A Shocking Dream

His heart tightened. Could it be that there was a thief in the house?

"Butler Chen, has anyone been to my room?" Qin Rongchen's voice was filled with a hint of anxiety and anger.

Butler Chen hurried over and said with a puzzled look on his face, "Your Highness, I haven't heard of anyone entering your room. Everything is normal at the villa today, and no suspicious people have appeared."

Qin Rongchen frowned, which made him even more confused. Who could have taken away the portrait and scroll without anyone noticing?

Qin Rongchen carefully recalled what had happened recently, from Yunshuang's fake death to the secret of the Snow Country scroll, and now to the disappearance of the portrait and scroll, all of this seemed to be connected in some way.

"Butler Chen, immediately send people to search inside and outside the villa. Make sure to find the portraits and scrolls." Qin Rongchen ordered.

Butler Chen quickly responded, "Yes, Your Highness, I will arrange it right away." Then he hurriedly withdrew and began to arrange for people to search inside and outside the palace.

Inside the room, Qin Rongchen sat at his desk, his expression solemn. His fingers tapped the tabletop lightly, making a rhythmic sound, as if he were pondering an extremely complex puzzle.

He knew the disappearance of the portraits and scrolls was no accident. From the moment he discovered they were gone, a surge of unease welled up in his heart. Someone must be manipulating all this, and their motives were far from simple.

Qin Rongchen's mind kept turning to Yunshuang's image. Her faked death remained a mystery. The secret of the Snow Country scroll hung like a huge question mark over his mind. He couldn't help but wonder if the disappearance of the portrait and scroll was related to Yunshuang's faked death and the secret of the Snow Country scroll.

At this moment, Qin Rongchen's heart was filled with conflict and confusion. On the one hand, he was angry and sad about Yun Shuang's fake death, and he didn't understand why she had deceived him. On the other hand, he was filled with curiosity and desire to know the secret of the Snow Country scroll. He wanted to know what was hidden in it and why it attracted so much attention.

He recalled every moment he had spent with Yunshuang, those tender moments, those unsolved mysteries. What did Yunshuang know? Why had she faked her own death? What secrets lay hidden within the Snow Country scroll? And now, what did the disappearance of the portrait and scroll signify?

Qin Rongchen stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the palace courtyard. The sunlight shone on the ground, but it couldn't dispel the haze in his heart. He knew that he had to find the answer as soon as possible.

"Do you understand what I'm saying?" Qin Ruoyu's voice was tinged with seriousness. They were less than ten miles from the capital. Qin Ruoyu was filled with worry, fearing that Yuanyuan would be harmed in the Eastern Palace, so he reminded her several times along the way to follow the rules.

Yuanyuan frowned slightly, a hint of stubbornness flashing in her eyes. "I understand, but if I don't provoke others, they will provoke me. What if I can't help but fight back?" Her tone was filled with a hint of helplessness and worry. It wasn't that she didn't fear the so-called rules, but she was worried about being bullied by others.

Qin Ruoyu looked at Yuanyuan's defiant expression, feeling both distressed and helpless. "Yuanyuan, the people in the Eastern Palace are complex. You must learn to be patient. Never fight back unless absolutely necessary. Otherwise, you will find yourself in even greater danger." His eyes were filled with concern, hoping Yuanyuan would understand his good intentions.

Yuanyuan lowered her head and bit her lip gently. She knew Qin Ruoyu was doing this for her own good, but the grievance in her heart was hard to dissipate. "I understand. I will try my best to be patient." Her voice was soft, but with a hint of determination.

Qin Ruoyu sighed softly and reached out to touch Yuanyuan's head. "Yuanyuan, I will protect you. But you also have to learn to protect yourself. I promised your uncle-master that he would take care of you, so don't let me worry." His eyes were full of tenderness and love.

The wind in the capital seemed to carry a hint of melancholy. In this bustling world, people's fates drifted like leaves in the wind, uncertain and unpredictable. Qin Rongchen stood by the window, gazing at the scenery outside, his mind racing. He couldn't help but wonder, if Lin Bingshuang knew Yunshuang was dead, how would she react? Would she be happy? Or would she feel some other, more unpredictable emotion?

They were both favored women by the Emperor's uncle, and Lin Bingshuang and Yunshuang seemed to have a complex relationship. Their fates were inadvertently intertwined. If Lin Bingshuang learned of Yunshuang's death, she might be surprised for a moment, but then what? Would she be happy? Perhaps deep down, she harbored jealousy and resentment towards Yunshuang. After all, it was Yunshuang's appearance that prompted the Emperor's uncle to shift his affections, but it's also possible that she would feel a sense of loss and sadness.

The sky over the capital seemed shrouded in a haze. Qin Ruoyu watched the people coming and going, his heart filled with worry and doubt. His gaze drifted into the distance, but his thoughts drifted back to those unforgettable moments in the past.

He wondered how the Emperor's uncle would react now. Would he react with the same sadness and normality he'd experienced when Lin Bingshuang died? Qin Ruoyu speculated in his heart. He knew that the Emperor's uncle had a special affection for Lin Bingshuang. Lin Bingshuang's death had left the Emperor's uncle heartbroken, even to the point of doing many unexpected things. Now, Yunshuang had passed away suddenly as well. This similar situation made Qin Ruoyu worry about the Emperor's uncle.

Qin Rongruoyu recalled his uncle's resolute face and deep eyes. He found it hard to imagine what his uncle must be feeling as he faced yet another loss. His uncle had always been reserved and steady, but he had also shown a vulnerable side when it came to emotions. Qin Rongchen worried that his uncle would once again sink into endless sorrow, unable to extricate himself. His uneasiness grew stronger. He wanted to visit his uncle, but he didn't know how to face the possible consequences.

Sunlight shone on the towering palace gates, casting a dazzling glow. Qin Ruoyu and Yuanyuan slowly approached. When they reached the gate, they saw Chief Steward He had been waiting for them. His expression was solemn, his gaze scrutinizing. Beside him stood Kou Yurou, dressed in gorgeous attire, her face beautiful yet somewhat aloof. They all knew that Qin Ruoyu had brought a woman back from Qiuluo Mountain.

Steward He bowed slightly and said, "Your Highness, you're back." His voice was steady and powerful, yet it seemed to hold a deeper meaning. Steward He glanced back and forth between Qin Ruoyu and Yuanyuan, secretly speculating on this woman's identity and background. As a veteran in the palace, he knew that every new person could bring unexpected changes. He looked at Yuanyuan's slightly nervous expression and couldn't help but wonder what was so special about this woman that His Highness had brought her back from Qiuluo Mountain. At the same time, he worried whether her appearance would further unravel the already complex situation in the palace.