Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 82: Young Master Qingchen Disappears

82. Young Master Qingchen Goes Missing

Ye Li didn’t concern herself with what state the ill scholar had tormented Old Master Liang into. When she saw Old Master Liang on the brink of death and being dragged behind the ill scholar, she simply reminded him to be careful not to kill Liang. The ill scholar was certainly not a kind person, and Old Master Liang was no good either. After hearing Ye Li’s words, the ill scholar simply huffed disdainfully without speaking. If he didn’t want a person to die, that person would not die even if they wished to. However, looking at the ill scholar’s gloomy face, Ye Li knew in her heart that he probably hadn’t gotten the information he wanted from Old Master Liang. After all, if the old man’s mouth were so easy to pry open, he wouldn’t have followed him all the way to the Southern Border. But the ill scholar wasn’t without gains; at least he had gotten hold of the so-called complete token. Ye Li glanced at it from afar; it was a jade pendant engraved with strange patterns. Since the ill scholar had no intention of sharing it with them, Ye Li didn’t bother to inquire further. The group carefully avoided the people sent by the Luoyi Tribe to track them and raced towards Nanzhao Capital without stopping.

「The King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, Capital of Great Chu」

"Prince, there’s a letter from the Princess Consort." It was the end of April, and warm sunlight dappled the garden. Looking out the window, several peony bushes in the garden were blooming brightly. Mo Xiuyao gazed at the garden, reminded of when he had met Ah-Li around this time last year. At that time, he never imagined that Mo Jing’s malicious and humiliating demand for marriage would grant him such a unique wife. Now, in Capital City, those loyal to the Emperor and those loyal to Prince Li had almost become irreconcilable enemies. The King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, however, remained tightly closed due to the Princess Consort’s disappearance. It expressed its dissatisfaction with the Emperor in silence, allowing the open and hidden conflicts between the Emperor and Prince Li to continue without lending support to the Emperor at appropriate times, as it had done in the past.

"Hand it over!" Mo Xiuyao withdrew his gaze and turned his head to command Steward-in-Chief Mo, who stood at the door.

Feng Zhiyao stood at the door, clutching a thick, sealed dossier, beaming at Mo Xiuyao. "Ah-Yao, our Princess Consort really has a hard heart. She’s been out for almost two months before she thought to write back home."

Mo Xiuyao frowned. Raising his hand, the dossier in Feng Zhiyao’s hand was drawn over by a strong internal force. "Where are they now?"

Feng Zhiyao shook his head. "If the Princess Consort’s whereabouts were so easy to find, we wouldn’t still be without any news. The shadow guard who received the letter found it near the border of the Luoyi Tribe in the Southern Border, but they didn’t see the person who sent it. None of our people, nor anyone else on the road, have discovered the Princess Consort’s whereabouts. It shouldn’t be hard to spot a group of five, right? Even if others don’t know, our own people should."

Mo Xiuyao frowned. "That just proves there weren’t five of them on the road, and Ah-Li’s disguise technique is very good. The shadow guards dispersed in various places haven’t seen them, so it’s difficult to recognize them. Plus, they also know the general distribution of the shadow guards, making it much easier for them to avoid detection."

Mo Xiuyao opened the dossier. A shiny object and a similarly sealed letter slid from the paper bag. Mo Xiuyao caught the ornament; it was a finely crafted gold piece with sunflower patterns studded with gemstones.

Feng Zhiyao was surprised. "The Princess Consort actually sent you jewelry? However... isn’t something reversed here?"

Mo Xiuyao examined the gold piece in his hand, then set it aside on the table. Only then did he unseal the letter and look down at it, his sword-like brows gradually knitting together. After a while, he said, "Find someone proficient in the ancient script of the Southern Border."

Feng Zhiyao looked at him in surprise. "Don’t you know the language and script of the Southern Border?"

Mo Xiuyao frowned. "This is different; it should be the old script of the Southern Border."

