Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, a guard hurried toward them.
Xuanyuan Han didn't even glance in that person's direction; he knew his identity simply by hearing the sound of his footsteps.
Instead, he spoke up to remind the Third Young Master Yi beside him: "What, are you sure how you got in? Why don't you leave just the same way? Do you really want me to order my men to attack you?"
Young Master Yi continued to glare at him with unwavering eyes, but seeing that he was clearly not getting any of the information he wanted, he finally said, "Xuanyuan Han, you're ruthless! But no matter what, I will never give up on that girl! Unless, I die!"
However, Xuan Yuanhan seemed utterly powerless against his provocation, showing no disdain whatsoever, and didn't even bother to look at his face again.
Just as he was about to be noticed by the guard, Young Master Yi lifted his foot and nimbly leaped onto the roof with lightning speed, instantly disappearing into the endless darkness of the night.
Just as it left.
The guard who had just arrived, Cheng Liang, was also Xuan Yuanhan's most trusted deputy general. He seemed to have a strange expression on his face as he entered the courtyard of Yunshui Pavilion.
His gaze immediately fell upon Xuan Yuanhan, who was standing under a sycamore tree in the corner of the courtyard, and he stepped forward and said, "Your Highness!"
Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Han slowly turned around and asked, "Is everything settled?"
Cheng Liang nodded: "Let them rest at the mansion tonight, and have the coachman take them away first thing tomorrow morning."
Xuanyuan Han naturally had no objection to this, so he remained silent.
Seeing the hesitation on his face, he pressed on, "What happened?"
After a moment's thought, Cheng Liang finally spoke, "Just as Your Highness predicted, news has just come from the palace that His Majesty has ordered Your Highness to lead troops to Lu County to support disaster relief efforts first thing tomorrow morning!"
Xuanyuan Han was taken aback.
As Cheng Liang said, although he had anticipated that Emperor Jing would make such a decision, he did not expect it to happen so quickly.
Coming to his senses, he said calmly, "This day has indeed come. It seems he already guessed that it was I who rescued those disaster victims! Now, with this disaster relief... he has already made up his mind to make sure I never return."
Cheng Liang also said indignantly, "Who in the entire court doesn't know? The Bureau of Astronomy has already predicted that the massive sandstorm in Lu County will arrive as scheduled in a little over a month. I never expected that His Majesty would so blatantly persecute His Highness and try to kill him!"
Xuanyuan Han said in a deep voice, "If he hadn't wanted me to expand his territory and help him find the descendants of the guardians all these years, he probably would have attacked me long ago. Why would he have waited until today!"
For a moment, recalling the suppression he had suffered at the hands of Emperor Jing over the years, Cheng Liang grew angrier and angrier, yet also unwilling to give up: "Over the years, we have prepared quite well. In addition, with the mysterious identity of the Princess Consort, if we were to contend with her, our chances of winning would be very high."
But the thought of Shou Bo and his servant, who were still nowhere to be found, filled him with a sense of loss: "It's a pity that we still can't expose the Empress Dowager's conspiracy. If everyone in the court knew that the current high-ranking master was the Empress Dowager's carefully orchestrated scheme to replace the crown prince, the political situation would definitely reverse drastically, and everything would turn in favor of the late emperor's only bloodline... Your Highness. But how did Shou Bo and his servant suddenly disappear without a trace, as if they had vanished into thin air..."
Cheng Liang was deep in thought, pondering to himself, when Xuan Yuanhan spoke softly, "The mysterious identity of the princess is never to be mentioned again! I desire this world, and I will take it through my own efforts. Regardless of my ultimate fate, I only wish for her to live a peaceful and happy life as an ordinary woman, simply my princess."
Just as the two were lost in their own thoughts, another guard hurried into the Yunshui Pavilion: "Your Highness!"
As the guard approached, he held up a sealed letter sealed with sealing wax and respectfully presented it to Your Highness: "Your Highness, this is an urgent report that we just received from Lu County!"
Upon hearing that the news came from Lu County, Xuan Yuanhan felt his heart skip a beat and suddenly became nervous for some reason.
Cheng Liang realized his master's mood, so he quickly reached out and took it. He then waved one hand to signal the guard to step back, and then personally handed it to Xuan Yuanhan.
Xuan Yuanhan stared at the envelope that Cheng Liang was holding firmly in his hand, which seemed to be trembling slightly. He slowly took it, unfolded it, and was instantly stunned.
Cheng Liang quickly realized that something must have happened to Yi Shangyun, and asked anxiously, "But what happened to Her Highness the Princess?"
Before Xuan Yuanhan could speak, his eyes widened in disbelief. He frantically scanned the letter, finally stopping in his tracks and exclaiming, "Yun'er... is missing?"
"What? Her Highness the Princess Consort... has disappeared!" Even Cheng Liang, who was standing beside her, couldn't believe his ears.
Thinking to himself, how could something like this still happen when they had protected Yi Shangyun so well during his trip to Lu County?
Once she came to her senses, she asked anxiously, "When did this happen?"
