Mo Li

Ye Li returned to her room with a book of poetry and settled down to read in peace. Princess Anxi was not a brainless fool to have become the Crown Princess of Nanzhao—at the very least, the people she sent to monitor them were tactful enough not to make their guests feel offended. Ye Li couldn’t be bothered to comment on it. If Princess Anxi had truly trusted her completely, she would have questioned the Crown Princess’s intelligence.

"Miss, Princess Anxi has left the residence," An Er entered and reported in a low voice.

Ye Li nodded slightly. "That princess is no simple figure. Don’t get too close to her to avoid misunderstandings." An Er frowned and glanced toward the door. "She doesn’t trust us at all. Doesn’t that mean staying here is completely useless and only makes it harder for us to leave?"

Ye Li shook her head. "Princess Anxi must know where Eldest Brother went. Even if she can’t find him now, she clearly isn’t worried about his safety. What has Eldest Brother been doing since entering Nanzhao? Can you find out?"

An Er nodded. "This subordinate will deliver the information to you by tomorrow."

Ye Li agreed, her brow furrowed as she stared at the book in her hands, though her thoughts had already wandered far away. Eldest Brother clearly hadn’t been captured—he had gone somewhere of his own volition. But after leaving, he hadn’t returned at the time agreed upon with Princess Anxi.

Eldest Brother had no personal conflicts or enemies in Nanzhao, so his disappearance must be related to Princess Anxi. Even so… given that he had inherited their eldest uncle’s meticulous nature, he shouldn’t have left without a single trace.

Clues… where exactly were they?

She spread a sheet of paper on the table and swiftly began writing and sketching with her usual charcoal pen. Her mind raced through the complex reports about the Southern Border that the shadow guards had delivered last night, which she had stayed up late to read.

Soon, the large sheet of paper was densely covered with simple symbols and strange characters. An Er watched curiously, unable to understand any of it, but refrained from asking.

Ye Li set down the pen and stared at the paper, momentarily stunned. It wasn’t that she had deliberately tried to obscure anything—the contents weren’t secret, just a reorganization of last night’s reports.

Looking at the fluid script that mixed words from at least four different languages, she couldn’t help but smile wryly to herself. Had she truly been longing for her past life all this time? She could have remained a perfect, docile princess consort—but she didn’t like that.

That was why, after leaving the capital, she had deliberately avoided Mo Xiuyao’s protection and chosen a more dangerous path.

Shaking off her scattered thoughts, she studied the paper for a long time before finally frowning and asking, "Why is there no information about the Holy Maiden of the Southern Border?"

The clear diagram before her revealed a glaring omission—they had no details about the Holy Maiden, a figure of critical importance in the Southern Border.The information was extremely scarce. Even when available, it was only mentioned in passing—just the most basic details that differed little from what she had known while in the capital. Only the name and age were recorded, with no mention of even physical characteristics. If the Holy Maiden of Southern Border was indeed locked in a covert struggle with the Crown Princess, preparing to seize power, there couldn’t possibly be so little information.

An Er said, "The Holy Maiden of Southern Border is revered as the guardian deity of the Southern Border tribes, enshrined in the Saintess Hall five miles outside the Nanzhao capital. Except for major events or festivals, the Holy Maiden never leaves the Saintess Hall. On ordinary days, only the thirty-six temple maidens chosen to serve her can approach her. The current Holy Maiden, Shu Manlin, ascended to the position at the age of fifteen. In the eight years since, she has left the hall only ten times—each time wearing a mask. It’s said that in all of Nanzhao, aside from the previous Holy Maiden who has entered the Southern Border Sacred Ground, no one knows what she truly looks like."

Ye Li shook her head. "That’s impossible. The incumbent Holy Maiden doesn’t have the authority to educate the next one. So who taught her? Who raised her as a child? Who were her parents? And... if no one has ever seen the Holy Maiden’s true face, then... how can anyone be sure the person behind the mask is the real Holy Maiden of Southern Border?"

"This..." An Er frowned hesitantly. Ye Li picked up a brush and wrote a few lines forcefully on the paper. "Investigate the Nanzhao royal family and the Holy Maiden of Southern Border again, thoroughly. Don’t overlook any clues, no matter how minor."

An Er responded promptly, "Understood. This subordinate will arrange it immediately. Does the young lady suspect... the Holy Maiden of Southern Border..."

