Zhou Lin frowned, gazing in the direction of Kyoto, clenching his fist. He had already sent people back last night to verify what Su Jin had said.
Having been stationed on the border year-round, Zhou Lin was unaware of many things.
Therefore, he needs to investigate, observe, and evaluate things himself.
Empress Dowager, is everything really as Su Jinxia said?
I once regarded you as my mother...
Not long after, Liu Shuyi arrived with hot soup.
"What happened? General Jiang Long came to me in a fit of rage, asking me to advise you."
Zhou Lin frowned. "He went to see you? Damn it! You don't need to pay any attention to him."
Liu Shuyi handed the hot soup to Zhou Lin, saying, "I can ignore him, but your open defiance of the Empress Dowager's orders... isn't that...?"
Zhou Lin put down the soup, looking slightly annoyed. "Don't say anything more. Don't worry, I'll handle it."
Liu Shuyi's expression softened, and she nodded gently. "I, a woman, really don't understand matters on the battlefield. I hope you've thought it through."
Zhou Lin squeezed Liu Shuyi's hand. "I have something to do. You should go back first. It's getting colder these days. Don't keep going out. If you catch a cold, you won't be able to get up again."
Liu Shuyi nodded obediently and withdrew.
At dusk, a maid stumbled into the study, shouting, "Your Highness, Your Highness, the Princess and Miss are missing!"
The book in Zhou Lin's hand fell to the ground with a "thud".
"What did you say?"
The maid took a breath and quickly explained what had happened, "The sun was shining brightly at noon today, so the Princess took Miss for a walk in the garden. However, she hadn't returned by dinner time, so I sent people to look for her. Unexpectedly, we found Biqing unconscious in the courtyard. She was the only one with the Princess and Miss. She was unconscious, so something must have happened to the Princess and Miss!"
Before the maid could finish speaking, Zhou Lin had already run out and immediately ordered all the guards to search for the princess and the young lady.
Night fell quickly, and the princess and her daughter were nowhere to be found in the entire palace; they seemed to have vanished into thin air.
The only person capable of bringing two living people out of the palace without anyone noticing could be...
Zhou Lin stormed into Jiang Long's yard and kicked open Jiang Long's door.
Jiang Long was playing with a concubine in bed when he saw Zhou Lin. He wasn't surprised or embarrassed at all. Holding the beauty, he said happily, "Oh, you found me so quickly!"
"It really is you!" Zhou Lin instantly drew his long sword from his waist, the tip of the sword pointing straight at Jiang Long's face.
"ah!"
Jiang Long shoved the beauty in his arms in front of him, and the beauty was so frightened that she turned pale and screamed loudly.
Zhou Lin stopped his sword in time, preventing the beauty from bleeding on the spot. He angrily asked Jiang Long, "Where did you take the princess and Li'er?"
Jiang Long smiled wickedly, "Please invite them to stay at my mountain villa for a few days. Don't worry, I will send someone to take good care of them!"
Zhou Lin narrowed his eyes. "You'd better pray that they're safe and sound!"
With that, Zhou Lin sheathed his sword and strode outside. He needed to find them quickly. "Someone, go..."
"Wait!" Jiang Long shouted, getting out of bed. "I haven't finished speaking yet!"
"If the Third Prince obediently sends troops, the Princess and Li'er will naturally be safe and sound. But if the Third Prince remains obstinate, then... I can't guarantee anything!"
"What do you mean!" Zhou Lin finally understood Jiang Long's intention; he wanted to blackmail him.
A sinister glint flashed in Jiang Long's eyes, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue. "I advise Your Highness not to act rashly. My men are terrified of Your Highness's reputation. They might tremble at the slightest sound, and who knows what might happen if they do!"
"You deserve to die!" Zhou Lin roared, turning around and grabbing Jiang Long by the neck.
Jiang Long did not resist, his smile undiminished. "Your Highness, you may kill me. With the Princess and Xiao Li'er by my side, I will die without regret!"
Zhou Lin released his grip in an instant. Jiang Long's life was worthless, but his princess and daughter could not be harmed in the slightest!
Jiang Long stretched his neck and smugly ordered, "Your Highness, please muster the troops tonight and do not delay the departure time!"
——
Midnight, in a small courtyard in the mountains, guards stood watch in three layers inside and three layers outside.
Su Jin and Zhou Chen crouched on the outer wall, not daring to make any rash moves.
Half an hour ago, Su Jinxia received news that Zhou Lin had mobilized troops overnight and was still planning to send them out. But strangely, the Third Princess and her daughter Zhou Li left the palace and went into the mountains.
Su Jinxia instantly understood. There was no reason for Zhou Lin to muster troops in the middle of the night and send his relatives out of the mansion. He must have been threatened.
Upon arriving in Keli City, Su Jin immediately investigated the situation at the Prince's Mansion and learned that Jiang Long was there and that Jiang Long was in full charge of the conscription.
Therefore, Zhou Lin was merely a pawn, while Jiang Long was the instigator. If the pawn disobeyed, Jiang Long would force it to obey.
Having figured all this out, Su Jin followed the direction indicated by the scout and arrived at the secluded courtyard in the mountains with Zhou Chen.
"Sister, can you beat her?" Zhou Chen asked in a very low voice.
Su Jin's brows furrowed with unusual seriousness. "Even if we could win, it's impossible to kill everyone in a short time. What if the guards are ruthless and directly harm the Princess and Zhou Li?"
Zhou Chen pursed his lips tightly, saying that they should not alert the guards, otherwise it would backfire.
Snowflakes drifted onto Zhou Chen's face. He said softly, "It's snowing. Why don't we wait a little longer?"
Perhaps we can find an opportunity when the snow gets heavier.
Su Jin nodded. "You stay here for now. I'll go check the Princess's exact location."
Afterwards, Su Jin quietly circled the Prince's mansion and found the east wing with the most guards.
If I'm not mistaken, the princess and Zhou Li should be inside.
The guards patrolled constantly, remaining highly vigilant, so Su Jin dared not venture too far and could only wait for an opportunity.
As night deepened, the snow began to fall more heavily.
Su Jinxia and Zhou Chen huddled in the corner, their hands and feet stiff with cold.
Suddenly, a large robe covered Su Jin's lower body, and then she was embraced in a warm embrace.
Su Jin looked at Zhou Chen in surprise.
Zhou Chen grinned and said softly, "Sister, this is warmer."
Su Jin smiled, reached out and poked Zhou Chen's forehead with her finger, and said in a light reproach, "At least you have some conscience."
Su Jin gazed at the moonlight, silently calculating the time.
At the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), the deepest time of night, Su Jinxia and Zhou Chen quietly scaled the wall and sneaked into the courtyard.
There are very few guards patrolling anymore; most of them are resting in their rooms.
After Su Jinxia and Zhou Chen sneaked into the east wing, they split up. Zhou Chen went to the room where the guards were resting and quietly blew sleeping powder into the room.
Su Jin then went to the main house, where two guards stood watch at the entrance.
With a flash of silver light, Su Jinxia unleashed two small, sharp hidden weapons that flew out at lightning speed and pierced the temples of the guards before they could react.
The guard didn't even have time to shout before he collapsed.
Su Jin walked quickly to the door, reached out and used her internal force to open the lock. The sound wasn't too loud and didn't disturb the people inside or outside the room.
Zhou Chen arrived at this time, and the two entered the dark room. Zhou Chen went straight to the bed, but Su Jinxia had already noticed something was wrong.
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