Xin He nodded calmly: "Keep an eye on them all the way and don’t let anything go wrong."
Shulan responded: "Don’t worry, Your Highness. I’ve sent clever young servants to follow them. They won’t be careless before the Imperial Edict reaches Yu State."
After all, Song Yalin is quite cunning. With her scheming mind, who knows if she is truly accepting her fate or hiding other intentions? Ji Xinhe couldn’t let her guard down.
Xin He nodded: "That’s good."
As she said that, she struggled to sit up.
Shulan hurriedly helped her, then handed her a warm towel to wipe her face: "Your Highness, there’s no need to worry. Duan Lan is now in jail, and Song Yalin no longer has support. How could she possibly create any trouble? Don’t take her too seriously. The Imperial Edict, which is still on the way, is just a joke."
Xin He rubbed her temple: "It’s not settled yet, it’s still better to be cautious."
"Yes."
Ah Guai entered with short steps, calling softly: "Mommy."
Xin He smiled and picked her up: "Ah Guai, why did you get up so early today?"
Ah Guai wriggled her little butt, found a comfortable position on Ji Xinhe’s lap, and then grinned: "Ah Guai decided to study hard! So, I will get up early every day."
Xin He chuckled: "Really? Why has our Ah Guai suddenly become so ambitious?"
Ah Guai mumbled: "Brother Song Xi and Uncle Little Nan’s studies are better than mine. If Ah Guai doesn’t work hard, she’ll be looked down upon."
Xin He smiled and pinched her little face: "Who dares to look down on you?"
"I’m going to class soon," Ah Guai jumped off Xin He’s lap.
Xin He kissed her cheek: "Be good and go."
Looking at Ah Guai’s departing figure, Shulan couldn’t help but be surprised: "Is the little princess really determined to make progress? It’s rare for her to get up so early for class! The teacher must be delighted."
Xin He smiled helplessly: "I know this child well. She’ll lose interest in no time. Tell the woman attending her to prepare a saliva cloth and a small blanket in advance, just in case she falls asleep and catches a cold."
Now that it’s late autumn, sleeping on a cold desk can easily cause illness, but Xin He didn’t want to dampen Ah Guai’s enthusiasm.
Shulan giggled: "If the teacher hears this, he’ll be furious."
Xin He shot her a light glare: "That’s why you better keep your mouth shut!"
"Yes, yes, yes."
As they were chatting, Xiaoyu walked in with a serious face, looking grim: "Your Highness, a scout has come back with news."
Seeing Xiaoyu’s expression, Xin He’s heart sounded an alarm, her eyes narrowing: "What’s wrong?"
Xiaoyu said: "It’s the people who were keeping an eye on Song Yalin. They said she suddenly disappeared."
Xin He’s eyes turned icy: "Disappeared?!"
Shulan exclaimed: "How could someone just suddenly disappear?"
"Your Highness, do you want to go out and ask the scout yourself?" Xiaoyu asked.
Xin He’s eyes were cold as she got up and walked out, her hair still uncombed.
At the moment, there was a trembling young servant kneeling and bowing in the hall, head down and almost too afraid to speak. Hearing Ji Xinhe’s footsteps, he hurriedly began to kowtow and beg for mercy: "This servant is guilty. I failed to keep an eye on her, I deserve to die! Please spare me this once, Your Highness!"
Xin He said coldly: "Explain what happened, in detail!"
The young servant trembled as he spoke: "I was following the Song family’s carriage to Lanshan Temple, and everything seemed fine. When we arrived at the temple, Miss Song said she had to use the restroom, and someone accompanied her. I never thought she would run away since there’s nowhere to go but the temple in these desolate hills. I mean, where could a young lady go on her own? But, she just...vanished."
Xin He’s expression turned icy: "She disappeared at Lanshan Temple?!"
"Yes..." the young servant buried his head in the ground, his voice trembling.
Xin He and Xiaoyu exchanged glances, both understanding that Song Yalin must have held back some tricks.
The trembling young servant spoke: "Your Highness... spare me."
Xin He coldly glanced at him: "Take fifty beatings."
The servant’s face turned pale. Fifty beatings! That was half of his life!
Shulan scolded: "What are you waiting for? Get out of here! You messed up a big deal, and it’s your luck that Her Highness hasn’t taken your life."
The young servant hastily kowtowed in apology: "Yes, yes, yes! I know my mistake, I’ll take my punishment right away."
As the servant left, Xin He’s face turned completely gloomy.
Xiaoyu said in a deep voice: "I’ve ordered people to look for her. She disappeared at Lanshan Temple, and as a weak woman, she shouldn’t have gone far. She won’t be hard to find."
Xin He shook her head gravely: "Something’s wrong."
Xiaoyu asked doubtfully: "What’s wrong, Your Highness?"
"Lanshan Temple is on the mountain, surrounded by nothing but wilderness. No one in their right mind would dare to run around there unless," Xin He’s eyes turned colder, "unless she already had backup."
Xiaoyu’s eyes flashed: "Your Highness, are you saying someone is behind her?"
"Otherwise, do you think she could make it down the mountain on her own? A pampered young lady from a wealthy family would never have the ability or the courage to do that!" Ji Xinhe said coldly.
And it was precisely because everyone knew she wouldn’t dare do it that they relaxed their guard when she went up the mountain. Song Yalin was waiting for this opportunity to escape!
Xiaoyu said solemnly: "But, Duan Lan is already in jail. Who else could be behind her?"
Xin He shook her head: "I don’t know, but something is definitely not right."
With Song Yalin suddenly vanishing and slipping from her control, what was once a simple situation had suddenly become complicated. To what extent could it become complicated, Ji Xinhe had yet to fathom.
Her once peaceful heart was now becoming restless again.
Xin He had a vague feeling that this matter was going to become troublesome!
They waited all morning for news of Song Yalin, but found nothing, though Mu Houchu hurried back, probably having heard the news and rushed back on purpose.
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