Feng Zhiyao took a look. The twisted, strange characters on it gave him a headache. "It looks a bit like the Southern Border script, but it seems... I can’t really understand it. How does the Princess Consort know this strange script?"

Mo Xiuyao looked down at another, obviously shorter letter and said, "She doesn’t know it. She memorized these characters and wrote them down from memory."

Feng Zhiyao asked in disbelief, "She could memorize such twisted characters that she doesn’t even recognize, just from memory?"

Mo Xiuyao glanced at him indifferently. Feng Zhiyao touched his nose. "Alright, we do have quite a few people in our employ who are proficient in the current Southern Border script. But if it’s ancient script... that’s something that hasn’t been used in the Southern Border for over two hundred years, right? Back then, even though the Southern Border was dependent on the previous Central Plains dynasty, there were many tribes, each with its own language and script. It wasn’t until the establishment of Nanzhao that the current unified Southern Border script was implemented. Nobody knows which tribe the script on this paper belonged to. In Capital City, I’m afraid we’d have to find Lord Elder Su; he might be able to tell what this is. However..." Although Lord Elder Su is virtuous and respected, he is still a court official. If it were truly a major secret, he would probably have to report it to Mo Jing.

Mo Xiuyao frowned and shook his head. "Lord Su has always had a poor opinion of the Southern Border and isn’t proficient in its languages or scripts."

Feng Zhiyao’s eyes twinkled, and he said with a laugh, "Ah-Yao, have you forgotten about a crucial person?"

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, giving him a look that warned against being deliberately mysterious.

Feng Zhiyao giggled. "Don’t forget... where our Princess Consort is from. Is there a household in all of Great Chu more knowledgeable than the Xu Family? If even the Xu Family can’t decipher this, then there’s no hope for us."

Mo Xiuyao frowned and looked down at the brief letter from home in his hand, which contained only a few short lines. He picked up the gold ornament from the table and inspected it carefully. "Do you think this is an ornament?"

Feng Zhiyao was puzzled. "Isn’t it?"

Mo Xiuyao traced the obvious scratches on the back of the gold ornament. "This looks like a decorative piece forcibly pried off something. And... can you recall which tribe in the Southern Border uses the sunflower as its emblem?"

Feng Zhiyao furrowed his brow, deep in thought. "The sunflower is fond of warmth and is drought-resistant; the Southern Border isn’t ideal for its growth. So, it doesn’t seem like any tribe would use it as their emblem. But... do you remember a princess from the previous dynasty who was married to a tribal leader in the Southern Border?"

Mo Xiuyao was silent for a moment. They were both familiar with historical texts, so even if they hadn’t paid particular attention to these events, they would still have some impression of matters from the dynasty preceding Great Chu. "Was it Princess Chaoyang, daughter of Emperor Ancestor from the former dynasty?"

Feng Zhiyao nodded with a smile. "That’s right. It’s said the Princess’s maiden name contained the character ’Kui,’ for sunflower."

"Then... Ah-Li bringing this out shows it’s not just an ordinary ancient object. Could this item be related to the former princess? The descendants of the former princess... When the previous dynasty fell, that princess had already been married for over two hundred years, hadn’t she?"

"Who knows?" Feng Zhiyao shrugged.

Mo Xiuyao pondered for a moment before adding, "Send a secret envoy to Yunzhou with a rubbing of this. And... if the shadow guards in the Southern Border discover Ah-Li, tell her immediately not to concern herself with this matter."

Feng Zhiyao was somewhat surprised, folding up the letter. "The Princess Consort has obviously done very well. If she has the chance to continue investigating, we should be able to uncover many secrets about the Southern Border. Why ignore it? We can send more people to assist her."

Mo Xiuyao stared at the gold ornament in his hand, speaking in a low voice, "I don’t know why, but I feel a big secret is hidden in that paper, though I have no clues right now. Ah-Li is unaware of the complexities; it’s too dangerous for her to investigate blindly."

Feng Zhiyao shrugged helplessly. "Alright then, everything will be done according to your command, Prince."

