The First Jasmine - Chapter 82
Chapter 82: The Disappearance of Young Master Qingchen
Ye Li paid no mind to the wretched state the Sick Scholar had reduced Master Liang to. When she saw the half-dead Master Liang being dragged behind the Sick Scholar, she merely offered a brief reminder to be careful not to kill him. While the Sick Scholar was certainly no kind-hearted individual, Master Liang was hardly any better. Hearing Ye Li's words, the Sick Scholar merely let out a disdainful snort without responding. If he didn't want someone to die, that person wouldn't be able to die even if they wanted to. However, judging by the Sick Scholar's gloomy expression, Ye Li knew deep down that he probably hadn't extracted the answers he wanted from Master Liang's lips. After all, if the old man's mouth had been that easy to crack, the Sick Scholar wouldn't have needed to trail him all the way to the Southern Border. Even so, the Sick Scholar wasn't entirely without gains—at least he had finally obtained the so-called complete token. Taking a distant glance at it, Ye Li saw that it was a jade pendant carved with strange, intricate patterns. Since the Sick Scholar had no intention of sharing it with them, Ye Li didn't needlessly pry. Carefully dodging the tracking parties sent out by the Luoyi Tribe, the group pressed on toward the Nanzhao capital without a moment's rest.
Dingguo Estate, Chu Capital
"My Lord, the Princess Consort has sent a letter." It was already the end of April, and warm sunlight spilled across the courtyard. Looking out through the open window, a few clusters of peonies in the garden were blooming in all their vibrant splendor. Gazing at the garden outside the window, Mo Xiuyao felt a transient sense of deja vu, recalling that it was around this exact time last year when he had first met A-Li. At that time, he never could have imagined that the malicious and humiliating marriage decreed by Mo Jingqi would bring him such an extraordinary wife. Presently, the factions loyal to the Emperor and those loyal to Prince Li had reached a state of irreconcilable hostility within the capital. Meanwhile, because of the missing Princess Consort, the Dingguo Estate remained firmly shut, ignoring worldly affairs and expressing its silent dissatisfaction with the Emperor through this deliberate coldness. It allowed the covert struggles between the Emperor and Prince Li to play out unchecked, refusing to step in and prop up the Emperor at the opportune moments as the estate traditionally had.
"Bring it here!" Mo Xiuyao withdrew his gaze, turning his head sideways to look at Chief Steward Mo standing at the doorway.
Feng Zhiyao stood at the entrance holding a thick, sealed dossier, looking at Mo Xiuyao with a grin as he said, "I have to say, A-Yao, our Sister-in-law the Princess Consort is truly ruthless. She's been out for nearly two months before finally remembering to write a letter back." Mo Xiuyao frowned. With a flick of his wrist, the dossier in Feng Zhiyao's hand was drawn across the air by a surge of formidable internal energy and landed in his grasp. "Where are they now?" Feng Zhiyao shook his head. "If the Princess Consort's whereabouts were that easy to track down, she wouldn't still be untraceable by now. The shadow guards received the letter near the edge of the Luoyi Tribe's territory in the Southern Border, but none of them actually spotted the person who delivered it. Along the entire journey, neither our people nor anyone else has managed to track the Princess Consort's movements. Come to think of it... a group of five shouldn't be that hard to spot, unless... well, even if strangers wouldn't know, our own people certainly should." Frowning, Mo Xiuyao replied, "That just proves there weren't five people traveling together the whole way, and A-Li's disguise skills are exceptional. The shadow guards stationed across various regions haven't laid eyes on them, making identification extremely difficult." Furthermore, they were aware of the general locations of the shadow guards, making evasion a much simpler task.
Mo Xiuyao opened the dossier, sliding out a glistening item and a similarly sealed letter from the paper envelope. Mo Xiuyao took the trinket into his hand—it was a set of exquisitely crafted gold ornaments embedded with gemstones in a sunflower pattern. Feng Zhiyao looked on in astonishment. "The Princess Consort actually sent you jewelry?" Then again... was something backwards here? After inspecting the gold trinket in his hand for a moment, Mo Xiuyao placed it aside on the table. He then broke the seal of the letter, lowered his gaze to read the handwriting within, and slowly knit his dark eyebrows together. After a long moment of silence, he spoke. "Find someone proficient in the Southern Border language." Casting a surprised look at him, Feng Zhiyao asked, "Don't you already know the Southern Border language and script?" Frowning, Mo Xiuyao replied, "This is different. It must be an ancient Southern Border script." Taking the paper to glance at it, Feng Zhiyao was greeted by a mass of twisted, bizarre characters that gave him a headache. "It looks a bit like Southern Border writing, but... I can't quite make heads or tails of it. Why would the Princess Consort understand such strange writing?"
