Chapter 547 You rushed back all the way here just to question me for a woman?
Lan Xiyue walked out of the county government office and strolled along the way. Her hands were not idle. In her left hand, she was holding a string of crystal clear candied haws, and in her right hand, she was holding an oil-paper bag containing steaming crab roe soup dumplings that had just come out of the oven.
Her sparkling eyes swept across the dazzling array of stalls on the street. The burnt aroma of sugar-roasted chestnuts and the rich flavor of pickled duck intertwined into an alluring aroma of urban life that went straight into her nose.
"Boss, give me one of these!"
"That one looks good, wrap it up!" Her clear voice was mixed in with the shouting.
Soon, her arms and shoulders were filled with all kinds of bags, including heavy boxes of snacks, bulging oil-paper bags, and delicate bamboo food boxes...all of them were the famous cakes, snacks and delicacies in Jinling City.
She did not mind the burden, nor did she plan to store them in her space. She just happily returned with a full load, like a moving "food tree", parading through the city, attracting many glances, but she did not care at all. With a satisfied smile on her lips, she ate and strolled along the way, as happy as a fairy.
When she finally walked back to the inn where she was staying, the maids Chuchun and Chuxia were leaning against the door frame, looking out. When they saw their master's appearance "covered with trophies", they were so shocked that their eyes almost popped out of their heads and exclaimed in unison: "Master! You...you have brought back all the snack shops on this street?"
Lan Xiyue was still chewing the last bite of crispy candy as she hummed indistinctly, her brows curved. "We bought all the special cakes and snacks from Jinling City. We've celebrated the New Year here and will set off in three days. What if we don't stock up on some of Jinling's delicious food, otherwise we'll get hungry on the way?" As she spoke, she struggled to unload several bags from her back.
The two girls finally came to their senses and hurriedly trotted forward, hurriedly taking over the heavy "burdens", holding them carefully, surrounding Lan Xiyue, and walking up the creaking wooden stairs to the guest rooms on the second floor.
Since leaving the capital, Lan Xiyue has been in a brighter and more comfortable mood than ever before.
This carefree and carefree life formed a stark contrast with her husband Mo Liyuan, who had just traveled day and night, exhausted and dusty, back to the capital.
In the study of the Regent's Palace.
The flickering candlelight illuminated Mo Liyuan's face, which was tired but still sharp as an eagle.
As soon as he took off his cloak, the butler came forward and, holding his breath, reported in detail the turmoil in Jingfeng Pavilion half a month ago, as well as the various situations after the princess left the mansion.
When Mo Liyuan first heard this, his brows slightly furrowed, thinking that Lan Xiyue was angry with the Queen Mother, or that she had temporarily left the house to avoid the limelight and seek some quiet time.
He immediately gave the order in a deep voice: "Tianyi, send the secret guards out to search! We must find the princess's whereabouts as soon as possible!"
However, as the night deepened, the secret guards sent out disappeared without a trace.
Mo Liyuan sat at his rosewood desk, his knuckled fingers tapping the cold surface intermittently, producing a dull thud that struck deeply. The chill emanating from him practically froze the air.
Tian Yi, who was standing by, had beads of cold sweat on his forehead. He whispered, "Master, there's been no news from the Duke of the Protectorate's Mansion about the princess. The old Duke has always believed that the princess went north to look for you. The Duke of the Protectorate's Mansion's third son even led a group of people north. I think... they've strayed from your route back to the capital."
A trace of imperceptible anxiety flashed across Mo Liyuan's deep eyes, and his voice was as cold as ice: "Where is An Yi? Did An Yi leave any mark?" An Yi was the leader of the An generation who he personally assigned to Lan Xiyue. He never left her side. Logically, wherever Yue'er went, he would definitely leave tracking clues.
Tianyi frowned upon hearing this, confusion and a hint of barely perceptible fear crossing his face. "Master... no, I can't find even a trace of the special mark An Yi usually uses."
He secretly wondered: Could it be... that An Yi had deliberately erased the traces? Was it the princess's order? The thought gave him a chill.
"No?" Mo Liyuan repeated these two words, and his fingers tapping on the table suddenly stopped.
A surge of rage mixed with a deeper unease surged in his chest.
He stood up suddenly, his wide sleeves stirring up a sharp breeze. His voice was firm and unquestionable: "Send more people!"
Before he finished speaking, he strode out of the study like a black whirlwind and headed towards Jingfeng Pavilion.
Inside Jingfeng Pavilion, the air is filled with the aroma of incense, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
The Queen Mother was reclining on the couch, chatting and laughing with Anya who was sitting below her.
Anya was dressed particularly beautifully today, and was whispering something in a soft voice to please the Queen Mother.
"Mother, I have been so busy talking that I have forgotten the time. It is getting late, so I will not disturb you from resting..."
Suddenly, there was a loud "clang!" The palace door was suddenly pushed open by a huge force, and the heavy door hit the wall with a terrifying echo.
The palace maids and eunuchs standing at the door were so frightened that they all knelt on the ground, trembling and not daring to breathe.
Mo Liyuan, dressed in a black python robe, looked weathered and violent, and walked in with an icy murderous intent that was so thick that it could not be dissolved.
The warm air in the hall seemed to freeze in an instant.
Anya's smile froze on her face. She hurriedly stood up and bowed gracefully, her voice trembling slightly as she said, "I…I greet the prince."
The Queen Mother was so shocked by the sudden intrusion and the terrifying aura of her son that she sat up straight, frowned in displeasure, and scolded, "Yuan'er? You're back? Where have you been all these days?"
Mo Liyuan seemed oblivious to what she was saying. His bottomless black eyes, like a cold pond, were fixed on the Queen Mother's face. Every word he spoke was icy and piercing: "Why?"
He took a step forward, his invisible pressure pressing down like a mountain. "You want to kill my Yue'er?"
The Queen Mother was startled by the undisguised anger in his eyes, and then flew into a rage. She slammed the rosewood table beside her, causing the teacups to clink. "You bastard! You rushed back all this way, only to question me over a woman?!"
"Why?" Mo Liyuan's voice was flat, yet full of strength, as he stubbornly repeated the same question.
The Queen Mother took a deep breath, suppressed the shock and anger in her heart, and put on a serious tone: "Why? I am doing this for your own good! You are the regent, second only to the emperor and above everyone else! How can you be deceived by a woman and be controlled by her? Lan Xiyue is a disaster!" Her words were loud and clear, with an unquestionable sense of "this is for your own good".
"For the king's own good?" Mo Liyuan raised the corner of his lips in an extremely cold and sarcastic arc. There was no warmth in that smile, only bone-chilling coldness.
His gaze suddenly turned to Anya, who was still bending over and her face was pale with fear.
Without any warning, not even an extra glance, Mo Liyuan just waved his wide robe sleeves seemingly casually!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