Ye Li twirled the charcoal pencil in her hand with a faint smile. "If the Holy Maiden truly almost never leaves the Saintess Hall, how could she have gotten involved with Prince Li? When Prince Li visited the Southern Border years ago, the Holy Maiden didn’t make an appearance. So then..."

An Er’s eyes lit up. "They must have met in secret. An alliance with the Southern Border is far too important for Prince Li to delegate to an envoy. Besides, the Holy Maiden isn’t someone just anyone can meet."

Ye Li nodded, leaning back in her chair in thought. "The Holy Maiden... what a strange position. Suddenly elevating a young girl of unknown origin, identity, and ability to one of the most revered positions in the Southern Border. Are the people of the Southern Border so easily trusting?"

An Er shook his head and shrugged. "If someone in Great Chu were randomly named Crown Prince, even if the Emperor decreed it, it would hardly gain public acceptance."

"Has the Holy Maiden system in the Southern Border existed as long as Nanzhao’s history?"

"Not exactly. Before Nanzhao was established, the tribes governed themselves independently, and there was no such thing as a Holy Maiden. It was only after Nanzhao’s founding that the first Holy Maiden was selected by the then-state preceptor, who also served as the royal family’s high priest," An Er recalled, lowering his head.

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "It sounds like the roles of the state preceptor and the Holy Maiden were quite similar. So after the Holy Maiden appeared, the title of state preceptor disappeared from Nanzhao."

An Er nodded, pondering for a moment. "The state preceptor wasn’t as restricted in movement as the Holy Maiden, though their duties were similar. However, in the hearts of the Southern Border people, the Holy Maiden is clearly more revered than the state preceptor ever was."

"Compared to an old man who wanders around freely, most people would naturally prefer a mysterious and beautiful young maiden," Ye Li agreed.Early in the morning, after finishing the breakfast brought by the maids, Ye Li prepared to go out with An Er. However, she encountered Princess Anxi at the gate, who was also about to leave. "Miss Chu, are you heading out?" Ye Li approached with a hopeful yet slightly nervous smile.

"Princess Sister, is there any news about Qingchen Gege?" Princess Anxi shook her head regretfully. "I'm sorry, Miss Chu. There's still no news about Qingchen Gongzi." Ye Li lowered her head in disappointment and murmured, "It's alright. Qingchen Gege will surely be fine. Lin Han and I will go out to search for him too. We’ll find him soon."

"Miss Chu, you’re new to Nanzhao and unfamiliar with the area. Where do you plan to look?"

Ye Li fidgeted with her fingers and whispered, "I... I’ll just look around. Maybe... maybe I’ll find him." Princess Anxi couldn’t help but smile. "If you’re feeling bored, Miss Chu, you can stroll around the capital. If there’s anywhere you’d like to go, you can ask someone from the manor to guide you. However, there are many dangerous places in the Southern Border, so please don’t venture into them alone. We wouldn’t want Qingchen Gongzi to worry." Ye Li nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Princess Sister. You’ll find Qingchen Gege quickly, right? Otherwise... otherwise, I’ll write to Uncle Xu. Qingchen Gege said Uncle Xu is the smartest man in the world. He’ll surely find a way to locate him."

"Mr. Hongyu?" Princess Anxi paused, speaking softly.

Ye Li nodded vigorously and smiled. "Princess Sister also knows Uncle Xu? Did Qingchen Gege tell you?"

Princess Anxi gave a faint nod and smiled. "Rest assured, Miss Chu. I promise we’ll find Qingchen Gongzi very soon. The journey to the Southern Border is arduous, so let’s not trouble Mr. Hongyu. Otherwise, Qingchen Gongzi would feel uneasy if he knew, wouldn’t he?" Ye Li blinked, staring at Princess Anxi in confusion for a moment before nodding. "Princess Sister is right."

Watching Princess Anxi leave, Ye Li followed behind with a faint smile as she stepped out of the Princess Manor. "Have someone follow Princess Anxi."

"Yes."

At the inn, Han Mingxi descended to the main hall with the satisfied air of someone who had just woken up. His lazy yet elegant demeanor, so different from the usual Southern Border charm, instantly drew the attention of everyone in the inn. Naturally, Han Mingxi paid no mind to the stares. He lazily walked downstairs and beckoned to a passing waiter. "Have you seen the two gentlemen who came with me?"