After Feng Zhiyao left with the items, only Mo Xiuyao remained in the room. He looked down at the letter in his hand again. Besides briefly recounting what had happened after entering the Southern Border, it contained only the short sentence: "I am safe, do not worry." Mo Xiuyao lightly stroked the letter, a faint, somewhat bitter smile touching his lips.

It took Ye Li and the others less than seven days to reach Nanzhao Capital. As soon as they arrived, the ill scholar confidently took Old Master Liang and left without hesitation.

Han Mingxi was so angry he couldn’t help but curse, "What’s his game? Is he abandoning us now that he’s gotten what he wanted?"

Ye Li glanced at him, smiling. "Even if he is, what can you do about it? Tianyi Pavilion has people in Nanzhao, and so does the King of Hell Pavilion. Tianyi Pavilion is an intelligence organization, while the King of Hell Pavilion is an assassin organization. Even if we’re dissatisfied, no one can touch the ill scholar."

Han Mingxi folded his arms and glared at her. "Didn’t you want some medicine for longevity or to revive the dead? You just let him go? You think he’ll obediently bring it to you?"

Ye Li laughed. "Even if you insisted on following him, he might not give it to you. If he doesn’t give it to me, why can’t I find it myself?" She hadn’t come to the Southern Border for the ill scholar or his Bilo flower; she couldn’t possibly follow him forever. However... such matters don’t necessarily have to be handled personally.

Upon entering Nanzhao Capital, Han Mingxi, wanting to reward himself for his recent exertions, pulled Ye Li towards the best tavern in the city. After indulging in a lavish feast of Southern Border delicacies, he retired to his room for a rest. He firmly instructed that he was not to be disturbed for the next two days unless the tavern caught fire. Left alone, Ye Li and Darky Three watched his slightly unsteady figure ascend the stairs and shared a moment of silence.

"Young Master Han really doesn’t resemble Young Master Mingyue," Darky Three remarked, uncharacteristically sentimental.

Ye Li smiled at him. "Did you really think he went upstairs to sleep? I bet he won’t sleep past midnight tonight." It was currently early evening. Darky Three frowned but said nothing as Ye Li, seemingly in good spirits, waved her folding fan. "Come on, let’s go out and see the sights of Nanzhao by night."

Compared to the grand and majestic Capital of Great Chu, Nanzhao Capital was much smaller and not as vibrant. Most people were dressed in Southern Border attire. Ye Li and Darky Three, in their Central Plains clothing and with their impressive bearing, naturally stood out. But Ye Li had no interest in Southern Border attire and didn’t plan to change her own unless absolutely necessary.

"Young Master." A surprised whisper came from behind them. Ye Li and Darky Three both turned to see Darky Two, whom they hadn’t seen in a while.

A little surprised, Ye Li asked, "Why are you here? Is Big Brother here too?"

Darky Two, looking weary, said hoarsely, "I’ve failed in my duties, Young Master. Eldest Young Master Xu... Eldest Young Master Xu has gone missing."

"What?" Ye Li was shocked. "When did this happen?"

"Nearly half a month ago," Darky Two replied in a low voice. "Young Master Xu vanished two days before I arrived in Nanzhao Capital."

"That long ago?! Who knows about this?" Ye Li furrowed her brow.

Darky Two responded softly, "It was said that Young Master Qingchen mentioned before he left that he would return in five days, so initially, no one was concerned. It wasn’t until the morning of the sixth day, when Young Master Qingchen still hadn’t appeared, that everyone realized something was wrong. The shadow guards in Nanzhao have been secretly investigating, but there hasn’t been any news. A few days ago, a message was sent back to Capital City, but because you’ve been traveling incognito, you didn’t receive it."

Ye Li’s face grew solemn, her worry for Xu Qingchen’s safety evident. "Who was Big Brother with before he disappeared?"

