Chapter 135: Street Rumors

"Do you know where they live?"

"They live at the Longxing Inn."

At this moment, Mo Junyan returned to Prince Li's residence, and Yun Shui said with a smile, "Prince, Yun Shan has returned to Jingcheng this time; should we let him come back?"

"No need, Yun Shan will continue to stay by her side." Mo Junyan never expected Chi Nan Yi to return to Jingcheng at this critical moment; now Jingcheng is at its most unsettled, Yun Shan's martial skill is high, and with him protecting her, she can be a bit more at ease: "Have you found any news about another guard?"

"No."

"Continue the search."

"Yes!"

Chi Nan Yi, upon entering the room, stepped straight into the space and, looking at the endless supplies of food within, smiled and said, "A massive blizzard is about to arrive, and Jingcheng will inevitably fall into a famine. When that happens, how much silver should we sell these foods in the space to Prince Li for? With a capital of sixty thousand taels, I'll sell it to him for one hundred fifty thousand taels; after all, he is wealthy and never lacks silver."

Now that I'm in Jingcheng, I can reopen the medicinal cuisine shop.

"Miss, miss," Yun Shan's voice sounded from outside the door.

"Come in."

Chi Nan Yi stepped out of the space and sat on a chair.

"Miss, I have something to tell you."

"Perfect, I also have something to tell you," Chi Nan Yi said with a smile. "Now that we've arrived in Jingcheng, you should return to Prince Li's side."

Yun Shan: "……"

Miss Chi, are you trying to drive me away?

"Miss, have I done something to displease you?"

"No."

"Then why are you insisting that I leave? Prince said that I should follow you."

"So in your heart, Prince Li is your true master, isn't it?" Chi Nan Yi's smile remained unchanged, but she said very plainly, "I only want a guard who can be completely loyal to me, like Ji Bai."

In fact, she was still very satisfied with Yun Shan; as a Dark Guard and a guard, he was highly competent, but now she couldn't tell whether Prince Li was friend or foe, so how could she dare place her own guard by his side?

Most importantly, Yun Shan's face is easily recognized in Jingcheng, especially by Mo Junheng.

She doesn't want to expose her identity so soon.

There is some entanglement between Mo Junheng and Meng Qinghe; by revealing her identity in front of Mo Junheng, she also effectively exposed herself before Meng Qinghe.

The cat‑and‑mouse game must be played for a while to be interesting, so Yun Shan must be sent back.

Hearing her say that, Yun Shan realized he had no choice but to leave.

Chi Nan Yi handed him a parcel: "Inside are various pills—detoxifying, wound‑healing, everything you could need. Having been by my side for a while, you must be very familiar with these pills."

"I thank you, Miss."

Yun Shan took the parcel, bowed to Chi Nan Yi, and turned to leave.

The sun had not yet set when Yun Shan stood in Mo Junyan's study and recounted, in detail, everything that had happened these past days.

"Do you mean that after Chi Nan Yi returned from Nanpu, she now has a guard named Ji Bai by her side?"

"Yes, Prince, that person moves covertly, and his identity cannot be verified. I haven't been in contact with him long, but he rarely speaks; each time I tried to test him, he brushed me off. He is very cautious, and his background is likely unusual."

"This Prince understands. You may return!"

Hearing him say that, Yun Shan's expression darkened, and his feet remained planted, unmoving.

"What's the matter? Why are you still lingering here?"

"Prince, I— I—"

"Speak."

"Miss Chi told me to return to the Prince's residence; I no longer need to attend to her."

Mo Junyan heard this and paused his movements: "What did you say?"

Yun Shan repeated: "Not only me, previously Miss Chi requested someone from you to protect the Chi Family, and before Miss Chi left, she had already replaced that person."

Mo Junyan furrowed his brows. Is she trying to distance herself from me?

Nanpu…

The Chi Family is in Nanpu.

Chi Nan Yi…

Could it be that she is connected to the Chi Family?

Yun Shan stepped out of the study, and Yun Tian patted his shoulder: "Welcome back."

Yun Shui looked at him and couldn't help laughing: "I heard you were returned by Miss Chi."

"Returned? Can't you speak? If you can't speak, I'll stitch your mouth shut."

Yun Bai stepped forward, his cold face saying, "Get back to your place immediately; what decorum is there in making a racket here?"

Yun Bai is rigid; therefore, his relationship with Mo Junyan's few close Dark Guards is more like that of colleagues rather than brothers.

Yun Shan and the others exchanged glances, then leapt to the four corners of the courtyard.

At this moment, inside the inn, a bird fluttered down to the windowsill.

A sealed letter was tied to the bird's leg.

Chi Nan Yi unfolded the letter; it contained news from Lanxi.

Now the Dark Pavilion has chosen a location and recruited several capable individuals, as well as some veterans from the former Millennium Pavilion; the letter said those people are all clever and competent, with clean backgrounds.

Chi Nan Yi looked at the contents and a smile lifted her face; she knew handing this matter to Lanxi was certainly correct. The letter also mentioned the movements of the Yuqin Guo envoy; a few days ago they left Nanpu and entered Daqi's territory, and it shouldn't be long before they reach Jingcheng.

It seems Jingcheng will become truly bustling soon.

At this moment, within the Imperial City, a sealed letter passed through layers of palace walls and was delivered to the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, a sealed letter."

The Emperor, who was reviewing documents in the Hall of Nurturing the Heart, slowly looked up: "From where did it come?"

Prince Li's Residence

"How does that brat's residence always have things?" the emperor said, full of disdain, but he still reached out.

The Dark Guard handed up the secret letter; upon seeing its contents, the emperor couldn't help but be shocked.

A Yan actually has a girl he fancies? But the letter didn't mention any name; the emperor felt anxious.

"Does Prince Li have someone he loves?"

The Dark Guard thought for a moment, then whispered: "There's a rumor going around that she is the granddaughter of the Right Minister, Su Yuqing."

"Su Yuqing, why does that name sound so familiar?"

"Your Majesty, wasn't the Right Minister's granddaughter appointed as the Crown Prince's concubine? Miss Su will enter the Crown Prince's Residence next year."

"What?" the emperor frowned: "No wonder, no wonder that brat's attitude toward me has been so awful lately—it's because of this. He has someone he likes; if he'd just said so, it's fine—she's just the Right Minister's granddaughter. I'll grant him the marriage, whether she be the principal wife or concubine, it's up to him."

"But Your Majesty, you have already issued the edict betrothing Miss Su to the Crown Prince."

"What does it matter? This edict is mine to issue; I can just withdraw it." The emperor's face broke into a slight smile: "Good! Good! A Yan has someone he fancies; I can rest easy now—after all, we need an heir."