Mo Li

Ye Li didn’t concern herself with how Sick Scholar had dealt with Master Liang. When she saw the barely alive old man being dragged behind Sick Scholar, she merely reminded him to be careful not to kill him. Sick Scholar was certainly no kind-hearted soul, but neither was Master Liang. At Ye Li’s words, Sick Scholar only snorted disdainfully without a reply. If he didn’t want someone to die, that person wouldn’t be able to even if they tried. However, judging by Sick Scholar’s gloomy expression, Ye Li understood that he likely hadn’t gotten the information he wanted from Master Liang. After all, if the old man’s mouth had been easy to pry open, Sick Scholar wouldn’t have had to follow him all the way to the Southern Border. Still, Sick Scholar wasn’t entirely empty-handed—he had at least obtained the so-called complete token. From a distance, Ye Li caught a glimpse of it: a jade pendant carved with strange patterns. Since Sick Scholar showed no intention of sharing, she didn’t bother asking. The group carefully avoided the Luo Yi Tribe’s trackers and hurried nonstop toward the capital of Nanzhao.

Ding Royal Palace, Chu Capital

"Your Highness, a letter from the Princess Consort has arrived."

It was already late April, and the warm sunlight spilled into the garden. Through the open window, several peonies bloomed vibrantly. Mo Xiuyao gazed at the garden outside, momentarily lost in thought as he recalled that it was around this time last year that he had first met A Li. Back then, he would never have imagined that Mo Jingqi’s malicious and humiliating arranged marriage would bring him such an extraordinary wife.

Now, in the capital, those loyal to the emperor and those loyal to Prince Li were practically at each other’s throats. Meanwhile, the Ding Royal Palace remained tightly shut, detached from worldly affairs—a silent expression of dissatisfaction toward the emperor. Unlike before, when the Ding Royal Palace would always step in at the right moment to support the emperor, it now stood by, allowing the covert and overt struggles between the emperor and Prince Li to unfold unchecked.

"Bring it here!" Mo Xiuyao withdrew his gaze and turned to Head Steward Mo standing at the door.

Feng Zhiyao leaned against the doorway, holding a thick, sealed dossier in his hand. He grinned at Mo Xiuyao and said, "Ah, Xiu Yao, our dear sister-in-law is truly heartless, isn’t she? She’s been gone for almost two months and only now remembers to send a letter back."

Mo Xiuyao frowned. With a flick of his wrist, a surge of powerful Internal Force pulled the dossier from Feng Zhiyao’s hand. "Where are they now?"

Feng Zhiyao shook his head. "If the Princess Consort’s whereabouts were that easy to track, we wouldn’t still be in the dark. The shadow guards who received the letter were stationed near the borders of the Luo Yi Tribe in the Southern Border, but none of them saw the messenger. Neither our people nor anyone else has caught sight of the Princess Consort along the way. Honestly… a group of five shouldn’t be that hard to spot. Even if outsiders don’t know, our own people should recognize them."

Mo Xiuyao frowned. "That means they weren’t traveling as a group of five. Besides, A Li’s disguise skills are exceptional. The shadow guards stationed across the regions have never seen them before—it would be difficult to identify them."

Moreover, they likely knew the general distribution of the shadow guards, making it much easier to avoid them.Mo Xiuyao opened the dossier, and a shiny object along with a similarly sealed letter slid out from the paper envelope. He caught the ornament in his hand—it was a gold piece adorned with exquisitely crafted sunflower patterns inlaid with gemstones. Feng Zhiyao was surprised, "The princess actually sent you jewelry?" But... wasn't something reversed here? Mo Xiuyao examined the gold ornament in his hand before placing it on the table beside him. Then he opened the envelope and lowered his gaze to read the contents, his sword-like brows gradually furrowing. After a long while, he finally said, "Find someone proficient in Southern Border script."

Feng Zhiyao gave him a puzzled look. "Don’t you already know the Southern Border language and script?"

Mo Xiuyao frowned. "This is different. It should be an ancient script of the Southern Border."

Feng Zhiyao took it and glanced at it. The twisted, bizarre characters gave him a headache. "It somewhat resembles Southern Border script, but... I can’t really make sense of it. How would the princess know such strange writing?"

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

Feng Zhiyao was skeptical. "You mean she memorized these twisted scribbles without even knowing what they mean?"

