Su Fan emerged and saw You Jing glaring at him with resentment.
"What did he say to you?" You Jing asked Su Fan.
"None of your business," Su Fan sneered.
You Jing's face immediately darkened. Su Fan had blocked him with that sentence more than once, and he still had no way to retort, which was incredibly frustrating.
"Don't forget you are still the Second Prince's man. You must notify the Second Prince immediately about any news regarding the Crown Prince," You Jing reminded Su Fan.
"I am naturally loyal to the Second Prince, but I just don't like you. What are you going to do about it?" Su Fan said with a cold laugh. He couldn't openly oppose the Second Prince now, but who was You Jing? If Su Fan got angry enough, he could ensure You Jing never saw the next sunrise.
"There are no clues about the Crown Prince inside. Master Xuanmiao simply received an imperial decree from His Majesty to fully assist me in finding the Crown Prince. Don't go babbling to the Second Prince," Su Fan lied to avoid trouble and prevent You Jing from complaining to Xiao Zhiyi.
"It better be so." You Jing didn't believe Su Fan at all. He had followed Su Fan for so long and had some understanding of Su Fan's methods; Su Fan was definitely deliberately hiding many things from him.
"I'm going to see the Third Prince. Do you want to come?" Su Fan asked You Jing with a cold smile. You Jing was the Second Prince's man, and the Third Prince was certainly aware of this. Su Fan didn't know what fate awaited You Jing if he appeared before the Third Prince, but it certainly wouldn't be pleasant for him.
You Jing frowned slightly. When he had accompanied the Second Prince to meet the Third Prince before, he had often acted on the Second Prince's behalf against the Third Prince's people. The most recent instance was when he had shot and killed one of the Third Prince's servants during a hunting trip between the two princes not long ago.
"If you don't want to, then forget it," Su Fan shrugged, indicating that it was You Jing's choice not to go and he shouldn't blame Su Fan for not taking him.
"I'll go!" You Jing gritted his teeth and said to Su Fan.
"You'll go?" Su Fan was surprised. "Are you tired of living? Aren't you afraid the Third Prince will kill you?" Su Fan looked at You Jing in astonishment. Without the Second Prince's protection, given the animosity between the Second and Third Princes, You Jing would be in mortal danger. He dared to face the Third Prince alone in such a situation? Su Fan suddenly had a new perspective on You Jing. He had to admit, You Jing was truly loyal to the Second Prince. A single command from Xiao Zhiyi, and he would leap into hell.
You Jing looked coldly at Su Fan and said nothing more.
"Fine, don't blame me if you die," Su Fan didn't stop him. If You Jing wasn't afraid of death, why should Su Fan be?
Su Fan drove directly to the Third Prince's mansion. Like the Second Prince, the Third Prince also had a mansion within the city where he spent most of his time when not in the palace.
"Young Master Su, this way please." When Su Fan arrived at Xiao Zhihong's mansion, the servants already recognized him. One went to inform Xiao Zhihong, while another directly led Su Fan into the courtyard. Su Fan waited for Xiao Zhihong in a pavilion in the front courtyard.
"Su Fan." Xiao Zhihong soon arrived. When he saw You Jing behind Su Fan, he was taken aback.
"And who is this?" Xiao Zhihong asked Su Fan curiously.
"A guard," Su Fan simply introduced You Jing's identity. He didn't need to say more; Xiao Zhihong could probably guess the situation. For someone from the Second Prince's faction to become Su Fan's guard, anyone could infer the meaning.
"I seem to remember you. You were there during the hunt last time, weren't you?" Xiao Zhihong asked You Jing after a moment of thought. Cold sweat broke out on You Jing's forehead. This question felt like a death sentence.
"Yes," You Jing replied, steeling himself.
"Did you kill one of my subordinates last time?" Xiao Zhihong asked expressionlessly. Su Fan watched the two of them with amusement, showing no intention of intervening. He preferred it if You Jing were killed, saving him the trouble of being a persistent nuisance.
"Yes," You Jing admitted through gritted teeth. "This subordinate unintentionally killed Your Highness's man. This subordinate is willing to bear the consequences and submit to Your Highness's judgment!" You Jing immediately knelt and confessed, saying to Xiao Zhihong.
Xiao Zhihong chuckled lightly. "It's nothing. I see you are a capable person. Since you are now Su Fan's man, then so be it. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, come to me anytime, and I will do my best to help you." Xiao Zhihong said to You Jing with a smile.
You Jing was stunned, not expecting the Third Prince to let him off so easily. "Thank you for your magnanimity, Your Highness!" You Jing immediately kowtowed in gratitude. Su Fan was disappointed; he was quite surprised that Xiao Zhihong didn't become enraged and kill You Jing.
"I have something to discuss with Su Fan. You may withdraw for now," Xiao Zhihong made an excuse to dismiss You Jing, knowing that he was the Second Prince's man and naturally wanting to get rid of him. You Jing left without hesitation. He was lucky to have saved his life today; there was no way he would listen to Su Fan's conversation with the Third Prince.
"Su Fan, didn't Father Emperor ask you to search for news of the Crown Prince? Why have you come to me? Do you have news of the Crown Prince?" Xiao Zhihong, unlike Xiao Zhiyi, had a more amicable attitude towards the Crown Prince. He didn't compete with Xiao Zhiyi, but he greatly respected his elder brother. Before the Crown Prince disappeared, he had never considered vying for the position.
"No, I just wanted to confirm your intentions if the Crown Prince returns," Su Fan asked Xiao Zhihong softly.
"Why are you asking this?" Xiao Zhihong asked Su Fan with a displeased expression.
"It's nothing. Although I haven't found the Crown Prince, I have found some traces and can confirm that the Crown Prince is still alive. So, I wanted to ask about your stance. If you don't want the Crown Prince to return, I can eliminate him when I find him," Su Fan said softly. He was here to test Xiao Zhihong's attitude towards Xiao Yan. The Second Prince's faction was already confirmed to be opposed to Xiao Yan, but he didn't know the Third Prince's stance, so Su Fan came to ask.
"Absolutely not!" Xiao Zhihong immediately rejected Su Fan's idea. "Do not lay a hand on the Crown Prince. You must protect him!" Xiao Zhihong said to Su Fan with a serious expression.
"Understood. I will protect the Crown Prince," Su Fan had pretty much grasped the Third Prince's attitude. It seemed he still had feelings for Xiao Yan.
"Also, the Second Prince will definitely try to obstruct your search for the Crown Prince. You Jing is his spy sent to monitor you, isn't he? I will find an opportunity to get rid of him. You just focus on finding the Crown Prince," Xiao Zhihong said softly to Su Fan. It seemed Xiao Zhihong had no intention of letting You Jing off, he just hadn't killed him here.
"Thank you, Third Prince," Su Fan stood up and thanked Xiao Zhihong.
"No need for further words. Go back and find the Crown Prince as soon as possible," Xiao Zhihong said indifferently. Su Fan immediately left the prince's mansion and returned with You Jing, who was waiting outside. Su Fan glanced at You Jing a few more times. He was practically a dead man walking; every glance was a farewell.