A Shocking Dream

Yuanyuan sat in the corner of the carriage, staring at the swaying curtains, but her heart was in turmoil.

Could Yunshuang's death have been part of her uncle's plan to shed his identity? Once the thought had occurred to her, it couldn't be shaken off. She carefully recalled every moment she had spent with her uncle; every look and every word seemed to hold a hidden meaning. But if it truly was a plan, then who was Yunshuang, the one declared deceased in the capital? How could she have concealed this from the Emperor of Daqi, in plain sight? It seemed almost impossible, but her uncle was always meticulous; perhaps he had some surprising plan.

Yuanyuan thought again about why her uncle-master had asked her to follow Qin Ruoyu. Was he sending her to spy on them? As the crown prince, Qin Ruoyu must possess many secrets and crucial information. But the matter of the Immortal Brother was also shrouded in mystery. Could he be trying to find clues about him from Qin Ruoyu?

The more she thought about it, the more confused she became, her thoughts a tangled mess. She tried to piece together the clues, but couldn't find the clue. Yuanyuan bit her lip, her fingers unconsciously tugging at the corner of her clothes. She knew there must be a deeper meaning behind her uncle's actions, but she couldn't see it.

Occasionally, Qin Ruoyu's gentle breathing could be heard from within the carriage, but Yuanyuan was lost in her own thoughts. Her brow furrowed, and sometimes a glint of light flashed in her eyes, as if she had thought of something, only to quickly fade. The outside world receded as the carriage moved forward, and Yuanyuan, trapped in this small space, was enveloped in a vast mystery, unsure how to find the way out.

She glanced at Qin Ruoyu quietly, wondering if she could find any clues from him. But Qin Ruoyu was also immersed in his own thoughts about Yunshuang, his face tinged with worry and confusion. Yuanyuan sighed softly and continued to sort out the confusing clues in her mind, eager to find the key to solve the mystery.

The carriage moved slowly forward on the rugged road, the wheels creaking as they rolled over the stones, and the carriage swayed slightly.

Qin Ruoyu looked at Yuanyuan, who seemed to be lost in thought, and his doubts grew even more intense. He frowned slightly and asked, "What's wrong with you? Judging from your reaction, you seem to know Yunshuang?"

Yuanyuan's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly denied it. "How could that be possible? Big Brother, what are you talking about? She's the high and mighty Holy Maiden of the Yun Nation. How could someone of my status know her? I just feel sorry for such a young life lost to illness." She tried to sound natural, her face showing just the right amount of sadness. However, her eyes flickered involuntarily, and she felt nervous, afraid Qin Ruoyu might notice something.

The carriage continued to rock forward, and the atmosphere inside was a little dull. Qin Ruoyu's eyes were fixed on her, as if to penetrate her heart. Yuanyuan felt like a deer being targeted by a hunter, with nowhere to escape. She tried to maintain a calm expression, not daring to relax even a little.

Qin Ruoyu was silent for a moment, seemingly pondering Yuanyuan's words. His eyes still held a hint of suspicion, but he couldn't find any solid evidence. "Is that really all?" he asked again, a hint of scrutiny in his voice.

Outside the carriage window, a leaf was blown down by the wind and fluttered onto the window sill. Yuanyuan looked at the leaf, nodded vigorously, and said, "Really, big brother. I only heard rumors about the Holy Maiden of Yun Country and thought she was very powerful. I didn't expect her to die so young, so I feel a little sad." She looked at Qin Ruoyu firmly, trying to make him believe her words.

Qin Ruoyu sighed slightly and said, "Maybe I'm overthinking it." He turned his head and looked out the window, his thoughts returning to Yunshuang's matter. The carriage gradually moved away on the road, leaving a faint trail of dust. Yuanyuan breathed a sigh of relief, secretly glad that she had escaped. But she knew that Qin Ruoyu's suspicions had not been completely eliminated. She had to be more cautious and not reveal any flaws. She sat there silently, but her mind was constantly thinking about what to do next.

"What's wrong with being so high and mighty? You already know me. You haven't even seen Yunshuang, so how do you know she's young?" Qin Ruoyu frowned slightly and looked at Yuanyuan in confusion. There was a probing look in his eyes, as if he wanted to see through Yuanyuan. At this moment, the atmosphere in the carriage was a little subtle. The occasional chirping of birds outside the window further accentuated the quietness inside the carriage. Yuanyuan's heart tightened, but she quickly adjusted herself, her face still with that innocent and regretful expression. "Everyone knows the rumors about the Holy Maiden of Yun Country, okay? Even if you haven't seen her, you haven't heard of her. It's just that according to the rumors, even though she is so powerful, she will also leave because of illness." Yuanyuan tried to make her tone sound natural, trying to dispel Qin Ruoyu's doubts. She lowered her head slightly, avoiding Qin Ruoyu's sight, her fingers unconsciously tugging at the corner of her clothes.

Qin Ruoyu didn't speak immediately. He leaned against the wall of the carriage, his eyes thoughtful. The carriage swayed gently and continued to move forward.

Even such a formidable person could pass away due to illness. Qin Ruoyu sat in the carriage, pondering this sentence over and over again. His brows were furrowed, his eyes full of thought.

Could there be any hidden secrets behind Yunshuang's death? This thought suddenly popped up in his mind. His heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and an inexplicable sense of tension arose spontaneously. But soon, he shook his head and denied it. It shouldn't be the case. All the doctors in the Imperial Hospital were present, and my father, mother, and grandmother were also there to see her die. There couldn't be any hidden secrets. Those doctors were all experienced people. If there was something unusual, how could they not notice it? My father and the others would never allow any conspiracy to happen under their noses.

Despite this, Qin Ruoyu couldn't let go. He looked out the carriage window, the roadside scenery a blur of colors in his eyes. "Then wouldn't my trip to Qiuluo Mountain have been in vain?" Qin Ruoyu's heart was filled with loss and confusion. He had originally held onto hope, thinking he could find some solace or clues about Yunshuang in Qiuluo Mountain, even just a little bit of information about her. But now, everything seemed to have vanished.

He recalled his experiences at Qiuluo Mountain, that mysterious place that once held so much hope. Now, he was filled with confusion. He didn't know how to face his uncle upon his return. He had seen his uncle's deep affection for Yunshuang. Now that Yunshuang had passed away, his uncle would surely be devastated, and he hadn't brought back anything useful.

Qin Ruoyu held his head in his hands, his elbows resting on his knees, lost in deep thought. The carriage jolted forward on the road, making a rumbling sound, as if sighing for his loss.