Ye Li stared blankly at Princess An Xi. After a good while, she burst out crying. She said as she wiped her tears: “I left home with my guard in secret. If I don't bring Brother Qing Chen back with me, my father is going to break my leg. *Sobs... I'm not going back. I'm going to find him.”

Princess An Xi rubbed her forehead. “Well, well... Miss Chu, how about you live here for a while and leave with Mr. Qing Chen when he is back?”

Hearing that, Ye Li's tears changed to smiles immediately. “Thank you, sister princess. you are so kind...”

Princess An Xi waved at a maid to lead Ye Li to a guest room for rest.

After the maid left, Ye Li looked at Secret Guard No.2 a bit guilty as she asked: “Do you think... Princess An Xi might become my sister-in-law?” It would be bad if she harmed her big brother's predestined marriage. She didn't want to be the other woman in a melodrama.

Secret Guard No.2 shook his head with all seriousness and said: “I don't think so. Though Xu Family doesn't hold discrimination against different race, it hasn't entered into a marriage with a different race. Besides, Princess An Xi is of high status as the inheritress of Nan Zhao while Xu Family will in no way let its next leader marry and live in Nan Zhao. Most importantly, given Mr. Qing Chen's personality, he won't call Princess An Xi a friend if he does have feelings for her.”

t.i.tling her head as she pondered, Ye Li agreed with him. It would be a great wrong if she did damage her big brother's marriage by doing what she did. Come to think of it, that Princess An Xi gave her a good impression. Of all the princesses she had met so far, Princess An Xi seemed most reliable except Princess Chang Le who was still a little girl. If it were the other princesses, they might have given her a hard time knowing she was the fiancée of their beloved. Princess An Xi proved herself big brother's friend.

“What's your plan, Miss?” Secret Guard No.2 asked.

Ye Li beamed: “Living here gives us the chance to ask about what happened to big brother.”

Secret Guard No.2 said: “But, Miss, it won't be easy to get out or in here. Besides, your actions will be limited.”

Ye Li smiled as she shook her head: “I don't think Princess An Xi is likely to put a friend's fiancée under house arrest. Right now, the most important thing is to figure out where big brother is since secret guards haven't found so far.”

Lowering his head, Secret Guard No.2 said guiltily: “I failed you.”

Ye Li waved at him as she smiled: “It's not your fault. If you can figure out everything in this world, there won't be any secrets. I only hope... for his safety.” Thinking of Xu Qing Chen who was still missing, Ye Li can't help her worries.

Princess An Xi's manor wasn't large. Perhaps Nan Zhao wasn't so strict in terms of the difference between men and women, Xu Qing Chen's room was in the same yard as Ye Li's. Ye Li didn't conceal her intentions and headed directly to his room after she asked about where it was. Pus.h.i.+ng the door open, it was a tidy room. Obviously, though Xu Qing Chen had not been here for days, the room was cleaned daily. Xu Qing Chen's stuff was left untouched. Ye Li looked carefully. There were his clothes, jade pendant, folding fan and books about travels, clearly for entertainment, packed in a bag in a cabinet.

On the desk, there was his favorite white porcelain tea set with blue patterns as well as some books, ink, pens, papers and an inkstone put neatly. Evidently, he had stayed here for a long time. She walked behind the desk and sat down. Then she picked up a book and started to read.

“Miss Chu, why are you here?” Princess An Xi's voice rose by the door.

Ye Li looked up and saw her stare back with a frown. She hurriedly stood up, looking at her a bit guiltily as she said: “I'm sorry. I heard Brother Qing Chen lived in this room so I want to see it. Besides... to find myself a few books to read.”

Princess An Xi walked over, her eyes warmer as she looked at the books on the table and asked: “Do you like to read too?”

Ye Li lowered her eyes and answered a little shyly with a nod: “Brother Qing Chen has the reputation as the most talented scholar so I want to read more...”

Princess An Xi nodded and said: “Mr. Qing Chen does love to read and always carries a book wherever he goes. I know your language but I don't understand what's on those books.”

Putting the book away, Ye Li said in a small voice: “My Lady, Brother Qing Chen mentioned you to me that you are the inheritress of Nan Zhao and you are concerned with affairs of state so it's nothing that you aren't interested in poetry and verses.”

Princess An Xi laughed gracefully: “I started to learn your language very late so I'm happy enough to be able to read it. As for poetry and verses, I can't understand those things even if I'm interested. Miss Chu, if you like any book in the study, just take them. Most bought by Mr. Qing Chen. I have no use for them here.”

Ye Li nodded. “Thank you very much, My Lady. My Lady...” Ye Li looked at her, wanted to say something but then hesitated.

Princess An Xi raises her brows as a sign for her to continue.

Ye Li asked in a small voice: “I want to find Brother Qing Chen as soon as possible. He hasn't written a letter home in a long time. Can you tell me if he said anything about where he was going when he left? So that I can find him with my guard.”

Princess An Xi gazed at her for a good while before she answered with a frown: “It's not that I don't want to tell you where he is but... I don't know where he is either.”

Ye Li made a guess a bit happier: “Well... is it possible that he has left Nan Zhao for Great Chu?”

Princess An Xi shook her head and said: “There are things left undone here. He won't leave easily. Besides, if he does, he will bid me farewell, at least send me a message.”

“Well... is he in danger then?!”

Princess An Xi looked at her, a bit awkward. After a good while she shook her head and said: “I suppose... not. Mr. Qing Chen is so intelligent that he can handle everything himself.”

“But, Brother Qing Chen doesn't know kung fu. He can't even beat my guard Lin Han.” Ye Li cried worriedly.

Princess An Xi held her hands and comforted her softly: “Believe me, nothing is going to happen to him. I promise.”

Ye Li's eyes fluttered. She looked up at her full of hope: “Really? You promise...”

Princess An Xi nodded seriously. “I promise you as the princess of Nan Zhao that he will be safe. Just wait here and you'll see him soon.”

Ye Li nodded. “All right. I believe you, sister princess. But, I must look for him!”

Princess An Xi looked at her, resigned, and said: “Only in the capital then. If Mr. Qing Chen comes back and can't find you...”

“I see. Thank you, sister princess.”

Walking out of the guest yard, Princess An Xi's smile faded. As she headed to her yard, she asked those who followed her: “Have you investigated Miss Chu?”

The man next to her answered in a low voice: “My Lady, I've looked into it. Miss Chu arrived around dusk yesterday. Then she went to the most famous inn in town and checked out this morning. After that she asked around about the princess's manor and came here directly. But... she didn't check in in the name of Chu Liu Yun but Xu Yun.”

Princess An Xi nodded. “It's understandable that she used an alias. What else?”

The man shook his head and said: “Nothing else. We might have to send men to Great Chu in order to verify her ident.i.ty which will take at least one month.”

Princess An Xi shook her head. “I'm afraid we don't have the time. She knows Qing Chen and is very close to him, that much I know. The most important thing right now is to find him. We will know who she is as soon as we find Qing Chen. Send men to watch them during this period.”

“As you command.”

“Anything else?”

The man hesitated, then said: “When we went to investigate Miss Chu, we found that another three men of Great Chu checked in yesterday. Nothing special about their names, however, these might not have been real ones either.”

“Are they related to Miss Chu?”

“Not for now. They came four hours earlier than her, one of whom went back to his room after a meal. Another two went out and came back after she checked in so they hadn't met.”

“Don't mind them for now. It's normal to see a few men of Great Chu in the capital from time to time. That's the job of the city guards. We might get in trouble for intruding.”

“Yes.”

“My Lady, His Majesty wants to see you.”

“I see. I'll be there immediately.”