Lowering his gaze to the other, noticeably shorter letter, Mo Xiuyao said, "She doesn't understand it. She memorized these characters by sight and then wrote them down from memory."
Disbelieving, Feng Zhiyao protested, "You can memorize twisted symbols like these just by looking at them, without even knowing what they mean?"
Mo Xiuyao shot him a flat, sideways glance. Rubbing his nose, Feng Zhiyao muttered, "Fine, fine. We have quite a few subordinates who are fluent in the current Southern Border script, but ancient scripts... wasn't that language abandoned in the Southern Border over two hundred years ago?" Back then, although the Southern Border was a vassal to the Central Plains' previous dynasty, the region contained numerous tribes with vastly differing languages and scripts. It wasn't until the founding of the Nanzhao Kingdom that a unified Southern Border writing system was implemented. Who could possibly know which specific tribe's ancient dialect was scrawled across this page? "If we're talking about the capital, perhaps Old Master Su might be able to decipher what this junk is. However..." Though Elder Su Zhe was a figure of great virtue and prestige, he remained an official of the imperial court. If this truly turned out to be a major state secret, he would inevitably feel obligated to report it to Mo Jingqi.
Mo Xiuyao frowned and shook his head. "Elder Su has never had any affinity for the Southern Border and is not versed in its scripts."
A light flashed in Feng Zhiyao's eyes as he smiled. "Tell me... A-Yao, haven't you forgotten someone crucial?"
Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, fixing him with a steady, warning gaze not to play games. Feng Zhiyao chuckled. "Don't forget... where our Princess Consort comes from. Throughout the entire Great Chu, is there any aristocratic family more learned than the Xu family? If the Xu family's people can't decode this, we might as well give up hope." Frowning as he lowered his head once more to study the brief, few-lined family letter, Mo Xiuyao picked up the gold ornament from the table and carefully examined it. "Do you think this looks like an ornament?" Feng Zhiyao asked, puzzled, "Isn't it?" Tracing the clear scratch marks on the back of the piece, Mo Xiuyao stated, "This must have been forcibly pried off as a decorative piece from something else. Also... do you remember which Southern Border tribe uses the sunflower as its totem?"
Feng Zhiyao furrowed his brow in deep thought. "Sunflowers, also known as turning-sun lotuses, love warmth and withstand drought; the Southern Border isn't particularly suited for growing them, so I don't recall any tribe using it as a totem. However... do you remember that during the previous dynasty, a certain princess was married off to the chieftain of a Southern Border tribe?" After a brief silence, Mo Xiuyao replied—both of them being well-read scholars of history, they naturally retained impressions of such major historical events even without paying special attention. "You mean Princess Zhaoyang of Emperor Gaozong's era?" Feng Zhiyao smiled. "Precisely. Legend has it that the princess's personal maiden name contained the character for sunflower."
"So... the reason A-Li brought this item out means it isn't an ordinary antique. Could this thing be connected to the former dynasty's princess? The descendants of the former dynasty's princess... it's been over two hundred years since the princess was married off when the former dynasty fell, hasn't it?"
"Who knows?" Feng Zhiyao shook his head.
After pondering for a moment, Mo Xiuyao instructed, "Make a rubbing of this and have someone secretly deliver it to Yunzhou. Also, if the shadow guards in the Southern Border spot A-Li, immediately tell her to drop this matter." Feng Zhiyao looked somewhat surprised as he stowed away the letter. "The Princess Consort is clearly handling things very well. If there's an opportunity to investigate further, she should be able to uncover quite a few secrets of the Southern Border—why drop it? We can send more people to assist the Princess Consort." Staring at the gold ornament in his hand, Mo Xiuyao said in a deep voice, "For some reason, I have a persistent feeling that a massive secret is concealed within that piece of paper, though we don't have the slightest clue yet. A-Li is investigating blindly without knowing the context, and continuing to dig deeper is too dangerous."
