"The imperial tomb was robbed? Who did it?" Xue Zi Ning's gaze turned cold.
Yan Zhao, standing nearby, took the letter. Seeing it was written in Wen Yu Xi's own hand, he too was taken aback. Imperial tombs were usually heavily guarded. Who would dare to rob one?
"A'ning, are you going to the imperial tomb?" Yan Zhao asked.
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "I need to see for myself."
"I'll accompany you," Yan Zhao said.
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "Alright, then we'll head to the imperial tomb today."
The imperial tomb was located in the far west, where it snowed year-round, making the accumulated snow difficult to melt. Choosing this location was advantageous for defense and served as a deterrent to those who might attempt such a deed.
The journey from their current location to Xijing Pass would take over a month.
Along the way, Xue Zi Ning and Yan Zhao did not stop anywhere they could avoid, their sole aim being to reach the imperial tomb as quickly as possible.
A carriage stopped at the city gate.
"Master, we've arrived," Xue Yan's voice came from outside the carriage.
A fair white hand emerged from the carriage, pushing aside the curtain to reveal a delicate and beautiful face. She was clad in white, like freshly fallen snow, with only the embroidered green bamboo on her hem adding a touch of elegant nobility to the pure white.
However, her expression was tinged with a hint of melancholy.
Passersby entering the city were all captivated by the beautiful figure, stopping in their tracks. Yan Zhao, standing behind her, his eyes flashing slightly, stepped forward and whispered, "A'ning."
"Let's enter the city!" She glanced at the three large characters, Xifeng Pass, above the city gate, then turned and re-entered the carriage.
"Yes, Master," Xue Yan replied.
Upon entering Xijing Pass and finding an inn, Xue Zi Ning and Yan Zhao finally emerged from the carriage.
"Is that a fairy?" a child's voice called out. She looked in that direction and saw a young boy gazing at her dazedly.
Seeing her looking at him, the boy felt a bit shy. "Fairy sister, I'm sorry. I just think you're too beautiful."
"It's nothing. This is just an outer shell," she said calmly.
The boy shook his head. "No... it's not just a shell. Sister, you're just beautiful, inside and out."
Xue Zi Ning smiled faintly and asked, looking at the boy, "Why do you say that?"
The boy replied, "I've met other beautiful sisters before, but when I told them they were beautiful, they all scolded me."
"Scolded you? Why?"
The boy stepped forward and took her hand. "Sister, may I hold your hand like this?"
Xue Yan, standing by, was about to intervene, but she stopped her. "It's fine."
She looked at the boy and said, "Yes, you may."
The boy grinned. "That's why you're beautiful inside and out, unlike those sisters who were only beautiful on the outside but wicked at heart."
Xue Zi Ning chuckled at his words. "Little brother, your actions are a bit abrupt. You might have startled those sisters."
"Then, sister, why weren't you startled?" the boy asked, puzzled.
"Because I'm skilled in martial arts, so I'm not afraid," she said with a smile.
"Sister is so amazing! I suddenly remembered a big brother I met last time; he wasn't afraid of me either."
"Oh?"
The boy nodded. "Yes, that big brother was also very handsome. I was so mesmerized."
Xue Zi Ning didn't take the boy's words to heart, chuckling softly.
Seeing her reaction, the boy said dazedly, "Sister, you look truly beautiful when you smile. You should smile more often in the future."
"I will. Thank you. What's your name?"
The boy replied, "You can call me Yuan Zhao, Sister."
Xue Zi Ning was slightly taken aback. "Yuan Zhao? That sounds familiar."
The boy giggled. "Sister, that big brother also asked me that and said my name was the same as his."
Xue Zi Ning looked at the person behind her. The boy's gaze also fell upon Yan Zhao. Upon seeing Yan Zhao's face, he froze for a moment. "You... are you Yuan Zhao Gege?"
But soon Yuan Zhao took a step back. "You... you're not Yuan Zhao Gege. You're even more handsome than Yuan Zhao Gege."
Xue Zi Ning continued to ask, "Can you tell me what Yuan Zhao is doing here?"
The boy shook his head. "I don't know either. But Yuan Zhao Gege didn't seem happy. Oh, and there was a sister with him. That sister was very fierce."
The boy seemed reluctant to mention that woman.
"When did they arrive?" Xue Zi Ning continued to ask.
The boy said, "About two months ago. Sister, you also know that it snows here year-round, and the snow doesn't melt. Not many people are willing to live here."
"Where did he go?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
The boy thought for a moment and pointed in a direction. "He went that way."
Xue Zi Ning looked up in the direction the boy was pointing, which was precisely towards the imperial tomb.
"Yuan Zhao, thank you. Take this money." Xue Zi Ning took the purse handed to her by Xue Yan and gave him some silver.
Yuan Zhao's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Sister! Now Father can afford his medicine."
He had been worried about how to borrow money for his father's medicine, and now it was a sudden turn of good fortune.
After the boy left, Xue Zi Ning looked at Yan Zhao and said, "Have you remembered everything?"
Yan Zhao nodded. "Yes. Yuan Zhao, my elder brother."
"I find it a bit hard to believe," Xue Zi Ning said. She truly found it difficult to believe that Xue Yuan Zhao would have done such a thing.
Although her relationship with Xue Yuan Zhao was somewhat complicated, Xue Yuan Zhao was not a petty person; he was a reasonable individual. How could he commit the grave crime of robbing an imperial tomb?
"Whether you believe it or not, we'll find out when we get there," Yan Zhao said slowly.
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "You're right, we'll find out when we get there."
Xue Zi Ning got back into the carriage and headed towards the imperial tomb, located at the westernmost edge of Xijing Pass. The entrance was a grand mausoleum, which should have been guarded. However, there were no guards present.
Xue Zi Ning got off the carriage and, seeing the empty space outside the mausoleum, felt a sense of foreboding.
She headed straight for the mausoleum.
"A'ning, don't rush," Yan Zhao called out from behind her.
Xue Zi Ning ignored Yan Zhao behind her and reached the mausoleum. Suddenly, she felt a blast of cold air. She retreated swiftly.
After flying out of the mausoleum, she realized that the projectiles were arrows made of ice.
"A'ning..." Yan Zhao flew forward and examined her. Seeing she was unharmed, he finally relaxed. "You are not allowed to be so reckless in the future."
Xue Zi Ning looked at the mausoleum and shouted coldly, "I am Xue Zi Ning, the Empress of Chang Jiu Kingdom. Where are the guardians? Present yourselves at once!"
Before her words had even finished, more ice arrows flew out from within. Yan Zhao suddenly wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back, dodging the arrows.
Xue Zi Ning's gaze turned sharp, and she prepared to advance again. Yan Zhao stopped her. "It's getting late today. We'll come back tomorrow."
Looking at Yan Zhao's worried gaze, Xue Zi Ning finally nodded. "Alright."
Back at the inn, Xue Zi Ning remained silent.