Xuanyuan Han got up and went to the window, one hand behind his back, tightly clutching an exquisite white jade carved sachet.
He slowly gazed into the deep night outside the window with his deep eyes.
He said softly, "I don't know either."
Seeing that Xuan Yuanhan clearly still couldn't accept Yi Shangyun's departure, Cheng Liang also fell silent.
Although I feel extremely heartbroken, I don't know how to comfort you.
After all, so many people witnessed that dreadful disaster; how could there be any chance of survival?
Looking back over the past few years, the owner and Yi Shangyun have gone through too many hardships.
This man used his life to protect this land of Western Qin, and all living beings.
But unexpectedly, in the end, he was unable to protect the two people he wanted to protect the most.
People always say that after hardship comes happiness, right? But why is it so unfair, and why is this master treated so cruelly?
Thinking back to the calamity I suffered in Lu County, it is terrifying to think about, and even now I still feel lingering fear.
Not to mention Yi Shangyun, she was just a weak woman with no strength to even kill a chicken, how could she possibly fight against such a natural disaster?
Yet this woman, with a mysterious power, protected the people of her region with her own body.
And so, the two of them pondered their own thoughts and remained silent for a while.
Following his grief-stricken thoughts, Xuanyuan Han slowly said to Cheng Liang, "I believe that anyone caught in that once-in-a-century hurricane and sandstorm in Lu County would not have survived. Especially not Yun'er, who was already pregnant and weak..."
Whenever he recalls the way the mother and son left him, he feels helpless and can only watch as they leave him, unable to do anything. Xuan Yuanhan grits his teeth in pain.
At this moment, he tightened his fist holding the white jade carved sachet, as if he had squeezed it until it bled.
Deep down, he was so unwilling to accept defeat, so unwilling to let the bond between his family of three end like this.
So he carefully reviewed everything that had happened since he fell into a coma.
First, Zhang Zhiyuan suddenly appeared out of nowhere, came to the Prince's mansion, and told him that Yun'er was still alive while he was unconscious by his bedside.
But when he actually woke up, he vehemently denied ever saying such a thing.
Then came that stormy, rainy night.
He personally witnessed the legendary phoenix phantom appearing above Changning Palace.
Several years ago, in the Yi Mansion in the west of the city, a magical phoenix phantom appeared, and Yi Shangyun was awakened.
What caused the phoenix phantom to appear in Changning Palace?
Thinking of this, Xuan Yuanhan silently asked himself, "Is all of this really just a coincidence, or is it supernatural or superstitious?"
After a pause, Xuan Yuanhan continued his recollection.
Then, Yi Shangkun suddenly came to the door, saying that someone had brought back news that his daughter had passed away, and that he was even carrying the most cherished keepsake of Yi Shangyun.
It was this bracelet that made him absolutely certain of Yi Shangyun's passing.
But this bracelet was stolen.
That night, when they locked eyes, the fragrance emanating from that person could be anyone but the flamboyant Young Master Yi.
"Wait, now that I think about it, that person who nearly fell into the water that night didn't seem to know martial arts. Young Master Yi is not only skilled in martial arts, but also the scent on him... it seems like..."
Just as Xuanyuan Han was meticulously unraveling the mystery, pondering as if he were about to make a new discovery.
Cheng Liang, who had been silent with himself for a long time, also felt that everything that had happened in Changning Palace was quite strange.
After thinking for a moment, he suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.
"Does Your Highness still remember the young apothecary you met that night? She clearly said she was new, but Yi Shangkun said there were no newcomers in the Imperial Pharmacy. Later, I also checked the Imperial Pharmacy's roster..."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanhan was suddenly interrupted from his thoughts and anxiously asked, "How is it?"
Cheng Liang said, "My investigation has confirmed that Yi Shangkun was not lying. There were indeed no new staff members at the Imperial Pharmacy during those days."
Xuanyuan Han suddenly realized and said, "So, that night, it was indeed that little medicine girl who was lying!"
At this point, he finally understood everything: "That makes sense!"
So he explained to Cheng Liang, who still seemed unclear, "The palace maid we met later also said that a woman lived in Changning Palace. We also saw with our own eyes that women's belongings were being sent out of the palace. So the so-called new advisor that our emperor hid in Changning Palace was, from beginning to end, a woman disguised as a man!"
Cheng Liang thought for a moment, then said in confusion, "But I've never heard of the Emperor having any female advisors?"
At this moment, Xuanyuan Han suddenly let out a soft laugh: "Hmph..."
He then added, "That's right, so that woman wasn't a staff member either!"
Cheng Liang seemed to have a sudden realization, but then, considering that the emperor was not interested in women, he asked again, "If she's not a staff member, then she is..."
Xuanyuan Han's previously gloomy mood suddenly improved: "I once said that I clearly smelled Yun'er's scent on that fake little medicine girl."