Feng Zhiyao shrugged helplessly. "Very well. Everything will be handled according to Your Lordship's orders."
Carrying the items, Feng Zhiyao departed, leaving Mo Xiuyao alone in the room. Mo Xiuyao lowered his gaze once more to look at the letter in his hand. Aside from a brief account of the events following her entry into the Southern Border, it contained only a short line of reassurance: I am safe, do not worry. Gently stroking the paper, a faint, slightly bitter smile tugged at the corners of Mo Xiuyao's lips.
Traveling at a relentless pace, the group of four reached the Nanzhao capital in less than seven days. The moment they arrived, the Sick Scholar unhesitatingly hauled Master Liang away with him, provoking Han Mingxi into an outburst of vulgar curses. "What is the meaning of this? Crossing a river and then smashing the bridge?" Giving him a side-long glance, Ye Li smiled. "Even if he did smash the bridge after crossing, what can you possibly do about it?" Tianyi Pavilion had connections in Nanzhao, and the Yama Pavilion did as well. Tianyi Pavilion was an intelligence network, whereas the Yama Pavilion was an assassin organization. Regardless of how dissatisfied they were, neither of them could do a thing to the Sick Scholar. Crossing his arms, Han Mingxi glared down at her. "Didn't you want some sort of medicine for longevity or resurrection? Do you honestly think that if you let him walk off like this, he'll obediently deliver it to you?"
Ye Li smiled. "Even if you stuck to him like glue, he wouldn't necessarily hand it over obediently. If he won't give it to me, I can go find it myself, can't I?" She hadn't come to the Southern Border for the Sick Scholar and his azure-falling flower; it was impossible for her to tail him indefinitely. Besides... certain matters didn't necessarily require doing everything personally.
Upon entering the Nanzhao capital, Han Mingxi—to reward himself for the hardships of the past few days—dragged Ye Li straight to the finest restaurant in the city. After gorging themselves on a table full of Southern Border delicacies, he retreated to his room to rest, explicitly declaring that unless the building caught fire, no one was to disturb him for the next two days. This left Ye Li and An San standing in silence as they watched his swaying figure disappear up the stairs. "Young Master Han looks nothing like Young Master Mingyue," An San remarked with rare sentiment. Chuckling, Ye Li looked at him and said, "Do you honestly believe he went upstairs to sleep? I'll wager he sleeps until midnight at the absolute latest." And it was already early evening. An San frowned and kept silent. Swishing her folding fan with high spirits, Ye Li said, "Let's go. Time to head out and take in the night scenery of Nanzhao."
Compared to the solemn grandeur of the Chu capital, the Nanzhao capital was far smaller and lacked the bustling prosperity of Chu. The streets were filled with people wearing Southern Border attire; naturally, Ye Li and An San—both dressed in Central Plains garments and carrying an extraordinary bearing—drew considerable attention. However, Ye Li had no particular interest in Southern Border fashion and had no intention of altering her attire unless absolutely necessary.
"Young Master," a startled, delighted whisper came from behind. Ye Li and An San turned around simultaneously to find An Er, whom they hadn't seen in a long time. Ye Li looked somewhat surprised, as she hadn't planned on seeking out her eldest brother the moment she arrived in Nanzhao. "Why are you here? Is Big Brother here too?" Looking utterly exhausted, An Er rasped, "This subordinate has failed the Young Master's trust. Eldest Young Master Xu... Eldest Young Master Xu has gone missing."
"What?" Ye Li was startled. "When did this happen?"
An Er spoke in a low voice, "It's been over half a month. Eldest Young Master disappeared two days before this subordinate arrived in the Nanzhao capital."
"For so many days?! Who knows about this?" Ye Li frowned as she asked. An Er replied quietly, "It is said that before Young Master Qingchen left, he gave instructions that he would return in five days, so no one paid much attention at first. It wasn't until the morning of the sixth day when Young Master Qingchen still hadn't appeared that they realized something was wrong. This subordinate and the shadow guards stationed in Nanzhao have been secretly investigating, but there hasn't been any news. A message was already sent back to the capital a few days ago, but since the Young Master's group was traveling in complete concealment, you never received the report."