Mo Xiuyao gave him a faint sidelong glance. Feng Zhiyao rubbed his nose and conceded, "Alright, we have plenty of people under us who are proficient in the current Southern Border script. But if it’s ancient script... hasn’t that been out of use in the Southern Border for over two hundred years?"

Back then, though the Southern Border was subordinate to the Central Plains' previous dynasty, it was composed of numerous tribes, each with its own language and script. It wasn’t until Nanzhao was established that the current unified Southern Border script was adopted. Who knew which tribe’s writing this was? "In the capital, perhaps only Old Master Su might be able to decipher this. But..."

Though Su Zhe was highly respected, he was still an official of the court. If this truly contained some major secret, he would likely report it to Mo Jingqi.

Mo Xiuyao frowned and shook his head. "Master Su has never had any fondness for the Southern Border and isn’t well-versed in its script."

Feng Zhiyao’s eyes gleamed mischievously as he grinned. "Speaking of which... Xiu Yao, have you forgotten someone crucial?"

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, fixing him with a warning look not to play games. Feng Zhiyao chuckled. "Don’t forget... which family our princess comes from. Is there any noble house in all of Chu more erudite than the Xu family? If even the Xu family can’t decipher this, then we might as well give up."

Mo Xiuyao frowned, looking down at the short letter with only a few words. He picked up the gold ornament from the table and examined it carefully. "Do you think this is just a piece of jewelry?"

Feng Zhiyao was puzzled. "Isn’t it?"

Mo Xiuyao traced the obvious scratches on the back of the ornament. "This was forcibly pried off from something else as decoration. Also... do you remember which Southern Border tribe’s emblem was the sunflower?"Feng Zhiyao frowned in deep thought. "Sunflowers, also known as heliotropes, thrive in warm and arid climates, making the Southern Border less suitable for their growth. Thus, it seems unlikely any tribe would adopt it as their emblem. However... do you recall a princess from the previous dynasty who married the leader of a certain tribe in the Southern Border?" Mo Xiuyao fell silent for a moment. Both of them were well-versed in history, and even if they hadn't paid much attention, the proximity between the previous dynasty and the Great Chu would naturally leave some impression. "Princess Chaoyang of the previous dynasty's Emperor Gaozong?" Feng Zhiyao smiled. "Exactly. It's said that the princess's personal name included the character 'Kui'."

"Then... the fact that A Li brought this item out suggests it's no ordinary antique. Could it be related to that princess? The descendants of a princess from the previous dynasty... The dynasty fell over two hundred years after her marriage, didn't it?"

"Who knows," Feng Zhiyao shook his head.

After a moment of contemplation, Mo Xiuyao said, "Make a copy of this imprint and send it secretly to Yunzhou. Also... if the shadow guards in the Southern Border spot A Li, inform her immediately to drop this matter." Feng Zhiyao, somewhat surprised, tucked away the letter. "The princess consort is clearly handling things well. If she has the chance to continue investigating, she might uncover many secrets of the Southern Border. Why stop her? We could send more people to assist her." Mo Xiuyao stared at the golden ornament in his hand, his voice grave. "For some reason, I feel that document hides a significant secret, though I have no leads yet. A Li knows nothing about it—proceeding recklessly would be dangerous."

Feng Zhiyao shrugged helplessly. "Very well, we'll proceed as you command."

After Feng Zhiyao left with the items, only Mo Xiuyao remained in the room. He looked down at the letter in his hand once more. Aside from a brief account of events since entering the Southern Border, it contained only a short line: "All is well, don't worry." Gently tracing the letter with his fingers, a faint, bittersweet smile touched Mo Xiuyao's lips.

Ye Li and her three companions traveled swiftly, reaching the capital of Nanzhao in less than seven days. Upon arrival, Sick Scholar unceremoniously took Master Liang away, provoking Han Mingxi to curse in frustration. "What's his problem? Burning bridges after crossing the river?" Ye Li glanced at him and chuckled. "Even if he is, what can you do about it?" The Pavilion of Heavenly Unity had its people in Nanzhao, and so did the King of Hell Pavilion. The former was an intelligence organization, while the latter was an assassin guild. Even if they were displeased, there was little they could do to Sick Scholar. Han Mingxi crossed his arms and smirked at her. "Weren't you after some life-extending or resurrection drug? Letting him go like this—do you really think he'll obediently deliver it to you?"

