USWHC -Chapter 467 Escape (Part 7)

“The princess was just a little startled earlier. She took some pearl powder and has just fallen asleep,” Wan Yue said in a low voice. But the way she tilted her little head seemed to ask: What now? Are you planning to go in and take another look?

Unexpectedly, Princess Lanyi actually replied, “Is that so? Then it is my fault. No matter, I’ll go and apologize to my sister right now!” With that, she directly ordered a few palace maids to go and open the door.

Wan Yue thought to herself: This isn’t apologizing—you’re clearly here to stir up trouble! If you really wanted to apologize, you’d come bearing a bundle of thorns and plead for punishment, or kneel outside and wait! Who just barges in like this?

But Princess Lanyi paid no heed and strode straight inside. Once in, she said nothing—only let out a cold laugh.

The moment Wan Yue heard that laugh, her whole body tensed. Don’t tell me… the princess isn’t here again?

This time, she didn’t even bother trying to explain. The more she said, the more mistakes she might make—better to say nothing at all. She simply went in to take a look, and her heart sank.

Sure enough—gone again!

Others might not know whether Zhu Jie had been telling the truth, but how could she not? She wasn’t brainless—she clearly hadn’t escorted Zhu Jie out herself.

“And what do you have to say now?” Princess Lanyi sneered.

Wan Yue only smiled faintly. “Perhaps this servant remembered wrong again. The princess must have gone out to look for Princess Lanxin.”

“Perhaps not Princess Lanxin,” Princess Lanyi sneered. “Though she will be back shortly. When she arrives, you can explain things to her properly!”

Hearing this, Wan Yue’s heart skipped a beat. She’s trying to block off every possible route for Princess Lanqin—she won’t rest until she catches her red-handed!

Then Princess Lanyi shouted sharply again, “Guards!”

Several guards, already summoned, hurried over. She ordered once more, “Princess Lanqin has gone missing again. Go help her find her way back!”

This time, she had learned her lesson and didn’t dare say “escaped,” only “missing.” But which of the guards didn’t understand what that really meant? They immediately tensed up again.

The guards quickly withdrew, and once more, the Daoist temple was thrown into an uproar.

Just then, a voice announced loudly, “Princess Lanxin has arrived!”

Princess Lanyi hurried out eagerly to greet her. “Sister!” But the moment she stepped outside, she froze in place.

There, right before her eyes, stood the very person she had been searching for—supposedly missing—Princess Lanqin, perfectly fine, gracefully holding onto Princess Lanxin’s arm.

Princess Lanyi felt as though the world went dark before her eyes. “Y-you… how…?”

Liu Rong quietly reported, “Your Highness, when this servant went over, Princess Lanqin was already in her room.”

Hearing this, Princess Lanyi felt even more dizzy. This… this makes no sense!

Zhu Jie gave a slight smile. “You called Fourth Sister and me here—was it just to look at us?”

Grinding her teeth in anger, Princess Lanyi said, “Didn’t you say you had returned? Why did you go back again?”

“Oh, I forgot a jade pendant at Fourth Sister’s place earlier, so I went back to retrieve it. Who would have thought you’d come visiting me again at that moment? Oh dear, how unfortunate!” Zhu Jie said with feigned politeness. “Why not come inside and sit, Sister?”

“Yes, yes—let’s all sit inside,” Princess Lanyi quickly said, trying to smooth things over.

By now, guards had gradually gathered around, all staring wide-eyed at the three princesses. Aren’t they all here? It seemed they had been toyed with again.

Some had already begun whispering among themselves:

“What kind of situation is this? False alarms again and again—if this were the army, there’d be military punishment!”

“Military punishment? You dare apply military law to our Thirteenth Princess? I doubt you’d have the guts!”

“So what if she’s the Thirteenth Princess? Even the eldest princess shouldn’t toy with us like this!” someone retorted indignantly.

At this moment, Princess Lanxin spoke gently, “What is going on here?”

Princess Lanyi immediately looked embarrassed and said softly, “It seems the guards misunderstood and thought Sister Lanqin had gone missing.”

“Sister, you think too highly of me. With so many maids following me, how could I get lost?” Zhu Jie teased deliberately.

Princess Lanyi lowered her head awkwardly. Then Princess Lanxin said calmly, “Enough. All of you may stand down. Nothing will happen today.”

Hearing this, the guards dispersed at once. They were utterly exhausted—after rushing up and down the mountain twice, they truly couldn’t take it anymore.