Later on.
Luo Qiu talked to Zhao Shuning for quite a while.
It was not until a hint of exhaustion showed on Zhao Shuning's face that she stopped. After telling Zhao Shuning to have a good rest and take care of herself, she ended the video call.
Zhao Shuning put away the video device.
She let out a sigh of relief.
So many people and so many things were changing imperceptibly.
Zhao Shuning got up. After soaking her feet in hot water for a while, she got into bed in her nightclothes.
She gently closed her eyes and scanned her body with her spiritual power.
Her meridians were damaged. Not long ago, she had stayed up late to refine so many Spiritual Recovery Pills for Gu Hanxun.
Now, it was time for her to take a good rest.
Only by recuperating this body well could she concentrate her spiritual power to find her grandfather's whereabouts.
The once vague clues were gradually becoming clear with the subsequent discoveries.
Zhao Shuning fell asleep.
However, she had no idea what was going on in the Chengxun Palace in the Cangwu Kingdom at this moment.
Gu Hanxun's performance at the Flower - Seeking Festival won the support of the common people. Taking this opportunity, the king, Gu Yuan, asked Qin Anxin to grant Gu Hanxun more fiefs. By the way, his powers were also restored to him.
Since it was in front of everyone's eyes.
The common people were pleading.
Qin Anxin couldn't go against the will of the people, so she did as she was told.
At first, when Gu Hanxun heard from Qi Yue that Zhao Shuning was not feeling well and wanted to rest, he just nodded.
He had used her during this Flower - Seeking Festival.
However, he would surely explain everything to her slowly when he got back to the Chengxun Palace.
She had been so kind to him and had painstakingly refined so many Spiritual Recovery Pills for him. Gu Hanxun thought that Zhao Shuning must care about him.
He just didn't know if she had noticed what had happened today.
It was very late when the royal banquet ended.
Gu Hanxun asked Shadow to push his wheelchair to the Jing Palace. He wanted to pick her up in person.
When he got outside the Jing Palace, he heard from the palace servants on guard that the Second Princess Consort had not come out since she went in.
Gu Hanxun thought that perhaps all the events at the Flower - Seeking Festival had made Ningning too tired, so she had gone to sleep as soon as she returned to the Jing Palace.
He didn't want to disturb Zhao Shuning's rest.
He and Shadow stayed in the side courtyard of the Jing Palace. Then he told the palace servants that if the Second Princess Consort woke up, they should tell him immediately.
However, there was no movement in the Jing Palace the next day.
At first, Gu Hanxun thought that Zhao Shuning was just oversleeping, so he asked Shadow to push his wheelchair and waited outside the Jing Palace for a while.
At noon.
There was still no movement inside.
At this moment, Gu Hanxun began to get anxious.
"Deputy Envoy Qi, go in and check first."
"Yes."
Qi Yue gently pushed open the door.
After a while, there came the sound of hurried and nervous footsteps. Gu Hanxun quickly turned to look.
Qi Yue came out out of breath.
"What's going on?"
Qi Yue immediately knelt down.
"Your Highness, the Second Princess Consort is not in the bedroom."
Gu Hanxun's heart skipped a beat. He quickly said, "Shadow, help me in. I want to see for myself if she has left."
Shadow helped Gu Hanxun.
Gu Hanxun staggered into the Jing Palace.
The usually short path to the bedroom took him a full half - hour.
Zhao Shuning was not there.
Moreover, she didn't even leave him a letter.
She had left?
How could she just leave like this?
Without saying goodbye.
Gu Hanxun's body instantly went limp, as if he had lost his spiritual support. Shadow took him back to the Chengxun Palace. In the palace, his illness relapsed. Shadow quickly fed him the medicine that Zhao Shuning had given him.
Gu Hanxun's eyes were a bit dull.
Shadow knelt on one knee and said, "Your Highness, this subordinate will go and find the Second Princess Consort for you."
There was a glimmer of light in Gu Hanxun's eyes.
Then it faded away.
"Shadow, send all the Shadow Guards out. I must know her whereabouts."
Qi Yue then said, "Your Highness, you know very well that they may not be able to find the Second Princess Consort. Could it be that the Second Princess Consort has been captured?"
Although they had never seen the Second Princess Consort's abilities, they knew that a woman who could refine so many Spiritual Recovery Pills overnight could not be an ordinary person.
If the Second Princess Consort didn't leave on her own, then there was only one person who had the ability to capture her.
Seeing the thoughtful look on Gu Hanxun's face.
A hint of triumph flashed across Qi Yue's face.
If the Second Princess Consort really wanted to hide, even if all the Shadow Guards were sent out, it might be of no use.
How could Gu Hanxun not think of this?
He just didn't want the hard - won warmth to disappear into thin air.
"No, we must look for her."
Even if there was no hope, he would still look for her.
Qi Yue and Shadow took their orders and withdrew.
Gu Hanxun looked at the wooden crutch in the palace.
Slowly, he stood up.
At this time, he dismissed all the palace servants in the Chengxun Palace.
There was only him left in the entire palace.
He got up and took his first step.
But he fell to the ground without mercy.
It hurt, really hurt.
But Gu Hanxun didn't care.
Step by step, he crawled towards the wooden crutch, relying on the strength of his own feet.
Beside the wooden crutch, it seemed as if a woman was encouraging him: "Gu Hanxun, you can do it. You're so smart and capable. Just restoring your ability to walk won't defeat you."
Gu Hanxun crawled towards the wooden crutch step by step. Leaning on it, he slowly stood up.
"You are the rarest light in this world."
"How could I let you go?"
"I've said that if one day I'm going to find someone to share the world with me, that person can only be you."
Gu Hanxun walked slowly.
Limping and looking extremely embarrassed, but his steps were unusually firm.
After Zhao Shuning woke up in the room, she began to regulate her breath.
This was a small inn. Because of its remote location, there were not many people coming and going.
The inn was run by a fishing village couple. They would cook some fresh fish for Zhao Shuning every day.
In their eyes, Zhao Shuning was generous, so she was a distinguished guest in their inn.
Moreover, this young couple was simple and kind - hearted. They took good care of Zhao Shuning.
The accommodation problem was solved.
As for food, the couple would bring it to her every day.
As time went by, Zhao Shuning stayed in the room all day to recuperate her body. She rarely even stepped out of the small door of the inn, let alone go out for a walk.
However, although she was living a secluded life.
Three months passed by very quickly.
When the young couple came back today, they looked panicked.
Then, they brought a piece of news that even shocked Zhao Shuning.
That was - the Second Prince, Gu Hanxun, had rebelled.
Not only did he rebel, but he also uprooted the entire Qin family by himself.
Now, Gu Hanxun had successfully ascended the throne as the king of the Cangwu Kingdom.
Qin Anxin was now imprisoned in the dungeon.
Zhao Shuning was stunned.
Three months?
How did Gu Hanxun manage to completely overthrow the Qin family in just three months?
She couldn't figure it out.
Had she underestimated Gu Hanxun's ability before?
Qin Anxin was easy to deal with.
But the forces behind her were not so easy to handle.
Didn't Gu Hanxun know what consequences would come from openly breaking with Qin Anxin like this?