Ye Li's expression turned slightly grim. Xu Qingchen's safety was a matter of deep concern to her. "Who was Big Brother with before he went missing?"
"Princess Anxi, the Nanzhao Crown Princess. She is Princess Xixia's elder sister and also the next ruler of Nanzhao. She and Young Master Qingchen are friends; ever since Young Master Qingchen arrived in Nanzhao, he has been staying at the Princess's estate," An Er answered. Nodding, Ye Li issued her orders: "Have someone gather and deliver all intelligence regarding the Nanzhao capital as quickly as possible. Furthermore, I wish to see Princess Anxi." An Er nodded. "This subordinate understands. But... under what identity does the Young Master plan to seek an audience with the Crown Princess?" Although Nanzhao was a small nation, a Crown Princess was not someone ordinary people could meet on a whim. A glint flickered across Ye Li's eyes as she smiled. "Third Young Miss of the Yunzhou Chu family, Chu Liuyun. Young Master Qingchen's fiancée!"
An Er and An San stiffened, a headache coming on. Was the Princess Consort trying to ruin her own reputation, or was she trying to ruin Young Master Qingchen's reputation?
Maintaining her usual expression, Ye Li looked smilingly at their rigid faces. "What other choice do we have? Should I march up to him as the Princess Consort of Dingguo Estate and ask for my cousin? Very well, An Er, you will accompany me for the time being. An San, keep investigating underground to see if you can find any other traces regarding Big Brother, and also... if Han Mingxi comes looking for me..." An San chimed in, "This subordinate understands; I won't allow Young Master Han to grow suspicious."
"Good. You don't need to humor him too much either—just keep him from getting close to me. Let's head back. An Er, prepare yourself; tomorrow morning, we are going to pay a visit to Princess Anxi."
"Understood."
Early the next morning, Ye Li—who had spent the entire night reviewing dossiers and intelligence reports—refreshedly opened her door at a gentle knock. An San couldn't help a brief daze as he looked at the smiling woman standing in the doorway. Having grown accustomed to the Princess Consort's male disguise throughout the journey, he had almost forgotten that she was, in reality, a young woman in her teens. Come to think of it, the impressions left in less than two months since leaving the capital felt far deeper than those of the preceding year. Seeing her now, dressed in a goose-yellow soft silk gown embroidered with green plum blossoms, her dark hair neatly coiled into a small bun pinned with an exquisite and elegant four-butterfly silver hair-tassel, her forehead half-hidden by wisps of bangs that accentuated her delicate, petite features—the slender silver butterflies trembled slightly in her hair, giving the young girl an air of added cuteness and mischief that bore little resemblance to the serene, elegant Princess Consort of the Dingguo Estate. An San had to admit that the Princess Consort's disguising techniques were truly beyond ordinary reach.
"Zhuo Jing?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow, staring at the shadow guard who seemed lost in thought.
Recovering his wits, An San spoke with a composed expression. "Y-Young... Miss's predictions were correct. Young Master Han left the inn in the middle of the night last night and still hasn't returned. Miss, now..." Waving her hand with a smile, Ye Li replied, "Thank you for your hard work, go back and rest. I can head down on my own."
"Understood."
In high spirits, Ye Li descended to the lower floor where An Er was waiting for her in the main lobby. The previous evening, she and An Er had quietly secured two additional rooms. Conveniently, An Er and An San's rooms flanked her own on either side, ensuring no one would suspect that the two separate chambers belonged to a single master. Now, all they had to do was check out together and leave. If Princess Anxi decided to investigate later, she would only discover that they had entered the city late yesterday evening and spent a single night at this inn.
Taking An Er with her out of the inn, the two headed straight for the Princess Anxi estate, which was not far from the Nanzhao royal palace.
