The moment Feng Qizheng heard this was about the man who had sent someone to kill Ning Chen, he was off to see to it.

Ning Chen's eyes narrowed slightly. Once the red silk went up, would Ye Xingjue take it as proof that dying could send him back—and kill himself?

Surely he wasn't that stupid?

But what if he was? The guy was an obsessive, after all... If he really believed it and killed himself, that would save a lot of trouble.

Ye Xingjue had kept his head down all this time. Why had he suddenly come looking for Ning Chen? That was the one thing Ning Chen couldn't figure out.

The next morning.

Feng Qizheng came back.

Ning Chen asked right away, "Find anything?"

Feng Qizheng shook his head, looking sour. "We did it like you said. Geng the Purple Coat had his men quietly stake out everything for a mile around the prince's residence, but there was no sign of Ye Xingjue at all."

Ning Chen frowned slightly. "Did the red silk go on the knocker of the residence's front gate?"

"It did. It's still up there... Ning Chen, I think the bastard's just jerking you around."

Ning Chen let out a quiet sigh. He'd been too impatient, he realized.

Ever since he'd learned Ye Xingjue existed, he'd been led around by the nose.

He was the Prince Regent of the Great Xuan now. Why should he let some man skulking in the shadows scare him?

"Old Feng, tell Old Geng to put the whole Inspectorate on tracking down this Ye Xingjue. Once they find him, no interrogation. Kill him on the spot!"

Feng Qizheng nodded. "Got it!"

Ning Chen turned to Xiao Yanxi. "Little Xixi, I'll have to trouble you with this too."

Xiao Yanxi said, "Don't worry. I gave the order a long time ago. My people are already hunting for him with everything they've got."

For the time being, Ning Chen put Ye Xingjue out of his mind.

So what if the man had crossed over?

Ning Chen held enormous power now, with command…