Xue Zi Ning frowned, but why would Prince Jing summon Lin Qian Qian to the capital?
The only thing she could think of that Prince Jing might exploit was Lin Qian Qian's marriage. She couldn't imagine any other use for her.
Then, who did Prince Jing intend to marry Lin Qian Qian to? Did he want her to be a political bride with the Emperor, or marry Hua Yun Dan? Or was there a better candidate?
"Miss Lin, His Highness wishes to see you."
Lin Qian Qian walked in, and a sharp chill hit her face. She instinctively took a step back.
"You are not my cousin."
It was a statement, not a question. Lin Qian Qian, terrified, quickly knelt on the ground. "Your… Your Highness, this humble girl is of the Lin family's bloodline."
"No, you are not. I have thoroughly investigated everything you did at Han Ling Pass. Even now, do you still try to deceive me?"
Lin Qian Qian trembled all over, but her tense mind quickly calmed down. Since no one knew she was an imposter, and they allowed her to come to the Prince's manor, it must be more than just to expose her.
With this thought, Lin Qian Qian knelt on the ground and kowtowed, begging for mercy. "Your Highness, spare my life. This commoner was simply momentarily deluded."
"Momentarily deluded?" Prince Jing asked.
Lin Qian Qian faltered. She bit her lower lip and said, "Yes, this commoner was momentarily deluded. I was abandoned by my parents since childhood and never enjoyed their care. So when I saw how Mr. and Mrs. Zhao doted on me, I… I…"
She covered her face and sobbed. She felt that while her explanation might not fully convince Prince Jing, it might at least garner some sympathy.
After a long silence, she heard a cold chuckle from in front of her. Her body stiffened, and she heard a chilling voice say, "But I heard that the Taoist priest Sun who raised you treated you as his own daughter. Miss Lin, have you forgotten?"
Lin Qian Qian trembled. It had been so long since anyone had called her that. She had buried the truth of her identity and that of the Taoist priest Sun deep in her heart. But now, with it being brought up again, she realized that some things buried deep in memory could never be forgotten.
"Your Highness, please forgive me…" She didn't know what else to say. Her body felt cold. How much did Prince Jing know?
Was she as transparent as glass before him? The thought sent a chill through her, making her tremble as if she were in an ice cellar with no warmth.
"You have no need to fear. If I wanted to expose you, you wouldn't be standing before me," Prince Jing said, stepping down from his seat.
She saw his cloud boots, trimmed with gold thread, enter her vision. She could only tremble.
"Your Highness, spare my life, Your Highness spare my life." She pleaded.
"You indeed deserve to die, but I believe you can still be useful. If you do one thing for me, I can spare your life and allow you to continue being Miss Lin of the Lin manor."
"Your Highness, as long as this commoner can do it, I will go through fire and water without hesitation," Lin Qian Qian quickly said.
Leaving Prince Jing's study, Lin Qian Qian let out a sigh of relief. Yue Hong, who was waiting in the courtyard, stepped forward. "Miss."
"Yue Hong, help me back to my room." Lin Qian Qian felt as if all her strength had been drained in the presence of Prince Jing; she was exhausted.
"Miss, why are you so tired?" Yue Hong asked, concerned.
"It's more relaxing here in the Lin manor," Lin Qian Qian said.
"Miss, did Prince Jing say something?" Yue Hong asked.
Lin Qian Qian glared and said in a low voice, "What business is it of yours, a mere maid?"
Yue Hong, terrified, quickly begged for mercy. "Miss, please forgive me. This servant has overstepped."
Seeing Yue Hong beg for mercy, Lin Qian Qian felt her sense of inferiority, which had weighed on her in the study, begin to dissipate.
"Get up. This is not the Lin manor; we must be cautious," Lin Qian Qian said.
Yue Hong quickly replied, "Yes, Miss. This servant remembers."
Lin Qian Qian placed her hand on Yue Hong's arm. "Help me back to my room."
"Yes, Miss." Yue Hong helped Lin Qian Qian away.
"Miss, the rules in the Prince's manor are far more numerous than in our manor," Yue Hong said as she helped Lin Qian Qian.
"Yes, so Yue Hong, as my maid, you must not make any mistakes. Here, you are the only one I trust," Lin Qian Qian said, looking at Yue Hong.
Yue Hong replied, "Miss, rest assured, this servant will not cause you any trouble."
Lin Qian Qian nodded. "Let's go!"
A sound came from not far away. Lin Qian Qian looked up and saw two figures. She recognized them; they were the guards who had brought her to the Prince's manor.
"Miss, it's Guard Ning and Guard Jiang," Yue Hong whispered in her ear.
Lin Qian Qian nodded. "I know."
"Miss…"
Lin Qian Qian looked at the back of Guard Feng, and for some reason, she felt an inexplicable feeling.
Seeing her standing there in a daze, Yue Hong asked, "Miss, what is wrong?"
"Do you feel that Guard Feng…"
Yue Hong asked, "Miss, what about Guard Feng?"
Lin Qian Qian shook her head. "I can't quite say. I just feel something is different."
"Forget it. How could I possibly know Guard Feng?" Lin Qian Qian shook her head and smiled.
Yue Hong replied, "Then, Miss, is it possible that you have seen him somewhere else?"
Lin Qian Qian faltered. "Somewhere else?"
Yue Hong nodded. "Yes, has someone resembling Guard Feng…"
Yue Hong suddenly stopped speaking. Lin Qian Qian looked at Yue Hong. Yue Hong said in a low voice, "Miss, perhaps it's best you return to rest!"
Lin Qian Qian nodded, but she couldn't stop thinking about Yue Hong's mention of a resemblance.
"Ning'an, what's wrong?" Jiang Bei asked, noticing that Xue Zi Ning seemed a little off.
She shook her head. It felt as if someone had been watching her just now, but when she looked, she saw no one.
"It's nothing. Perhaps I haven't been resting well lately."
Jiang Bei said, "His Majesty the Phoenix Emperor has been missing for a long time. You've been traveling for days, you must be tired. Go back and rest early!"
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "Alright, I'll go back and rest now."
After bidding farewell to Jiang Bei, she returned to her room. Just as she was about to lie down on the bed, she suddenly sprang up and attacked a corner of the room.
"Is this how you thank your savior?"
A voice sounded. She froze for a moment, then clearly saw the person in the black cloak. She sneered, "How would I know my savior likes to lurk in other people's rooms?"
"Lurk?"
"Isn't that what you're doing? Otherwise, what are you doing in my room?"
"Heh…" He let out a low chuckle, which seemed to possess a magic that made her feel captivated.
"Be careful of Lin Qian Qian."
Xue Zi Ning blinked and asked, "What do you mean?"
"Figure it out yourself." With that, he left.