After waiting for quite a while outside the estate gates, the attendant who went in to announce them finally emerged to escort the two inside. Nanzhao architecture differed greatly from Central Plains styles, though capitals tended to look similar the world over. However, the Princess's estate fell far short of the vast, majestic scale of the Dingguo Estate—it was roughly comparable in size to the Minister's residence of the Chu family, featuring Central Plains architectural influences blended with numerous Southern Border characteristics, giving off a strange yet fascinating vibe. Ushered into the main hall, the two barely crossed the threshold before seeing a tall woman seated within, dressed in blue embroidered attire. Rather than the straight collars and narrow sleeves commonly seen, her garments featured clean-cut, practical archery cuffs, with the cuffs and hem embroidered with the royal insignia of Nanzhao. A silver belt cinched her waist, accentuating her slender silhouette and giving her an overall air of brisk, martial alertness. Compared to her younger sister Princess Xixia—hailed as the foremost beauty of Nanzhao—she lacked a delicate, classical prettiness, but the brilliant, piercing sparkle in her eyes made her far more striking.
As Ye Li entered, Princess Anxi's gaze carried a hint of scrutiny and assessment. Frowning slightly, Ye Li lifted her chin with a touch of youthful arrogance and demanded, "Why haven't you offered us a seat?"
Frowning in response, Princess Anxi looked at her and said, "Please sit. Might I ask how this young lady is addressed?"
Ye Li replied, "My name is Chu Liuyun. I'm here to look for Qingchen-gege."
"Qingchen-gege?" A dark flash crossed Princess Anxi's eyes as she shook her head. "I apologize, but I do not know any Qingchen-gege."
"You're lying!" Ye Li glared at her with simulated grievance, accusing, "Qingchen-gege told me he was coming to the Southern Border to travel and visit friends. He said you were his friend—how could he never have visited this place? Did you hide Qingchen-gege somewhere?" Princess Anxi's spirited brows furrowed deeper. Looking at the tearful, delicate young girl before her, she asked, "What relation do you bear to Young Master Qingchen?"
"I... I am his fiancée. Wuwu... Qingchen-gege clearly promised that he would return in three months and marry me. But now... wuwu, he's been out for so long and hasn't sent a single letter. Mother Xu is so worried, wuwu... he must not want Liuyun anymore... If I can't find Qingchen-gege, I won't live either!" Princess Anxi's gaze dimmed. Staring suspiciously at the weeping girl, she asked, "You are Young Master Qingchen's fiancée? How is it that I never heard him mention you?" Ye Li raised her head, gazing at her with a look of lingering resentment. "We daughters of the Central Plains have always valued our reputation; how could Qingchen-gege casually speak of me to his friends? Look, this is a token Qingchen-gege gave me last year. If you truly are his friend, you must have seen it—he said he wore it on his body for many years, and thanks to this jade protecting him, he's remained safe and sound all these years away from home."
Princess Anxi looked at Ye Li with a complex expression, her stance wavering slightly. Whether that piece of jade belonged to Xu Qingchen, she couldn't be certain; however, the somewhat weathered knot attached to the jade pendant matched Xu Qingchen's usual style and color precisely, right down to the exact thread used. "My apologies, Miss Chu; I was impolite just now. However, the journey from the Central Plains to the Southern Border is arduous—how is it that Miss Chu has appeared in the Nanzhao capital?" Princess Anxi asked softly as she returned the jade pendant. Biting her lower lip, Ye Li stubbornly looked up at Princess Anxi and said, "Qingchen-gege hasn't returned for ages. My second sister said Qingchen-gege doesn't want me anymore. I... I need to find him and ask him in person. Wuwu, if he really doesn't want me anymore, I... I'll go die!"
Standing to the side, An Er watched his master brilliantly portray a young girl driven away from home by matters of the heart, her performance so lifelike it stirred immense admiration.
Princess Anxi was evidently at a loss when faced with such a stubborn and slightly willful young maiden. Hesitating for a moment, she had no choice but to say, "Young Master Qingchen was indeed a guest at my humble estate a few days ago, but he is no longer here. Why don't I have someone escort Miss Chu safely back to the Central Plains? If I happen to cross paths with Young Master Qingchen, I will certainly make sure he writes to Miss Chu promptly. What do you think?" Gazing blankly at Princess Anxi for a moment, Ye Li suddenly burst into tears, wiping her eyes as she wept, "I ran away secretly with my guards; if I go back without finding Qingchen-gege, my father will surely break my legs. Wuwu... I won't go back, I'm going to find Qingchen-gege."
Princess Anxi massaged her temples. "Alright, alright... Miss Chu, how about this: you stay in my estate for a while, and when Young Master Qingchen returns, the two of you can go back together, how's that?"