Ye Li smiled. "Even if you followed him, he might not hand it over willingly. If he won't give it to me, can't I find it myself?" She hadn't come to the Southern Border for Sick Scholar or his Underworld Flower—there was no reason to stick with him indefinitely. Besides... such matters didn't necessarily require her personal involvement.Upon entering the capital of Nanzhao, Han Mingxi, eager to reward himself for the hardships endured during their journey, immediately dragged Ye Li to the finest restaurant in the city. After indulging in a lavish feast of Southern Border delicacies, he retired to his room, declaring that no one was to disturb him for the next two days unless the building caught fire. Left behind, Ye Li and An San watched his swaying figure ascend the stairs in silent amusement. "Young Master Han is nothing like Young Master Mingyue," An San remarked unexpectedly. Ye Li chuckled, "Do you really think he's going to sleep? I bet he won't last past midnight tonight." It was already evening. An San frowned but remained silent. Ye Li, in high spirits, fanned herself with a folding fan and said, "Let's go out and explore the nightlife of Nanzhao."

Compared to the solemn and majestic Chu capital, Nanzhao's capital was much smaller and less opulent. The streets were filled with people dressed in Southern Border attire, making Ye Li and her companion, clad in Central Plains garments and exuding an air of distinction, stand out conspicuously. However, Ye Li had no interest in Southern Border clothing and saw no reason to alter her attire unnecessarily.

"Young Master!" A surprised whisper came from behind. Ye Li and An San turned simultaneously to see An Er, whom they hadn't encountered in a long time. Ye Li was taken aback; she hadn't planned to seek out her elder brother immediately upon arriving in Nanzhao. "What are you doing here? Is Big Brother here too?" An Er, looking exhausted, replied hoarsely, "This subordinate has failed in his duty. Young Master Xu... Young Master Xu has gone missing."

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

An Er whispered, "It's been over half a month. Young Master Xu disappeared two days before I arrived in the capital."

"So long ago! Who knows about this?" Ye Li asked, frowning. An Er replied, "It's said that Qingchen Gongzi had mentioned he would return in five days before he left, so no one was concerned at first. It wasn't until the sixth morning, when he still hadn't returned, that everyone realized something was wrong. The Southern Border shadow guards and I have been searching covertly, but there's been no trace of him. A few days ago, I sent word back to the capital, but since you've been traveling discreetly, you wouldn't have received the message."

Ye Li's expression darkened with worry for Xu Qingchen's safety. "Who was Big Brother with before he disappeared?"

"It was Crown Princess Anxi of the Southern Border, elder sister to Qixia Princess and the next ruler of Nanzhao. She and Qingchen Gongzi are friends. Since arriving in the Southern Border, Qingchen Gongzi has been staying at the Princess Manor," An Er explained. Ye Li nodded and ordered, "Have someone bring me all the information on Nanzhao's capital as soon as possible. Also, I'd like to meet Crown Princess Anxi." An Er nodded, "Understood. But... under what pretext will you meet the Crown Princess?" Though Nanzhao was a small kingdom, the Crown Princess and other royals weren't easily accessible to just anyone. Ye Li's eyes sparkled with mischief as she smiled, "As the third young lady of the Yunzhou Chu family, Chu Liuyun—Qingchen Gongzi's fiancée!"

An Er and An San stiffened, their expressions pained. Was their mistress ruining her own reputation or Qingchen Gongzi's?Ye Li maintained her usual expression, smiling amiably at the two stiff faces before her. "What else can we do? Show up at his doorstep as the Princess of the State? Alright, An Er, you’ll follow me for the time being. An San, continue investigating matters related to Nanzhao and Eldest Brother in secret. Also, if Han Mingxi comes looking for me..." An San interjected, "Understood. This subordinate will ensure Young Master Han doesn’t grow suspicious."

"That’s good. There’s no need to pay him too much attention—just keep him from getting close to me if possible. Let’s head back first. An Er, prepare yourself. We’ll visit Princess Anxi first thing tomorrow morning."

"Yes."

Early the next morning, after reviewing intelligence files all night, Ye Li opened the door refreshed upon hearing a soft knock. An San, seeing the smiling young woman standing before him, momentarily lost his composure. Having grown accustomed to the Princess’s male disguise during their journey, he had nearly forgotten she was still a girl in her teens. Strangely, the impressions left in the less than two months since leaving the capital felt more vivid than those from nearly a year prior. Now, as he took in her appearance—a soft goose-yellow robe embroidered with green plum blossoms, her dark hair elegantly tied into a small bun adorned with a delicate silver butterfly hairpin, her forehead lightly veiled by wispy bangs that accentuated her delicate features—he couldn’t help but notice how the fluttering silver butterflies in her hair added a playful charm, a stark contrast to the composed and graceful Princess of the State back at Ding Royal Palace in the capital. An San had to admit, the Princess’s disguise skills were truly extraordinary.

