Seeking Good Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Blind Prince

The entry point for the White Lotus Sect case wasn't difficult to find; Zhou Hao Chen knew of at least two.

One was the courtesan Xia Yuzhi, a White Lotus Sect enchantress, and there were accomplices of hers within the Jiaofang Division.

The second was an internal spy. The White Lotus Sect's ability to enter and exit the Earth Mother Tree Realm through spatial nodes meant that an internal spy had to have leaked the specific information about those nodes.

This information was confidential and not easily accessible.

Zhou Hao Chen guessed that the spy was likely a high-ranking member of the Secret Realm Division.

This would significantly narrow down the scope of the investigation and allow for targeted inquiries.

Although he already had entry points, Zhou Hao Chen decided to first examine the investigation files from the Town Demon Division and the Ministry of Justice.

"Li Yue, help me read the files from the Town Demon Division and the Ministry of Justice," Zhou Hao Chen instructed.

Li Yue obediently picked up the Town Demon Division's file, her oriole-like voice clear and articulate, like pearls falling onto a jade plate.

"…North Dipper Lord of Black Street, operating thirty-two underground gambling dens…"

"…White Fox Lord of Black Street, running a business of selling beast girls, including fox girls, rabbit girls, and cat girls…"

"…Maitreya Lord of Black Street…"

Zhou Hao Chen's head was spinning as he listened to the Town Demon Division's file.

The contents of the file were completely different from what Zhou Hao Chen had expected; they were all related to Black Street.

Zhou Hao Chen couldn't help but complain inwardly.

Was Yu Shenxing incompatible with Black Street?

Why was he targeting Black Street so much?

Yu Shenxing's actions these past few days made Zhou Hao Chen feel incredulous.

He was acting nothing like a seasoned criminal expert.

The entire investigation process was like a headless fly.

After listening to the Town Demon Division's file, Zhou Hao Chen shook his head and then instructed.

"Li Yue, read all the Ministry of Justice's files regarding the White Lotus Sect from this month."

"Understood, Your Highness!"

Rustle, rustle.

The sound of flipping through files rang out.

Li Yue flipped through them for a long time, and then said in a wronged voice.

"Your Highness, there are no files regarding the White Lotus Sect in the Ministry of Justice's files from the past month."

"Cough, cough—"

Zhou Hao Chen almost spat out his tea, letting out an exclamation.

"No files on the White Lotus Sect?"

"Then how did the Ministry of Justice capture those White Lotus Sect members some time ago?"

As soon as Zhou Hao Chen finished speaking, Lu Limin hesitated for a moment and said.

"Your Highness, this official happens to know the whole story behind this matter."

"What's going on?"

"Minister Song captured those White Lotus Sect members half a year ago, and they were imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's prison, preparing to pry open their mouths and dig up more clues."

However, thinking about the subsequent momentum creation, Zhou Hao Chen understood Song Heng's plan.

He was using these few White Lotus Sect members as stepping stones to enter the cabinet.

If it weren't for the monstrous case at the Earth Mother Festival afterward, Song Heng might have actually succeeded!

"There's no need to read the files!" Zhou Hao Chen waved his hand and said.

Since the Town Demon Division and the Ministry of Justice didn't have any valuable clues, he would investigate the case according to his own plan.

"Lord Lu, go to the Jiaofang Division and investigate the backgrounds of all the pure courtesans," Zhou Hao Chen instructed.

"Your Highness suspects that there are White Lotus Sect members among the pure courtesans of the Jiaofang Division?"

Lu Limin asked in surprise.

Zhou Hao Chen shook his head.

"It's not a suspicion, it's a certainty!"

"The Second Brother's banquet invitation and departure route were decided on the spur of the moment. How could the White Lotus Sect accurately find the Second Brother's whereabouts and set up an ambush in advance?"

"Among the Jiaofang Division's pure courtesans that day, there must have been an internal accomplice of the White Lotus Sect."

Hearing Zhou Hao Chen's reasoned analysis, Lu Limin cupped his fist.

"This official will immediately go to the Jiaofang Division to investigate."

Yue Chongshan saw that Lu Limin had taken on a task and couldn't sit still.

"Your Highness, what about me?"

"You? Accompany me to the Heavenly Prison to see Chief Zhou."

"But His Majesty has ordered that no one is allowed to visit Chief Zhou…"

"I will ask Father Emperor for permission."

It was normal for Zhou Sheng to have committed a major mistake and been thrown into the eighteenth level of the Heavenly Prison.

However, not allowing anyone to visit, not even allowing investigations and inquiries, was a bit strange.

In short, in Zhou Hao Chen's view, this White Lotus Sect case was full of strangeness.

Despite suffering heavy losses, the intensity of the investigation was not as swift and fierce as he had imagined.

Zhou Hao Chen asked the Qian Yuan Emperor for permission to enter the Heavenly Prison and question Zhou Sheng, and the imperial decree was quickly granted.

He then headed to the Heavenly Prison with Yue Chongshan.

Heavenly Prison.

The darkest, most heavily guarded, most gloomy, and most despairing place in the entire Jade Capital City.

Prisoners who were locked in the Heavenly Prison rarely walked out standing up.

"Your Highness, the eighteenth level of the Heavenly Prison is an important place. According to His Majesty's decree, only you can enter." The Heavenly Prison guard said apologetically, glancing at Yue Chongshan behind Zhou Hao Chen.

"Lord Yue, you wait for me outside."

After Zhou Hao Chen gave his instructions, he followed the guard to the eighteenth level of the Heavenly Prison.

Inside the eighteenth level of the Heavenly Prison.

