Ji Lingchuan mounted his horse and tightly encircled Song Yihuan in his arms. He turned his head to look at the mountain depression behind him, his face stern and frigid.
How dare someone do such a thing right under his nose! The person who had devised the strategy of feigning an attack in the east while striking in the west, and had kidnapped Song Yixuan here to kill him, must be no ordinary person.
It seemed that the rebels they had exterminated in the hunting ground were not all of them. There must still be some who had mixed into the ranks.
Song Yixuan must have discovered something extremely important. The other side was worried that he would expose their whereabouts, so they had brutally killed a four - year - old child.
He would find that person and avenge the child.
Instructing the subordinates who had rushed over to search the mountain and make sure to find the child's remains, Ji Lingchuan led Song Yihuan back towards the town.
Holding the person in his arms, Ji Lingchuan could feel that she had lost a little more weight than before. His heart ached with more pity.
Of course, he knew that taking her back like this would lead to speculation from everyone about their relationship, and it would also affect her reputation. In this way, there was only one path left for the two of them.
However, he couldn't wait any longer, nor could he leave her alone at such a moment.
Holding the person in his arms a little tighter, Ji Lingchuan's face became even more tense.
The disappearance of a four - year - old child right under the noses of the emperor, the General of Suppressing the Distant Regions, and the Black Armored Army had caused quite a stir. Everyone was concerned about the progress of the matter, and the Princess of Ningqin hadn't slept all night.
As time passed bit by bit and the sky turned from dark to bright, the uneasiness in the Princess of Ningqin's heart grew stronger and stronger. She couldn't help but walk out of the room, come downstairs, and stand anxiously outside the posthouse, looking out.
Song Nanxin had been staying with her all the time. Her face was also very tense. She just glanced at the person beside her from time to time and secretly gritted her teeth.
Cao Jinyu had been keeping an eye on her. No matter where she went, Cao Jinyu closely followed her and couldn't be driven away, which annoyed her to no end.
Suddenly, in the distance, a horse was seen galloping towards the posthouse. Someone shouted, "They're back! They're back! The General of Suppressing the Distant Regions is back!"
The Princess of Ningqin subconsciously tightened the handkerchief in her hand and took a few steps forward, her eyes fixed firmly on the horse.
As the horse got closer and closer, everyone finally saw the people on the horseback. Chunxing exclaimed, "It's our young lady, and... and the heir apparent!"
Chunxing looked at Ji Lingchuan holding Song Yihuan in his arms, her face showing an expression of extreme shock.
All around, there were whispers that were held very low. After the initial surprise, the Princess of Ningqin frowned tightly.
Ji Zihuan was standing by the window. He watched as the horse returned to the front of the posthouse, watched as Ji Lingchuan dismounted and carried the unconscious Song Yihuan in his arms horizontally, watched as Ji Lingchuan showed a protective and pitying attitude towards the person in his arms. He gently stroked the window sill and let out a sigh.
It seemed that there was going to be a change in the Mansion of Ningqin today.
The moment Ji Lingchuan landed from the horse, the Princess of Ningqin stepped forward. Ignoring Song Yihuan in Ji Lingchuan's arms, she asked anxiously, "How about it? Have you found the person?"
Ji Lingchuan lowered his eyes and glanced at the woman in his arms with closed eyes and tear - streaked face. Then his dark phoenix eyes looked up and swept over Song Nanxin who was obviously in a bad mood behind the Princess of Ningqin. He said coldly,
"We'll talk inside the room. Someone, go and invite the imperial physician to feel Miss Song's pulse. Make sure to invite Physician Zhong."
Chunxing came to her senses and immediately said, "This servant will go right away!"
Right in front of many people, Ji Lingchuan carried Song Yihuan into the inn. Anyone could tell that after last night, their relationship had changed.
The Princess of Ningqin knew her son best. She let out a deep breath and closely followed Ji Lingchuan, intending to enter the room. After taking a few steps, she found that Song Nanxin hadn't followed. She turned back and gritted her teeth, saying,
"What are you still standing there for?"
Hearing that Ji Lingchuan had specifically named Physician Zhong, Song Nanxin couldn't back out in front of so many people. She could only brace herself and follow forward.
Ji Lingchuan didn't send Song Yihuan back to the wing room where she and Song Nanxin were staying. Instead, he directly took her to his own room. He placed the woman in his arms who was breathing faintly on the couch and covered her with the clothes. Then Physician Zhong, following Chunxing, knocked on the door and walked in with his medicine chest.
Ji Lingchuan stood up and said to Physician Zhong, "She fainted from excessive grief. Please take a look at her, Physician Zhong."
Physician Zhong was also in the entourage of the autumn hunt this time. He replied seriously, "Your subordinate will do his best."
Physician Zhong sat on the chair beside the couch and began to carefully diagnose Song Yihuan.
The Princess of Ningqin hadn't forgotten what he had just said about "excessive grief". Clutching her handkerchief, she asked, "Chuan'er, you still haven't told me the result of the search. Where is Xiaoxuan'er?"
Ji Lingchuan paused for a moment. His voice was a bit hoarse. "Yihuan found the clothes on Xuan'er in the mountain behind the town. The clothes were torn and covered with blood. I'm afraid the situation is not optimistic."
Chunxing was so scared that she covered her mouth and nose. The Princess of Ningqin let out a cry of surprise. Her mind went blank and she staggered back several steps. Fortunately, Nanny Chen was there to support her, or she would have fallen.
"How could... how could this happen?" The Princess of Ningqin covered her chest and could hardly catch her breath.
Although Song Yixuan wasn't her child, during the days he had stayed in the Mansion of Ningqin, his cuteness and intelligence had won her deep affection. She had almost regarded this child as her own. She never thought that such a good child would encounter such a tragedy.
"I've sent people to search. Whether he is alive or dead, there must be an explanation in the end." Although Ji Lingchuan was also sad in his heart, he was calmer than anyone else. Only in this way could he not lose all his judgment.
The Princess of Ningqin slumped into the chair and covered her face with a handkerchief, crying bitterly.
"It's all my fault. If I had watched him more closely, this wouldn't have happened."
Song Nanxin also shed tears, but she forced herself to kneel beside the Princess of Ningqin and comforted the out - of - control woman. "No one wanted such a thing to happen. Mother, don't blame yourself too much. Xuan'er has always been very obedient. Mother thought he would stay obediently in the room, so she was negligent."
Ji Lingchuan lowered his eyes and looked at Song Nanxin who was crying uncontrollably, but he couldn't see the same kind of grief on her face as on Song Yihuan's. It was as if crying was just a task for her.
Even the words of comfort sounded so harsh. Was she shifting the blame to a child?
Was she secretly accusing the child of running around everywhere and making people worried?
This was the elder sister whom Song Yixuan had said was very kind to them siblings.
Physician Zhong, who was diagnosing the pulse behind, let out a sigh. "Miss Song Si was suddenly hit by the bad news. Her grief has stagnated in her chest, and her mind has been severely damaged. She needs to rest and recuperate well in the future. Don't let her be stimulated again."
After saying that, Physician Zhong stroked his beard, frowned, and hesitated as he looked at Ji Lingchuan. "It's just... her pulse is a bit strange."
The Princess of Ningqin stopped crying and looked up at Physician Zhong.
Ji Lingchuan gave Physician Zhong a deep look and said, "Physician Zhong, please speak freely."
Song Nanxin vaguely sensed something. She subconsciously got up and wanted to leave the room.
Ji Lingchuan noticed her movement. His eyes narrowed slightly and he said, "Stop her."