The waiter, momentarily dazzled, quickly replied, "Ah, Young Master, those two left early this morning. Oh, and there’s a letter for you." The waiter hurried to the counter, retrieved the letter, and handed it to Han Mingxi. Raising an eyebrow, Han Mingxi took the letter, scanned it, and frowned. "Jun Wei is really too inconsiderate. How could he just leave me behind and sneak off? Hmph, there’s no one in this world this Young Master can’t find." He crumpled the letter in his hand, about to toss it away, then hesitated and tucked it into his sleeve instead. With an indignant huff, he strode out, leaving behind a room full of dazed travelers.At this moment, in a private room of a restaurant opened by people from Great Chu across from the inn, Ye Li sat leisurely by the window in male attire, sipping tea. The person accompanying her had changed from An Er to An San. From the window, she could clearly see Han Mingxi walking out, muttering to himself with an air of resentment. Amused, Ye Li watched as Han Mingxi gradually disappeared into the crowd and asked, "What did Mingxi do yesterday?"

An San replied solemnly, "Young Master Han went out late the night before last and didn't return until midnight last night. He likely visited the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity's outpost in Nanzhao. We’ve always maintained a neutral stance with the Pavilion, Young Master... should we investigate?"

Ye Li shook her head. "No need. As long as he doesn’t interfere with our plans, leave him be. Keep an eye on An Si’s updates—we can’t afford to be caught off guard if Han Mingyue comes knocking."

An San nodded. "Strictly speaking, Young Master hasn’t schemed against the Pavilion, and it was Han Mingxi who followed us to the Southern Border. The Lord of Tianyi Pavilion shouldn’t have reason to trouble us."

"That’s not necessarily certain. Have the regular updates from the Pavilion arrived?" Ye Li inquired.

"Yes. I’ve compared their intelligence with our own, and the discrepancies are minor," An San answered. Satisfied, Ye Li nodded. "Good... If someone can deceive both our shadow guards and the Pavilion, then we wouldn’t be unjustified in falling for it. Later, request information on the Holy Maiden of Southern Border from the Pavilion. I’ve already told Mingxi I need the Netherworld Dark Flower—asking about the Holy Maiden now won’t raise his suspicions."

"Understood. Young Master, there’s also news regarding the Sick Scholar. Master Liang likely won’t hold out much longer. Should you...?"

Ye Li frowned in frustration. She hadn’t expected to receive news of her elder brother’s disappearance as soon as they arrived in Nanzhao. Not only did this prevent her from seeking advice or assistance from Xu Qingchen, but it also forced her to locate him in the shortest time possible. It left her stretched thin, yet she couldn’t ignore the situation with the Sick Scholar either. "Master Liang isn’t a martial artist, and even trained fighters would struggle to endure the Sick Scholar’s methods for long." Previously, the Sick Scholar had feared killing Master Liang would leave him with no leads. But now that he had the token, even if Master Liang refused to talk, he could still uncover clues with enough effort. Moreover, without the token, Master Liang himself would have no way to explain things.

"Where are they?"

"Outside the city."

After a moment’s thought, Ye Li said, "Finding my brother takes priority. Have the shadow guards keep close watch on them. If absolutely necessary, assist the Luo Yi Tribe in rescuing Master Liang. Under no circumstances can we allow him to reveal the method of obtaining the Underworld Flower to the Sick Scholar—at least not until we’ve dealt with our own matters. If all else fails, we’ll have to seize it by force. If we can’t get it, we’ll destroy the flower. The Sick Scholar must not obtain it."

An San hesitated. "The Underworld Flower might be able to treat His Highness’s condition. If we destroy it—"

"That’s why we must do everything to secure it first. But if we truly can’t, the Sick Scholar cannot have it. Who do you think he’d target first if he got his hands on the flower?" Ye Li asked with a faint smile.

"His Highness?"Ye Li gazed out the window with a faint smile. "Sick Scholar is the third leader of the King of Hell Pavilion. If he wanted to do something, he could easily send his subordinates to handle it. Yet this time, he went alone to the Southern Border without mobilizing any of the pavilion's forces. Why? It must be because the other two leaders disagreed. Back then, Sick Scholar was severely injured and nearly lost his life. Even now, he's barely clinging to survival—how could he not hold a grudge? But the King of Hell Pavilion has made a pact with the Ding Royal Palace to never cross each other. So he can only rely on himself..." Remembering the venomous look in Sick Scholar's eyes when he mentioned the Underworld Flower, Ye Li couldn't help but shudder. She even briefly considered whether to strike first and kill him, but the thought passed as quickly as it came. Whether due to his identity or other reasons, he couldn't be killed now—at least not by the hands of the Princess of the State.

