"Your Majesty, I only ask that you allow Shen Jun to bring Su Xiaoning back. If she cannot return, I would rather not be a prince."
After his initial rage subsided, Su Qingcai stared blankly at the emperor, his eyes as still as a stagnant pool.
The emperor felt inexplicably flustered. He had always doted on his ninth brother the most. If Su Qingcai really gave up everything for Su Xiaoning, the outcome would only be a lose-lose situation.
"You...you've never pressured me like this before..."
The emperor trembled with rage, his lips drained of color. Under Su Qingcai's gaze, a gaze that was calm yet terrifying, he finally sighed heavily, "Fine, let Shen Jun bring her back..."
After saying this, the emperor revealed a somber look in his eyes. He finally relented and sent a signal into the sky, a sign to recall Shen Jun.
Normally, Shen Jun would reply to a signal within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. But this time, there was no response at all.
The emperor's heart tightened, and he sent several more signals. After waiting for some time, as before, there was still no movement in the sky, and Shen Jun had lost all contact with him.
Unexpectedly, they lost contact at this critical juncture. The emperor looked at Su Qingcai with a guilty expression and said in a low voice, "I don't know how this happened... I will arrange for other Imperial Guards to go and look for them, so don't worry."
"How can I be at ease without her by my side?" Su Qingcai forced a bitter smile and staggered towards the palace gate. "I will go find her myself..."
He walked out dejectedly, his figure quickly disappearing into the layers of palace walls.
The emperor watched Su Qingcai's retreating figure, his throat feeling as if something was blocking it. After a long while, he shook his head heavily.
...
The emperor dispatched almost half of his imperial guards to search for Shen Jun and Su Xiaoning, which caused quite a stir. Su Qinghe, who had been secretly monitoring the palace, quickly learned the whole story.
"Ha, the Emperor really spoils him. Su Qingcai disobeyed him out of kindness, yet he still helped him find Su Xiaoning without holding a grudge..."
Su Qinghe sneered, her heart filled with endless hatred.
"Send men out now to find Su Xiaoning. Remember, the operation must be conducted discreetly. Do not alert the Dragon Guards or Su Qingcai's men. Find her before they do!"
"Your subordinate obeys." The informant responded and quickly withdrew to arrange the search.
Outside the study, Qin Yunyun was leaning against the door frame, secretly listening to the conversation inside.
Her face turned deathly pale, and her heart pounded in her chest.
She was already surprised to hear that Su Xiaoning and Su Qingcai had returned to the capital, and now that Su Qinghe was so eager to find Su Xiaoning, her worst fears had come true. Su Qinghe had always wanted to find someone truly blessed by good fortune, and Su Xiaoning was the perfect choice…
Could it be that Su Qinghe has fallen for Su Xiaoning so quickly?
The more Qin Yunyun thought about it, the more horrified she became. Trembling, she left the study and locked herself in her room, racking her brains for a solution.
No, she wouldn't let Su Xiaoning climb to the top in front of the Seventh Prince by stepping on her head. If she could return to the capital alive this time, she would definitely find a way to get rid of her...
...
While various factions in the capital were searching for Su Xiaoning's whereabouts, Su Xiaoning was still struggling with how to solve the problem at hand.
"Girl, who is he? Did he kidnap you here?"
Jiang Lin put the horses, which had finally calmed down, aside and helped Su Xiaoning down from the carriage. He noticed a man lying in the carriage, and his intuition told him that this might not be a good person.
Su Xiaoning didn't know how to explain, so she could only nod, then pat her still-shaken chest and thank her savior.
"Thank you for saving me, young master. My name is Su Xiaoning, and I am currently staying at the Ninth Prince's residence in the capital. Would you please escort me back?"
"You live in the Prince's mansion?" Jiang Lin tilted his head and glanced at Su Xiaoning, secretly guessing her identity.
But seeing that Su Xiaoning seemed hesitant and unable to speak, he didn't make things difficult for her. He just smiled heartily at Su Xiaoning, pointed to himself and said, "My name is Jiang Lin. I happen to live in the capital, so it's very convenient for me to take you back. I was just out sightseeing this time, and when I saw that you were in danger, I stepped forward without thinking. It was just a small favor, so there's no need to thank me."
Jiang Lin? The son of General Jiang Fang?
Su Xiaoning had heard of this General Jiang as soon as she entered the capital. It was said that the Jiang family had practiced martial arts for generations and had outstanding military achievements, with each generation producing a general. The son of this general whom she had met by chance was sure to have a bright future.
Su Xiaoning couldn't help but glance at Jiang Lin a few more times. Jiang Lin seemed to sense her gaze and smiled at her with a carefree expression.
When he smiled, he revealed his cute little tiger teeth. Sunlight shone through the dappled leaves onto his face, so bright that it was hard to open one's eyes for a moment, and it was hard to tell whether the sunlight was too dazzling or his smile was too radiant.
Su Xiaoning's face flushed, and she quickly looked away, not daring to look again.
Jiang Lin, however, felt nothing. He moved Shen Jun from the carriage, intending to take him back to the capital. But the effects of the drug wore off quickly, and Shen Jun suddenly opened his eyes, staring at Jiang Lin in a bizarre scene.
"you……"
Shen Jun frowned, but before he could ask the question, he suddenly felt a cold sensation on his neck.
Jiang Lin's expression suddenly turned cold, a stark contrast to his previous demeanor. He pressed the dagger against Shen Jun's throat and said coldly, "I was originally planning to take you back for interrogation, but it's alright now that you're awake. Tell me, why did you kidnap this young lady? Who are you working for?"
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