"Princess, are you alright?" Xiao Cui, seeing her princess in such a state for the first time, hurried to support her.
Li Yanzhu shook her off and threw the letter into the water basin to destroy it.
"Go investigate. Tonight, I want to know everything about her."
"Yes."
Lan Yingnian, who was in charge of the area, had just run over and immediately ran out again.
"Xiao Cui, do you have any news from Xiao Guo?"
"A letter arrived the day before yesterday. The body of the Song family's eldest madam has not been found…"
"Where could she possibly be hidden?"
She turned her head, "Tell Xiao Guo to prepare to go to Mobei."
Xiao Cui acknowledged with a "Yes" and retreated.
Li Yanzhu stood alone by the wall.
The Wang and Fang families had always been at odds.
And this marriage was being brokered by Noble Consort Wan.
Her fingertips traced the texture of the wall, found a peculiar protrusion, and pressed it, revealing a dark recess.
She took out several papers, wrote down the matters concerning the Fang and Shen families, as well as some of her dealings with the Wang family, and then put them into the wall.
Chao Chao, what exactly are you plotting…
Li Yanzhu strode hurriedly towards the door.
She only hoped her father was not involved.
He shouldn't be. Chao Chao was someone he watched grow up, which was why he spared Chao Chao's life.
The more Li Yanzhu thought about it, the more convinced she became. The knot of depression in her heart loosened, and her furrowed brow smoothed out.
As soon as she stepped out of the mansion, she bumped into Xie Yan, who was rushing.
Li Yanzhu rubbed her forehead and opened one eye to look at him, "Xie Yan, what are you here for?"
"Something has happened."
Xie Yan's usually calm face showed a hint of anxiety.
"The Wang family has contacted the bandits in the mountains."
Xie Yan pulled Li Yanzhu along, "Where are you going? We can talk as we go."
With that, the two of them got into the carriage.
"Bandits?"
Xie Yan nodded, "I was ordered to suppress the bandits. I've been watching the outlaws in Dejin Mountain for a long time, but the terrain there is treacherous, and I haven't been able to break in. While staking them out a few days ago, I discovered people from the Wang family."
"What were the Wang family doing there?"
"Perhaps they intended to use the bandits to get rid of Chao Chao."
Xie Yan looked serious.
"My men followed them down the mountain and unexpectedly discovered the escort team for Chao Chao, but the team has been stationary for three days. The reason is that Mu Mu was poisoned, and Chao Chao disappeared to fetch medicine for Mu Mu."
He grabbed Li Yanzhu's hand, "Do you have Forget-Worry Grass?"
Li Yanzhu was completely stunned. She couldn't hear anything Xie Yan said afterward.
Bandits…
Forget-Worry Grass, something not even found in the palace…
Chao Chao had only mentioned the matter of slow-acting poison, saying nothing more.
With a pale face, she pressed down Xie Yan's hand holding hers and stammered, "Have you found out who it was?"
"The Wang family."
She had thought that by keeping Mr. Bai, who was renowned for his medical skills, by her side, nothing would go wrong. Ultimately, she had been negligent!
The Wang family, it was the Wang family again!
"Why does the Wang family want to kill Chao Chao?"
Xie Yan shook his head heavily, "I will send people to follow, but I searched the entire city for Forget-Worry Grass and could not find the medicinal herb. I can only try my luck here."
"Stop the carriage!"
With a cold expression, she lifted the carriage curtain, "Guards, send people to search for Forget-Worry Grass. Dig three feet into the ground if you must."
The carriage curtain fell, and she looked at Xie Yan again, "The Wang family, are you going?"
"Xiao Zhuzi, it's not the right time yet."
A cold smile curled Li Yanzhu's lips, "I, this princess, never consider the timing."
She called out loudly, "Depart."
"What are you going to do?"
"What am I going to do?" The coldness in Li Yanzhu's eyes could freeze a person. "I'm going to break his legs!"
