The next day, Leng Ruo Li and her group, led by Xia Wan Er and Nanny Hua, successfully departed from Misty Cloud Island.
After leaving Misty Cloud Island, Leng Ruo Li curiously asked Xia Wan Er, "Mother, what made you think of luring us to this Misty Cloud Island back then?"
Xia Wan Er listened and slowly recounted:
"Actually, after I was poisoned by the Jade-faced Gu, I returned to the capital to see you siblings. At that time, I endured the pain and hid in the secret chamber beneath the rockery in Bright Moon Courtyard for two days. I even saw you once secretly, but I didn't dare to approach you then because I was afraid my appearance would frighten you."
"Later, Nanny Hua told me that your elder brother had gone missing, and that you were being bullied by the Liu family mother and daughter. Liu's daughter even occupied your Bright Moon Courtyard. I was furious, so I scared Leng Ruo Shuang twice, but I didn't kill her. Because I was afraid that after killing Liu's daughter, the Liu family would take it out on you and kill you, that's why I held back against Leng Ruo Shuang."
"And the sheepskin map to Misty Cloud Island was also drawn by me in advance on the way back to the capital. When I left, I stuffed it under the box in the basement, hoping that you and your father would find that sheepskin map to look for me one day. But what surprised me was that you actually managed to find this place."
Leng Ruo Li sighed after hearing Xia Wan Er's words and continued:
"Mother, we went through a lot of difficulties to find the Hua clan and Misty Cloud Island. If we had been a little more timid, or if our belief wasn't firm enough, perhaps we wouldn't have found Misty Cloud Island."
"Yes, I know that. In short, my heart was quite chaotic back then. I wanted you to find me, but I also didn't want you to find me."
After speaking, Xia Wan Er's lips curved slightly, and she gave a faint bitter smile.
Not long after, a group of people boarded a boat that Xia Wan Er had hidden on Misty Cloud Island, and returned to the small island where Leng Ruo Li and her companions had camped earlier.
As soon as Leng Ruo Li and her group disembarked, Ye Ying and a few others quickly came to greet them.
"Your Highness, Your Consort, something bad has happened. Xing'er and Ling'er have been captured," Ye Ying said with great anxiety in his heart.
Upon hearing this, the Cold King and his Consort's hearts sank. Their brows furrowed slightly, and they directly asked, "When did this happen?"
Ye Ying immediately reported to the Cold King and his Consort about what had happened on the island that day.
"They went missing this morning. Xing'er and Ling'er, when they woke up this morning, said they would make some breakfast for us and went to the beach on the island to dig for small seafood. At that time, I thought the beach was so close to the camp, and you could see them standing up.
"Therefore, I didn't have anyone follow them. But unexpectedly, after a few of us went to the island's stream to wash our faces, we returned to the camp and found no trace of Xing'er and Ling'er on the beach...
"Later, a few of us searched the entire beach of the island but couldn't find them. However, just now, I found a letter on the rocks on the beach. Please take a look, Your Highness and Your Consort!"
As Ye Ying spoke, he handed a letter he had just found to the Cold King and his Consort.
Leng Ruo Li immediately took the letter, opened it casually, and saw the words written on the paper: "If you want to see your two little maids, come to the old locust tree at the back mountain of the Hua clan to see me!"
After reading the letter, Leng Ruo Li said in a low voice, "Where exactly is the old locust tree at the back mountain of the Hua clan that he (she) is referring to?"
Xia Wan Er replied directly, "Li'er, Mother knows this place. I'll take you there later."
"Mother, you know this place?" Leng Ruo Li quickly asked Xia Wan Er.
"Your mother accidentally met the current head of the Hua family back then, and she recognized me as her goddaughter. Later, I stayed in the Hua clan for a while, so Mother is very clear about the situation inside and out of the Hua clan," Xia Wan Er explained.
After speaking, Xia Wan Er also took the letter from Leng Ruo Li's hand to look at it. She immediately recognized the handwriting on the paper, and her two delicate eyebrows tightened. The person who kidnapped Li'er was her – An Qing Yao.
As Xia Wan Er thought of this person, her gaze immediately became sharp.
"Li'er, the one who kidnapped your two little maids is An Qing Yao, the young madam of the Hua clan."
"The young madam of the Hua clan? But we don't know her. What does she want by kidnapping my two little maids?" Leng Ruo Li asked, puzzled.
"This matter might be related to Mother. Let's go, I'll go to the Hua clan with you and the King. Some people should be dealt with."
After saying this, Xia Wan Er looked up at the island where the Hua clan was located.
At this moment, Leng Jin Yu, who had been listening quietly from the side, also spoke.
"Wan Er, I'll accompany you as well. Although I've heard you talk about the old madam of the Hua clan before, I've never met her. Since I'm here at the Hua clan, I should go and meet her."
"Yes, let's all go together then. The large mansion where the Hua clan lives is quite unique and worth everyone visiting."
Xia Wan Er strongly agreed with Leng Jin Yu's suggestion and invited everyone to visit the Hua family.
Afterward, Leng Ruo Li asked everyone to pack up the tents and daily necessities that had been taken out and used on the island.
After finishing with these things, Leng Ruo Li waved her hand and put all the items into her personal space.
Now Leng Ruo Li no longer needed to hide her secret, because Leng Jin Yu, Leng Ruo Rui, Ming Jiu Xiao, Shui Yi and them, as well as the guards of the Cold King's mansion, all knew that she had a "Qiankun Bag" on her that could store many things.
Moreover, these were all people she trusted. Leng Ruo Li believed that these people would not expose her secret. Even if they truly wanted to betray her, they wouldn't be able to explain why, so she really had no need to hide it.
Among these people, only Jun Mo Han and Xia Wan Er had entered her personal space, and Xia Wan Er was brought in by her last night.
When Xia Wan Er saw everything in her space, she was extremely shocked. She was so envious that her eyes widened.
She even said that it was fortunate that it was her precious daughter's space. From now on, as long as she wanted to enter the space, she just needed to tell Leng Ruo Li. If it were anyone else, she would be utterly jealous.
After Leng Ruo Li finished packing, everyone came to the island where the Hua clan resided.
Xia Wan Er led everyone to the entrance of the Hundred Flower Garden of the Hua clan and suddenly stopped. She said to Leng Ruo Li and Jun Mo Han:
"Li'er, Jun family boy, you two go along this bluestone path to the old locust tree at the back mountain of the Hua clan to look for those two little maids. Your father, Ruo Rui, and I will go and meet the head of the Hua family to handle some matters first. We will join you later."
Leng Ruo Li nodded slightly upon hearing this and replied with concern, "Alright, then you all need to be careful. This Hua clan doesn't seem as harmonious as it appears on the surface."
"Mm-hmm, Mother knows that. You also need to be careful when you encounter An Qing Yao in the back mountain. That woman also doesn't seem as simple as she appears on the surface."
Xia Wan Er also reminded Leng Ruo Li.