The crow turned to ash in his hand.
In a secret chamber far away, the man lying on the ice bed coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Wiping his lips with his hand, he curled his lips into a smile, the blood-stained smile carrying a hint of malevolence. "I didn't expect them to find my substitute so quickly? Interesting."
"Master, how are you?" someone asked from behind.
The man stood up, looking out the window with a smile that was not quite a smile. "I'm fine. Have you found out who I asked you to investigate?"
"Master, your subordinate is useless. I couldn't find the Empress's whereabouts. Perhaps... perhaps she was eaten by sea sharks!"
"Perhaps? You give me such an ambiguous answer?" The man turned around and asked the man kneeling before him, word by word.
The one kneeling on the ground trembled with fear and quickly begged for mercy. "Master, spare my life, Master, spare my life!"
"Go find her. I want to see her alive, or at least her body. Otherwise, don't come back."
The subordinate dared not delay and quickly retreated.
"Trash," the man said coldly.
It seemed Xue Jing Yun had not found the Empress either, otherwise, he wouldn't have spoken so harshly to him.
That meant the Empress's fate was unknown.
He had to find the Empress first.
Xue Jing Yun walked out of the room. Han Yao, who had been paying attention to his movements, stepped forward and saw the black cloak in the room and the ashes of the animal carcass.
Turning around, she asked, "Miao Jiang secret technique?"
Xue Jing Yun turned to look at Han Yao and asked faintly, "Does the Princess understand?"
Han Yao chuckled softly at his words. "This Princess has studied it before."
Xue Jing Yun looked at her indifferently and said coolly, "What does the Princess mean..."
Han Yao smiled. "If His Highness needs it, this Princess..."
"This Princess does not need it. Thank you, Princess." Xue Jing Yun finished speaking and turned away calmly.
Han Yao was left standing there, unable to react. Han Xi Xia, who was following behind her, couldn't help but burst into laughter. "How is my elder sister?"
Han Yao's face turned ashen. "He doesn't know what's good for him."
"Elder sister, don't say that. How could Xue Jing Yun be so foolish as not to know what Elder Sister wants? Since he can't give it, why not refuse from the start?"
Han Yao looked at Han Xi Xia and said, "How do you know what he's thinking?"
Han Xi Xia smiled, his smile tinged with bitterness. "Elder sister, don't compare Xue Jing Yun with ordinary men. He would never do anything that would betray the Empress, so he wouldn't accept anything that could be suspected."
Han Yao was amused and said, "He knows what I want?"
Han Xi Xia smiled. "It's so obvious, who wouldn't see it?"
"But doesn't he want to find the Empress? I know a little Miao Jiang secret technique, I can help him." Han Yao was still a little unwilling.
Han Xi Xia said, "Elder sister, don't forget that Xue Jing Yun, as the former Crown Prince of Xue Country, his strength should not be underestimated."
Han Yao sighed. "Such a perfect man, how come I can't encounter one? I really want to see the legendary Empress. What kind of person could capture this gem?"
"Don't underestimate the Empress either. She is not an ordinary person," Han Xi Xia said with a smile.
Han Yao chuckled softly and stepped forward, putting her chin on his and teasing, "What? Little Xia'er, do you like the Empress?"
Han Xi Xia did not hide it. "I do, but she doesn't like me."
"If you like her, go and fight for her," Han Yao patted her younger brother's shoulder for encouragement.
Han Xi Xia smiled bitterly. "As Elder Sister said, Xue Jing Yun is a gem. With such a gem around, who would notice me?"
Han Yao nodded unceremoniously. "You're right."
Han Xi Xia was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. "Elder Sister, can you give me some confidence?"
"Others might, but you are up against Xue Jing Yun. Don't even think about it, there's no chance of winning," Han Yao said without reservation.
Han Xi Xia sighed. "So, I'm not going to compete. I can't win. It's better to be friends, maybe then I'll have a chance to see her."
Han Yao sighed. "Should I learn from you and be friends?"
"Why not?"
Han Yao's eyes drooped in distress, but she liked Xue Jing Yun so much, she really, really liked him.
Leaving the Misty Rain Pavilion, Xue Jing Yun walked forward aimlessly.
Xue Yan and Xue Song exchanged glances. Xue Song quickened his pace and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, what's the next move?"
He could see that His Highness was a bit sad, as the clues had been broken.
Xue Jing Yun suddenly stopped and turned to look at Xue Song. Xue Song quickly stopped as well. "Your Highness..."
"The only place by the sea is An Country."
Xue Song was stunned. His Highness wasn't asking a question, but stating a fact.
It was Xue Yan who spoke up. "Your Highness, have you found a clue?"
Xue Jing Yun said faintly, "When I crushed that crow just now, it emitted a sea smell. It must have been in a place by the sea before, and An Country is the only place by the sea."
Xue Yan's eyes lit up. "Your Highness, are you saying that this crow might have been by the Emperor's side before?"
Xue Song was completely confused. "Your Highness, Xue Yan, what are you talking about? I don't understand!"
Xue Yan admonished him. "If you don't understand, then don't speak."
Xue Song pouted. His little Yan'er was being fierce to him again.
Xue Jing Yun looked at Xue Yan with admiration. "I had the same thought. Han Xi Chen first used crows to command Princess Xue Ling, and now he uses them to relay messages. I suspect A Ning has also seen the crow, and wherever the crow has been, that is where A Ning has been."
Xue Yan nodded. "Does this mean His Majesty is already in An Country?"
Xue Jing Yun said faintly, "I'm not sure, but we are not far from An Country. Xue Song, go and instruct them to thoroughly investigate all the coastal waters and fishing villages in An Country."
Xue Song nodded. "Your subordinate understands." If you don't understand, just follow instructions, and you won't go wrong.
Xue Yan breathed a sigh of relief. Having a direction made things easier. It was indeed His Highness's keen observation; ordinary people probably wouldn't have thought of this.
Xue Jing Yun felt the gloom of a moment ago had disappeared. A Ning, wait a little longer, he would definitely find her.
"Yan Zhao..." Xue Zi Ning opened her eyes and saw only darkness.
She sighed softly. She had been in this fishing village for several days.
She wanted to leave, but she didn't know how to row, and Wei Hai wouldn't take her.
She wasn't stupid; she could see that Wei Hai had other intentions towards her.
In this place surrounded by the sea, she could only wait for the best opportunity.
She wondered if Yan Zhao was worried sick.
She stayed like that until dawn. The door of the room opposite opened, and the sounds of drawing water and starting a fire began.
She also got up, wearing Wei Dong's mother's clothes. The coarse linen clothes, whether it was her delicate skin or the roughness of the clothes, her skin was chafed red.
Pushing the door open, she saw Wei Hai starting the fire. She walked forward and said, "Let me."
Wei Hai didn't refuse, he put down the firewood and went to wash the pot.