Xiao Juan only returned to the prince's residence at midnight.
He took off his cloak and handed it casually to the servant. His dark eyes looked at the Eagle Guard, who was kneeling on one knee, and he spoke quietly.
"Fire away."
Eagle Guard Meng Xizhou lowered his head and replied truthfully.
"On your Highness' order, I sent a spy to observe Yu Niaoniao. I discovered that not long after you left the Yu Residence, she sneaked out with a maidservant."
Xiao Juan wearily took off the No Return Saber and placed it on the table.
The servant immediately offered warm tea.
Meng Xizhou continued, "They went to West City and ate a lot there. Then they went to the blacksmith to customize a knife…"
Xiao Tired paused as he took the teacup.
He was finally interested. "What kind of knife did she customize?"
A lady's hand would at most hold an embroidery needle. Which rich young lady would buy a knife?
Could it be that Yu Niaoniao was a martial arts expert who hid her identity?
Meng Xizhou's expression gradually became complicated. "She ordered a kitchen knife."
Xiao Juan was speechless.
Faced with the silent gaze of the Prince of Lang, Meng Xizhou took a piece of paper from his chest, unfolded it, and presented it with both hands.
"This is the style of kitchen knife she ordered."
Xiao Qing picked up the paper and looked at it. He realized that it was really a kitchen knife, but the style was slightly smaller than an ordinary kitchen knife.
Next to the kitchen knife was a circular pattern.
Xiao Juan was knowledgeable and quickly recognized that it was a pot.
A kitchen knife with a pot.
Clearly, the woman just wanted to cook.
Xiao Juan immediately lost interest and casually threw the blueprint aside.
Meng Xizhou continued, "Then they went shopping again. They bought…"
He caught himself at that.
Xiao Juan glanced at him. "What did they buy?"
Meng Xizhou's expression became indescribable.
He managed to say, "They bought a chicken, a duck, a little suckling pig, and a wooly donkey."
Even the knowledgeable Prince Lang could not help but feel surprised.
That woman sneaked out with the money he gave her just to buy these things?!
Xiao Juan was confused. "Why did she buy these things?"
If it was just to cook, there would be ingredients in the Yu Residence's kitchen. Why would a rich young lady like her go out personally to buy them?
Meng Xizhou glanced at Prince Lang before speaking carefully.
"The spy heard it with his own ears… he heard Yu Niaoniao say that the reason she bought these things was to serve as her dowry."
Xiao Juan tiredly thought that his ears were broken.
He couldn't resist asking again.
"What? A dowry?"
Meng Xizhou braced himself against the death stare of the Lang Prince and nodded.
"Those chickens, ducks, pig, and donkey were her dowry for herself."
In other words, when they got married in the future, Yu Qianqian would have to bring her chickens, ducks, pig, and donkey with her.
Just thinking about that scene made Xiao Juan feel suffocated.
Meng Xizhou mustered his courage and asked.
"Your Highness, shall I go and slaughter those chickens, ducks, pig, and donkey?"
Xiao Juan wearily held his forehead and took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure.
"There's no need for that. You'll withdraw the spies from Yu's side. There's no need to send anyone after her anymore."
Meng Xizhou replied respectfully, "Yes."
Xiao Juan had specially sent someone to keep an eye on Yu Niaoniao because he wanted to know why she was short of money. This was to prevent her from hiding any schemes.
Now it seemed he was worrying too much.
A rich young lady with chickens, ducks, a pig, and donkey. Even conspiracies had to take a detour when they saw her.
Xiao Juan tiredly took a sip of hot tea and calmed his thoughts.
"The anti-government poetry case. How's the investigation going?"
Meng Xizhou said, "We have some leads."