"What hairpin?" Anning looked up at Xue Jingyun and asked.
Xue Jingyun's eyes flickered slightly. "It was the one I placed by the bronze mirror when I entered your chambers earlier."
Anning suddenly remembered that Rong Cui had told her that An Ru had taken her hairpin, saying she wanted to borrow it for a few days.
Could it be the hairpin Xue Jingyun had given her?
Her gaze gradually turned cold. She looked up and said, "Crown Prince of Xue, I must excuse myself."
With that, she turned and left.
Xue Jingyun's eyes, which were originally as brilliant as starlight, gradually dimmed.
Anning returned to Anning Palace and searched around the bronze mirror. Rong Cui, seeing this, could not help but ask, "Your Highness, have you lost something?"
"Rong Cui, do you remember my accessories clearly?"
Rong Cui was startled. Although she didn't understand why Princess Anning was asking this, she replied truthfully, "Yes, Your Highness. Your accessories and even your clothing, this servant remembers them all very clearly."
"Rong Cui, come and take a look. Is anything of mine missing?"
Rong Cui stepped forward and examined everything meticulously. After half an incense stick's worth of time, she bowed and said, "Your Highness, none of your accessories are missing."
Anning nodded and asked, "Do you remember what kind of hairpin my second sister took?"
Rong Cui thought for a moment and said with guilt, "Your Highness, this servant was tidying your bed at the time and did not get a good look."
"Rong Cui, do you remember the color?" Anning continued to ask.
Rong Cui frowned, thought for a long time, and then shook her head, "Your Highness, this servant truly cannot recall."
"Alright, let's go to Ping'an Palace," Anning said.
Rong Cui nodded. After a few steps, she suddenly said, "Your Highness, this servant remembers now. It was a green hairpin, yes, made of fine jade."
Anning heard this and asked, "Rong Cui, how do you know it was jade?"
Rong Cui replied, "Your Highness, you may not know, but the Empress also has a hairpin made of similar jade, so this servant knows."
"Good," Anning nodded.
Upon arriving at Ping'an Palace, the Imperial Noble Consort was not surprised by Anning's visit. After all, ever since Anning had woken up, she had become the Emperor's favorite, cherished as if she were held in his palm and feared to melt in his mouth.
Fortunately, the Empress had already passed away. Otherwise, where would she and Anping have a chance to shine?
"Imperial Noble Consort, Anning has come to disturb you. I hope you do not mind!" Anning curtsied.
The Imperial Noble Consort said, "It's alright. Has Princess Anning found any clues?"
"I would like to have a chat with my eldest sister," Anning said.
Upon hearing this, the Imperial Noble Consort instructed Ruxin, a palace maid by her side, "You take Princess Anning there."
Ruxin nodded and approached Anning. "Princess Anning, please follow this servant."
Anning bowed to the Imperial Noble Consort and followed Ruxin out.
Upon arriving at Anping's chamber, Ruxin said, "Your Highness, please wait a moment. This servant will go and report to Your Highness."
Anning nodded.
Ruxin went inside, and after a while, Ruxin's scream could be heard from within.
Anning had no time to react and rushed in. She saw Ruxin slumped on the ground, and by her feet lay someone, who was Anping's palace maid, Ruyi.
She stepped forward to check Ruyi's breathing. Fortunately, warm breaths were coming out. "She's not dead, just fainted. Hurry and help her up."
Before Ruyi could wake up, the Imperial Noble Consort had already heard the news and rushed over.
"Why isn't she waking up yet? Ruxin, please send for an imperial physician." The Imperial Noble Consort was extremely anxious. Her Anping was missing!
Anning saw the tea on the table, walked over, picked up a teacup, and splashed it onto Ruyi's face.
As the water poured onto her, Ruyi's eyelids twitched, but she did not wake up. The Imperial Noble Consort became anxious, picked up the teapot, and poured all of it onto Ruyi's face.
"Cough, cough..." Ruyi was choked awake by the water. She wiped her face and opened her eyes, only to be stunned to see so many people in front of her.
The Imperial Noble Consort stepped forward, grabbed Ruyi by her collar, and anxiously asked, "Where is Anping?"
Ruyi was startled and then, upon seeing the Imperial Noble Consort, trembled all over and quickly said, "Your Ladyship, the Princess has been abducted."
"By whom?" the Imperial Noble Consort asked urgently.
Ruyi shook her head. "This servant did not get a clear look at his face. His speed was very fast."
The Imperial Noble Consort released Ruyi, tidied her hair and attire, and stood up. "Princess Anning, this consort has other matters..."
"Imperial Noble Consort, you go ahead with your business," Anning replied.
The Imperial Noble Consort nodded and left with her attendants. Her priority was to find Anning.
Seeing Ruyi still sitting on the ground, Anning said, "Rong Cui, help her up."
Rong Cui nodded and helped Ruyi up. Anning then said, "Get her a chair to sit on."
Ruyi quickly shook her head upon hearing this. "This servant dare not!"
She was merely a palace maid and dared not sit in front of Princess Anning.
"Sit down, I have a few questions for you," Anning said.
Ruyi sat down. This was the first time she had sat down to answer questions in front of Princess Anning.
"Your Highness, please ask. This servant will tell you everything she knows."
Anning asked, "Can you tell me what happened just now?"
Ruyi nodded. "Your Highness seemed preoccupied when she returned. This servant asked, but Your Highness did not answer. Later, Your Highness said she wanted to drink freshly brewed tea. This servant went out and returned to hear Your Highness speaking with someone."
"With whom?" Anning asked.
Ruyi shook her head. "When this servant entered, she found only Your Highness inside. Then, this servant saw someone abducting Your Highness. Just as I was about to shout, I fainted."
"Do you remember what Anping said to that person?"
Ruyi thought for a moment and replied, "It seemed like she was asking, 'Why have you kidnapped me?'"
"Alright, you should rest well. If there's anything, you can tell Rong Cui." Anning stood up and walked towards the outside.
"Princess Anning..." Ruyi suddenly called out to her again.
Anning turned and asked, "Is there something?"
"This servant thinks she heard something about a hairpin?"
Anning's body trembled. She stepped forward and asked, "Did you indeed hear the words 'hairpin'?"
Ruyi thought for a moment and finally nodded. "Yes..."
Anning walked out of Ping'an Palace. There were more guards in the palace, likely arranged by the Imperial Noble Consort. After all, two princesses disappearing in one day was a disgrace to the country of An.
"Your Highness, shall we return to Anning Palace?" Rong Cui asked.
Anning looked into the distance and suddenly said, "Rong Cui, you go back first. I have something to do."
Rong Cui was surprised. "Your Highness, this servant will accompany you. It is not safe in the palace right now."
"It's alright. You go back!" Anning said.
Seeing that Princess Anning insisted on her leaving first, Rong Cui could only say, "Then Your Highness, please be careful."
"Go!" Anning said.
After Rong Cui left, Anning said softly, "Mo Yuan, are you there?"
"Mo Yuan is here!" a voice echoed faintly.
"Are you truly following me?" Anning felt somewhat surprised.
"Yes, Your Highness, do you have any instructions?" Mo Yuan asked.
Anning shook her head. "It's nothing, I was just curious."
Mo Yuan: "..."