Rong Jin immediately put the telepathic bell away.
He then turned around and saw Situ Xingchen.
“Your Highness, I didn’t expect you to come,” he said with a forced smile.
The princess smiled graciously, not noticing his anxiety. “I was feeling tipsy after drinking some wine, so I came out for some air. I didn’t expect to run into you.”
Rong Jin gave her a half-hearted nod as he was still thinking about what happened to Rong Zhen.
Situ Xingchen was watching him, and she asked with uncertainty, “Something seems to be bothering you. What is it?”
Rong Jin hid his troubles behind a wide beaming smile. “I’m fine, Your Highness. Don’t worry.”
A smile crept onto her cheeks, and she blushed coyly. “Don’t stand on ceremony. Call me by my name, please. We are betrothed to be married, so you don’t have to be so formal around me.”
Her words surprised Rong Jin; her beauty and innocence moved him. “Xingchen.”
Her gentle murmur of acknowledgment caressed Rong Jin’s ears like a breeze.
“If there is something bothering you, you can also talk about it with Xingchen. It’s definitely not good to keep it inside all the time.” Situ Xingchen’s words seemed to have some kind of magical power, which made Rong Jin drop his heart’s defenses involuntarily.
“It’s actually nothing; it’s just some small things.” He was slightly relieved.
Fortunately, the marriage agreement between them was set. Otherwise, he really didn’t know what kind of situation he would face when he returned.
Situ Xingchen quietly looked at Rong Jin and put on the appearance of a patient listener.
Rong Jin was feeling tipsy after he drank the wine. As Situ Xingchen stared at him intently, he was overwhelmed with an impulse to speak.
“My sister actually met with some trouble,” he blurted.
Situ Xingchen blinked. “The Fourth Princess?”
Rong Jin nodded solemnly.
“She seemed to be doing well when I saw her with Chu Liuyue. What trouble could she be in?” she asked curiously.
Rong Jin was flabbergasted. “What? You saw Rong Zhen and Chu Liuyue together?”
Situ Xingchen nodded. “That’s right! It was a couple of days after my return.”
Rong Jin quickly recalled the time period and was shocked upon realizing that it was when Rong Zhen went missing!
He took a step forward and anxiously grabbed Situ Xingchen by her shoulders. “Where did you see them? What were they doing?”
Panic flashed in Situ Xingchen’s eyes. She lowered her gaze to hide the immense hatred from him. “Your Highness, you’re hurting me.”
Rong Jin loosened his grip instantly. “My apologies; I was upset. Were you telling me the truth?”
Astonished, she looked at him as though she couldn’t understand his huge reaction. “I did. I was on my way to the inn to pack up my belongings when I saw the Fourth Princess and Chu Liuyue with an elderly man behind them. However, I was too far away to see who that man was and where they went afterward. Is that important?”
Rong Jin was shaking, and he didn’t speak for a long time. The elderly man behind them was probably Si Meng. Chu Liuyue really had something to do with Rong Zhen’s disappearance!
Previously, Rong Jin didn’t take it seriously when his mother said that. At the time, he thought his mother mentioned it because she loathed Chu Liuyue. Perhaps, she was right all along! The two had some altercations earlier.
But with Si Meng around, Rong Jin was sure that Rong Zhen had gone out of the palace on her own accord. The first person she went to was likely Chu Liuyue.
His sister was fully capable of doing something like this.
Unexpectedly, Chu Liuyue returned unscathed while the princess was nowhere to be found.
A fire began to burn inside him.
“Y-your Highness? Your Highness?” Concern was written all over Situ Xingchen’s face as she called him.
Rong Jin jolted out of his thoughts. “Isn’t Chu Liuyue at Tai Yan Academy now?”
“She is. Why are you suddenly looking for her?”
There was a brief moment of silence.
“Xingchen, can you do me a favor?”
A smile broke out on the princess’s face. “Of course, Your Highness.”
…
Elder Mo Cang arrived at the library in no time.
His heart skipped a beat when he saw Chu Liuyue standing there, and he believed that she was truly planning to leave.
He couldn’t believe it when he first heard the news. All the winners of the Qing Jiao Competition relished the opportunity. Each one utilized the one-month grace period to the greatest extent.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but Chu Liuyue merely stayed for ten days.
The elder was both ecstatic and surprised. His mood was crushed when he saw the mountains of books that Chu Liuyue had read during the past ten days.
She has read so many books that others couldn’t finish in months! Elder Mo Cang could only hope that those books were the only ones that she had read during her time here.
“Chu Liuyue, are you serious about leaving? Elder Mo Cang asked seriously.
Chu Liuyue smiled brightly. “Haven’t you been waiting for this day for a long time?”
The elder snorted. “Don’t be so full of yourself. Beware of your own greed!”
Chu Liuyue wasn’t offended. “Elder Mo Cang, please don’t worry yourself. I know what I’m doing.”
He scrutinized her. For some reason, she seems to be in a good mood. On second thought, anyone who got such an opportunity to borrow so many books for free and even read an Earth-grade warrior technique book would be very happy.
On his way here after that day, Elder Mo Cang had already confirmed that Chu Liuyue hadn’t found any other Earth-grade warrior technique books.
It was also considered a blessing among misfortunes.
“Since you’ve thought about it, I’ll take you to the academy entrance, and you can leave on your own! ”
The Tai Yan Academy had a strict barrier. If Chu Liuyue wanted to leave, she still had to have Elder Mo Cang’s consent.
She nodded. “I’ll have to trouble you then.”
The elder wasn’t buying her antics. He sneered inwardly and turned to lead the way. “Let’s go!”
Chu Liuyue followed suit, not minding his callousness.
The two headed for the academy entrance.
Elder Mo Cang wore a stern face throughout, and he didn’t speak.
Chu Liuyue also had the good sense to not say anything. She had already gotten what she wanted most anyway. These cold faces and sarcastic remarks were really nothing.
Elder Mo Cang extended his hands, ready to open the barrier while she patiently waited by the side.
Suddenly, a voice called out hostilely, “Stop!”
