldiers' posture didn't seem like an invitation.
"Can you tell me what's happening?" Su Fan asked, puzzled.
"The princess is missing. Someone reported seeing you with the princess yesterday. Lord Su, please cooperate with the investigation." The soldier was relatively polite, as it wasn't yet confirmed that Su Fan was involved in the princess's disappearance.
Su Fan frowned. Xiao Xue'er was missing? Had she not returned yesterday and gone off gallivanting somewhere else? However, Su Fan quickly shook his head. Xiao Xue'er had no money on her. If she didn't return, she had nowhere to go. Even if she hadn't returned, she would have gone to the Peace Inn.
"I'll go with you. Don't trouble her." Su Fan decided he had to go and find out where Xiao Xue'er had gone yesterday.
"Please." The soldier politely escorted Su Fan away, showing no intention of causing trouble.
Su Fan was directly taken to the imperial study. Xia Yuan sat on the throne with a frosty expression. The eunuchs beside him trembled. When the emperor was angry, one could easily lose their life; how could they not be afraid?
In the imperial study, besides the eunuchs and the emperor, there was someone Su Fan was familiar with: Zuo Junyi. Su Fan's heart stirred; he seemed to understand what was happening.
"Su Fan, were you with the princess yesterday?" Xia Yuan asked Su Fan with a face as cold as frost.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, yes." Su Fan had nothing to deny; it was the truth.
"Then where is the princess now?"
"I had the princess return to the palace yesterday afternoon. I don't know where she is now," Su Fan stated truthfully.
"Zuo Junyi said he saw you. Have you seen him?" Xia Yuan continued to ask.
"Yes." Su Fan nodded slightly.
"So, you admit to kidnapping the princess?" Xia Yuan's expression suddenly turned icy, and he questioned Su Fan with murderous intent.
Su Fan found it strange. When had he ever admitted to kidnapping the princess?
"Why does Your Majesty believe the princess has been kidnapped?" Su Fan countered.
"Zuo Junyi said that yesterday afternoon, he saw you and the princess leave the temple fair. It seemed you had an argument with the princess on the way, so he reported this matter to Eunuch Li first thing this morning. Is what he said true?"
Su Fan immediately understood. This was clearly fabricated by Zuo Junyi. As for the princess, she must have been hidden somewhere by Zuo Junyi.
"Your Majesty, I admit I was with the princess yesterday, but her disappearance has nothing to do with me. As I said, I had her return to the palace in the afternoon. As for where the princess is now, I think you should ask Young Master Zuo." Su Fan certainly wouldn't take the blame so foolishly.
"What Young Master Zuo said about leaving the temple fair with the princess is utter nonsense. The princess and I parted ways at the temple fair." Su Fan explained.
Xia Yuan frowned. He didn't believe Su Fan would kidnap the princess. Xue'er could sneak out to be with Su Fan, which showed absolute trust. Moreover, Su Fan had no reason to do so; it brought him no benefit. The logic didn't add up.
"Zuo Junyi, what do you say?" Xia Yuan looked at Zuo Junyi. One of them, Su Fan or Zuo Junyi, was lying, and he wasn't sure who yet.
"Your Majesty! This Su Fan disrespected the princess at the restaurant yesterday. I stepped forward to intervene and was beaten by him. That's why I was worried after seeing the princess arguing with Su Fan, and I came to the palace to report. If Your Majesty doesn't believe me, you can find the restaurant owner to testify!" Zuo Junyi hurriedly knelt on the ground and poured out his grievances.
Su Fan frowned slightly, realizing the situation was not good. Zuo Junyi's confident statement made it seem as if it were true.
"Very well, summon the restaurant owner." Xia Yuan would certainly want to clarify the matter. The princess's unexplained disappearance was a serious issue.
Soon, the owner of the dumpling restaurant from yesterday was brought before the emperor by the Imperial Guard.
"Your humble subject pays respects to the Emperor!" The dumpling restaurant owner had never been in such a situation before. He knelt on the ground trembling and bowed to Xia Yuan.
"Rise. Did you see these two yesterday?" Xia Yuan waved his hand gently, allowing him to stand, and then pointed at Su Fan and Zuo Junyi, asking him.
The owner looked at Su Fan and Zuo Junyi, then nodded. "I do have some impression. I remember he seemed to be arguing with a young lady. Later, this young master came to stop him and was beaten by him, so I remember it very clearly." The owner said with conviction.
Su Fan frowned deeply. He couldn't detect anything unusual in the owner's eyes. Although he appeared fearful, it was normal for an ordinary person to be afraid in the palace.
It's over. I can't clear my name even if I jump into the Yellow River!
Xia Yuan's face was like frost.
"Su Fan, do you have anything else to say?" Xia Yuan was extremely disappointed in Su Fan. He had originally considered taking Su Fan as his son-in-law, otherwise, he wouldn't have allowed Su Fan to take the princess out. But now, he needed to re-evaluate Su Fan's character.
Su Fan's face showed bitterness. He was truly helpless now.
"Your Majesty, the princess was indeed not kidnapped by me. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"
"Still quibbling? Hand over the princess. Considering your past merits, I can spare your life." With the evidence seemingly conclusive, Xia Yuan had already concluded that Su Fan had kidnapped the princess.
Su Fan shook his head helplessly. He had no good solution now, so he could only resort to the thirty-sixth stratagem: to flee! Su Fan immediately took out his Bagua Token and used it.