"Imperial tomb? What is she doing at the imperial tomb?" Xue Chang'an was extremely shocked.
Xue Changjun looked at her and slowly said, "Do you believe in past and present lives?"
Xue Chang'an frowned and looked at Xue Changjun. "Changjun, are you delirious from illness? Past and present lives?"
"If Sister doesn't believe, so be it." Xue Changjun did not intend to explain further.
Xue Chang'an was taken aback. "Speak more clearly." She stepped forward to grab Xue Changjun, who was about to leave.
Xue Changjun turned her head to look at her and said, "Sister, you are not someone who should exist here."
Xue Chang'an trembled all over. By the time she reacted, Xue Changjun's shadow had already disappeared.
Xue Chang'an frowned. She didn't want to believe Xue Changjun's words, but Xue Changjun had no reason to deceive her.
Who exactly was Xue Changning?
To the extent that Xue Chang'an was also absent-minded when she was with Hua Yunjin.
At night, Hua Yunjin looked at the somewhat dejected Xue Chang'an and finally couldn't help but speak, "Your Highness, is there anything about me that makes you uncomfortable?"
"Hua Yunjin, what if Xue Changning wasn't Xue Changning, who else could she be?"
Hua Yunjin was stunned. After a while, he said, "Why does Your Highness say that? Princess Changming is herself, who else could she be?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Chang'an smiled. "You are right, if not her, then who else could it be?"
Hua Yunjin looked at Xue Chang'an. He knew that Xue Chang'an would never say such things.
"Your Highness, have you heard anything about Princess Changning?"
"No." Xue Chang'an replied. She wouldn't tell Hua Yunjin everything.
After all, she still didn't know Hua Yunjin's attitude and thoughts towards her, so there were some things she couldn't let him know.
The more Xue Chang'an was like this, the more Hua Yunjin became suspicious.
After Xue Chang'an left, Hua Yunjin found a guard and said, "Go and inquire about what Princess Changning has been doing recently."
The guard heard this and said, "Reporting to the Young Lord, Princess Changning attempted to harm the Third Prince the other day and was thrown into prison by His Majesty."
Hua Yunjin was stunned. "Attempted to harm the Third Prince?"
The guard nodded. "Yes."
Hua Yunjin frowned and said coldly, "How could you not tell me about something so major?"
The guard felt wronged. "Young Lord, Princess Chang'an has been here all along, and your subordinate had no opportunity to tell you."
Hua Yunjin just remembered that Xue Chang'an had indeed been with him these past few days. Although there was no substantial intimacy, they had slept together.
"Go and find out where Princess Changning went after being released from prison," Hua Yunjin said.
The guard was stunned. "Young Lord, wasn't Princess Changning already imprisoned?"
"She won't sit and wait for death," Hua Yunjin said.
He wouldn't believe that Xue Changning would honestly stay in prison. She must have done something outside to divert people's attention with the prison as a cover.
"Your subordinate will go and investigate now." The guard left.
Hua Yunjin frowned. Suddenly, he remembered Xue Chang'an's question just now, why did Xue Chang'an say that Xue Changning wasn't Xue Changning?
He connected the recent events and Xue Changning's change, and suddenly felt as if he was on the verge of grasping something, but it slipped away.
Xue Chang'an returned to Shu Palace and saw Noble Consort Yan puffing with anger. She walked up and said, "Mother Consort, what's wrong?"
Noble Consort Yan said angrily, "It's still that damned Empress. If it weren't for her, I could have gone to the imperial prison to find out the truth long ago."
"Mother Consort, isn't this normal? It would be abnormal if the Empress didn't stop you." Xue Chang'an said.
Noble Consort Yan looked at Xue Chang'an and said, "Since you know things would be like this, going there would only be embarrassing myself. Chang'an, what exactly are you trying to do?"
"Mother Consort, you don't need to worry about me. You don't need to know what I'm going to do." Xue Chang'an said.
Noble Consort Yan frowned. "Chang'an, do you know what you're saying? Do you need me to know what you want to do?
Do you think I don't know what kind of ability you have?"
"Mother Consort, when have you ever understood me? All your attention is on Changjun. When have you ever focused on me? Do you know what I like?"
Noble Consort Yan trembled all over. "Chang'an, are you blaming Mother Consort?"
"Isn't this the truth?" Xue Chang'an asked.
"Don't you know why I care about Changjun? Only Changjun can ascend the throne, and only then will there be a path to survival for our mother and daughter!"
"Mother Consort, we can have a path to survival without Changjun..."
"No." Noble Consort Yan shook her head.
Xue Chang'an stood up. "Mother Consort, as the saying goes, those who walk different paths cannot plan together. Since Mother Consort is determined that only Changjun can pave a way for you, then choose Changjun. As for my destiny, I will control it in my own hands."
"Chang'an..." Noble Consort Yan looked at Xue Chang'an in disbelief.
Xue Chang'an left without looking back.
Back at Chang'an Palace, Xue Chang'an summoned a subordinate. "Have you sent someone to the imperial tomb?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, someone has been dispatched to track along the way. Do you need me to..."
"If Changning doesn't discover your people, then just follow Xue Changning obediently. If she discovers them, kill Xue Changning."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Xue Chang'an gazed into the distance. "Changning, how will you escape my grasp this time?"
Xue Zining and Yan Zhao traveled hundreds of miles overnight and rested at a small inn.
"Your Highness, someone has been tracking us all the way. Do you need me to..."
"No need. If they want to follow, let them. We'll make a move when we reach the imperial tomb." Xue Zining said.
Yan Zhao nodded. "Yes, Your Highness."
"Is there any news from the palace?" Xue Zining asked.
Yan Zhao said, "Noble Consort Yan has pestered His Majesty several times, but all to no avail."
"Noble Consort Yan, I didn't expect this," Xue Zining said.
Noble Consort Yan gave her the impression of avoiding confrontation with her. For her to be so high-profile now was indeed unexpected.
"Your Highness, is there anything unusual about this Noble Consort Yan? Should I go..."
"No need. Father Emperor will help me. We don't need to concern ourselves with palace affairs."
Father Emperor would help her handle it.
The next morning, Xue Zining and Yan Zhao set off. After days and nights of travel, they finally arrived at the town at the foot of the imperial tomb.
The area was sparsely populated. After buying dry rations for the imperial tomb and refilling their water skins, Xue Zining and Yan Zhao split up.
The people sent by Xue Chang'an could only be divided into two groups, but as they followed, they found that they had lost their targets.
Just as they were thinking about how to send back the news, they all fell to the ground. It turned out that at some unknown time, a bloodstain had appeared on their necks.
Yan Zhao walked over from a distance and came before Xue Zining. "Your Highness, the people have been dealt with."