"Zhuo Jing?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow, observing the distracted shadow guard.

Snapping back to attention, An San replied calmly, "Y-young Miss was right. Young Master Han left the inn late last night and hasn’t returned yet. As for now..." Ye Li waved her hand with a smile. "You’ve worked hard. Go rest in your room. I’ll head downstairs myself."

"Yes."

In high spirits, Ye Li descended the stairs, where An Er was already waiting in the lobby. The night before, she and An Er had discreetly checked in, securing two additional rooms. Conveniently, their rooms flanked hers on either side, ensuring no one realized both belonged to the same guest. Now, they only needed to check out together and leave. If Princess Anxi later took an interest, she would find they had arrived in the city just before nightfall and stayed at this inn for a single evening—nothing more.

With An Er in tow, they left the inn and headed straight for Princess Anxi’s manor, located not far from the Nanzhao royal palace.After waiting outside the Princess Manor for quite some time, the messenger finally came out to invite them in. The architecture of Nanzhao differed greatly from that of the Central Plains, though its capital city bore many similarities. However, the Princess Manor paled in comparison to the vast and magnificent Ding Royal Palace in terms of scale—it was roughly the same size as the Shangshu Mansion of the Ye family. The Central Plains-style buildings here incorporated many Southern Border characteristics, creating a peculiar and somewhat eerie atmosphere.

The two were ushered into the main hall, where they immediately saw a tall woman dressed in blue embroidered attire seated inside. Unlike the typical straight-collared, narrow-sleeved garments, her outfit had clean, practical arrow sleeves, embroidered at the cuffs and hem with the royal insignia of Nanzhao. A silver belt cinched her slender waist, accentuating her graceful figure and giving her a sharp, spirited demeanor. Compared to her younger sister, Qixia Princess, renowned as Nanzhao’s greatest beauty, she was less striking in appearance, but her bright, piercing eyes made her all the more captivating.

When Ye Li entered, Princess Anxi’s gaze held a trace of scrutiny. Ye Li frowned slightly, lifting her delicate chin with an air of pride as she demanded, “Why haven’t you invited us to sit?”

Princess Anxi furrowed her brows slightly and replied, “Please, have a seat. May I ask your name, young lady?”

Ye Li said, “I’m Chu Liuyun. I’ve come to find Qingchen Gege.”

“Qingchen Gege?” Princess Anxi’s eyes darkened slightly as she shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know anyone by that name.”

“You’re lying!” Ye Li glared at her accusingly. “Qingchen Gege said he was traveling to the Southern Border and would visit a friend. He told me you were his friend—how could he not have come here? Did you hide him from me?”

Princess Anxi’s elegant, strong brows drew tighter as she studied the delicate girl on the verge of tears. “What is your relationship with Qingchen Gongzi?”

“I… I’m his betrothed. Sniff … Qingchen Gege promised he’d return in three months and marry me. But now… sob … he’s been gone for so long without even a letter. Aunt Xu is so worried… sob … He must not want me anymore! If I can’t find Qingchen Gege, I won’t live either!”

Princess Anxi’s expression dimmed, her gaze skeptical as she watched the weeping girl. “You’re Qingchen Gongzi’s betrothed? He never mentioned you to me.”

Ye Li lifted her head, her eyes filled with melancholy. “We Central Plains maidens value our reputations. How could Qingchen Gege speak of me so casually to his friends? Here—this is the token he gave me last year. If you’re truly his friend, you must have seen it before. He said he’d carried it with him for years and that it had kept him safe during his travels.”Princess Anxi looked at Ye Li with a complicated expression, her resolve wavering slightly. She didn’t know if the jade belonged to Xu Qingchen, but the slightly worn tassel attached to it was indeed his usual style and color—even the threads matched those he typically used. "My apologies, Miss Chu, for my earlier rudeness. But the journey from the Central Plains to the Southern Border is arduous. How did you end up in the capital of Nanzhao?" Princess Anxi handed the jade back to her and asked softly. Ye Li bit her red lips stubbornly and stared at the princess. "Brother Qingchen hasn’t come back for so long. My second sister said he doesn’t want me anymore. I... I need to ask him myself. Wuwu... If he really doesn’t want me, I... I’ll just die!"