At these words, Ye Li instantly broke her tears into a smile. "Thank you, Princess Sister, you're so kind..."
Princess Anxi summoned a maid to lead Ye Li to the guest quarters. Once the maid withdrew, Ye Li looked at An Er with a trace of guilt and asked, "Tell me... is there any chance Princess Anxi could become my eldest sister-in-law?" If she accidentally ruined her eldest brother's marriage prospects over this, she'd be in deep trouble; she had no desire to become the cannon-fodder third wheel in such a dramatic cliché. With a solemn expression, An Er shook his head. "Impossible. While the Xu family does not discriminate against foreign ethnicities, for hundreds of years, the Xu family has never intermarried with outsiders. Furthermore, Princess Anxi holds the lofty status of Nanzhao's Crown Princess; the Xu family would never allow their next head of house to marry into a matrilineal arrangement in Nanzhao. More importantly, given Young Master Qingchen's personality, if he genuinely harbored feelings for Princess Anxi, he would never address her strictly as a friend."
Ye Li tilted her head in thought. That made sense. If she ruined her big brother's romance over this, her sins would be grave indeed. Still, this Princess Anxi seemed genuinely decent. Having met so many princesses—barring young ones like the little Princess Changle—Princess Anxi struck her as the most level-headed of the lot. Had it been any of the other princesses and heard that she was their beloved's fiancée, there's no telling what kind of dirty tricks they would pull. She certainly lived up to being a friend recognized by her eldest brother.
"What are the Miss's plans?" An Er asked.
Ye Li smiled. "Isn't staying at the Princess's estate the perfect way to investigate Big Brother's whereabouts?"
An Er noted, "But staying in the Princess's residence makes coming and going inconvenient; the Miss's movements will be heavily restricted."
Shaking her head with a smile, Ye Li replied, "Princess Anxi wouldn't place a friend's fiancée under house arrest, would she? For now, figuring out Big Brother's location takes priority, especially since the shadow guards couldn't pinpoint his final movements after all this time." Lowering his head, An Er spoke with shame, "This subordinate failed in his duties." Waving her hand dismissively, Ye Li smiled. "How can you blame yourselves? If every single event could be unraveled with absolute clarity, the word 'secret' wouldn't exist in this world. I only hope... Big Brother is safe and sound." Thinking of the missing Xu Qingchen, Ye Li couldn't entirely mask the worry pooling in her heart.
Princess Anxi's estate wasn't overly large. Perhaps because the Southern Border lacked the strict gender-segregation laws of the Central Plains, Xu Qingchen's room happened to be located within the very courtyard where Ye Li was housed. Abandoning any pretense of secrecy, Ye Li directly inquired about the location of Xu Qingchen's room and headed straight there. Pushing the door open, she found the interior meticulously tidy; it was clear that even though Xu Qingchen had been absent for many days, someone still cleaned the space daily. None of Xu Qingchen's belongings were missing. Inspecting closely, she found his robes, jade pendant, folding fan, and travel journals—evidently carried along for leisure reading—all packed neatly inside bundles within the wardrobe.
On the desk nearby stood the white porcelain and blue-and-white tea set Xu Qingchen favored, flanked by neatly arranged books, writing brushes, inkstones, and paper. Clearly, Xu Qingchen had resided here for quite a significant stretch of time. Walking behind the desk, Ye Li sat down, picked up a book at random, and began flipping through its pages.
"Why is Miss Chu here?" Princess Anxi's voice echoed from the doorway. Ye Li looked up to find her standing at the entrance with a slight frown. Rising swiftly to her feet, Ye Li looked at her with feigned unease and said, "Apologies, I heard that Qingchen-gege used to live here, so I wanted to come have a look... and perhaps browse through some books." Walking in, Princess Anxi's expression warmed slightly as she looked at the books on the desk and asked, "You like to read as well?"
Lowering her gaze, Ye Li nodded with a hint of bashfulness. "Qingchen-gege's literary talent is peerless across the world; I wish to read more..."
