Zhen Yan Princess, Yan Nai’er, and Suo Ningbing passed through the secret message.
Nai’er looked at it for a long time, still not moving her gaze away.
"Nai’er, do you recognize this Zuo Qiu?" Zhen Yan Princess asked.
Nai’er’s cheeks flushed red as she shook her head, "I do not."
She had just been in the sweetest part of her relationship with Suo Lun, and she longed to be with him every moment of the day, truly daydreaming of him.
Now, finally seeing Suo Lun’s handwriting, she couldn’t help but look closely at each stroke, as a solace to her yearning.
As for this Zuo Qiu, she had never even heard of him.
Zhen Yan Princess closed her beautiful eyes, desperately searching her thoughts.
It was as if she grasped a thread but could not find the beginning or the end!
She used the Focusing Technique to calm her mind thoroughly and then search every part of her memory.
A quarter of an hour passed.
Half an hour, an hour, two hours passed!
Then, Zhen Yan Princess opened her beautiful eyes, she remembered!
It was almost eight years ago that she heard this name from Zhi Ning’s lips, when they were just teenagers.
She vaguely recalled Zhi Ning mocking her, saying, "You think your father is Zuo Qiu or what."
At that time, it seemed as if Zhi Ning was cursing Zhi Bian to die early. And when she said the name, her face turned pale as if she had committed a grave sin.
Suddenly, Zhen Yan Princess said, "Queen Yan Chuo is still in residence these days. I’ll be away for a few days and will return in three to five days."
Then, under the cover of night, Zhen Yan Princess mounted a Griffin Beast and headed toward the Flame Empire in the north.
She was going to see Princess Zhining!
Because, she felt that this person named Zuo Qiu was extremely secretive and important, even more critical than Suo Lun had imagined.
Zhen Yan Princess had saved Zhining’s baby, so she owed Zhen Yan Princess a favor and would hopefully tell the secret of this Zuo Qiu.
In the Flame Empire, within an estate in Yanjing.
Because Zhining’s pregnancy had been exposed, and Prince Ji Min’s marriage alliance fell through, Zhi Li also gave up on targeting her unborn child.
Now, the estate where Zhining resided had become very peaceful; the Samurai dispatched were there only to ensure her basic safety.
Zhining was nearly five months pregnant now, and her belly was showing.
A month ago, the morning sickness had gradually subsided. Zhining now looked even healthier than before her pregnancy, flushed with color.
During this period, she had her most carefree days.
She completely disregarded her brother’s struggle for power and also paid no attention to matters concerning Suo Lun.
Every day, she was either reading books, playing music, or humming tunes to the baby in her belly.
"Baby, we will be artists in the future, shunning the filthy politics. We won’t touch it, okay?" While humming a tune, Zhining talked to the baby in her belly.
"Zhining!" Suddenly, someone called her name.
Zhining looked up, and immediately saw the exquisitely beautiful face of Zhen Yan Princess.
She exclaimed in surprise, "Zhen Yan, what are you doing here? But whatever it is, don’t tell me. Even if my brother is dead, or even if Suo Lun is dead."
Zhen Yan Princess said, "It’s neither, I need your help with something."
"No," Princess Zhining said. "Don’t ask me. I am completely uninvolved in the struggle for succession between you and my brother. I just want to give birth to this child safely."
"I want to ask about someone. This person is unrelated to me and Zhi Li," Zhen Yan Princess said. "I protected the baby in your womb, you owe me a favor."
Zhining said sarcastically, "Straight to the point, ask then. Whether I answer depends on my mood."
Zhen Yan Princess said, "Eight years ago, you cursed my father to die early, and you said, ’You think your father is Zuo Qiu!’ Who is this Zuo Qiu?"
On hearing this, Princess Zhining’s face turned utterly pale.
"Shut up, shut up..." Zhining said. "If the Dragon God Temple hears this, I’m dead, my child is dead, and even you’re done for!"
Zhen Yan Princess trembled in her heart. Could this Zuo Qiu be so terrifying?
"Tell me who this Zuo Qiu is," Zhen Yan Princess said. "In return, I promise that if I ever successfully seize the throne, you and your child shall live peacefully and prosperously."
Zhining replied, "You? Even with that lecher Suo Lun helping you, you’re doomed to lose. You’re in conflict with the whole world, and there’s no winning."
Zhen Yan Princess said, "What if I win? If you reject my goodwill now, where will you go in the future?"
Zhining nodded, "Fine, I’ll tell you! Zuo Qiu is one of the biggest secrets in the world, truly known to less than five people in the entire world!"
Note: The second update of 5000 words is here, totaling 10000 words with today’s two updates! I earnestly ask for monthly tickets and support.