Xuanyuan Han frowned deeply, trying hard to suppress his worry, and said, "When Wei Ning reported this matter to me, he had already been searching for three days."
"What... already three..." Cheng Liang was immediately shocked.
After a moment's thought, Xuanyuan Han quickly made up his mind.
He immediately instructed Cheng Liang, "There's no time to lose. I must head to Lu County right away. You stay here and continue searching the entire city for Shou Bo and his servant. Even if you have to turn the capital upside down, you must find them for me..."
Without a second thought, Cheng Liang immediately objected, "No, Your Highness must accompany you to Lu County. It would be far too dangerous for Your Highness to go alone!"
At this moment, Xuan Yuanhan was only concerned about the whereabouts of Yi Shangyun and did not want to waste a single moment. He said dismissively, "Yun'er, a woman who is not strong enough to kill a chicken, can face the great danger of Lu County alone. What do I have to fear?"
“But Your Highness…” Although he knew that his master was so flustered because of Yi Shangyun’s sudden disappearance, Cheng Liang was still worried about his master traveling alone.
Just as he was about to say something and try to persuade him to stay, Xuanyuan Han gave him an ultimatum: "Alright, it's decided then. Go and prepare quickly! There's no need to wait for tomorrow's imperial decree; I will lead my troops to set off immediately!"
Seeing that his master had made up his mind, Cheng Liang knew that it would be useless to say anything more, so he could only obey the order to go and make preparations.
Looking back, he suddenly remembered something, and turned back again, saying, "Your Highness, I have something to ask..."
With his back to her, Xuan Yuanhan gazed at the Yunshui Pavilion, which was as gentle and serene as she was, under the deep night sky, and his heart was filled with turbulent emotions.
Upon hearing this, he said in a deep voice, "What else is there?"
Cheng Liang said, "Your Highness may not know this, but Lanxiang and her granddaughter are also going to Lu County. Would Your Highness be willing to take them with you?"
Today, Lu County is a desolate and barren place, where not a blade of grass grows. If it weren't someone's hometown, why would anyone go there? Xuan Yuanhan was truly surprised.
So he asked her to confirm, "Are you sure they're going to Lu County?"
Cheng Liang seemed quite sympathetic to Lanxiang's plight, saying, "Miss Lanxiang is also a pitiful person. Her mother unfortunately encountered a heartless man, and perhaps worried that her elderly grandmother would be left unattended after she got married, so she wanted to entrust her to her father. When she found out that her father had gone to Lu County, she insisted on going to find him!"
Xuanyuan Han thought about it for a moment, and finally agreed: "Okay!"
"Your Highness, I thank you on behalf of Lanxiang and her mother-in-law!" After saying this, he quickly withdrew to arrange related matters.
Xuanyuan Han couldn't wait a moment longer. He murmured, "Yun'er, wait for me. I'll be right there. Nothing can happen to you!"
Soon, Cheng Liang had everything ready.
The entire team, in a grand and imposing manner, stood ready to depart at the entrance of the Prince's Mansion.
When Consort Chun learned of Yi Shangyun's sudden disappearance, she was extremely anxious.
At this moment, supported by Huan'er and Granny Zhang, they arrived at the gate of the Prince of Qin's mansion to see Xuan Yuanhan off.
Upon seeing her emerge, Xuanyuan Han hurriedly stepped forward and respectfully clasped his hands in a salute, saying, "Mother, do not worry, your son will be back soon."
Knowing all this, Consort Chun gazed at his face, feeling both heartache and helplessness, with tears welling up in her eyes.
After a while, she tried to suppress her reluctance and instead praised Yi Shangyun, saying to her, "Mother Consort has always known that my son's judgment is definitely not bad."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanhan looked at Consort Chun's face with some confusion.
The Dowager Consort Chun smiled kindly and said, "Your Princess Consort is indeed very good. Everything she has done in Lu County, leading the local people, has amazed me greatly. Princess Consort, she has not disgraced the Qin Prince's Mansion!"
Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Han finally understood.
Unexpectedly, Yi Shangyun's trip to Lu County received such high praise from Consort Chun.
Then, recalling the occasional minor conflicts between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Xuan Yuanhan became so excited that he could hardly speak: "Mother, now you understand, right? Yun'er is just that kind of woman. Seemingly ordinary, yet extremely extraordinary..."
Consort Chun nodded in agreement with his view.
She paused, then continued, "Go. After the sandstorm in Lu County, bring the Princess Consort back to the Qin Prince's Mansion safely. I am getting old, and I want to personally pass on the role of mistress of the Qin Prince's Mansion to her!"
"Mother!" Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Han was extremely excited.
Consort Chun smiled faintly the whole time.
Xuanyuan Han solemnly promised her, "I have remembered everything you said, Mother. Please take good care of yourself, Mother. I will definitely bring the Princess back soon to pay my respects to you!"
"Yes," Consort Chun smiled and nodded seriously.
Xuanyuan Han immediately turned around and mounted the horse.
He led a mighty and fierce army behind him and set off for Lu County.
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