The air was turbid, emitting a strange stench.

Just smelling it once caused a feeling of nausea, wanting to vomit out the previous night's meal.

"Your Highness, the environment in the Heavenly Prison is harsh, please forgive us." The Heavenly Prison guard said with a smile.

"It's fine, how is Chief Zhou?"

"Everything is fine, he enjoys his three meals a day. How dare we little people make things difficult for Chief Zhou?"

"Your Highness, be careful, there are steps ahead, don't trip."

Under the lead of the Heavenly Prison guard, Zhou Hao Chen saw Zhou Sheng in the prison.

In the dim and humid prison cell, Zhou Sheng sat cross-legged, looking calm and composed, as if he hadn't come to prison, but had come on vacation.

From his appearance alone, there was no sign that Zhou Sheng had been locked in the eighteenth level of the Heavenly Prison all these days.

The sound of Zhou Hao Chen and the others entering disturbed Zhou Sheng.

Zhou Sheng's eyelids twitched slightly, and he opened his eyes, revealing a hint of surprise when he saw the person who had come.

"Greetings, Thirteenth Prince."

"Why has the Thirteenth Prince come here?"

"Father Emperor has entrusted the White Lotus Sect case to me. I have many questions in my heart, and I would like Chief Zhou to answer them." Zhou Hao Chen said in a calm tone.

When Zhou Sheng heard that Zhou Hao Chen had taken over the case, he was slightly startled at first, and then the expression on his face quickly changed, revealing a look as if he had expected this.

Soon, Zhou Sheng restrained his expression and returned to his previous calm and composed state.

With Zhou Sheng's level of sophistication, he would never have had such a change in expression under normal circumstances.

However, perhaps knowing that Zhou Hao Chen was blind, Zhou Sheng had lowered his guard.

What's going on with Zhou Sheng's expression? Could it be that he had already guessed that Father Emperor would give me the case?

Zhou Hao Chen was muttering in his heart.

"Lord Zhou, I want to know, who can know the specific details of the Earth Mother Tree Realm's spatial nodes?"

"Your Highness suspects that there is an internal spy from the White Lotus Sect within the Secret Realm Division?" Zhou Sheng raised an eyebrow and asked.

"That's right!"

However, Zhou Sheng's reaction that followed was beyond Zhou Hao Chen's expectations.

"Then you will be disappointed, Your Highness."

"It is impossible for there to be an internal spy from the White Lotus Sect within the Secret Realm Division, and the information about the Earth Mother Tree Realm's spatial nodes will never be leaked."

Uh—

Zhou Sheng's stubbornness exceeded Zhou Hao Chen's expectations.

He never expected that Zhou Sheng would assert that there was no internal spy at all.

Zhou Hao Chen suppressed the anger in his chest: "Lord Zhou, please cooperate with me in investigating the case. My investigation is also to prove your innocence."

"The innocent are innocent, and the guilty are guilty."

"I don't need Your Highness to worry about my innocence!"

"His Majesty is wise and discerning, and will surely know my loyalty and will not be deceived by villains."

As he said that, Zhou Sheng closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep, and stopped paying attention to Zhou Hao Chen.

The current situation made Zhou Hao Chen feel confused.

Why could Zhou Sheng be so fearless?

On the way back, Zhou Hao Chen kept thinking about a question.

What made Zhou Sheng so fearless?

Song Heng, the Minister of Justice, has already retired and returned to his hometown.

His responsibility as the Chief of the Secret Realm Division is obviously above Song Heng's.

Who gave Zhou Sheng the confidence to be fearless even when he was in the eighteenth level of the Heavenly Prison?

The Crown Prince?

With these thoughts in mind, he returned to the Prince's mansion.

"Your Highness, it's too much. They're all saying bad things about you outside." Li Yue was so angry that her cheeks were puffed up, and her pretty face was covered with anger.

"What are they saying about me outside?" Zhou Hao Chen asked curiously.

"They're spreading rumors, saying something about a blind prince investigating a muddled case."

A blind prince investigating a muddled case?

Heh!

Zhou Hao Chen sneered in his heart, not caring about the outside world's comments at all.

A bunch of clowns, what do they know?

Not long after Zhou Hao Chen returned to the Prince's mansion, Lu Limin also returned from the Jiaofang Division.

"Your Highness, all the identity information of the Jiaofang Division's pure courtesans is here."

"Lord Lu, please sort out the list of pure courtesans who have little contact with the courtesan Xia Yuzhi," Zhou Hao Chen instructed.

Lu Limin was puzzled by Zhou Hao Chen's strange request, but he still did as Zhou Hao Chen said.

Zhou Hao Chen had already determined that Xia Yuzhi was a White Lotus Sect enchantress.

If Xia Yuzhi was caught, then the pure courtesans who had close relationships with Xia Yuzhi, as well as those who were hostile to her, would definitely be the focus of investigation.

Thinking in reverse, if he were a member of the White Lotus Sect, he would definitely ensure that the members of the White Lotus Sect had almost no contact with each other, in order to avoid pulling out a radish and bringing out mud.

Soon, after a round of screening, a list was produced.

Jian Qiu, Shishi, Luzhu, Xiangjun…

A total of seven or eight pure courtesans had almost no contact with Xia Yuzhi.

"Lord Yue, Lord Lu, you will each take the people from the Town Demon Division and the Ministry of Justice to the Jiaofang Division to keep an eye on all the pure courtesans in the Jiaofang Division. The people on this list need to be given special attention."

"Understood, Your Highness!"

Yue Chongshan was eager to try.

He hated using his brain the most.

He liked using his fists the most!