Xie Jingyi looked at her increasingly composed brother and wanted to start a conversation, but found that there seemed to be nothing between them to say.

After thinking it over, she suddenly remembered meeting Rong Qingqing outside the city gate this morning.

Her eyes lit up, and she broke the silence, "Brother, guess who I ran into outside the city gate this morning?"

Xie Jingxuan wasn't particularly interested, but he still asked, as a formality, "Who?"

"Rong Qingqing," Xie Jingyi said softly.

Xie Jingxuan was somewhat surprised upon hearing this, but quickly dismissed it, saying, "What's so strange about that? Perhaps she's just traveling outside the city."

Xie Jingyi frowned and said, "But I saw that she was accompanied by many guards and was in a hurry, as if she was going out and wouldn't be back for a while."

Upon hearing this, Xie Jingxuan stopped eating. "You brought so many guards?"

Xie Jingyi nodded. "Yes. Haven't you heard the Emperor mention it?"

"No." Xie Jingxuan shook his head.

"Does even the Emperor not know?" Xie Jingyi wondered, not without surprise.

Upon hearing this, Xie Jingxuan seemed to remember something, his expression changed slightly, and he stopped eating. "I'm going to the palace," he said, and then got up and rushed out.

Xie Jingyi was startled by his display and patted her chest.

The Imperial Palace.

When Xie Jingrun first ascended the throne, he indeed had many things to deal with, and he slept only two or three hours a day.

Although Emperor Zhaojing had paved the way for him before his abdication, there were still many things to sort out when the new emperor ascended the throne.

For example, Xie Jingrun had to re-examine and familiarize himself with everything, including the transfer of court officials, the reform of the political and legal system, and the governance of local counties and prefectures.

After finishing his court session, Xie Jingrun went directly to the Imperial Study to handle state affairs.

At this moment, Changlin hurriedly walked in, "Master, Marquis Weiyuan requests an audience."

Xie Jingrun didn't even look up. "Didn't he just leave the palace? Why is he back in? Ask him what he wants."

Changlin said somewhat anxiously, "Marquis Weiyuan said that the Third Miss met the Princess outside the city gate this morning."

Upon hearing Rong Qingqing's name, Xie Jingrun dropped his pen, rubbed his temples, and asked, "What is she doing out of the city?" After thinking for a moment, he said, "Let Xie Jingxuan in."

"yes."

Changlin quickly brought Xie Jingxuan in.

Xie Jingxuan was about to bow to Xie Jingrun when he was stopped. "Alright, no need for formalities. You said Xie Jingyi ran into Rong Qingqing outside the city gate, what exactly happened?"

Xie Jingxuan straightened up as instructed. Hearing his tone, he knew that he did not know about Rong Qingqing's trip. So he quickly said, "When Jingyi returned from outside the city this morning, she encountered Princess Qingqing's entourage. She brought many guards, and the group seemed to be in a hurry. Jingyi said that it looked like they were going on a long trip."

The moment Xie Jingxuan finished speaking, Xie Jingrun's expression turned ugly.

Is Rong Qingqing going on a long trip?

Why didn't she come to tell him?

What is she going out for?

"Is this true?" His narrow eyes narrowed, a flash of hostility appearing briefly.

“It’s true. Jingyi wouldn’t joke about something like this.” Xie Jingxuan replied immediately, but he couldn’t help feeling a sense of fear.

He hadn't seen the Emperor with such an expression in a long time; he almost thought the Emperor had changed his personality.

He couldn't help but feel a little uneasy, but then he saw Xie Jingrun get up and walk out from behind the imperial desk.

"Changlin, prepare the horses!"

The emperor's voice, suppressing his anger, rang out from the imperial study.

"Yes." Chang Lin straightened up, not daring to be negligent, and hurriedly went to prepare.

Soon, Xie Jingrun rode his horse out of the palace and headed straight for the Prince Su's residence.