"I understand. We absolutely won’t let Sick Scholar obtain the Underworld Flower."

In a secret palace somewhere in Nanzhao, the marble floors and pillars were carved with intricate patterns. Exquisite gold ornaments inlaid with gemstones and countless luminous pearls replaced the glow of candles. The most luxurious hibiscus gauze of the Southern Border draped in layers. Behind the gauze curtain, an ethereally handsome man in white sat quietly reading. Under the soft radiance of the luminous pearls, the man's flawless profile seemed to glow faintly, making him appear even more serene and tranquil.

The heavy stone door was pushed open from the outside, and a slender, graceful woman stepped in. Unlike traditional Southern Border attire, she wore a loose, bright yellow outer robe embroidered with phoenix patterns, its hem trailing elegantly on the ground. Her dark hair was casually tied up, adorned with dazzling multicolored gemstone ornaments, while a delicate golden mask covered her entire face. The mask carried an eerie allure, making the eyes beneath it even more mesmerizing. The woman walked forward gracefully and said with a soft laugh, "Qingchen Gongzi, don’t you want to look at me even once? Just nod, and I’ll remove the mask for you."

Xu Qingchen set down the book in his hand and sighed lightly before looking up. "Are you... more beautiful than the renowned beauties from the Chu Capital's 'National Beauties' painting?"

This seemed to be the first time Xu Qingchen had responded to this question, and the woman was momentarily surprised. "You like women from Great Chu? I’ve heard of the 'National Beauties' of the Chu Capital. Which one do you prefer? Is it Su Zuidie, the so-called number one beauty of Great Chu? I believe she’s already dead, isn’t she?" Xu Qingchen smiled faintly. "Su Zuidie... was indeed a rather beautiful woman. If you don’t measure up to her, there’s no need for me to look."

"You!" A flash of anger crossed the woman’s eyes, but she quickly composed herself and chuckled. "Qingchen Gongzi, you’re far too picky. From what I know, your little fiancée is quite lovely, but... she doesn’t quite reach the level of a peerless beauty, does she?" Xu Qingchen lowered his gaze, subtly concealing the strange glint in his eyes. The woman, however, took his silence as agreement and snorted lightly. "Speaking of which, that Miss Chu is truly devoted to you. She traveled thousands of miles to the Southern Border with just one guard. In that regard, she really doesn’t seem like a typical Central Plains woman."

"Where is she?" Xu Qingchen asked."Hehe, she made quite a scene yesterday barging into the manor of our Crown Princess Anxi. Since Princess Anxi and you are good friends, I'm sure she'll take good care of your fiancée." The woman covered her lips with a sleeve as she laughed. "Qingchen Gongzi, won't you reconsider my proposal? After our success... we could share the world together."

Xu Qingchen's expression remained calm as he replied softly, "If I'm not mistaken, three years ago you made the same promise to Prince Li of Great Chu about sharing the world."

The woman flicked her sleeve dismissively. "Mo Jingli? How could he compare to you? No... I believe no one in this world can match you except Prince Ding. It's just a pity... Prince Ding is already ruined. You are the most perfect man in this world—and the most suited for me."

Xu Qingchen shook his head. "My apologies. The Xu family rules dictate that we marry for virtue. Our descendants must not covet beauty, wealth, or power. One wife is enough for me in this lifetime. Miss, keeping me imprisoned here won't do you any good. The capital of Nanzhao isn't that large—it's only a matter of time before someone finds this place."

The woman leaned lazily against a marble pillar, giggling. "Aren't you afraid I'll kill you? Over the past half year, how many schemes have you devised for Anxi, ruining my plans? Don't you prefer women from the Central Plains? Am I not more like them than Anxi?"

Xu Qingchen shook his head again, lowering his gaze to the book in his hands. "If you wanted to kill me, you would have done so already. Besides... what good would killing me do you?"

"True." The woman sighed in resignation. "Killing you would bring too much trouble. The Xu family of the Central Plains, and likely even the Ding Royal Palace, would come after me. And our Crown Princess would certainly fight me to the death. But... hehe, though I can't kill you, I can keep you locked up here. That way, you won't interfere with my plans. Without you meddling, it won't be long before that arrogant, detestable Anxi meets a gruesome end. And of course... your adorable little fiancée as well."

