"He looks a bit like a woman, very alluring." Ah Xiang frowned slightly, her teeth itching with hatred at the thought of that man's appearance and expression.

If Xi Jing, who prides himself on being the most handsome man in Western Chu, heard someone describe him like that, he would be so angry he would vomit blood.

As Ah Xiang spoke, the painters in the Zichen Palace began to paint portraits.

"You, draw a few more."

Yun Beiye ordered the painter to continue painting. To prevent Ah Xiang's description from being inaccurate, Yun Beiye ordered the eunuchs of Zichen Palace to find a portrait of the eldest prince of Western Chu.

The library and the Honglu Temple in Nanyang contain portraits of royal family members from the Western Chu, Northern Liang, Loulan and other kingdoms.

With this portrait, and further questioning, we're sure to find the person.

"The Crown Prince of Western Chu should be the eldest prince of Western Chu... Xiazi, go and find me a portrait of the eldest prince of Western Chu!"

"Then, make several copies of these two portraits and give them to Jinzhi and the others!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Seeing that everything was taken care of, Ah Xiang finally couldn't bear the excruciating pain in her body, and the wound on her leg had become infected because it hadn't been treated. Her vision went black and she fainted.

"Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"

...

After Yun Duoduo was captured by Xi Jing, she was taken to Cui Xiang Lou.

Yun Duoduo looked at every brick and tile of Cuixiang Tower and curled the corners of her lips.

Wow, back in the same place! I know this place like the back of my hand!

I wonder if those little quacking bunnies I saw last time are still around.

This time, she wasn't locked in the kitchen, but was placed in a private room.

This room was exactly the same as the one she had seen from the roof last time.

The interior was decorated exquisitely and luxuriously, using only the finest glass bottles, which is quite rare in Nanyang.

However, last time, it was her brother Sumi who accompanied and protected her.

This time, she was all alone, so she had to find a way to escape on her own.

Yun Duoduo observed the furnishings in the room, wondering if there were any handy tools.

She looked at the roof, then at the door and windows, trying to figure out where she could escape.

Xi Jing noticed her eyes darting around and knew she was plotting something mischievous.

Xi Jing instructed the guards at the door: "Keep a close eye on her, this girl is worth the entire You and Ji provinces!"

Xi Jing said in a serious and indifferent tone.

"If this little thing runs away or gets into trouble, your whole family won't be able to afford to pay for it!"

"Your Highness, rest assured!"

"We will do our best!"

The guards standing at the door bowed and saluted, their faces resolute.

Although the guards said that, they thought, where could a seven-year-old child, with his hands and feet tied, possibly escape to?

[He's just a child, what can he do, climb on the roof and tear off the tiles?]

Xi Jing turned to look at Yun Duoduo and saw that her hands and feet were tied and she was lying obediently on the bed. Reassured, he went downstairs to have some fun with the ladies.

Yun Duoduo lay on the bed, savoring what Xi Jing had just said about the five states of Youji.

"Young guard, what does 'Youji Five Provinces' mean?"

She knew that this was Nanyang, the capital city, located southwest of the five prefectures of You and Ji.

Yun Duoduo's hands and feet were tied, but her mouth was not stuffed with tattered cotton cloth.

The guard at the gate didn't answer, but he was thinking to himself, "Of course, I'll trade you for the territory and cities of Nanyang!"

What?! They actually used her to threaten Father Emperor?!

Yun Duoduo was completely shocked.

[That bastard! What kind of dirty tricks is he using?!]

How could he be so certain that his father would trade the five provinces of You and Ji for her life?

Doesn't he know that emperors throughout history have often been heartless?!

Yun Duoduo looked at the bed frame and sighed.

...

In Shiya Street, Nanyang, Xue Deyi rode his tall horse and arrived at the Zheng residence with his men. He found that the Zheng family's carriage was already waiting at the door, and some servants were loading things onto the carriage, preparing to leave.

Inside the Zheng family's courtyard, everyone from the master to the servants was carrying a bundle.

"Run!"

Jung Da-hae growled in a low voice.

Everything was packed, but Madam Zheng insisted on changing her clothes, saying that she was tired from the journey and couldn't wear the nice clothes she had worn when she met the princess, ruining all the good things.

"Oh, here it comes, here it comes."

Madam Zheng came out wearing a dark blue coarse cloth dress.

"If we just leave like this, what will happen to Yi'er in the palace?" Madam Zheng was still worried.

"We received so much money from Western Chu, enough to last us a lifetime."

"Yi'er is so clever, she must have a way in the palace."

"Once the Empress Dowager dies, and Yi'er is reinstated as a Noble Consort, it won't be too late for us to come back!"

Just then, the Zheng family's steward rushed in, his hands trembling.

"Master, Master, something terrible has happened! People from the palace have arrived!"

"The palace? Why are people from the palace here so quickly?"

Zheng Duohai looked at the steward rushing towards him in surprise. He had clearly made an appointment with the people of Xichu to send a message to the palace tomorrow. Just in case, they should be able to escape today.

In fact, even if they didn't escape, the imperial court had no evidence to prove that the Zheng family colluded with Western Chu.

Even if the princess encounters assassins on her way back to the palace, she cannot blame them.

"Quick, quick, go through the back door."

Jung Da-hae panicked and directed his family to retreat from the front door and prepare to run out through the back door.

Upon reaching the back gate, the steward opened it to find that the capital's garrison had already formed a complete perimeter around the Zheng residence.

"Which gate do you want to use?"

Xue Deyi sneered.

"Lord Zheng, how about we try the side door?"

Xue Deyi rode his horse leisurely from the front gate to the back gate.

The original garrison commander of the capital was Jin Jinzhi, but later, Jin Jinzhi was sent to the northern frontier, and Xue Deyi took over the position.

"Take him away!"

At Xue Deyi's command, Zheng Duohai's body trembled violently and he collapsed to the ground.

...

In the blink of an eye, it got dark. The night sky was dotted with stars, the dense clouds dispersed, and the bright, flawless moon shone down, its bright yet gentle light illuminating the earth.

Upon receiving the secret letter, the palace eunuchs dared not delay for a moment and immediately delivered it to the Zichen Palace.

Yun Beiye clutched the note tightly in her hand.

The note read: If you want the Ninth Princess to return alive, cede the five states of You and Ji to Western Chu.

"Cede the five provinces of You and Ji to Western Chu..."

Yun Beiye murmured.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

The officials who were discussing matters in the Zichen Palace had already heard about Princess You Rong's accident on their way here. When they heard what Yun Beiye said, they immediately connected the dots.

They came to Zichen Palace to discuss the imperial examination, but now the topic has completely turned to Yun Duoduo.

The ministers offered their advice in a flustered and chaotic manner.

"If the five prefectures of You and Ji are ceded to Western Chu, the capital will be in grave danger, as the saying goes, 'If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.'"