USWHC -Chapter 464 Escape (Part 4)

“Guards!”

With a loud shout, Wan Yue had just rushed inside when she suddenly froze in place.

Inside the room, only Princess Lanyi stood there proudly. She let out a cold snort and said, “What are you waiting for? Search! Princess Lanqin has escaped!”

Indeed, Zhu Jie was nowhere to be seen. Even the bed in the room was neatly made, as if no one had touched it at all.

Wan Yue’s face instantly darkened, her whole body feeling as if it had fallen into an icy abyss. Yet even so, Princess Lanyi leaned in with a malicious smile, blowing cold air by her ear as she said, “Don’t worry. I’ll definitely report this to Father Emperor and have him break every bone in that loyal dog body of yours!”

Wan Yue shuddered involuntarily. At that moment, the guards, having heard the commotion, rushed in. Princess Lanyi immediately asked, “What’s happening outside?”

“Reporting to Your Highness, the fire started in the back kitchen where the firewood was ignited. Though the flames were fierce, they’ve already been brought under control!” one of the guards replied loudly.

Unexpectedly, Princess Lanyi let out a knowing cold laugh. “I knew it!” Then she sighed and said, “Princess Lanqin has escaped. Why are you still standing here? Go search immediately! She can’t have gotten far yet!”

Hearing this, the guards were instantly overwhelmed. Not again? Princess Lanqin had just been brought back, and now she had escaped once more?

They all bowed in unison and hurried out to carry out the order. After all, finding Princess Lanqin was the top priority—if she truly got away, none of them would escape punishment.

Seeing this, a satisfied smile appeared on Princess Lanyi’s face. She turned to Liu Rong and said, “Tie that wretch up for me. I’m taking her to find Fourth Sister so she can take charge of the situation!”

She had already taken control of the situation—so why go to Princess Lanxin now? Was she looking for someone to take the blame?

“Sister!”

Princess Lanyi instantly put on a look of urgency. Calling out softly, she hurried toward the side chamber where Princess Lanxin was resting.

“Sister, something terrible has happened!”

Before she even saw anyone, her panicked voice rang out.

At that moment, Xiang Lian gently pushed the door open. Princess Lanxin slowly stepped out, dragging her tone lazily as she said, “What’s the matter, little sister? What has happened?”

“This is bad, Fourth Sister—Sister Jinghan has escaped again!” Princess Lanyi said hoarsely, her voice carrying a trace of poorly concealed excitement.

She looked up carefully at Princess Lanxin and, seeing her momentary shock, quickly continued, “Sister, what should we do? Now that Sister Jinghan has run away, Father Emperor will definitely blame us. After all, we came up the mountain together with her!”

Hearing this, Princess Lanxin’s brows furrowed even more tightly. Though Lanyi kept saying “us,” if anything really went wrong, the first one to bear the blame would be her, Princess Lanxin. After all, she was the one who had come up the mountain with Princess Lanqin from the start. If anyone had been used, it was her—Princess Lanyi, who joined later, had little to do with it.

But Princess Lanyi continued, “Fourth Sister, how could Sister Jinghan be like this? Always thinking about escaping. Father Emperor arranged such a good marriage for her, yet she still wants to run? Back then, when Father Emperor arranged yours…”

She paused deliberately, then added, “Well, Fourth Sister, you didn’t run away, did you? Doesn’t Sister Jinghan ever think about our deep sisterly bond?”

Seeing her hesitate on purpose and put on a look of deep concern, as if she were heartbroken for her, Princess Lanxin’s face sank even further, her teeth clenched silently.

Princess Lanyi, noticing this, felt extremely satisfied. It seemed Princess Lanxin was getting angry now—good! A “good-natured” person like her, once she spoke up, how could Father Emperor not be furious?

But unexpectedly, just then, a dry cough sounded.

“Who is it that doesn’t care about sisterly affection?”

The voice was strikingly familiar. Princess Lanyi looked up—and saw someone slowly stepping out from behind the screen. At the sight, she froze in shock.

“Y-you… how are you here?” she stammered, stretching out her hand, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“And where did you think she would be?” Princess Lanxin said coldly. “Thirteenth Sister, you came here making such a fuss—what exactly do you intend?”