"That would be Princess Anxi, the Eldest Princess of Nanzhao. She’s Princess Qixia’s older sister and the next in line to be the King of Nanzhao. She and Young Master Qingchen are friends. After arriving in Nanzhao, Young Master Qingchen had been staying at the Princess Mansion," Darky Two explained.

Ye Li nodded and instructed, "Get me all available information on Nanzhao Capital as soon as possible. Also, I want to meet Princess Anxi."

Darky Two nodded. "Understood. But... under what identity do you plan to meet the Eldest Princess? Even though Nanzhao is a small kingdom, meeting the Eldest Princess or any princess isn’t easy for just anyone."

Ye Li’s eyes glittered, and she laughed. "As Chu Liuyun, Third Miss of the Chu Family of Yunzhou, and Young Master Qingchen’s fiancée!"

Darky Two and Darky Three exchanged a look, a headache already forming. Is the Princess Consort trying to tarnish her own reputation or Young Master Qingchen’s?

Ye Li, her expression unchanged, beamed at their stricken faces. "What other choice do we have? Visit my cousin as the Princess Consort of Ding Kingdom? Now, Darky Two, you’ll accompany me for the next few days. Darky Three, continue investigating matters in Nanzhao and concerning my Big Brother. Also, if Han Mingxi looks for me..."

Darky Three interjected, "Understood. I won’t let Young Master Han become suspicious."

"Good. You don’t need to pay too much attention to him, just try to keep him away from me. Let’s go back for now. Darky Two, prepare for our visit to Princess Anxi’s Mansion tomorrow morning."

"Yes."

Early the next morning, Ye Li, who had spent all night studying files and information, felt energetic as she opened the door to a light knock. Darky Three, seeing the charming figure at the door, was slightly startled. He had grown accustomed to the Princess Consort’s male disguise during their journey and had almost forgotten she was a teenage girl. The impression she had made on him in less than two months far surpassed the one from nearly a year before they left Capital City. Now, looking at the lady before him, she wore a pale yellow robe embroidered with green plum blossoms. Her dark hair was neatly styled in a small bun, adorned with an exquisite, simple silver butterfly hairpin. A light fringe partially concealed her forehead, making her features appear even more delicate and petite. The slender silver butterflies in her hair trembled slightly, lending her an air of girlish charm and playfulness, quite different from the composed and elegant Princess Consort of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion in Capital City. Darky Three had to admit the Princess Consort’s skill in disguise was truly beyond ordinary people.

"Zhuo Jing?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow at the shadow guard who seemed lost in thought.

Snapping back to reality, Darky Three calmly stated, "Miss... Young Miss guessed correctly. Young Master Han left the inn at midnight and hasn’t returned. Do you need..."

Ye Li waved her hand and said, "Thank you for your efforts. Go back and rest. I can go down by myself."

"Yes."

Feeling cheerful, Ye Li went downstairs, where Darky Two was waiting for her in the inn’s main hall. The previous night, she and Darky Two had booked two additional rooms. Coincidentally, Darky Two’s and Darky Three’s rooms were situated so that they flanked Ye Li’s own two rooms, thus no one realized that her two rooms actually belonged to a single occupant. Now they just had to check out together and leave. If Princess Anxi became interested later, inquiries would show they had entered the city late the previous evening, stayed at this inn for one night, and nothing more.

Leaving the inn with Darky Two, they headed directly towards Princess Anxi’s Mansion, located not far from the Nanzhao Royal Palace.

They had to wait quite a while outside the Princess Mansion before they were invited inside. The architecture of Nanzhao was quite different from that of the Central Plains, though the buildings in the capital city shared many commonalities. The Princess Mansion was no match in size for the vast and magnificent King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. It was probably about the size of the Ye Family’s ministerial estate. It blended architectural elements from the Central Plains and Nanzhao, creating a curious and intriguing atmosphere. Upon being led into the main hall, they saw a tall woman dressed in a blue embroidered garment seated there. Her attire featured neat arrow sleeves, rather than the typical straight-cut narrow sleeves. The cuffs and hem were embroidered with symbols representing the Nanzhao royal family. A silver belt cinched her waist, accentuating her slender figure and lending her an even more sharp and valiant appearance. Though not as beautiful as her sister, Princess Qixia—touted as the foremost beauty of Nanzhao—her dazzling eyes made her particularly striking.

