544: Chapter 544 The Empress's Ambition

In the city inn, after Princess Lanyi rested, it didn't take long for her to receive the intelligence.

"Unable to find him?"

The news Old Man Wu brought back was actually "No such person found"!

"That's right. The people at the academy said there is no such person as Lü Sixian."

Haitang frowned and said: "How can that be? Isn't his daughter right here in Baishui? That Madam Song even came looking for him. Could a living, breathing person just vanish into thin air?"

"Princess Lanyi, I'm afraid there is more to this matter than meets the eye," Old Man Wu chuckled.

"The more mysterious it is, the more suspicious it becomes! They must be hiding something!" Haitang said.

Princess Lanyi pondered: "It seems this father and daughter from the Song family indeed have some unspeakable secret. I just wonder... if the Prince of Zhenbei knows about this."

Just then, someone came to report from outside that a visitor from the Prince's estate had arrived.

Princess Lanyi immediately perked up, and Haitang went to greet the visitor.

Before long, Leng Bingyan entered the room and performed a simple martial arts greeting.

"I am Leng Bingyan, here on the orders of the Princess Consort."

"So it is the eldest daughter of the Leng family from Western Shu. I have heard much about you. Miss Leng is the champion of this year's Tianwu Grand Tournament; truly worthy of being from a prestigious family."

Princess Lanyi smiled and invited Leng Bingyan to sit.

"Princess Lanyi, you are too kind. I merely benefited from the blessings of my sect elders and the Prince."

Seeing the other party's flattery, Leng Bingyan politely replied: "Princess Lanyi is the one who is both cultured and skilled in martial arts. Reaching the top three in the Tianwu Grand Tournament at eighteen must be the best result the academy has seen in recent years."

Princess Lanyi had participated in the Tianwu Grand Tournament two sessions ago; back then, Leng Bingyan was still just a little girl and not even qualified to attend in person.

"Indeed, in the blink of an eye, ten years have passed..."

Princess Lanyi sighed with emotion, then immediately asked with a natural smile: "What is the reason for the Princess Consort sending Miss Leng here?"

"Princess Lanyi is a smart person, so I will speak plainly."

Leng Bingyan said: "Our people noticed that Princess Lanyi met with that Madam Song today and even sent people to investigate her husband. May I ask why, Princess Lanyi?"

Princess Lanyi narrowed her eyes, not expecting Leng Bingyan to be so direct.

"I am merely using the academy's connections to find a person. Surely that does not violate any laws of the Great Zheng Dynasty?"

"What, does this matter require the consent of the Princess Consort of Zhenbei?"

Leng Bingyan smiled: "Princess Lanyi, although I don't know what you heard from that wicked woman, Madam Song, I hope you will not interfere in this matter further."

"Then could Miss Leng please enlighten me as to why a living, breathing person would become 'No such person found'?" Princess Lanyi's gaze did not waver.

"I have nothing to say," Leng Bingyan replied.

Princess Lanyi chuckled: "May I ask, does the Prince know what happened to this carpenter surnamed Lü?"

Leng Bingyan felt this woman was inexplicable; why bring up her husband for no reason?

"Princess Lanyi, you are overstepping your bounds."

Leng Bingyan couldn't be bothered with any more nonsense and issued an ultimatum: "The Northern Territory is not your Baiyue. If you are a guest, you must follow the rules of a guest."

"If Princess Lanyi persists in her stubbornness, we will have to suspect that your visit here has ulterior motives."

"I have said all that needs to be said, Princess Lanyi. I hope you will act wisely."

Having said this, Leng Bingyan stood up to leave.

However, Old Man Wu suddenly blocked the doorway, leaning against it with a posture that suggested he would not let her pass.

Leng Bingyan was so angry she laughed: "What, does Princess Lanyi want to 'spar' with me?"

After Princess Lanyi's expression changed several times, she stood up and smiled: "Miss Leng, please don't misunderstand. Uncle Wu, move aside."

Old Man Wu sighed and slowly stepped aside.

