Obviously knowing what Fuzhou was thinking, Ji Lingchuan reached out and tapped his head, scolding, "Stop having wild thoughts. Miss Song Si was in danger during the autumn hunt. I happened to be nearby. After rescuing her, I was attacked by a wild beast. The two of us got lost in the mountains and didn't get out until today."
Fuzhou rubbed his swollen forehead and forced a laugh. "Your subordinate would never have wild thoughts. You've misunderstood me, my lord."
However, he thought to himself, an unmarried man and an unmarried woman staying in the mountains for three days. Who would believe that nothing happened? My lord is just deceiving himself.
Ji Lingchuan pointed in the direction of the camp and asked, "How is the situation with His Majesty? Tell me what happened that day."
Fuzhou put away the smile on his face and became serious. "You were right, my lord. As expected, there was chaos after the autumn hunt started. Prince You and Prince Dun colluded with the Northern Di and secretly transferred five thousand troops from there. They intended to capture His Majesty during the autumn hunt and force him to abdicate on the pretext of the 'evil queen bringing disaster to the country'."
Hearing this, Song Yihuan's heart skipped a beat. Only then did she realize how astonishing the change that Ji Lingchuan had described so lightly was.
"Fortunately, His Majesty and you had made preparations in advance. With Prince Ning mobilizing troops, the five thousand Northern Di troops and their leader, Yelü Jun, were all captured by us. Prince You and Prince Dun have also been detained by His Majesty. They're waiting for you to return and decide their fates."
"Were there any casualties?" Ji Lingchuan asked.
Fuzhou replied, "A few officials were injured while protecting His Majesty, but their injuries are not serious. However, the princess consort..."
Song Yihuan's heart skipped a beat and she looked at Fuzhou.
"What about the princess consort?" Ji Lingchuan also looked at Fuzhou.
"A maid named Baishao beside the princess consort was captured by the enemy while trying to protect the princess consort and the princess. When we found her, she was already dead."
Song Yihuan frowned tightly.
Ji Lingchuan also looked thoughtful.
"Dead? Are you sure it was her?"
Fuzhou nodded. "We've confirmed her identity. It's definitely her."
Impossible! Song Yihuan almost blurted out.
How could the real Baishao be in Xingzhou? And how could she be captured from beside Eldest Sister?
The person who chased her in the forest was clearly Cui Taizhu, who had disguised as Baishao and hidden beside Eldest Sister!
Song Yihuan quickly calmed down. Everything seemed to be perfectly arranged. It seemed that the person must have planned in advance to cover their tracks. The real Baishao must have been brought to Xingzhou by some means. It was probably for this very day.
I have to admit that the person is extremely meticulous and very difficult to deal with.
"Any news from the teams sent to look for the 'Immortal Doctor of Leisure'? Have they found any clues?" Song Yihuan heard Ji Lingchuan ask Fuzhou again.
Fuzhou shook his head. "We haven't found the doctor's whereabouts for the time being. But don't worry, my lord. Your subordinate will make them go all out."
Ji Lingchuan nodded and then turned to look at Song Yihuan.
"You go back with Fuzhou. I think you should be prepared for how to explain this."
Fuzhou also said, "Miss Song Si needn't worry. During the three days when my lord was missing, I told everyone that my lord had gone to capture the pursuers. No one will associate it with Miss Song Si."
Ji Lingchuan noticed Song Yihuan's apricot dress, which was torn to pieces. After thinking for a while, he asked Fuzhou to go back first and fetch a clean dress. He told Song Yihuan to find a deserted place to change into it. Then she rode a horse and followed Fuzhou back to the camp.
Song Yihuan found that the number of soldiers guarding the camp had doubled. She could see a soldier in armor almost every two steps. From afar, she could feel a heavy atmosphere approaching.
Fuzhou had sent someone ahead to inform them. When Song Yihuan returned to the camp, many people had already come out of their tents and were standing on tiptoe to watch. Among them were people from Prince Ning's Mansion and Marquis Ding'an's Mansion.
Song Yixuan was even holding the hand of Princess Ning and walking quickly towards her. Princess Ning was anxious and said from behind, "Slow down, slow down. Don't be in such a hurry. Watch your health."
But how could Song Yixuan not be anxious? This was his most beloved Fourth Sister!
Song Nanxin also followed Princess Ning and Song Yixuan towards the camp gate. However, her face didn't look as urgent as the others. Instead, it was extremely pale, and there was panic hidden in her eyes.
Song Yihuan dismounted from the horse outside the camp gate. When her sprained foot touched the ground, it still ached slightly, but she didn't care at all. Instead, she stepped forward and tightly hugged the small figure that was rushing towards her.
"Sister, wuwuwu, you're finally back!"
Her younger brother in her arms was crying so hard that he could hardly catch his breath. Song Yihuan quickly patted his back to comfort him and coaxed, "Stop crying, Fourth Sister is fine. Don't worry, Xuan'er."
Song Yixuan knew that he shouldn't worry Song Yihuan. Smelling the familiar fragrance, he also felt at ease, and the dull pain in his heart eased a little.
Leaning in his sister's arms, he replied in a muffled voice, "Okay, Xuan'er won't cry anymore. Xuan'er is very happy."
Song Yihuan looked up and saw the people who had come to pick her up. Her gaze swept across the faces of Princess Ning, Lady Meng, Marquis Ding'an and others one by one, and finally landed on Song Nanxin's face.
Song Nanxin had been hiding behind Princess Ning and secretly observing Song Yihuan.
Song Yihuan had been missing in the forest for three days. She had thought that Cui Muyuan had succeeded. Who would have thought that this little girl would come back unscathed! Moreover, she had even learned how to ride a horse, and there were so many hunting trophies on the horse!
If Fuzhou hadn't said that Ji Lingchuan had been busy dealing with the rebels during these three days, she would really have thought that Song Yihuan had been with Ji Lingchuan for these three days and that all those trophies had been hunted by Ji Lingchuan for her.
Caught off guard by Song Yihuan's gaze, Song Nanxin's heart skipped a beat and she took a step back subconsciously.
Song Yihuan let go of Song Yixuan and stood up, walking towards Song Nanxin.
Song Nanxin was extremely frightened. "Yi, Yihuan—"
Song Yihuan didn't miss the flash of fear in her eldest sister's eyes. Her heart felt even colder.
This was her eldest sister, the one who shared half of her blood.
But every single thing this woman had done had never taken their sisterly feelings into consideration. She was extremely vicious.
Everyone also noticed that the atmosphere between the two sisters was a bit strange. Just when everyone thought that Song Yihuan would do something to Song Nanxin, Song Yihuan stepped forward and hugged Song Nanxin, sobbing,
"Sister, Yihuan, Yihuan is sorry for you..."
Song Nanxin thought that Song Yihuan would question her about the assassination. Caught off guard by Song Yihuan's hug, she was completely stunned.
Seeing this, the people around them thought that the two sisters had a very good relationship.
Song Nanxin came to her senses and forced herself to suppress the panic in her heart. She asked, "Yihuan, what do you mean? What have you done to be sorry for me?"
Song Yixuan seemed to sense something and asked crisply, "Fourth Sister, why haven't I seen Fuling?"
As soon as this name came out, Song Yihuan clearly felt Song Nanxin's body stiffen.