An Er stood to the side, silently admiring how flawlessly his master was playing the role of a lovelorn girl who had run away from home.

Princess Anxi clearly found such a stubborn and slightly spoiled young girl rather troublesome. After hesitating, she could only say, "Qingchen Gongzi was indeed a guest here some time ago, but he’s no longer here. How about I arrange for someone to escort you back to the Central Plains first? If I see Qingchen Gongzi, I’ll make sure he writes to you as soon as possible. What do you think?" Ye Li stared blankly at the princess before suddenly bursting into loud sobs, wiping her tears as she cried, "I snuck out with my guards. If I go back without Brother Qingchen, my father will break my legs. Wuwu... I don’t want to go back! I have to find Brother Qingchen!"

Princess Anxi rubbed her forehead. "Alright, alright... Miss Chu, how about this? You can stay at my residence for a while. When Qingchen Gongzi returns, you can go back together. Is that acceptable?"

Hearing this, Ye Li immediately brightened up through her tears. "Thank you, Princess Sister! You’re so kind..."

Princess Anxi summoned a maid to lead Ye Li to a guest room. Only after the maid had left did Ye Li turn to An Er with a guilty expression. "Do you think... Princess Anxi could become my sister-in-law?" If she ended up ruining her elder brother’s romantic prospects, that would be disastrous. She had no intention of becoming the third-wheel cannon fodder in some melodramatic plot. An Er shook his head solemnly. "Impossible. While the Xu family doesn’t discriminate against other ethnicities, they’ve never intermarried with them in centuries. Moreover, Princess Anxi is the Crown Princess of the Southern Border—her status is too high. The Xu family would never allow the next head of the family to marry into Nanzhao. Most importantly, if Qingchen Gongzi truly had feelings for Princess Anxi, he would never address her merely as a friend."

Ye Li tilted her head in thought and realized that was true. It would be a grave sin if she ended up ruining her elder brother's romantic prospects. Speaking of which, this Princess Anxi seemed quite decent. Among all the princesses she had met, apart from the still-young Princess Changle, Anxi appeared to be the most reliable. If it had been any of the other princesses, who knew how they would have treated her upon learning she was their beloved's fiancée? No wonder she was someone her elder brother considered a friend.

"What are your plans, Miss?" An Er asked.

Ye Li smiled. "Wouldn't staying at the Princess Manor be the perfect opportunity to gather information about my elder brother?"

An Er replied, "But staying there would restrict your movements and make coming and going inconvenient."

Ye Li shook her head with a laugh. "Surely Princess Anxi wouldn't place her friend's fiancée under house arrest? Right now, the priority is to find out my elder brother's whereabouts. After all, even the shadow guards haven't been able to determine where he went in the end after all these days." An Er lowered his head in shame. "This subordinate has failed in his duty." Ye Li waved her hand dismissively. "How could this be your fault? If everything could be uncovered so easily, the word 'secret' wouldn't exist in this world. I just hope... my elder brother is safe and sound." Thinking of Xu Qingchen's unknown whereabouts, Ye Li couldn't suppress the worry in her heart.

Princess Anxi's manor wasn't particularly large, perhaps because the Southern Border was less strict about gender segregation. Xu Qingchen's room was located in the same courtyard where Ye Li was staying. Without concealing her movements, Ye Li directly inquired about Xu Qingchen's room and headed there. Pushing open the door, she found the room neatly arranged—clearly, despite Xu Qingchen's prolonged absence, someone had been maintaining it daily. All of Xu Qingchen's belongings were still in place. Ye Li carefully examined the room: his clothes, jade pendants, folding fan, and even travelogues he must have carried for leisure reading were all packed in a bundle inside the cabinet.

On the nearby desk were Xu Qingchen's favorite blue-and-white porcelain tea set, along with neatly arranged books, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. It was evident he had stayed here for quite some time. Ye Li walked behind the desk, sat down, and casually picked up a book to flip through.

"Miss Chu, what are you doing here?" Princess Anxi's voice sounded at the doorway. Ye Li looked up to see her standing there, frowning at her. Ye Li quickly rose to her feet, looking somewhat uneasy as she replied, "My apologies. I heard Brother Qingchen used to stay here, so I wanted to take a look. And... perhaps borrow a few books to read." Princess Anxi approached, her gaze warming slightly as she looked at the books on the desk. "You enjoy reading too?"