After Leng Bingyan left, Haitang finally couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Unreasonable! That Xiao Qingxuan is too arrogant. Is she sending this woman to threaten Princess Lanyi!?"

Haitang said indignantly: "There must be something she feels guilty about, and she's afraid of being discovered by Princess Lanyi! Who does she think she's scaring?"

"Uncle Wu, what do you think?" Princess Lanyi asked.

"Hehe... Princess Lanyi, I don't know about other things, but is that Empress Xiao really willing to stand behind the Prince of Zhenbei for the rest of her life?"

Old Man Wu shook his head: "In my opinion, from the moment you arrived in Baishui, those women have been bent on making you leave as soon as possible. It is obvious they are wary of you, Princess Lanyi."

Princess Lanyi smiled: "What Uncle Wu said is exactly what I was thinking. In that case... Su Wansha intentionally making me wait and giving me the cold shoulder makes sense."

"Do you and the old man mean that Xiao Qingxuan has colluded with others around the Prince of Zhenbei, wanting to isolate the Prince of Zhenbei and plot for the throne!?"

Haitang seemed to have discovered a shocking secret and covered her small mouth.

"The Xiao imperial clan has been working for hundreds of years to restore the Great Zheng Dynasty; how could they easily give up?" Old Man Wu said, taking a sip of wine.

Princess Lanyi immediately made a decision: "Uncle Wu, please trouble yourself to inquire again about where the Prince is now."

"Princess Lanyi, you want to go directly to the Prince of Zhenbei?" Haitang's eyes brightened.

"That's right. As long as I see the Prince, everything will come to light," Princess Lanyi smiled.

Old Man Wu nodded and immediately went out to inquire.

This time, he returned very quickly.

"What? The Prince went to Western Qiang?" Princess Lanyi was stunned.

"That's right. Just this morning, I heard he went to do farm work with a large group of academy students."

Old Man Wu also looked dumbfounded: "The dignified Prince of Zhenbei actually went to farm; this is the first time I've heard of such a thing."

"This is too much of a coincidence. The day Princess Lanyi arrives, the Prince goes on a long trip. It must be Xiao Qingxuan's doing!"

Haitang said excitedly: "Princess Lanyi, the Prince of Zhenbei has likely been kept in the dark by them and doesn't even know you were coming!"

A playful look appeared on Princess Lanyi's face: "This Xiao Qingxuan is truly calculating, but unfortunately, she has backfired."

"Since she is so ambitious, I might as well take advantage of that..."

Old Man Wu was stunned: "Does Princess Lanyi have a brilliant plan?"

"Haitang, help me change. I am going to formally visit the Prince's estate to meet this Empress Princess Consort."

"Yes! Princess Lanti!"

Although Haitang did not know what plan her Princess Lanti had, that Xiao Qingxuan was definitely going to be finished!

An hour later.

The Prince's estate study.

Xiao Qingxuan had just finished a meeting and was busy processing official business when she heard the steward come to report.

"Princess Consort, Princess Lanti has come to the estate and says she wants to see you!"

"She wants to see me?"

Xiao Qingxuan looked at Leng Bingyan, who was stuffing snacks into her mouth.

"Cough, cough!"

Leng Bingyan choked directly and said with an innocent face: "I explained it clearly to her! Does she not understand?"

"You, you are mostly just impatient; perhaps she misunderstood something."

Xiao Qingxuan had no choice but to put down her pen: "Invite her in."

Leng Bingyan stood up and said: "I'm going too, to see if she wants to complain about you and badmouth me behind my back!"

Xiao Qingxuan smiled: "Princess Lanti is nearly ten years older than us, well-read, and famous. How could she be as bad as you say?"

"I estimate she is just coming to probe for information to see how the Prince intends to deal with Baiyue."

"Anyway, I do want to see her; after all, hearing about someone a hundred times is not as good as seeing them once."

Leng Bingyan sighed and nodded: "Then you go ahead. I won't go and be a 'eavesdropping little girl'."