Upon seeing Ye Li enter, Princess Anxi’s gaze held a hint of curiosity and assessment. Ye Li frowned slightly, a touch of petulance in her voice as she tilted her chin up proudly and said, "Aren’t you going to invite us to sit down?"

Princess Anxi furrowed her brow slightly and said to Ye Li, "Please, sit down. May I ask your name?"

Ye Li replied, "My name is Chu Liuyun. I’ve come to look for Brother Qingchen."

"Brother Qingchen?" Princess Anxi’s eyes dimmed slightly as she shook her head. "I’m sorry, I don’t know any ’Brother Qingchen.’"

"You’re lying!" Ye Li retorted, pointing at her accusingly. "Brother Qingchen said he was coming to the Southern Border to travel and visit friends. He said you were his friend! How could he not have come here? Did you hide him?"

Princess Anxi’s strong, elegant brows furrowed even tighter. Looking at the tearful, charming girl before her, she asked, "What is your relationship with Young Master Qingchen?"

"I... I’m his fiancée! *Sob, sob*... Brother Qingchen clearly said he would return in three months and marry me. But now... *sob*, he’s been gone for so long and hasn’t sent a single letter! Aunt Xu is terribly worried... *sob*... He must not want Liuyun anymore! If I can’t find Brother Qingchen, I don’t want to live!"

Princess Anxi’s eyes dimmed further. She stared skeptically at the weeping, heartbroken girl. "You’re Young Master Qingchen’s fiancée? Why have I never heard him mention this?"

Ye Li lifted her head, her eyes filled with reproach. "We women of the Central Plains greatly value our reputation. How could Brother Qingchen casually mention me to his friends? Look, this is the token Brother Qingchen gave me last year. If you’re really his friend, you must have seen it. He said he’s worn it for many years, and thanks to this jade protecting him, he’s remained safe all these years he’s been away."

Princess Anxi looked at Ye Li with a complex, wavering expression. She didn’t know if the jade truly belonged to Qingchen, but the worn cord attached to the jade pendant was definitely his usual style and color; even the type of thread was identical to what Qingchen used. "I apologize, Miss Chu, for my rudeness just now. The journey from the Central Plains to the Southern Border is arduous. How did you manage to reach Nanzhao Capital?" Princess Anxi returned the jade pendant to her and asked softly.

Ye Li bit her lip, staring stubbornly at Princess Anxi. "Brother Qingchen has been gone too long. My second sister said Brother Qingchen doesn’t want me anymore. I... I have to find him and ask him clearly! *Sob*, if he truly doesn’t want me, I... I’ll die!"

Darky Two stood to one side, admiring how masterfully his master played the part of a lovesick young woman who had run away from home.

Princess Anxi was evidently flustered by this obstinate and somewhat willful young lady. After hesitating, she said, "Young Master Qingchen was indeed a guest at my residence a few days ago, but he isn’t here now. How about I arrange for someone to escort you, Miss Chu, back to the Central Plains first? If I see Young Master Qingchen, I’ll ensure he writes to you as soon as possible. What do you think?"

Ye Li stared blankly at Princess Anxi. After a long moment, she burst into tears, wiping them away as she spoke, "I snuck away with my guards! If I can’t return with Brother Qingchen, my father will surely break my legs! *Sob, sob*... I don’t want to go back! I want to find Brother Qingchen!"

Princess Anxi rubbed her forehead. "Alright, alright... Miss Chu, let’s do this: you can stay at my mansion for a while. When Young Master Qingchen returns, you two can go back together, alright?"

Hearing this, Ye Li immediately broke into a smile through her tears. "Thank you, Princess Sister! You’re so kind!"

