Li Shang and his men searched Qingzhou City for several days but found no trace of Prince An or the head of the Li family. They had no choice but to return to Yunzhou City to report back.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, Prince Han, your subordinates have searched Yunzhou City several times, but have not found any trace of them," Li Shang replied respectfully, bowing his head.

"It's nothing, they've already left. I've received word that Uncle An's troops are stationed in Huangzhou." Ji Mohan didn't mention Yan Wan's name, but instead said something else entirely.

"What?" Ji Mohan asked in surprise. Wasn't Huangzhou the fiefdom of his third brother, Ji Mochen? Ever since the brothers came of age, their father had assigned fiefdoms to them. He remembered that his father had initially assigned Lingnan as the fiefdom for his third brother, but the third brother had requested to exchange it with his fourth brother. Lingnan was richer than the northwest, and the fourth brother had agreed at the time. Seeing that neither the third nor the fourth brother had any objections, their father nodded in agreement.

He hadn't doubted it before, but now, looking back, something felt off.

The third prince was devoted to literature from a young age and never had any interest in politics; he was completely indifferent to worldly affairs.

Was his sudden proposal to exchange fiefdoms with his fourth brother a coincidence, or did he know something?

Ji Mohan and Ji Mosheng exchanged a glance. Perhaps, those few imperial brothers they had overlooked were not as indifferent to politics as they appeared.

Once they return to Beijing, we'll have to investigate them thoroughly.

The most important thing right now is to stop Uncle An from rebelling.

——

"Princess Chaoyang, the day of the marriage alliance is only two months away. Although you are a princess, you still need to learn the etiquette of the Mongol Kingdom. Otherwise, what will you do when you go?" the etiquette matron advised anxiously.

"Do you really think I can live that long after I go to the enemy country for a political marriage?" Chaoyang said nonchalantly, lying on the recliner. Anyway, she had already come to terms with it and didn't want to learn these boring etiquettes. In any case, she wouldn't live that long after she got married. Her main task now was to enjoy herself while she was still in Yin Kingdom.

“Princess, please don’t say that. What if?” Chaoyang’s personal nanny walked up to Chaoyang with red eyes and said.

"Granny Yue, you and the other nannies may leave. I want to be alone for a while," Chaoyang said with a hint of disappointment.

She seemed unable to accept the fate she was about to face. Chaoyang closed her eyes, concealing her sadness.

"Yes, Princess, let's leave." Granny Yue said with heartache as she watched Chaoyang's actions. She saw it all, felt anxious, but was powerless to help. She had taken care of the princess since she was a child, and to put it bluntly, in her heart, the princess was no different from her own daughter.

After Granny Yue and her group left, the others went back to their respective duties. Granny Yue stayed behind to close the door. Just as she was about to leave, she saw a yellow figure looking at the person on the recliner inside through the crack in the latticed window.

The sensible Granny Yue didn't disturb them. Parents' hearts are always full of love and concern. It turns out that even members of the royal family are not entirely heartless. The princess is like this, and so is His Majesty.

If only the princess hadn't gone to be married off, Granny Yue thought, looking up at the square sky. She had always hoped that she could leave the palace.

Now that she has gone with the princess to marry into a foreign land, her wish has been fulfilled, and she is satisfied. Even if she were to die for the princess, she would have no regrets.

——

The news spread by Yan Wan and Jing Xi has already caused a great stir throughout the Northwest, and it seems to be heading towards the capital.

"Useless! With so many people, you can't even think of a better way to stop these rumors." Ji Mo'an was furious. He had originally wanted to let it cool down, thinking that after a few days, no one would pay attention and it would fade away. Unexpectedly, the other party used the method of hyping up an unorthodox couple, making the news even more popular. Now he didn't dare to go out. Even storytellers on the streets were writing several versions of the story overnight, which were becoming more and more outrageous. Things were gradually developing in a bizarre direction, and he didn't know who was fanning the flames behind the scenes. Now he wanted to stop it, but it was too late.

"Prince An, you have quite a temper!" A cold voice rang out from the doorway.

Ji Mo'an looked up and saw a foreign man dressed in a black robe leaning against the door frame, looking at him with a half-smile.

Ji Mo'an's brow twitched, and he said coldly, "Why didn't you stay in Meng Kingdom? What are you doing in Yin Kingdom? Aren't you afraid that my two good nephews will catch you, lock you up in jail, and cut you into a thousand pieces?"

"Heh, I just came from Yunzhou City. Oh dear, if I hadn't come, how would I have heard such exciting news from Prince An? It seems that every place I go, Prince An's story is different. I don't want to leave after hearing so much." The Meng merchant said with great interest.

Ji Mo'an was already furious, and now Meng Shang was hitting him where it hurt, making him so angry he was about to die.

Mongolian Merchant: Family, does anyone understand? It's so satisfying to use your ultimate skill right up close.

"You, you barbarian, how dare you be so insolent!" Ji Mo'an cursed, pointing at the Meng merchant's nose.

Instead of getting angry, Meng Shang laughed calmly and said, "Although I am a barbarian, I am not interested in men, especially not such old men. You are a prince, yet you have become a laughing stock in the entire Northwest. Prince An still has such heavy tastes." Meng Shang retorted lightly, a silent arrow piercing Ji Mo An's heart.

Ji Mo An angrily flung his sleeves, unwilling to argue with the barbarians.

Seeing that he had gained an advantage, the Mongolian merchant continued, "Can you guarantee that this uprising will succeed?"

"Of course, San and I, along with the people of the court, have worked together from the inside and outside. We have already laid out everything, and this uprising will surely succeed." Ji Mo'an said with some pride. He had painstakingly planned for so many years, and he absolutely could not afford to fail.

"Alright, then I hope you won't forget what you promised me after you succeed. I will lend you a hand then." Meng Shang said calmly, not caring at all whether Ji Mo'an succeeded or not.

If he succeeds, he can get the benefits that Ji Mo'an promised him; if he fails, he will just be replaced with another puppet, a mere pawn, not worth mentioning.

"Thank you for your kind words," Ji Moan said in a good mood.

This time, he will definitely succeed; he will definitely take back everything that belongs to him.

Little did he know, he had already missed everything.

——

"Your Highness, the refugees in the east of the city have suddenly started a disturbance," a guard rushed in and reported.

"Someone, come with me to take a look," Ji Mosheng said in a deep voice.

"Miss Jing, Young Master Jiang just sent word that the refugees in the east of the city are causing a disturbance. He's losing control and wants you to go and take a look," the servant said, bowing to Jing Xi.

"I'll go right away," Jing Xi said, exchanging a glance with Yan Wan.

"Jingxi, wait for me, I'll go with you to take a look." Yan Wan followed Jingxi's steps and walked towards the east of the city.