FRGNM -Chapter 65 Speculation

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Huangfu Yuan said, bowing, though a sneer of disdain flickered across his face. If anyone here could actually find his elder brother, it would be a miracle. Huangfu Xuan’s fate—now unknown—could have ended inside some beast’s stomach.

Nangong Qin frowned, staring at the empty seat. Coldly, he asked, “Ning Feng, do you know where Young Master Luo Mingyu went?”

“After taking Ruoxi into the mountains, the Young Master hasn’t come out. He’s probably still in the mountains,” Ye Ningfeng said, frowning. He worried for Ling Ruoxi, but knowing she was with Luo Mingyu brought some comfort. With that man around, she wouldn’t be attacked by monsters, right?

Just then, a palace eunuch rushed in, panicked, kneeling on the floor, gasping, “Your Majesty! Something’s wrong… something’s terribly wrong!”

“What happened? Speak clearly!” Nangong Qin frowned.

The kneeling eunuch stammered, “Your Majesty, Miss Ling has returned… alone. She… she is covered in injuries, drenched in blood! She said she went to save Prince Huangfu Xuan… she’s right outside…”

Thud… The heavy body collapsed onto the floor. The bloodied woman crawled forward, dragging herself across the ground.

Her blood smeared a streak along the floor, but she still pressed onward. Her eyes, fierce and unyielding, glinted with crimson.

“Your Majesty… go save Huangfu Xuan! He fell off the cliff… go save him… save him…”

“Ruoxi! How did you get so injured?!” Ye Ningfeng’s heart skipped a beat. He rushed forward, scooping Ling Ruoxi into his arms.

Clinging tightly to his robe, her breathing faint, Ling Ruoxi whispered, “Go… save him… go…”

“Ruoxi, I understand you mean Huangfu Xuan,” Nangong Qin said with a sigh, “but four days ago, I received news. We dispatched troops to search… and couldn’t find Prince Huangfu Xuan.”

No trace… Ling Ruoxi’s body trembled. A surge of blood rushed to her head, and she pressed her chest to stop herself from coughing it up.

The next piece of news rendered her unconscious.

A young eunuch burst in, kneeling and holding a letter. “Your Majesty! The embassy reports… Miss Ling’s two children disappeared seven days ago… there is no trace of them…”

Spurt!

“Ruoxi! Ruoxi!” Blood spewed from her mouth. Ye Ningfeng, seeing her like this, ignored propriety and lifted the frail woman into his arms.

Nangong Qin’s heart clenched. He strode forward, looking at Ye Ningfeng’s arms. “The medic! Bring her here immediately!”

“Quick! Examine her!” Nangong Qin urged. This was Luo Mingyu’s woman—any harm to her could threaten the entire Bei Ning Kingdom!

Dazed, Ling Ruoxi’s motivation—her only drive—crumbled instantly, reminiscent of when she first joined the agent organization. The sense of powerlessness flooded back.

Why… why her children? They were her only hope, the only reason to remain in this world! It was because of them that she recognized herself as a woman. Fighting for glory meant nothing compared to living happily with her children.

But why… even though she had no Dou Qi, the heavens now demanded her children be taken away? Her children… her children…

“Yizhui! Yimeng!” She awoke from the nightmare, sitting up abruptly. The bandages on her body were soaked with dark red blood, dripping onto the white bed.

“You… lie down quickly!” Ye Ningfeng, just waking, rushed to press her shoulders down, calming her.

“The medic said… you surviving is a miracle! Over ninety percent of your bones are fractured, and your injuries are severe. Thanks to the strength-enhancing medicine you took on Liuli Island, you’ve recovered this quickly—but that doesn’t mean you can act recklessly.” He frowned at the anxious woman on the bed, speaking quickly. “I know you want to ask about the children. I’ve already sent people to investigate. Don’t panic—I’ll tell you slowly.”

“Mm.” Ling Ruoxi gripped the bedsheets tightly. How could she not be anxious? But rationality triumphed over impulse, and her injuries forced her to calm down.

Ye Ningfeng exhaled. “The embassy reports… Yizhui and Yimeng disappeared the day after you entered the Hunting Tournament. Locals said they saw the children leave, and they were never seen again. I’ve dispatched more people to search—if they are still in the capital, we will find them!”

