Chapter 287: Staging a Drama

Yun Shui walked out, crying with a mournful face.

"What's wrong?" Yun Shan said upon seeing it, unable to help but laugh: "Did the Prince scold you again?"

"Heh." If it were merely a scolding, how could he be like this?

Soon, Yun Shan could no longer laugh.

Early the next day, members of the Chi Family came to the door.

Old Chi stared gloomily at Mo Junyan before him.

"Old Chi."

"Where is Yi'er?" His eyes were blood‑red, veins darkened his gaze, in just a few days his hair had turned white, his voice hoarse: "Have you found any trace of Yi'er?"

Mo Junyan shook his head: "Please rest assured, This Prince has already sent people to look for her."

"Search? Where to search? Any clues?"

"None."

"Mo Junyan!" Chi Zhongshan slammed his hand on the table, sprang up: "What did you promise this old man earlier? You said you would protect Yi'er with your life! And now? Tell me where she is! Where!"

Mo Junyan simply sat there, allowing Chi Zhongshan to vent his anger at him.

"I would have to be blind to believe your nonsense!"

Yun Tian stood behind Mo Junyan, his face twitching uncontrollably a few times.

Having been by the Prince's side for so many years, he had never seen the Prince scolded so harshly; most importantly, the Prince sat there, letting the scolding continue.

An hour later, the Chi Family left Prince Li's residence.

Soon, news of the Chi Family's break with Prince Li's mansion spread throughout Jingcheng.

Those who had speculated about the relationship between Chi Nan Yi and Mo Junyan now mocked the Chi Family behind their backs.

"What ill luck has befallen the Chi Family? They fled the capital in panic, barely returned, and now they turn against the Prince."

"I heard their precious 'goddak' was lost."

"Precious 'goddak'? What is that?"

"You still don't know? The Situ Family, which was exterminated over a decade ago, had heard of it! The orphan of the Situ Family is actually the old Chi Lord's granddaughter; a few days ago the Emperor favored her, appointed her as Imperial Physician Commander, a third‑rank official. She had only been well for a few days when she vanished—no sign of life or death."

"Yo! There's even that? I hadn't heard any of it."

"If you ask me, she deserves it; women never serve as officials in the court. This is clearly divine punishment!"

"Still trying to cling to Prince Li, what a joke."

……

All sorts of rumors were being whispered.

In an instant, the whole of Jingcheng was abuzz with talk of Chi Nan Yi.

"Shut up!"

A cold shout rang out.

Behind the people disparaging the Chi Family and Chi Nan Yi stood an extremely luxurious carriage.

Hearing the voice, the crowd drew in their necks, turned back, and saw the carriage doors open as a woman in red stepped out.

"How audacious! How dare you gossip about court officials behind their backs, how many heads do you have?"

Those people, seeing the lavishly dressed woman, couldn't help but feel fear, yet some still mustered courage to ask: "You… who are you! By what right do you command me?"

"Bold!" A guard stepped forward, drew a long sword and held it across the speaker's throat: "When you see the Princess, you will kneel!"

Princess?

The crowd was horrified and all knelt to the ground.

"Commoner did not know you were the Princess, please forgive me! Spare us, spare us!"

Mo Yunyan stared coldly at them, speaking in a deep voice: "The one you call unlucky has saved your lives countless times—opened granaries during the snow disaster, quelled locusts, rescued the people from fire and flood. And you? Not only ungrateful, you defame her here. Such ingratitude, betrayal—how can they have any face to live? Guards! Throw those who just uttered such reckless words into the prison!"

"Yes!"

"Princess, spare us! Princess, spare us!"

"Seal their mouths; this Princess does not wish to hear them again."

"From today onward, if anyone spreads such rumors, this will be their fate."

Back inside the carriage, Qin Yue xi's eyes were already red.

"Sister Yun Yan, Sister Nan Yi…"

Mo Yunyan narrowed his eyes slightly, speaking gravely: "She is a person of such wisdom; nothing will happen to her."

"But she has been missing for so long, no news at all. If she were alive, why wouldn't she contact us? Even if she didn't tell us, she would still be in touch with the Chi Family and Prince Li."

"Go to Prince Li's residence."

"Understood."

After leaving Prince Li's residence, Chi Zhongshan went straight back to the Chi Family.

The Chi Family's main gate was shut tight, no longer receiving guests.

Chi Zhongshan's face remained gloomy as he closed the study door.

The recent gloom vanished in an instant.

He took a pill from his bosom and placed it in his mouth.

"That stinky brat ran off so far without a word, nearly scared this old bone of mine to death. At least she has filial piety, knowing my pills are running low."

The pill entered his stomach, and Chi Zhongshan sighed.

"Father."

"Come in."

Chi Xianshi entered the study, looked at his furrowed face staring at the medicine bottle on the table, and softly said: "Father, hasn't Yi'er already reported her safety? Why are you doing this?"

Chi Zhongshan's voice was hoarse, and his eyes were filled with an inescapable sorrow.

"It's my incompetence, it's that the Chi Family is not strong enough, so Yi Er had to charge alone, plunging into the dragon pool and tiger's den by herself. As we all know, Seek Dragon Gate is mysterious and powerful; a single misstep can cost everything and even one's life. If Yi Er were to meet any mishap, even if I smashed my old bones to pieces, it would still not erase the guilt in my heart!" Chi Zhongshan clenched his fists, as if having made an important decision, and took a wooden box from the desk. The box, showing its age at a glance, contained a crimson token.

"Father."

"Xianshi, take this token and go to the Wanlu Sect to see their Sect Master; once he sees this token, he'll know who you are."

"If I meet the Sect Master, what should I say?"

"Just say that the previous promise can now be fulfilled," he handed Chi Xianshi a note: "Be sure to deliver this personally into the Sect Master's hands."

"Understood."

Mo Yunyan and Qin Yue xi arrived at Prince Li's mansion.

"Princess, the Prince says there are no visitors today."

"Am I a visitor?"

Yun Tian Mianpi twitched, his gaze vaguely sweeping over Qin Yue xi beside him.

"We are here because of Miss Chi's matter," Mo Yunyan said plainly. "Go in, convey a word, and say that I want to see him."

"Understood."

Soon after, Yun Shan turned back: "Princess, the Prince says you may go in, but…"

Qin Yue xi pursed her lips: "I'm not here to look for him; I'm also here because of Chi sister. Tell your Prince that this Princess already has a lover and has long stopped liking him."

Yun Tian forced a nervous laugh.

Just as he tried to intervene, Mo Yunyan pushed him aside and led Qin Yue xi into the study.

Yun Tian only felt his head buzzing; if the Prince got angry, he feared his fate wouldn't be much better than Yun Shui's.

Seeing the two of them enter, Mo Junyan frowned slightly: "What are you here for?"

The remark was obviously addressed to Mo Yunyan, and Qin Yue xi, who received not even a glance, silently rolled her eyes.

"Does she have any news?"

"What foolery is Prince Li playing here? Sister Yunyan is asking about Chi sister."