Zhou Tong put down the file and turned to his subordinate, asking, "Confirmed?"
The subordinate took a portrait from his chest and said, "Absolutely true."
Zhou Tong did not take the portrait, just examined it with his two eyes in silence.
The subordinate continued, "According to our records, in Chen Changsheng's entire year in the capital, he never mentioned this person."
Zhou Tong gazed out the window at the daylight for a very long time. Suddenly, he said, "Speak, do you think Crown Prince Zhaoming actually died, or was he secretly taken away by those traitorous fellows from the Imperial clan that refuse to die?"
The subordinate didn't know how to answer. Extremely nervous, he said in a slightly hoarse voice, "My lord's meaning is?"
Zhou Tong shook his head, then said, "I don't mean anything. I just inadvertently thought about this matter."
The subordinate didn't dare respond.