“Any news? Yizhui and Yimeng are usually well-behaved. They wouldn’t wander off alone. I suspect someone kidnapped them!” Ling Ruoxi’s face darkened. If she weren’t injured, she would already be on her feet.

Ye Ningfeng nodded thoughtfully. “I considered that, but you just arrived in the capital. You have few enemies, and your ties with the Ling family are severed. Who would dare kidnap them? My greater concern is that they may have encountered traffickers, and been abducted.”

“Traffickers? But… Yizhui has learned Dou Qi from Luo Mingyu, and they are clever—how could they…” Ling Ruoxi gasped, recalling that vile man.

Ye Ningfeng frowned, holding a bowl of herbal medicine. “Don’t get too anxious. They will be found. First, you must heal. The medic says these injuries were from monsters. How did you survive in the mountains? Weren’t you with the Young Master?”

“No.” Ling Ruoxi felt irritated, finishing the herbs in one gulp. “From now on, that man has nothing to do with me. We are completely done—never to cross paths again. Don’t mention him in front of me.”

“Good. Rest first. I’ll notify you as soon as there’s news about Yizhui and Yimeng.” Ye Ningfeng smiled faintly, taking the bowl and closing the door.

She thought such injuries could defeat her? She was a medic. That prescription was clearly meant to keep her in bed longer. Pressing her chest, Ling Ruoxi spat out the medicine.

Sitting cross-legged, she calmed her mind, slowly closing her eyes and practicing breathing exercises. Though she couldn’t cultivate Dou Qi, by chance she had absorbed the Five-Colored Flower—a miraculous medicine that, combined with controlled breathing, accelerated the healing process.

Otherwise, she would have died in the forest long ago.

Anyone entering now would see faint purple light surrounding her. A careful observer would realize it was Dou Qi—the very level everyone desired. And she had achieved it unknowingly.

Three purple marks appeared between her brows, forming a mysterious pattern along her spine, like a strange flower, or a dancing snake spirit.

Her wounds visibly healed before their eyes. Anyone witnessing this would be astonished—her ability rivaled Dou Qi.

“Found them?” Ye Ningfeng asked, frowning at a kneeling guard.

“No. We’ve searched the entire capital. There are two possibilities,” the guard said solemnly. “First, they may have been taken out of the capital. This is the most dangerous scenario. Once outside, the vast world makes finding them nearly impossible. Second…”

“Second? Speak!” Ye Ningfeng asked urgently. If the children were lost initially, closing the city gates could have kept them in the capital, simplifying the search.

The guard hesitated, then said, “Sir, I’m not sure if I should say this… When leaving Duanyun Kingdom, my master ordered that you not intervene in Bei Ning’s royal affairs. Your task is to protect the Crown Prince. But now, the matter has gone beyond your jurisdiction.”

“How is this beyond jurisdiction? You know the Crown Prince cares for Ruoxi. If something happens to her, do you think he could live calmly? Ruoxi’s matter is his concern too. Speak!” Ye Ningfeng’s mind raced, trying every argument.

Seeing the guard hesitate, he smiled faintly. “Ye Hua, you’ve been with me long enough. Don’t you know my thoughts? I also care for the Crown Prince—don’t want him to suffer. Now…”

“Sir,” Ye Hua interjected, frowning. “The second possibility involves the royal family. I’ve searched everywhere in the capital. Aside from the palace, there’s only outside the city. If they didn’t leave the city, they must be in the palace.”

“The palace?!” Ye Ningfeng’s body trembled. He grabbed his tea cup. “But who in the palace would harm Ruoxi and take her children? She just came from Liuli Island. She knows few people in the palace, and with Young Master Luo Mingyu beside her, no one would dare touch her.”

“You seem to have forgotten someone,” Ye Hua said, eyes sharp. “Ling Huiru.”

“Her?” Ye Ningfeng knew Ruoxi and Ling Huiru had some conflict, but would it really go so far as to kidnap children?

Ye Hua nodded. “Indeed. I visited the palace. The maids and eunuchs were discussing the Crown Princess. Rumor has it Ling Huiru attempted to ambush Ling Ruoxi in the past, but Young Master Luo Mingyu intervened, injuring her and causing her lifelong infertility.”