Author: Liuyun Hairpin

"Shadow Guard?"

Song Qingan blinked and was stunned.

Zhu Yan nodded and said: "Yes, the princess doesn't know something. This shadow guard was trained by Mr. Lu."

Song Qingan looked down at the jade pendant, and then whispered: "Grandpa?"

"Yes. My maid and my brother... are both among them. But now, my brother is considered the head of the Shadow Guard."

Zhu Yan spoke slowly, feeling his heart beating heavier and heavier. There was a sense of relief from pouring out secrets, mixed with a little uneasiness.

Song Qing'an gradually digested the matter, and after thinking about it for a moment, he asked: "What about the rest of the people? Where are they?"

"This... I don't know, my maid. Only brother can contact them." Zhu Yan raised his eyes and looked at her carefully, "Brother and maid mentioned that only a signal can mobilize the shadow guards. So after His Highness and brother returned to the capital,

…Always looking for signaling.”

Song Qingan stroked the jade pendant thoughtfully, feeling that the weight in his hands became heavier.

Is it such an important thing?

Both of them fell silent, each thinking about something. The only sound was the gurgling sound of water.

Zhu Yan deliberately wanted to ask Song Qingan how he found it. After all, this signal was nothing special. It might have been destroyed after it was lost. His Highness and Brother had no results for so many years, so how could she find it so easily?

Song Qingan was thinking...does Pei Qing know?

When he sent the signal to himself that day, did he know its purpose?

And...if he really took it from the palace, it happened to be after Emperor Liang fell ill...

It was hard for Song Qingan not to suspect the coincidence.

"Princess……"

"Let's talk about it another day. Don't tell your brother about this matter... yet," Song Qingnan paused, then added, "Linyuan too."

Zhu Yan wanted to ask but was blocked, so he had no choice but to answer: "Yes."

With almost everything he wanted to know, Song Qingan sent Zhu Yan away and sorted out his chaotic thoughts.

Zhu Yan also knew that there was nothing he needed for the time being, so he simply added some incense to the inner hall, picked a wick, and went outside to get some fresh air.

Just half a step across the threshold, her eyes changed subtly for a moment.

Zhu Yan immediately calmed down his emotions and turned to the corner as usual.

"Brother."

When someone pulled his arm, Zhu Yan let out a low cry. It was hard to tell whether he was happy or surprised.

Linyuan looked around and made sure there was no one around before asking in a low voice: "Has anything happened to the princess recently? Who has she seen? What has she gotten?"

Zhu Yan uncontrollably recalled the message, but Song Qingan's order was still in her ears. She opened her mouth but did not spit out a word.

"You know something, right?" Linyuan knew her well, "Why are you hesitating? Your Highness and I will not harm the princess."

Zhu Yan secretly bit the tip of her tongue and whispered: "The princess went to see Liu Cairen. But we were all sent outside the palace and didn't hear anything."

Linyuan had already known this news from other people, and naturally knew that what Zhu Yan said was true. But that was not what he wanted to hear.

"What else?" Linyuan couldn't help but speak a little hastily, "Did the princess tell you anything else?"

"...No more, it's just a matter of the birthday banquet at most." Zhu Yan finally buried the secret of the signaling deep in his heart and complained, "Brother, I am the princess's maid, if the princess knows that you come to ask me

How can I deal with her whereabouts?"

Linyuan's tone softened slightly: "That's what His Highness meant. Your Highness and the princess are brother and sister, so the princess can naturally understand."

"Okay, brother, don't come to me to ask these questions in the future." Zhu Yan frowned, "In the final analysis, your highness and the princess are two masters. Since my brother is loyal to your highness, I should be loyal to the princess."

"Your Highness also wants to protect the princess..."

"Then if Brother and I ask for news about His Highness, will Brother tell me?"

Linyuan was speechless for a moment and said in a straight voice: "This is naturally different..."

"Okay, brother, I should go back. It's too late and the princess will become suspicious."

Zhu Yan patted the inconspicuous folds on her clothes, picked up the hem of her skirt and left quickly, leaving Linyuan in place.

Linyuan wanted to call her out, but was afraid of attracting attention by speaking loudly, so he watched her leave silently.

After a long moment, he smiled bitterly.

It seems that both His Highness and him can no longer understand the little sister's thoughts.

——

When Zhu Yan returned to the palace, Song Qing'an had changed into his pajamas and lit the candle with incense.

The jade pendant had been put away by her long ago and disappeared. Zhu Yan obediently did not ask any more questions and stood aside waiting for instructions.

Recently, the princess loves to light incense sticks, and she must light two or three sticks before going to bed.

Zhu Yan only felt that the aroma was very familiar, but could not recall what it was.

Song Qing'an lit the incense and turned around to see Zhu Yan coming back. He didn't ask her what she had done, and just waved her over to cut her hair.

Seeing her nonchalant look, Zhu Yan felt even more unsure.

"Princess...don't you blame the maid?"

Zhu Yan moved his hands gently while asking in a low voice.

"What's your fault?"

Through the water chestnut mirror, Song Qing'an could see Zhu Yan's expression clearly, and naturally he also saw the vague guilt on her face.

"The princess asked the maid to stop the person, but the maid still told His Highness..."

"You are talking about this." Song Qing'an curled his lips, picked up some cream with his fingertips and applied it on his face, "There is nothing to blame you for. It is better to let brother find out... than let Concubine Chen know.

"

"Besides, isn't it okay in the end?"

Song Qing'an and Zhu Yan in the mirror winked at each other, revealing some of their daughter's coquettishness: "You have done your duty, I have nothing to blame. As long as... you remember, never betray me, that's fine.

Already."

When Song Qing'an said this, his speech became slower and slower. It was still a soft tone, but Zhu Yan felt goosebumps all over his body.

"Princess, from the day your servant enters the palace, the princess is your only master."

Zhu Yan's movements were still steady, Song Qing'an sighed comfortably, narrowed his eyes and said: "That's the best."

"Zhu Yan, if I ask you to kill your brother, will you go?"

Zhu Yan shook his hand and the grate fell to the ground. But there was a blanket on the ground, so the grate fell silently.

She was horrified and fell to her knees.

"I'm just saying casually, why don't you get up quickly and kneel down?"

Song Qingan regained his brisk tone, but Zhu Yan's heart was still beating wildly.

"Brother is my only relative... How could I have such thoughts?" She scolded, stood up and walked to Zhu Yan's side, stretched out her hand to pull her up, "Why are you reacting so strongly? Do you still take it seriously?

Already?"

Zhu Yan exhaled and said, "My servant dare not."

Song Qing'an picked up the fallen comb and put it into Zhu Yan's hand: "Don't think about it, just keep combing."

"yes."

Zhu Yan responded in a muffled voice, and the two of them returned to the tranquility they had just now.

But Zhu Yan couldn't help but think about it, was the princess really just talking casually?

But that is His Highness... No matter what, the princess will not be murderous towards His Highness, right?

She secretly raised her eyes and looked at Song Qing'an in the mirror. The latter looked calm and didn't know what he was thinking.

At this time, Song Qing'an's heart was far less peaceful than her appearance.

What did she just say...

Just because she knew that her brother had hidden too much from her, she really had a moment of... thoughts.

But that was her brother who loved and protected her. How could she have such thoughts?

Song Qingan's breath was slightly uneven, and his heart was shocked.

She suddenly realized that she seemed to be becoming...the person she hated the most.
Chapter completed!