At this moment, Cheng Liang finally understood, but he was also stunned: "Could it be that Your Highness means that the imposter girl who pretended to be a medicine girl is actually the Princess Consort...?"
Then, after a moment's thought, she said with a hint of doubt, "But if she really is the Princess Consort, how could she not recognize His Highness that night?"
Clearly, Xuanyuan Han was also puzzled by this.
But he did feel much more relaxed.
Even the two eyebrows that had seemed like they would never be smoothed out for so long suddenly began to relax.
Cheng Liang, standing to the side, grew increasingly puzzled, saying, "If she really is the Princess Consort, how come no one in the palace recognizes her? And why is she living in Changning Palace? It was even the Emperor's idea..."
She paused, then asked herself again, "And who was that man who died in Changning Palace?"
Xuanyuan Han was equally puzzled: "Yes, what is he planning now... Who is that man, and why did he die? Could it be related to Yun'er?"
After a while, Cheng Liang actually started asking and answering his own question: "Could it be because things are different now? Now that the Princess Consort has regained her appearance, no one in the palace can recognize her anymore? And no one knows that she is His Highness's new Princess Consort?"
"That's fine then. What I fear is that His Majesty already knows Yun'er's identity as his guardian, which is why he brought her into the palace and secretly placed her in Changning Palace..."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanhan felt a sudden and very bad premonition.
Cheng Liang was immediately anxious and said, "What should we do? If that's the case, then it'll be terrible."
Xuanyuan Han thought for a moment and said to him, "If that's the case, the fact that he hasn't made a move yet proves that he still has concerns. There's no need to be too nervous and lose your composure."
What truly puzzled Xuan Yuanhan was: "The best course of action now is to find out what happened to Yun'er. Why did she not give me any hints when I appeared before her? She acted as if I were a complete stranger."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Liang looked troubled and said, "But didn't that palace maid say that Changning Palace was already deserted? Where should we even begin to investigate?"
After a while, Xuanyuan Han suddenly remembered someone and said to Cheng Liang, "Perhaps there is someone who can help us."
Cheng Liang hurriedly asked, "Who is Your Highness referring to?"
Xuanyuan Han said, "It's a female pharmacist named Dingxiang from the Imperial Pharmacy..."
At this point, Cheng Liang smacked his forehead hard and suddenly realized what had happened.
“Yes, Dingxiang… How could I have forgotten about her? She and the Princess Consort have always been very close. If we ask her, she will surely tell us everything she knows.”
So he hurriedly asked his master, "In that case, should we withdraw the people we've stationed in Hundred Herbs Valley, Hundred Herbs Hall, the Yi Mansion in the west of the city, and Zhang Zhiyuan's residence, and focus all our efforts on searching for the Princess Consort's whereabouts..."
Xuanyuan Han pondered for a moment and then instructed, "Order men to continue to closely monitor Baicao Valley, Baicao Hall, the Yi Mansion in the west of the city, and Zhang Zhiyuan's residence. Report immediately if there is any disturbance. Zhang Zhiyuan and Yi Shangkun must be hiding something. We'll make the rest of the arrangements after we've met with Dingxiang."
"yes"
Just as Cheng Liang was about to turn around, Xuan Yuanhan spoke again: "Wait..."
Cheng Liang turned around and asked, "Does Your Highness have any further instructions?"
Xuanyuan Han thought for a moment and said, "Send some people to investigate the whereabouts of Tuoba Ze and Tuoba Hong. Report back immediately if you find anything."
Cheng Liang asked, puzzled, "Why does Your Highness suddenly want to investigate those two brothers?"
Xuanyuan Han explained, "I have always believed that, given Tuoba Ze's personality, he would never willingly become a slave of a conquered nation. Have someone investigate thoroughly to find out where he is and what he is doing."
"Yes, I understand."
After giving all the instructions, Xuan Yuanhan saw Cheng Liang turn around after accepting the order, but then stop and didn't retreat. He asked, "What's wrong? Is there something else?"
Cheng Liang turned around, his face full of worry, and said, "Your Highness, it seems that some spies from Dongning Kingdom have been discovered in the city recently."
"A spy from Dongning Kingdom?"
Xuanyuan Han frowned and thought for a moment, as if he had expected this, and then ordered: "First, send people to closely monitor their every move and see why they came to our Western Qin this time. We must thoroughly find out what their purpose is."
Cheng Liang then clasped his hands in acceptance of the order, saying, "Yes! Your subordinate understands..."
At this point, Cheng Liang finally turned around and left.
The room was silent.
Inside Lin Yuexuan, the candlelight flickered dimly.
Xuanyuan Han slowly took out the exquisite white jade carved sachet that he had hidden in his sleeve.
He spoke softly to her, saying to himself, "Yun'er, you're still alive, aren't you?"
"Did you orchestrate this funeral yourself?"
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