"What did you say?" Jing Xi frowned and asked again.

"My eldest brother and sister-in-law have gone missing." Ji Mosheng patiently repeated the story. His subordinate had just reported that a merchant caravan was looking for Jing Xi. He happened to have some free time, so he went out to take a look. Unexpectedly, he saw the deputy general of his eldest brother's palace. After asking around, he found out that his eldest brother and sister-in-law had gotten separated from them. They had sent a team to search for them, while the rest of the team, carrying goods, did not dare to delay and went to Yunzhou City first.

He was worried that Jing Xi was too concerned about Yan Wan, so he could only tell her in advance so that she could be mentally prepared later.

"I'm going to find Wan'er," Jing Xi said calmly. Seeing this, Jiang Bai quickly followed and said, "Jing Xi, I'll go with you."

Jing Xi nodded silently, and then she and Jiang Bai walked out of the courtyard, preparing to leave the city to find Yan Wan and the others.

Ji Mosheng gently lifted his foot, wanting to follow, but a subordinate behind him reported: "Your Highness, the head of the Li family of Qingzhou requests an audience."

"I understand." Ji Mosheng glanced at Jing Xi's back, clenched his fist unwillingly, and then turned and walked in the opposite direction.

He was the crown prince, and national affairs always took precedence over personal feelings, even though he longed for what Jingxi had said: one love for one lifetime.

"Manager Sun, you've arrived. How was your journey?" As soon as Jing Xi stepped outside, she saw Manager Sun and the caravan members organizing their goods.

"Oh dear, Miss Jing, I'm so sorry! The grain we were responsible for escorting has all disappeared. How could this happen? I checked it just a few days ago." Manager Sun patted his chest guiltily, his wrinkles deepening.

"What? It's gone? Let me see." Jing Xi quickly stepped forward and lifted the tarpaulin on the carriage, only to find that something was missing from the carriage carrying grain, while the other goods were still there.

Jing Xi returned to Manager Sun's side and asked carefully, "Manager Sun, did you encounter any bandits or refugees on the way? Could they have taken you away?"

Manager Sun scratched his ear, carefully recalling all the details along the way. He exclaimed, "There were bandits who hijacked the cart. Just two days ago, we got separated from Boss Yan. But those bandits didn't take the grain. I was afraid they would steal the grain, so I stood guard next to the grain cart at the time."

Upon hearing the news about Yan Wan, Jing Xi hurriedly asked, "Where did Wan'er get separated from you? Is it far from Yunzhou City?"

"Not far, not far at all. It's about eighty li away from Yunzhou City, only a couple of days away," Manager Sun said wearily.

Seeing this, Jing Xi raised her hand and called over a few servants, saying, "Go and settle them in. There's an inn in the area in the east of the city that I previously acquired. Take them there."

Several servants respectfully replied, "Yes, Miss."

Jing Xi then said to Manager Sun, "Manager Sun, you must be tired from your journey. I'll have them take you to the inn I've taken over to rest."

Manager Sun sighed. How could he sleep after losing the goods? Seeing that Jing Xi seemed to have something urgent, he waved his hand and said, "I'll go find some more grain. Miss Jing, please go ahead and attend to your business."

Seeing the guilty look on his face, Jing Xi didn't try to persuade him anymore. She responded and pulled Jiang Bai toward the horses on the side.

"Brothers, you must be tired from the journey. Go to the inn and rest first. I'll treat you to a welcome feast when I get back," Jing Xi said cheerfully.

"Thank you, sir," the men from the escort agency said in unison.

Jing Xi mounted her horse, with Jiang Bai following closely behind, and the two hurried out of the city.

——

"I'm preparing to return to the Moon Kingdom," Qin Si said to Li Guang in a nonchalant manner.

"Young Master, Huang Zhong and the others are still escorting goods in the Northwest. If we leave now, the Yue Kingdom will be weak and vulnerable when we return!" Li Guang analyzed the pros and cons.

"What? Do you think they'd kill me?" Qin Si retorted.

"I wouldn't dare, but going back now would be disadvantageous for us. Besides, Prince Yuexiu is still eyeing you covetously, and there's also Princess Yueting. Has Your Highness decided to go see her?" Li Guang said respectfully.

"Yue Xiu? That good-for-nothing, I was never afraid of him when I was in Yue Kingdom. But I haven't figured out how to see Tingting yet. I've been gone for so many years, will she hate me, her selfish brother?" Qin Si muttered to himself.

Back then, he was driven out of the Moon Kingdom by the King of the Moon Kingdom, who was also his father. Tingting originally wanted to go with him, but he didn't want her to suffer with him, so he cruelly left her in the Moon Kingdom.

It's been so many years since I last saw her. Tingting must be a grown woman by now.

"Young Master, please reconsider!" Li Guang continued to persuade them. They had clearly agreed to stay in Yin for two years before returning to Yue. They would slowly plan everything, and after the king died, they could unite with the ministers in Yue to seize the throne. That way, their years of enduring humiliation and hardship after being forced to leave Yue would not have been in vain.

Qin Si stood up and said in a deep voice, "My mind is made up. I just came to tell you that I'm going back alone this time. You can stay here for now."

"Young Master, you mustn't! What if someone from the Yue Kingdom wants to harm you? What will you do if you encounter danger without us protecting you?" Li Guang said worriedly.

"It's alright. They won't dare to openly commit atrocities in the Moon Kingdom. After all, I still have what they want, so they won't hurt me easily." Qin Si raised his hand, straightened his sleeves, and continued, "It's decided then. You all stay here. I'll be back in a month."

"Yes, young master," Li Guang replied, bowing.

Qin Si nodded, turned around and left. Li Guang watched his young master's back with a motherly smile. Oh dear, the young master has grown up and has his own little secrets now.

However, even if the young master didn't say it, he knew that Princess Chaoyang was going to be married off, and the young master was anxious, hehe.

Li Guang stroked his beard lightly, his face full of hidden merit and fame, and turned to leave.

The young master may appear cold and sharp-tongued, but he has a warm heart. He watched his young master grow up, and it can be said that he and Huang Zhong were like the young master's mentors. They accompanied the young master from childhood. The young master has carried a lot, but he still has a pure heart, which is truly rare.

Young Master is a born emperor!

——

"Master Li, what brings you here to see me?" Ji Mosheng asked gently.

"Your Highness, I have important matters to report," Li Shu said respectfully, kneeling on the ground.

"Rise," said Ji Mosheng.

"Yes, Your Majesty, this old minister obeys." Li Shu stood up.

What do you have to report?

"Your Highness, this old minister came to Yunzhou City to tell you a secret."

"What secret?" Ji Mosheng asked in confusion.

"Prince An is still alive."