"Don't you dare touch her!" Xu Qingchen's voice turned icy with warning.

"Oh? You actually care about her?" The woman studied him curiously. "How could you possibly like such an immature little girl?"

Xu Qingchen replied evenly, "As long as she is my fiancée, of course I will care for her."

The woman narrowed her eyes. "So you mean, no matter what kind of person she is, as long as she's your fiancée, you'll protect her?"

Xu Qingchen smiled faintly. "Isn't that only natural? Since she is to be my wife, who else should I care for if not her?"

"You—! Fine! I'll make sure to harm her just to prove a point!" The woman sneered, shooting him a glare before storming out in a flurry of sleeves.

As the heavy stone door shut behind her, Xu Qingchen slowly set down his book. His refined eyes lowered slightly. "Fiancée... Miss Chu... Lier..."

Late at night, Princess Anxi's manor was quiet, save for the faint glow of lamplight in the study. The princess's delicate yet resolute face bore traces of exhaustion as she frowned at the man before her. "Still no word from Qingchen?"

The man shook his head grimly. "None."

Princess Anxi grew agitated. "What's going on? Does she still not believe that we truly think Qingchen is missing?"The man nodded, "Very likely. Although we have sent people out to search for Qingchen Gongzi, she might still think we are collaborating with Qingchen Gongzi to put on a show for her."

"I hope Qingchen is alright." Princess Anxi wearily closed her eyes for a moment, rubbing her aching forehead as she said, "We've put in so much effort to finally improve the situation a little. If all our work comes to nothing now, I fear... my father..." The man frowned and asked, "Does His Majesty still not trust you, Princess?" Princess Anxi gave a bitter smile. "My father has just turned forty, still in the prime of his life. Even if he believed us, he wouldn't support us. He needs another faction to counterbalance me, the Crown Princess." If not for her father's covert favoritism, how could they have failed time and again over the past six months? Each time they were on the verge of catching that woman's trail, she managed to slip away. "Now even the Military Tally has fallen into her hands. If we can't retrieve it, nothing we do will matter."

Princess Anxi truly couldn't understand why her usually wise father insisted on favoring that woman. But she couldn't stand by and watch as that woman plotted against Nanzhao. This was her duty as both the Princess of Nanzhao and the Crown Princess.

"Can we find out where Qingchen Gongzi is now?" Princess Anxi asked. "If necessary, let's have Qingchen withdraw first. This is Nanzhao's own affair—we shouldn't involve him."

The man shook his head. "I'm afraid that's not possible. Although we occasionally receive messages from Qingchen Gongzi, they're all relayed through intermediaries. We have no way of determining his actual whereabouts."

"Damn it!" Princess Anxi cursed under her breath.

"Assassins!" A shout rang out from the courtyard. Princess Anxi sprang to her feet, and the man beside her immediately drew his sword, stepping back to open the door. He quickly retreated inside again, frowning. "They're heading toward the guest quarters." Princess Anxi said, "Only Miss Chu is in the guest quarters. Why would assassins target her? Hurry, let's go check." With that, she rushed out the door toward the guest quarters. The man quickly closed the door and followed. The study, now quiet again, saw a slight movement at the corner window before it was pushed open. A black-clad figure swiftly flipped inside. Beneath the black mask, a pair of clear, beautiful eyes gleamed. The intruder quickly moved to the desk, scanning through the documents there. Finding nothing of interest, they turned to the bookshelf behind. Princess Anxi's study didn't hold many books—mostly official documents, many in Southern Border script. After some time, a document hidden in the most inconspicuous corner of the shelf caught the intruder's eye. What drew attention wasn't the document itself but the sunflower-shaped seal on it. Eyes flashing, the intruder produced a thin blade from their fingertips and swiftly opened the sealed document. Skimming the contents in seconds, a faint smile appeared in those clear eyes. After resealing the document and restoring the study to its original state, the figure slipped back out through the window.

By the time Princess Anxi and her guards reached the guest quarters, they were stopped at the entrance by An Er. With a stern expression, An Er looked at the group and asked, "Princess, what brings you here so late at night?" Princess Anxi replied, "Assassins were spotted entering the guest quarters. Is Miss Chu unharmed?"