Ye Li lowered her eyes, nodding with a hint of shyness. "Brother Qingchen is a man of unparalleled talent. I wish to read more so that..."Princess Anxi nodded and said, "Qingchen Gongzi also loves reading. Whenever he has free time, he always has a book in hand. I only have a basic understanding of your Central Plains' script, so I can't really comprehend what's written in these books." Ye Li placed the book in her hand back and softly replied, "I’ve heard Qingchen Gege mention you, Princess. As the Crown Princess of the Southern Border, you must concern yourself with important matters. It’s only natural that you wouldn’t be interested in poetry and literature."

Princess Anxi smiled generously. "I learned the Central Plains script late, so being able to grasp the general meaning is already quite good. Even if I were interested, I wouldn’t understand much. Since Miss Chu enjoys the books in the study, you’re welcome to take any to read. These were all bought by Qingchen Gongzi, and they’re just sitting here unused."

Ye Li nodded. "Thank you, Princess. Princess..." She hesitated, looking at Princess Anxi as if wanting to say more. The princess raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue. Ye Li asked softly, "I want to find Qingchen Gege as soon as possible. He hasn’t written home in a long time. Could you tell me where he went when he left? I’d like to take some guards and look for him."

Princess Anxi studied her for a long moment before frowning. "It’s not that I refuse to tell you his whereabouts, but... I’m also searching for him now."

Ye Li brightened slightly with hope. "Then... could he have already left the Southern Border and returned to the Central Plains?" Princess Anxi shook her head. "There are still many matters unresolved in the Southern Border. He wouldn’t leave so easily. Besides, if he truly intended to leave, he would at least bid me farewell or leave a message."

"Then... could he be in danger?!"

Princess Anxi looked at her with some difficulty before finally shaking her head. "He... shouldn’t be. Qingchen Gongzi is exceptionally intelligent. Whatever happens, he can handle it."

"But... but Qingchen Gege doesn’t know martial arts. He can’t even defeat Lin Han, who’s by my side." Ye Li cried out anxiously. Princess Anxi took her hand and gently reassured her, "Trust me, he’ll be fine. I promise." Ye Li’s eyes flickered with emotion as she looked up at her, full of hope. "Really? You promise...?"

Princess Anxi nodded firmly. "I swear on my title as Princess of Nanzhao that he will be absolutely fine. Just wait obediently in the manor, and you’ll see Qingchen Gongzi soon." Ye Li nodded. "Alright, I believe you, Princess Jiejie. But I still want to go look for Qingchen Gege!" Princess Anxi sighed helplessly. "Only within the capital. Don’t wander off. What if Qingchen Gongzi returns and can’t find you...?"

"I understand. Thank you, Princess Jiejie."

Once outside the guest courtyard, the smile on Princess Anxi’s face gradually faded. As she walked toward her own quarters, she turned to the man following her and asked, "Have you looked into Miss Chu?"

The man behind her replied in a low voice, "Your Highness, we’ve checked. Miss Chu entered the city just before dusk yesterday. After arriving, she stayed at the most famous inn in the capital. This morning, she checked out and began inquiring about the location of the Princess Manor before coming directly here. However... she didn’t register under the name Chu Liuyun, but as Xu Yun and Lin Han."

Princess Anxi nodded. "Using an alias while traveling isn’t unusual. Anything else?"The man shook his head and said, "Nothing else. If we need to verify Miss Chu's identity, we would have to send someone to the 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 very familiar with him. It's more urgent to find Qingchen quickly. Whether she is who she claims to be will become clear once we find him. For now, have someone keep an eye on them."

"Yes."

"Is there anything else?"

The man hesitated for a moment before saying, "While investigating Miss Chu, we discovered three Central Plains people arrived at the inn yesterday. Their names aren't particularly noteworthy, but they might be aliases."

"Do they have any connection with Miss Chu?"

"Not that we can see so far. They arrived more than two hours before Miss Chu. One of them went back to his room to rest after eating, while the other two went out and only returned after Miss Chu had checked in. They haven't met each other either."

"Then don't worry about them for now. It's normal for Central Plains people to come and go in the capital. That's the responsibility of the capital's guard general. If we interfere too much, it might cause unnecessary trouble."

"Yes."

"Princess, the King has summoned you."

"Understood. I'll go to the palace immediately."