Princess Anxi summoned a maidservant to lead Ye Li to a guest room. After the maidservant left, Ye Li, feeling a little guilty, asked Darky Two, "Do you think... is there any chance Princess Anxi could become my sister-in-law? It would be terrible if I ruined Big Brother’s chances at marriage. I don’t want to be the cannon-fodder third wheel in some melodrama."

Darky Two shook his head, his expression serious. "Impossible. Although the Xu Family doesn’t discriminate against other ethnicities, they haven’t intermarried with them for centuries. Moreover, Princess Anxi is the Eldest Princess of the Southern Border; her status is paramount. The Xu Family would never allow their next Family Head to marry into a Southern Border family. Most importantly, given Young Master Qingchen’s character, if he truly had feelings for Princess Anxi, he would never refer to her merely as a friend."

Ye Li pondered for a moment and had to agree. It would indeed be a grievous sin to ruin her elder brother’s marriage prospects. Still, this Princess Anxi seemed rather pleasant. Of all the princesses she had met, apart from the still-young Princess Changle, Princess Anxi appeared the most reliable. If it had been any other princess, who knew how they would have treated her, the supposed fiancée of the man they admired? It truly showed her elder brother had discerning judgment in choosing friends.

"What are your plans, Miss?" Darky Two asked.

Ye Li laughed. "Staying in the Princess Mansion is perfect for inquiring about Big Brother, isn’t it?"

Darky Two responded, "However, living in the Princess Mansion will restrict your movements, and your activities will be limited."

Ye Li shook her head and laughed. "Surely Princess Anxi wouldn’t confine her friend’s fiancée, would she? Right now, finding out Big Brother’s whereabouts is more important. After all, the shadow guards haven’t been able to locate him even after so many days."

Darky Two lowered his head in shame. "It is my failure."

Ye Li waved him off with a smile. "How can you be blamed? If everything could be easily discovered, the word ’secret’ wouldn’t exist. I just hope... Big Brother is safe now." The thought of Xu Qingchen’s unknown whereabouts filled her with an undeniable worry.

Princess Anxi’s Mansion was not overly large. Perhaps because Nanzhao didn’t strictly segregate men and women, Xu Qingchen’s room was located in the same courtyard where Ye Li was staying. Ye Li made no secret of her intentions and directly asked for the location of Xu Qingchen’s room, then headed there. The room was spotless. Even though Xu Qingchen had been absent for many days, it was evident someone tidied it daily. All of Xu Qingchen’s belongings—his clothes, jade pendants, folding fan, and even the travelogues he read to pass the time—were neatly stored in a cloth bundle inside a cupboard.

On the writing desk was Xu Qingchen’s favorite blue-and-white porcelain tea set. On the desk, books and writing implements—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—were neatly arranged. It was clear Xu Qingchen had stayed here for a considerable time. Ye Li walked over to the desk, sat down, and casually picked up a book, beginning to flip through it.

"Miss Chu, what are you doing here?" Princess Anxi’s voice came from the doorway. Ye Li looked up to see her standing there, frowning.

Ye Li quickly stood up, looking at her nervously. "I’m sorry. I heard Brother Qingchen used to stay here, so I wanted to come and see. And maybe... find a few books to read."

Princess Anxi walked over. Looking at the books on the desk, a hint of warmth entered her eyes. "You enjoy reading too?"

Ye Li lowered her gaze and nodded shyly. "Brother Qingchen is exceptionally talented, so I thought I should read more..."

Princess Anxi nodded. "Young Master Qingchen also loves reading; he’s usually never without a book. I only have a basic understanding of the Central Plains script, so I don’t quite grasp what these books are saying."

Ye Li put down the book in her hand and said softly, "I’ve heard Brother Qingchen mention you, Princess. As the Eldest Princess of Nanzhao, you have many important matters to attend to. It’s natural if you’re not interested in things like poetry and literature."

