The princess regretted it.

The carriage back to the palace moved slowly forward. The clatter of horses on bluestone slabs and the rustle of wheels were particularly clear in the silent street. The interior of the carriage was exquisitely and comfortably furnished, with soft brocade cushions and exquisite carvings, every detail showcasing the nobility and luxury of the royal family. Jin An sat upright in the main seat, slightly raising his eyes, his gaze filled with curiosity at the newly "harvested" Frost.

Han Shuang sat upright, her back straight, her hands folded neatly on her knees. She had originally intended to follow the carriage on foot; as a servant, she dared not ride with the princess. However, upon leaving the Protectorate Palace, Princess Jin'an asked her to join them. Throughout the journey, Princess Jin'an remained silent, merely observing her with curiosity, something Han Shuang found rather unaccustomed. But she knew her current position well, so she could only maintain a respectful demeanor and await the princess's instructions.

Jin An couldn't help but laugh when he saw her reserved look. "Han Shuang, don't be nervous. If you follow me, you'll catch me in the future. I'm just curious about how powerful your martial arts are. How does it compare to the average guard?"

Han Shuang raised her eyebrows and her eyes lit up when she heard this. She blurted out, "Princess, are you comparing me to someone?" As soon as she said this, Han Shuang felt something was wrong and quickly lowered her head, looking a little embarrassed. "Princess, please forgive me. I spoke out of turn."

Jin An was also slightly stunned by her reaction. She looked so expectant, and her temperament seemed a bit cheerful! She smiled softly and then waved her hand slightly, "It's okay, I really want to know what level your martial arts are at. Tell me first, what martial arts are you good at?"

Han Shuang calmed down and replied respectfully, "Princess, I am good at swordsmanship and martial arts. I also know some close combat skills."

"Swordsmanship?" Jin An looked at her curiously. "If you follow me now, won't you be unable to wield a sword?"

Han Shuang heard this and looked at Jin An, a little hesitant. Seeing her like this, Jin An became even more curious and asked, "Just tell me what you want to say. Since my aunt sent Rang to me, you must be a trustworthy person. You just need to follow the rules in front of outsiders and don't be too restrained."

Han Shuang suddenly clasped her hands together, bowed to Jin An, and said, "That servant girl was impolite." Then, she reached for her waist, snapped, and with a swish, a flash of cold light flashed. The soft sword unfurled like a spirit snake, its slender and flexible blade gleaming coldly in the dim light of the carriage. The blade was silver-white, delicately patterned, as if it had been meticulously crafted by a master. The blade was incredibly sharp, and the slightest movement seemed to slice through the air, emitting a soft whistling sound.

Jin An's beautiful eyes instantly widened, emitting tiny sparks like sparkling gemstones. They were filled with surprise and curiosity. She leaned forward slightly, her gaze fixed on the soft sword in Han Shuang's hand. The cold light emanating from the soft sword contrasted with the glint in Jin An's eyes. She said excitedly, "What kind of famous sword is this? How did you put it on your body? I didn't even notice it."

Frost stood up and approached Jin'an. She took Princess Jin'an's hand and placed it at her waist. What looked like a belt was actually a scabbard made of a special leather, both soft and tough, that could well protect the blade. With a twist of her wrist, Frost slowly inserted the soft sword into the scabbard. The hilt of the soft sword was wrapped in black silk thread, and at the end of the hilt was an exquisite round ornament inlaid with a blue gem. At first glance, it looked like a waist accessory.

Jin An was truly amazed at the scene before him. At this moment, Han Shuang suddenly said, "White clothes."

"Huh? What?" Jin An was unable to react for a moment.

Han Shuang looked serious and replied solemnly, "Princess, this sword is called Bai Yi."

"Oh! Oh! Oh!" Jin An suddenly realized and echoed. But in his heart, he thought: "Aunt really took the trouble to find such a wonderful person."

"So, Princess, please rest assured! My martial arts skills are among the best among our secret guards. From now on, I will do my utmost to protect your safety." Han Shuang said with a serious face. Of course, if you ignore the faint glint of anticipation in her eyes, she would appear quite calm.

Jin An curved his almond-shaped eyes and nodded slightly, "Okay! I believe you."

Han Shuang breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. This way, she had completed the first step of the Crown Prince's instructions. Although she didn't quite understand why the Crown Prince specifically instructed that the princess not know she was his subordinate, she always obeyed orders, so she didn't think about it anymore.

At this moment, the prince Han Shuang had been thinking about appeared in the courtyard outside the city, wearing a mask. In front of him stood the maid from the courtyard, reporting on the recent condition of the injured woman.

Zhong Chuzhou tapped his palm lightly with the folding fan in his hand and asked, "Are you saying that she reacted particularly strongly to that jade button?"

The old woman replied respectfully, "Yes, I have already had a replica of that jade button made." As she spoke, she presented a green jade button with both hands.

Zhong Chuzhou took the jade button and studied the engravings on it intently. He narrowed his eyes slightly and fell into deep thought, pondering the possible connections. Suddenly, an idea occurred to him: could the engravings on the jade button be some kind of code or symbol? It seems he must take it back and study it carefully. He held the jade button tightly in his palm and then said to the old woman, "I'll take this back and take a closer look. Did she say anything else about what happened that day?"

"It has never been mentioned." The old woman replied respectfully.

"Find a chance to get more information from her and see if she has any other special discoveries about the group of killers." Zhong Chuzhou instructed the old woman.

The old woman nodded her head in agreement. Zhong Chuzhou didn't stay long and left quickly, without disturbing the others in the courtyard.

After leaving the villa, Zhong Chuzhou pondered the secret of the jade buckle all the way. When he returned to the Duke of Huguo's residence, the banquet had already ended. After paying his respects to his grandparents and parents, he returned to his own quarters. He immediately placed the jade buckle on the table and carefully studied the engravings, trying to find the hidden clues.

At this moment, a clear and familiar voice sounded outside the door, "Cousin, cousin", and as the voice sounded, his door was pushed open.