Princess Anxi nodded. "Young Master Qingchen is also an avid reader; he rarely went anywhere without a book in hand. I only have a general grasp of your Central Plains script, let alone comprehending the contents of these books." Setting the book back down, Ye Li murmured, "I've heard Qingchen-gege mention you, Princess. You are the Crown Princess of Nanzhao, and your mind is occupied with grand affairs of state. It's only natural you wouldn't take an interest in poetry and prose." With a generous smile, Princess Anxi replied, "I started learning Central Plains writing quite late; managing to recognize the general gist is already an achievement. Even if I had the interest, I wouldn't understand it. Since Miss Chu enjoys them, feel free to take any books from the study. These were all bought by Young Master Qingchen anyway and serve no purpose sitting here."
Ye Li nodded. "Thank you, Princess. Princess..." Ye Li looked at Princess Anxi, trailing off as if hesitating to speak. Princess Anxi raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue. Ye Li asked softly, "I wish to find Qingchen-gege as soon as possible; he hasn't written home in a long time. Could you tell me where he said he was going when he left? That way, I can take my guards and search for him."
After studying her for a long moment, Princess Anxi frowned. "It's not that I refuse to tell you his whereabouts, but... right now, I am looking for him as well."
Ye Li guessed with hopeful optimism, "Then... could he have already left the Southern Border and returned to the Central Plains?" Princess Anxi shook her head. "There are still many unresolved matters in the Southern Border; he wouldn't leave so easily. Besides, if he truly intended to leave the Southern Border, he would have bid farewell to me or at least left a message."
"Then... then could he be in danger?!"
Looking at her with troubled eyes for a long while, Princess Anxi finally shook her head. "He... should not be. Young Master Qingchen is brilliantly clever; whatever happens, he will be able to handle it."
"But, but Qingchen-gege doesn't know any martial arts! He can't even beat Lin Han, my personal guard," Ye Li cried out anxiously. Pulling her close, Princess Anxi offered a soft reassurance. "Trust me, he will be fine. I promise you." A flicker crossed Ye Li's eyes as she lifted her face, gazing up at her full of hope. "Really? You promise..."
Princess Anxi gave a heavy nod. "I give you my word as a Nanzhao Princess—he will be completely fine. You just need to behave and wait here in the estate; you'll see Young Master Qingchen very soon." Nodding, Ye Li agreed, "Alright, I believe Princess Sister. But, I still want to go look for Qingchen-gege!" Looking at her with helpless resignation, Princess Anxi said, "Only within the capital, and no running around wildly. What if Young Master Qingchen comes back and can't find you..."
"I understand, thank you Princess Sister."
Stepping out of the guest courtyard, the smile on Princess Anxi's face gradually faded. As she walked toward her own quarters, she turned to ask the aide following behind her, "Did you check on Miss Chu's background?"
The male aide lowered his voice. "Reporting to the Princess, we checked. Miss Chu entered the city just before dark yesterday. After entering, she lodged at the capital's most famous inn. This morning, she checked out early, inquired everywhere about the location of the Princess's estate, and came straight here. However... she didn't register under the name Chu Liuyun; she registered as Xu Yun and Lin Han."
Princess Anxi nodded. "Using an alias when traveling away from home is forgivable. Anything else?"
Shaking his head, the aide replied, "Nothing else. To verify Miss Chu's identity, we would likely need to send someone all the way to Great Chu. That would take at least a month round-trip."
Princess Anxi shook her head. "We likely don't have that kind of time. She undoubtedly knows Qingchen and is extremely familiar with him. For now, tracking down Qingchen takes priority. Whether she is who she says she is will become clear the moment we find him. For the time being, just have someone keep an eye on them."
"Understood."
"Anything else?"
Hesitating for a moment, the aide reported, "When we were investigating Miss Chu, we discovered that three Central Plains visitors also arrived at the inn yesterday. Their names didn't stand out, though they might not be their real names."
"Do they have any connection to Miss Chu?"
"As far as we can tell, no. They arrived more than two hours earlier than Miss Chu; one of them ate and went straight back to his room to rest, while the other two went out and didn't return until after Miss Chu had checked in. They haven't crossed paths."
"Then leave them be for now. Central Plains travelers wandering in and out of the capital is normal behavior. That's the city guard's job to manage; if we poke our noses into everything, it will only create unnecessary trouble."
"Understood."
"Princess, His Majesty summons you."
"Understood. I'll enter the palace immediately."