"Aren't you afraid the Emperor will break your legs too?" Xie Yan raised an eyebrow and moved the hibiscus cakes on the table towards Li Yanzhu.
"He wouldn't dare!"
Xie Yan couldn't help but laugh. The sea blue pendant on his earlobe swayed with his movements.
"What are you laughing at?"
Li Yanzhu fiercely shoved the hibiscus cake in her hand into his mouth.
After taking a bite, Xie Yan pinched half of the cake in his hand, "Indeed, the hibiscus cakes from the Princess's mansion are the best."
Li Yanzhu snorted and glanced at him, "With insufficient rainfall this year, your family's apricots might not be sweet next year."
Xie Yan raised his eyebrows, "You're here to mock me because you're upset?"
"How would I dare, Brother Xie Yan."
Li Yanzhu called him that reluctantly, hoping this poisonous snake spirit would shut up quickly.
But seeing his restless demeanor,
She still offered a word of comfort, "Chao Chao is fine."
"How do you know?" Xie Yan's leaning body immediately straightened.
Li Yanzhu teased, "You care so much?"
"Not at all." Xie Yan leaned back again, his smile hidden, like an elegant white porcelain vase. "Song Chao Chao stole so many of my apricots for so many years, and she still owes me a lot of money."
Li Yanzhu tutted.
This man would eventually die because of his own mouth.
Why not admit it openly when he's a tsundere?
"However, I heard that Noble Consort Wan instigated this. If you go to the Wang family, aren't you falling into their trap?"
Li Yanzhu lowered her head and fiddled with the chessboard, answering nonchalantly, "I did it on purpose. I can't possibly agree to marry that scoundrel Wang Xuanwu as she wishes, can I? I'm still waiting for Mu Mu."
"You're truly shameless."
Li Yanzhu rolled her eyes at him, "If you had even half my courage, would Chao Chao have been snatched away by that Feng fellow?"
She placed a piece on the board with a click, "How could ten years of affection be worth less than a fleeting glance?"
"I only wish her happiness, the way she was when I first met her."
Xie Yan mournfully picked up a chess piece and began to play against Li Yanzhu. "Don't talk about me, we're almost at the Wang family's."
"Mm."
The game ended, and the carriage stopped.
Xie Yan looked at the chessboard, "Using the Wang family as bait, your attack is too rapid. One wrong step could lead to losing the entire game."
Li Yanzhu chuckled, "But, I won."
The two got out of the carriage. Xie Yan helped her down. "No one will indulge you forever."
Li Yanzhu stood firm and looked up at the Wang family's plaque. "Cousin, as long as the Wang family is in hand, I will not lose."
"What if the Wang family is gone?"
Li Yanzhu looked back at him with a smile, her eyes meaningful, "As long as I am, the Wang family will be. If I lose, it will be because I chose to lose."
After a few steps, they were welcomed into the main hall by a servant.
Seated at the head was Wang Xiang's son, Wang Xuanwu.
This man, despite having a rather refined appearance, was dressed in an overly "noble" manner, with jewels adorning nearly every finger.
And the person seated below made the two of them frown involuntarily.
"Feng Shaocheng?"
Li Yanzhu lifted her skirt and hurried into the hall.
Wang Xuanwu obsequiously greeted her, "Princess, why have you come?"
Li Yanzhu pulled at her skirt, stepped back,
circled around, and went to Feng Shaocheng, who had stood up, and asked with scrutiny, "Why are you here?"
Feng Shaocheng bowed politely, "Your subject heard that young master Wang was ill and came to visit."
Li Yanzhu looked at him suspiciously, but Wang Xuanwu blocked her view.
"Little Princess, have you also come to see me?"
Li Yanzhu's gaze met the smirking Wang Xuanwu, and with a "slap," she hit him cleanly and decisively.
"Princess, why are you hitting people?" Wang Xuanwu immediately covered his face and acted wronged.
"I want to break your legs too!"