Xue Zi Ning gave a cold smile, "I am currently at Mr. Li's residence. If you were to reveal this, what would Prince Jing think? Prince Jing already harbors suspicions towards you and me. Would he not suspect that Mr. Li and I are having an affair?"
"Heh..." Mr. Li chuckled, his tone neither sad nor happy, devoid of any inflection.
Xue Zi Ning frowned. Frankly, Mr. Li gave her a bad feeling. But who knew if he would always keep her secret? If he were to reveal it one day, her situation would become much more precarious.
"So, you're saying I shouldn't speak, or I'll be in danger too?"
"Yes, Mr. Li, please don't think I'm being alarmist. Prince Jing is not a particularly good master. Mr. Li should make plans for himself as soon as possible," Xue Zi Ning said. She had no intention of convincing Mr. Li, nor could she. It was enough to make him harbor doubts about Prince Jing.
"That is not something Guard Ning need worry about," Mr. Li stated coldly.
"Yes, I am merely offering a reminder."
"I have received your reminder. Now, let's discuss your affairs. Your identity as a woman cannot be exposed again."
"You can rest assured about that, Mr. Li. Since no one has discovered my identity for so long, no one will in the future. You can be completely at ease."
"That is excellent. However, Guard Ning, you must not forget what you promised me."
"Mr. Li, please rest assured. I am not one to break my word. Moreover, Emperor Yun is still in your hands."
Mr. Li nodded. "You should leave now."
"Very well, I shall take my leave!" Xue Zi Ning said, preparing to depart.
"Chu Xue, see Guard Ning out," Mr. Li instructed.
Xue Zi Ning was about to refuse, but upon seeing Mr. Li's cold gaze, she held back her words. With her imperial brother in his custody, she had no right to resist him.
Upon returning to the Prince's mansion, a servant from the estate approached her. Prince Jing wished to see her.
She quickly changed her clothes and hurried to the study.
"Your subordinate greets Your Highness," Xue Zi Ning said respectfully, bowing.
"Rise!"
Xue Zi Ning stood up. "May I ask if Your Highness summoned your subordinate for a task?"
"I do have a matter," Prince Jing replied.
"Your Highness, please instruct me."
Prince Jing said, "A few days ago, I mentioned to you that my maternal cousin will be arriving in the capital. Please go and receive her on my behalf."
"Yes, Your Highness," Xue Zi Ning replied promptly.
"Make preparations and get ready to go!" Prince Jing said.
Xue Zi Ning bowed and retreated. As she reached the doorway, a voice from behind called out, rather coldly, "Guard Ning, were you out earlier?"
Xue Zi Ning faltered, her body stiffening. However, she quickly regained her composure and replied, "Yes, Your Highness."
"Where did you go?"
"To answer Your Highness, your subordinate discovered some clues regarding His Majesty Emperor Yun, so I went to investigate without delay."
"And the results?"
"There are still no leads," Xue Zi Ning said.
"Very well, you may withdraw!"
Finally outside Prince Jing's study, Xue Zi Ning breathed a sigh of relief. A gust of wind blew, and she felt a chill. Unbeknownst to her, her back was already drenched in sweat.
She had gone to Mr. Li's residence secretly, but she hadn't expected Prince Jing to know she had been out. Fortunately, it seemed Prince Jing did not know she had gone to Mr. Li's residence.
Returning to her own quarters, she suddenly remembered that Hua Yun Dan and Li Chen Xi had entered the palace and had not returned to the mansion since. Could they have been placed under house arrest?
The Imperial Palace
Li Chen Xi paced back and forth. Finally, Hua Yun Dan could bear it no longer. "Li Chen Xi, can you be quiet for a moment?" "Quiet? We are confined here, how can I be quiet?" Li Chen Xi's voice was somewhat unsteady.
Hua Yun Dan said, "Wasn't being placed under house arrest within our expectations?"
"Yes, it was within our expectations, but this is also beyond what we expected, isn't it?" Li Chen Xi pushed open a window. Several guards stood in the courtyard.
"Prince Jing is also looking out for our safety."
"Safety? I don't want to hear it." Li Chen Xi pulled over a chair and sat down.
"Be patient. With the Emperor's whereabouts unknown, even if we went out, we wouldn't be able to do anything."
"So, we just wait here forever?" Li Chen Xi asked.
"No, we won't," Hua Yun Dan said.
"You seem quite certain," Li Chen Xi said, displeased.
Hua Yun Dan gazed out the window, believing that person would bring them news.
The next day, Xue Zi Ning rose early and called Jiang Bei to accompany her to the Silver City gate tower to receive Prince Jing's cousin.
It was not until noon that they saw a carriage slowly approaching. Xue Zi Ning felt as though she was about to fall asleep. She woke Jiang Bei, who was already asleep, and together they rode their horses to the carriage.
"Are you from Han Ling Pass?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and a young maidservant first alighted. Following her was another person.
She wore a light yellow brocade skirt and a white cloak, but she wore a veil, obscuring her face. Though her features were hidden, her graceful figure suggested a woman of striking beauty.
"My lady indeed comes from Han Ling Pass," the maidservant said.
"May I ask the lady's surname?"
"You may address my lady as Miss Lin," the maidservant replied.
"Yue Hong, help me back into the carriage!" Miss Lin suddenly said.
Throughout the entire exchange, she did not look at Xue Zi Ning or the others, let alone speak to them.
However, Xue Zi Ning paid it no mind, as she was acting on behalf of the Prince.
"Miss Lin, I am here under the Prince's orders to escort you to the mansion," Xue Zi Ning said.
"My lady says we can proceed," the maidservant said.
Xue Zi Ning and Jiang Bei mounted their horses and led the way to the Prince's mansion.
Upon reaching the mansion's entrance, Xue Zi Ning dismounted and approached the carriage, saying, "Miss Lin, we have arrived at the Prince's mansion. Please alight."
Miss Lin, with the maidservant's assistance, alighted from the carriage. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, lifting Miss Lin's veil. She saw a face that seemed familiar.
"Ning An, Ning An."
She came back to her senses, looking at Jiang Bei. Jiang Bei let out a sigh of relief. "You seemed entranced just now. Are you unwell? Why are you looking at Miss Lin like that? Is something the matter?"
She shook her head. "I'm fine. Perhaps I didn't rest well. I'll go rest now. Call me if there's anything."
With that, she left.
All the way, she was in a state of shock. She had never imagined that Prince Jing's cousin would be Lin Qian Qian.
No wonder she was called Miss Lin. Zhao Qian Qian's adopted father in Han Ling Pass, was he not surnamed Lin?
What a coincidence. She wondered if it was a true coincidence or something more.