"Assassins?" An Er frowned. "I've been keeping watch outside all night. No assassins have entered."Princess Anxi was taken aback. The guards in her manor would never lie. Besides, she had indeed seen several dark figures entering the guest courtyard from afar. Why would Miss Chu's guard insist on denying it? "Guard Lin, Miss Chu is Qingchen Gongzi's fiancée. If anything were to happen to her, I wouldn't be able to explain it to him. Are you certain no one broke into the guest courtyard?" An Er's expression darkened as he replied in a low voice, "When the commotion started outside, a few dark figures did approach, but they were frightened away by my hidden weapons. Some of them might even be injured. However, they absolutely did not enter the guest courtyard. Miss's reputation is of utmost importance, so I must ask Your Highness to be cautious with your words."

Seeing An Er's stern and serious expression, Princess Anxi finally understood why the guard was so adamant that the assassins had not entered. Women in the Central Plains were indeed much stricter about their reputations compared to those in the Southern Border.

"My apologies, Guard Lin. I spoke carelessly." She waved her hand, signaling the guards behind her to continue searching for the assassins, then turned back to An Er. "Could the earlier disturbance have frightened Miss Chu? Why hasn't she come out yet?" An Er replied calmly, "Miss resides in the inner courtyard. Perhaps she didn't hear the commotion outside." Princess Anxi frowned. "If Guard Lin is unable to check on her, I shall go see Miss Chu myself. It wouldn't be good if she were frightened..."

"No—"

"Princess Sister, is something wrong?" Just as An Er was about to refuse, Ye Li's voice came from behind. She was draped in a large cloak, her hair cascading over her shoulders, her eyes still carrying a faint trace of sleepiness and confusion. The maid holding the lantern beside her was the one Princess Anxi had assigned to serve her. Princess Anxi smiled. "It's nothing. Just a few petty thieves broke in earlier. Did they disturb you, Miss Chu?" Ye Li tilted her head slightly, her smile serene and lovely. "I'm not afraid. Lin Han is very skilled in martial arts. He's been protecting me all along the way. Isn't that right, Lin Han?" An Er bowed respectfully. "Indeed, Miss. Please rest assured. The assassins did not enter and have already been driven away by me."

Princess Anxi observed Ye Li and, seeing nothing amiss, nodded. "In that case, Miss Chu should get some rest. I'll have people check elsewhere to ensure no one slipped through."

"Yes, thank you for your trouble, Princess Sister." Ye Li smiled sweetly. As she watched Princess Anxi leave, the smile on her face gradually faded. She turned to the maid beside her and said, "Let's go back." The maid nodded and followed Ye Li into the inner courtyard. As soon as they entered the room, the maid felt a sudden numbness in her back and collapsed limply to the ground. An Er appeared quietly at the door. Ye Li raised an eyebrow at him and asked, "What's this about assassins?" An Er replied solemnly, "There were indeed assassins, and they were likely targeting you." He stepped into the room and crouched down, pulling a black-clad figure from under the bed. "Three came in total. They underestimated us and were discovered by the Princess Manor's guards. After being injured by my hidden weapons, they fled immediately. This one was the most severely wounded, so I captured him."Ye Li crouched down to examine the person on the ground—a typical Southern Border appearance. Though dressed in black night attire, they hadn't concealed their distinctive features. "They probably aren't Princess Anxi's people. Chu Liuyun shouldn't have any enemies in the Southern Border either. Who would dare chase us all the way to the Princess Manor to provoke us?" An Er frowned. "Could our identities have been exposed?"

Ye Li shook her head. "No. If our identities were truly exposed, we wouldn't be dealing with just a few mediocre assassins like this. Tonight's incident feels more like a show of force or... a provocation against Princess Anxi."

"A show of force... provoking Princess Anxi? Is it because of Qingchen Gongzi?" An Er speculated. Ye Li nodded thoughtfully. "That's what I think too. In the Southern Border, the only person connected to Chu Liuyun's identity is my elder brother. But what's the point of such a provocation that doesn't even leave a scratch? If they wanted to be effective, capturing me to threaten my brother would make more sense. Unless... my brother is already in their hands."

"With these assassins' skills, even if I weren't here, they wouldn't be able to take anyone from the Princess Manor." They hadn't even reached the guest quarters before alerting the manor's guards—such assassins couldn't even manage a proper killing, let alone abduct someone alive. "Can you guess who's behind this, Miss?"

Ye Li smiled faintly. "I wasn't sure before, but now I have a good idea. Tomorrow, we'll test your interrogation skills and verify my theory at the same time."