During the time when Zhao Shuning was recuperating from her injuries in Shengjing City, she also took the opportunity to experience the local customs here.
The men of the Hailing Kingdom were indeed more devoted. Most of the high - ranking officials living in the large mansions had only one wife. In this regard, it seemed much better than the countries in the East Continent where men were held in high esteem.
One night, a strange thing happened in the Duke's Mansion.
In the early morning, everyone had fallen asleep. Except for Xia Jingning, who was still kneeling in the ancestral hall where the oil lamp still shed a faint light, the rest of the mansion was quite dark.
That night, a dog sneaked into the backyard. It was dark brown and walked very quietly, as if it had been specially trained.
It so happened that Zhao Shuning had been feeling restless that night and couldn't sleep well. She opened the window and looked down.
To her surprise, in the yard, in front of the dog, there stood a woman.
That woman was Qi Yurou.
Since Zhao Shuning entered the Duke's Mansion, everyone in the mansion respected her. Zhao Shuning didn't act arrogantly but only put forward one request: to have Qi Yurou returned to the Talking Beast.
However, something strange happened. Qi Yurou unexpectedly showed great reluctance. Zhao Shuning still remembered that scene clearly.
At first, Zhao Shuning thought that since Qi Yurou had spent a long time with Xia Jingning, she had developed feelings for him as a young girl. Thinking that matters of the heart were none of her business, she let it go.
But to Zhao Shuning's surprise, when they were in Wuyi Mountain, she had summoned the Talking Beast and asked it to go to the Duke's Mansion to check on Qi Yurou first.
After that, Zhao Shuning never saw the Talking Beast again. She later asked Qi Yurou about it. Qi Yurou had a strange expression and only stammered that she had seen the Talking Beast, but then suddenly remembered that there was something extremely important in her hometown, so she sent the Talking Beast back.
Qi Yurou was the master of the Talking Beast. Zhao Shuning thought that the affairs between master and servant were none of her concern. Anyway, she had done everything she had promised the Talking Beast.
Everything had been going smoothly. If it weren't for seeing Qi Yurou acting so furtively tonight, Zhao Shuning wouldn't have become suspicious.
Qi Yurou's attire tonight was completely different from usual. She was wearing a fiery red dress, no longer the gentle girl who always dressed in plain clothes.
Zhao Shuning took notice. Seeing that Qi Yurou seemed about to leave the mansion, after a moment of thought, she put on a veil, changed into a night - suit, and left the room.
This Qi Yurou, why did she seem so strange?
Qi Yurou seemed very cautious. When she left the mansion, she just made a light leap and took the familiar and secluded paths. It seemed that she had thoroughly familiarized herself with the Duke's Mansion, even calculating exactly when the guards changed shifts.
Zhao Shuning followed Qi Yurou all the way out. Qi Yurou was extremely careful. After walking for about half an hour, she finally stopped under a lush old locust tree.
The locust tree was very thick. It would probably take five or six people to fully embrace its trunk. Qi Yurou knocked on the tree and softly said, "Come out."
Zhao Shuning was hiding behind. She couldn't help but frown. Her cultivation shouldn't be that poor, right? Had Qi Yurou noticed that she was being followed?
It turned out that Zhao Shuning was over - thinking.
Not long after, a maid - like figure walked out from behind the locust tree. Her attire was also rather strange. At a glance, it was obvious that she wasn't from the Hailing Kingdom.
"Princess," the maid bowed to Qi Yurou and respectfully addressed her.
"Princess?" The Talking Beast had never told her that Qi Yurou had such an identity.
Something was wrong. There must be something strange about this Qi Yurou. Zhao Shuning thought carefully, and an idea took shape in her mind.
She wasn't Qi Yurou. But if she wasn't Qi Yurou, why did she look exactly like her?
"Princess, the King sent this subordinate to ask when you will return to the East Continent?"
The East Continent? It seemed that this was indeed not Qi Yurou. This was Dongfang Yinuo.
"An accident has occurred. The return may have to be postponed for one or two months."
"Princess, the Queen—"
"What's wrong with Mother?"
"The Queen has been having frequent heart attacks recently. Perhaps she misses the princess. Moreover, the King is planning to take a new concubine recently."
Hearing this, Dongfang Yinuo closed her eyes slightly.
Should she go back? Of course she wanted to. But it seemed that her plan was about to succeed. If she left now, all her efforts over the years would be in vain.
"Princess!"
"I know. You go back first. I will settle this matter as soon as possible and will surely return to the East Continent soon to support my mother. By the way, where is my uncle? With my uncle around, Father shouldn't be so reckless."
The maid lowered her head.
"The General has gone to the Qingyun Kingdom. It is said that he went to invite someone back."
The Qingyun Kingdom? If Zhao Shuning remembered correctly, the person in the Qingyun Kingdom related to the East Continent should be Dongfang Yuxi. But given Dongfang's personality, whether he would go back with the General was another matter.
"An in - law connection that's so distant. Why did Uncle go to the Qingyun Kingdom?" Dongfang Yinuo stamped her foot angrily.
Nothing had been going smoothly recently.
"Princess, you'd better go back earlier. The East Continent is not peaceful now. The subjects are indignant, and the General went to the Qingyun Kingdom to stabilize the situation. It is said that this person is extremely capable and should rank among the top three in the younger generation of the Dongfang Clan, whether in terms of wisdom or cultivation ability."
"Is he really that good? Forget it. This isn't something I should worry about now. You go back first and tell Mother not to be afraid. The power of our Dongfang Family in the East Continent is not something ordinary people can contend with. After I go back, I will surely support her well."
"Yes—"
Dongfang Yinuo was the General's niece, the apple of his eye. Moreover, she was born into the royal family. Her status was unparalleled. The King of the East Continent both loved and feared this daughter.
Zhao Shuning only understood a bit of their conversation.
After that, the maid left, along with the dark - brown dog.
Dongfang Yinuo stared at the direction where the maid had gone. A look of loss appeared in her eyes.
Was what she was doing now really worth it? Even if she achieved her goal in the end, would she really be happy?
Dongfang Yinuo was lost in thought. The street was extremely deserted at this late hour. There was no sign of anyone else. Only the cold moon hung high in the sky.
"Am I doing the right thing?"
Sighing, Dongfang Yinuo turned around and was about to return to the Duke's Mansion. But at this moment, a figure appeared in front of her. Startled, she took a step back.