Princess Anxi laughed heartily. "I started learning the Central Plains script late, so being able to get the gist of it is already good. Even if I were interested, I wouldn’t understand the details. Miss Chu, if you like, feel free to take any books from the study to read. Young Master Qingchen bought all of these; they’re just sitting here unused."

Ye Li nodded. "Thank you, Princess. Princess..." Ye Li looked at Princess Anxi, hesitating before continuing. Princess Anxi raised an eyebrow, gesturing for her to go on.

Ye Li asked quietly, "I want to find Brother Qingchen as soon as possible. He hasn’t written home in a long time. Could you please tell me where he said he was going when he left? Then I can take my attendants to look for him."

Princess Anxi looked at her for a long moment before frowning and saying, "It’s not that I’m unwilling to tell you his whereabouts, but... I’m currently looking for him too."

Ye Li’s eyes lit up with a hopeful guess. "Then... could he have already left the Southern Border and returned to the Central Plains?"

Princess Anxi shook her head. "He still has many unfinished matters in the Southern Border; he wouldn’t leave so easily. Besides, if he truly intended to leave the Southern Border, he would have at least left a message or bid me farewell."

"Then... then could he be in danger?!" Ye Li exclaimed.

Princess Anxi looked conflicted for a moment, then finally shook her head. "He... shouldn’t be. Young Master Qingchen is exceptionally clever; he’ll surely be able to handle anything."

"But-but Brother Qingchen doesn’t know any martial arts! He can’t even defeat Lin Han, who’s with me!" Ye Li exclaimed anxiously.

Princess Anxi gently took her arm and reassured her softly, "Trust me, he will be fine. I promise."

Ye Li’s eyes shimmered. She lifted her head, full of hope. "Really? You promise...?"

Princess Anxi nodded firmly. "I guarantee it, as a Princess of Nanzhao, he absolutely will not be in trouble. You just need to wait patiently in the mansion, and you’ll see Young Master Qingchen soon."

Ye Li nodded. "Okay, I believe you, Princess Sister. But I still want to look for Brother Qingchen too!"

Princess Anxi looked at her helplessly. "Only within Nanzhao Capital then. You mustn’t wander off. What if Young Master Qingchen returns and can’t find you...?"

"I understand. Thank you, Princess Sister!"

Once outside the guest courtyard’s door, the smile on Princess Anxi’s face gradually faded. Walking towards her own courtyard, she turned and asked the person following her, "About Miss Chu, have you investigated?"

The man behind her replied in a low voice, "Princess, we found that Miss Chu entered the city only when it was nearly dark yesterday. After entering, she checked into the most famous inn in Nanzhao Capital. This morning, she checked out, asked for the location of the Princess Mansion, and came directly here. However... she didn’t register under the name Chu Liuyun, but as Xu Yun, accompanied by Lin Han."

Princess Anxi nodded. "It’s understandable to use a pseudonym when traveling. Anything else?"

The man shook his head. "Nothing else. If we want to verify Miss Chu’s identity, I’m afraid we’ll have to send someone to Great Chu. The round trip would take at least a month."

Princess Anxi shook her head. "We probably don’t have that much time. She definitely knows Qingchen and is extremely familiar with him. Finding Qingchen quickly is more important. Once he’s found, everything will be clear. For now, just have someone keep an eye on them."

"Yes."

"Is there anything else?"

The man hesitated for a moment. "When we investigated Miss Chu, we discovered that three other people from the Central Plains also arrived at the inn yesterday. Their names weren’t particularly unusual, but they might not be their real names."

"Are they connected to Miss Chu in any way?"

"It doesn’t appear so at the moment. They arrived more than two hours before Miss Chu. One of them ate and then went to their room to rest. The other two went out and only returned after Miss Chu had checked in. They haven’t met."

"Then there’s no need to concern ourselves with them for now. It’s normal for people from the Central Plains to frequently come and go in Nanzhao Capital. That’s something the Capital Defense General should handle. If we get involved in too many things, it will only cause trouble."

"Yes."

"Princess, the King summons you."

"Understood. I will go to the palace at once."