Lü Qiao, fuming, couldn't understand why the Prince Jin would want to see Qin Linglong instead of the County Princess Ning De, who was so much more admirable.
It was infuriating!
What sort of seductive tricks did that Qin Linglong employ to captivate Prince Jin so completely?
Amidst Lü Qiao's complaints, County Princess Ning De's expression grew even more somber.
But soon, all such emotions vanished.
"It seems I underestimated Qin Linglong's standing in Prince Jin's heart," County Princess Ning De mused, making calculations.
It wasn't just her standing, but also an underestimation of Qin Linglong herself. Perhaps Qin Linglong's apparent meekness was a form of concealment, much like her own…
At this thought, a ferocious glint of killing intent seemed to flash through County Princess Ning De's mind.
Yet, it could have been an illusion; that killing intent didn't truly exist.
County Princess Ning De lowered her gaze.
Recalling a matter she had been occupied with recently, she felt that some things were not as serious as she had initially thought.
…
The General's Estate.
A dark guard silently approached Li De.
Li De was in his study, reading.
Despite being a military general, he understood that a military leader who neglected to read would easily fall prey to the schemes of civil officials.
Hearing the sound of the dark guard, he looked up from his book.
"What news have you found?"
The dark guard reported, "The Shadow Pavilion lost a killer. Their head was severed, and both the head and body were dumped at the Yueran Tea House. Within half an hour, the Shadow Pavilion managed to seal off the news. We preliminarily deduce that the one who killed the assassin was Yun Shu, whom we are currently searching for."
He felt that this Yun Shu was deeply hidden.
To be able to move stealthily in their territory, with multiple parties searching in secret yet failing to find her, was proof enough that she was no frail woman.
Li De's expression immediately became unfathomably deep. "Very well, I understand. Order people to continue the search. Before Prince Jin's wedding, she absolutely must not appear before Prince Jin."
As for what would happen after Prince Jin's wedding, if she appeared then, it would likely change nothing.
"Yes! General, rest assured, we will find Yun Shu as soon as possible," the dark guard replied respectfully.
Li De nodded. "You may go."
He returned to his reading.
Ever since he had learned years ago, by chance, that Yun Changfeng, though a military general, carried books during his campaigns and possessed a vast library at home, he had begun to value books more highly.
As a military general, he absolutely did not wish for Yun Changfeng to leave him far behind.
In this contest, Yun Changfeng had voluntarily resigned his official post and retired to his hometown.
It seemed there were few military strategists in the world who could match him.
Especially when, after he helped Prince Jin ascend the throne, the entire realm would be within his grasp. He would become a meritorious official in unifying the land, perhaps even a figure of historical renown.
After a brief moment of reflection, Li De continued his reading.
…
The three little ones were drawing in the study.
They each had their own private study.
Apart from reading and writing, they could also practice calligraphy.
At their age, they could only sit quietly in the study.
Because they were painting, Yun Shu and the others had avoided the study, hoping to give them a quiet environment.
The three of them finished their paintings quickly.
Then they gathered together to discuss their plan to find their father.
"Father received our letter, but he hasn't replied or come to find us. I think Father might be under surveillance, making it inconvenient to reply, or perhaps the little snake ran too fast, and Father didn't have time to reply," Zhan Xiaofeng reasoned logically.
This was the most reasonable explanation he could think of.
Zhan Xiaoli nodded and looked at Yun Xiaojing. "Can you ask the little snake to deliver another message for us?"
Yun Xiaojing was somewhat reluctant. "He clearly doesn't want us anymore. Can't you stop clinging to false hope?"
"Help us a few more times. If we still don't get Father's response, then we'll accept it," Zhan Xiaofeng gritted his teeth and raised a hand. "Three times! Help us three more times!"
"Xiaojing, don't you want us to have a father who loves us?" Zhan Xiaoli asked pointedly.
Yun Xiaojing blinked his eyes, gritted his teeth, and made a decision. "Alright, I'll help you three more times. If after three times there's still no response from Father, then you won't have a father anymore!"
"Okay!"
They thought Xiaojing's proposal was acceptable!
That evening, Yun Xiaojing asked the little snake to enter the palace again, still carrying their letter.
Zhan Tianye, who was asleep, had a very light sleep and was always vigilant. Hearing a sound, he scanned towards the little snake.
Upon seeing the little snake, he was slightly surprised.
After retrieving the letter from the little snake, he saw the same handwriting as before.
"Does Father not want us anymore? If he still wants us, come find us quickly!"
The handwriting was childish, but it was evident that every stroke was drawn with great care and filled with emotion.
Were these children without a father?
Were they pitifully searching for their father now?
Zhan Tianye felt a string deep within his heart being tugged, followed by a faint pain.
How irresponsible could their father be, to abandon several children?
Unfortunately, he was not their father.
Another day passed.
It was the same time in the evening.
Not only did the Snow Spirit Snake arrive, but a whole swarm of little mice followed behind it.
Zhan Tianye stared at the scene before him, the light in his dark eyes turning to astonishment.
The little mice, as if well-trained, arranged themselves on the ground to form the words: "Father, come find us quickly."
Zhan Tianye felt his cold, hard heart suddenly ignite with something.
He got out of bed and followed the little snake outside.
The night wind carried a hint of chill.
But the little snake was fast, and so was he.
It was as if something was desperately drawing him, urging him to hurry.
As if if he were a moment late, he would lose the person most important to him.
However.
Just as the little snake was about to crawl out of the palace wall, and Zhan Tianye was about to leap out of the palace,
Suddenly, several guards appeared behind him.
A gust of cool wind swept over.
Zhan Tianye finally realized his actions, his thoughts returning to the present.
"Your Highness Prince Jin?"
The guards called out hesitantly, their swords about to be drawn. But upon seeing Zhan Tianye, they realized the person before them was not an assassin, but Prince Jin.
But why was Prince Jin here?
Could it be that Prince Jin intended to jump over the palace wall?
No, no, they mustn't speculate wildly.
Zhan Tianye turned around, his dark eyes sweeping over the guards.
The guards' hearts suddenly tightened, and their heads immediately lowered.