Xiao Yao stayed at the Xuan Prince's manor for another day.
Because Fu Ning's condition had changed slightly, but after a day, it stabilized again.
Only when she was certain there would be no further issues did she pick up her belongings and leave.
Feng Jinrui saw her off, but she stopped him: "Fu Ning is at a critical juncture. You cannot leave her. You must not let anyone harm her. She might truly know Chu Qianli's secret."
In truth, Xiao Yao was far from foolish. In fact, her intelligence and wit were beyond that of ordinary people.
After several conversations with Feng Ye Xuan, his solitary figure and his words, "She is not her," had already provided Xiao Yao with the answer.
The Chu Qianli before her was a fake.
But it was said that her face was indeed Chu Qianli's.
So, where did the problem lie? How could Chu Qianli's face expose the truth?
Fu Ning might be the key figure.
But none of this had anything to do with her anymore.
Now, she only wanted to know where her master was and what he was doing.
Leaving Feng Jinrui behind, she then picked up her belongings and departed.
Xiao Yao was not the only one who wanted to leave today.
Upon receiving the news, Chu Qianli immediately got into a carriage to go out.
However, before she could reach the front courtyard, she was stopped by the lake.
"Linglong, Linglong, is that you? Hurry down, let this Empress see you!"
Hong Chou returned to report: "Your Majesty, it is the Empress Dowager. She has been staying at the Xuan Prince's manor for several days."
"Is anyone with her?" Chu Qianli asked in a deep voice.
Hong Chou glanced around and then said, "One person. She seems to have run out on her own, without even a palace maid."
This Empress Dowager had been quite ill recently, often drowsy and disoriented.
After arriving at the Xuan Prince's manor, Feng Ye Xuan had ordered people to guard her and for doctors to attend to her.
But Feng Ye Xuan had not been at the manor for the past few days, and for some reason, the Empress Dowager had run out on her own.
Feng Jinrui had been guarding Fu Ning during this time and did not have the extra energy to watch over her.
Alone...
Chu Qianli narrowed her eyes, lifted the curtain, and indeed saw the Empress Dowager ahead, being stopped by Qing Mei.
"Let her come," Chu Qianli waved her hand.
Qing Mei immediately moved aside: "Empress Dowager, my..."
Before she could finish speaking, the Empress Dowager rushed over.
Hong Chou tightened her fists and lowered her voice, saying: "Your Majesty, although no patrolling guards are seen around here, this is, after all, the Xuan Prince's territory."
Hong Chou had clearly seen the fleeting murderous intent in Chu Qianli's eyes just now.
The fact that the Empress Dowager could recognize her as Yu Linglong was something that absolutely could not be known.
While the Xuan Prince was still away, dealing with the Empress Dowager before his return had become a necessary course of action.
But, within the manor? Was she being too bold?
"Your Majesty..."
Chu Qianli still waved her hand.
Hong Chou dared not say anything more and could only lower her head and step aside.
"Linglong... Linglong! You are truly this Empress's Linglong!"
The Empress Dowager walked to the carriage and looked up at Chu Qianli, who sat motionlessly in the carriage.
She said hoarsely, "Linglong, how did you become like this? Your face... Linglong, what happened? Don't scare this Empress!"
"Empress Dowager, come up and speak," Chu Qianli said with a smile.
The Empress Dowager suspected nothing. The joy of finding Yu Linglong again, lost and then found, overshadowed everything else.
With Hong Chou's support, she got into the carriage.
The carriage curtains were lowered, and the carriage slowly continued forward.
The Empress Dowager looked at Chu Qianli: "Linglong, your face..."
"Your Majesty, why did you immediately recognize me as Yu Linglong?"
Chu Qianli met her gaze, smiling insincerely, "What is it about me that makes you so certain?"