"Why are you willing to help me?"
Dongfang Yinuo didn't immediately reach out her hand. Instead, she asked suspiciously.
Zhao Shuning smiled faintly.
"What I want to know might be hidden in Dongzhou."
"What is it?"
"You don't need to know this."
On the Kyushu Continent, over the years, there have been quite a few cultivators who died unexpectedly according to the ancient books. It was originally thought that there were great risks in advancing in cultivation, so no one ever investigated those deaths.
Zhao Shuning wasn't the kind of person who was willing to meddle in such affairs. But the person she loved was Bu Ran. Bu Ran was the imperial tutor for a thousand years. Lately, he had been extremely anxious. Although he never mentioned it to Zhao Shuning, she knew it was related to the large - scale disappearance of cultivators in recent years.
If such a huge number of souls were gathered and exploited by someone with ill intentions, the consequences would be immeasurable.
"Why should I trust you?"
Dongfang Yinuo took a step back.
"For your mother, for your uncle, and for your Dongzhou."
"I can achieve all these even without you."
Dongfang Yinuo was being stubborn.
Zhao Shuning gave a charming smile, withdrew her hand, and said casually, "Really?"
"I'm the most beloved princess of Dongzhou. As long as I go back, everything will be solved. You must have heard of the power of the Dongfang family. Even if there are any disturbances in Dongzhou, my uncle will surely have a way to suppress them."
"Really? Are you sure?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I have to say that over the years, you've truly been well - protected by the Dongfang family. But Dongfang Yinuo, your mind is so dull. No wonder it was so easy for you to be led around by others. Instead of being a proud princess of Dongzhou, you ended up living under the protection of the Duke's Mansion in Hailing Country."
"You!"
"Yes, the Dongfang family is indeed powerful. But if you had any sense, you should have thought carefully. Dongzhou is a dynasty that respects men. The reason you became the most beloved princess is closely related to your mother's family. But now, if the Dongfang family were still as powerful as before, why would your father even dare to think about taking concubines?"
"Also, your uncle clearly knew about the turmoil in Dongzhou. If he had enough ability, why didn't he stay to pacify Dongzhou before setting off to find that person in Qingyun Country? Why did he have to go in person? If the situation in Dongzhou hadn't reached an uncontrollable stage, why would he take such a risky move?"
Zhao Shuning's words hit Dongfang Yinuo right in the heart.
Yes.
Why didn't she think of that?
If her mother hadn't been pushed to the brink, why would she have sent a maid to inform her to go back quickly?
It was because among the Dongfang family, only she could shoulder such a responsibility now.
If she was there, there would still be hope for the Dongfang Clan.
"But - I'm afraid it's too late."
"For anything, as long as you have the will, it's never too late."
Zhao Shuning reached out her hand again.
This time, Dongfang Yinuo also reached out and held Zhao Shuning's hand.
"Senior, please help me with future matters."
"Of course. But in the future, when I go to Dongzhou, you can't inquire about what I do, and you have to use the power of the Dongfang Clan in Dongzhou to cover for me."
Zhao Shuning wanted to find the place where a huge number of souls were stored. Then she could inform Bu Ran and let him make the decision.
Over the years, she had been to many places. If a large number of souls were stored somewhere, as long as she had been there, she should be able to detect it with her ability. But over the years, she had noticed nothing about this.
This meant that the place where the souls were stored must be a place she had never been to.
And now, with the matter of Dongfang Yinuo, Zhao Shuning guessed that the souls might be stored in Dongzhou.
At night, the cool breeze blew gently.
Zhao Shuning and Dongfang Yinuo returned to the Duke's Mansion together.
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, people had already gathered in the main hall of the Duke's Mansion.
Zhao Shuning sat on the main seat. Since she couldn't decline and didn't want to waste time, she had no choice but to comply with these so - called "junior generations".
"Ancestor, you summoned us so early. Is there something important?"
Zhao Shuning clapped her hands.
A woman slowly walked out from behind the curtain. The woman was still dressed in fiery red, but her face was no longer that of "Qi Yurou".
This face was all too familiar to everyone in the Duke's Mansion.
Back then, this woman had caused quite a stir in the Duke's Mansion. Even the Xia Rui couple was in awe of her.
"Princess Dongfang."
"Why is she here?"
Dongfang Yinuo's sudden appearance shocked everyone greatly. Among them, Xia Jingning was the most shocked.
Since Dongfang Yinuo appeared, his eyes had been fixed on her. It wasn't until Dongfang Yinuo looked at him that he lowered his head in shame.
Zhao Shuning nodded at Dongfang Yinuo, signaling her to tell everyone everything.
After sorting things out last night, Dongfang Yinuo understood the importance of the whole matter. Naturally, she also knew what path to take and what things to do now.
Maybe because she had pretended to be Qi Yurou for so long, a bit of gentleness had seeped into her bones. But now, Dongfang Yinuo was different from before.
Although reluctant, she still shifted her gaze away from Xia Jingning.
She calmly narrated the whole thing. During the narration, her expression remained unchanged.
It seemed as if she wasn't the one who had experienced these things, but just a spectator.
Indeed, last night, she had experienced fear, disappointment, despair, and had cried bitterly. She had been on the verge of collapse, had been restless, had hated, and had regretted.
She also understood the truth taught by the senior.
No one would love someone who was as humble as dust. Even if she could stay by Xia Jingning's side forever in the identity of Qi Yurou, what he cared about wasn't Dongfang Yinuo herself.
After finishing the narration, Dongfang Yinuo let out a long sigh.
It seemed that this matter had been weighing on her heart for far too long. So long that she hadn't breathed freely for ages.
That brief and false happiness never truly belonged to her.
After hearing the whole story, the expressions of the Xia family members were a bit unnatural. Among them, Xia Jingning was the most shocked.
He never expected that for his sake, Dongfang Yinuo could go to such lengths.
Over the years, it was she who mended his knee pads at night. It was also she who boiled soup and served water for him every day.
Wasn't she the proudest princess of Dongzhou?
How could she do these things so proficiently?