A Shocking Dream

The Yun Kingdom delegation had already departed the capital, and Qingluan and her companions had already revealed their limited mobility, leading most of the capital's troops to evacuate. Although Yuanyuan had been stationed in the capital, with Qingluan telling her to frequently visit Hanmei Villa to monitor the scroll and steal it when she was done, now that the scroll was lost, she had no idea what to do from there.

Wu Nian's mind was truly ablaze with excitement. She'd just wanted to let things slide and enjoy some quiet time, but why had so much trouble kept coming? The Snow Country scroll held a profound secret, and now that it was missing, she was forced to reemerge from this turmoil.

Wu Nian felt a headache and sighed helplessly. She had finally managed to shed her former identity and return to her true self. She had gradually withdrawn her personnel from the capital, hoping to distance herself from those people and events, ignoring them as much as possible. She longed for a peaceful life, away from the power struggles and complex entanglements. So she could find a way home in peace.

However, unexpectedly, the most important thing was lost. The Snow Country scroll, carrying countless secrets and responsibilities, was now missing. Wu Nian knew that this time, she had no choice but to show up. She couldn't let the scroll fall into the hands of someone with ulterior motives, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable.

Wu Nian slowly stood up, her eyes revealing determination. She began to gather her thoughts, considering her next move. She had to find the scroll as soon as possible, not only for herself, but also for those caught up in it.

"Xianxian." She called out, with a hint of urgency in her voice.

"Master Uncle, what's wrong?" Wan Wan ran into the house, her face covered in snow, her eyes full of confusion. She looked at Wu Nian, waiting for Master Uncle's instructions.

"Pack your things. We're going to the capital," Wu Nian said as he brushed the snow off her hair, his movements gentle and warm. Her eyes were firm, and she had already made up her mind.

"Beijing? Then I can see Yuanyuan." Kanan's eyes lit up with joy. The joy instantly illuminated her face like a bright star.

"Yes, go and pack your things." Wu Nian looked at Kankan's excited expression, with a hint of gentle urging in his tone.

"I'll go right away." Yuanyuan ran in and out, her figure like a light deer, full of energy.

Wu Nian approached the desk, picked up a pen and paper, and began writing. Her eyes were focused and earnest, and the tip of her pen scratched against the paper. Wu Nian pondered how to convey her impending trip to the capital and her concerns about the scroll. She was filled with determination to retrieve the scroll, yet also with trepidation about the challenges that lay ahead.

Qin Ruoyu once again entered Hanmei Villa. He had expected it to be as quiet and deserted as last time, but he hadn't expected there to be attendants guarding the entrance. A feeling of unease washed over him. Could something have happened inside the villa? Qin Ruoyu practically ran inside.

His heartbeat was rapid, and his steps were quick as he crossed the courtyard. The plum blossoms were still in bloom, but they couldn't calm his anxiety. Qin Ruoyu ran while looking around, trying to find some clues.

When he arrived at the main hall of the villa, he found it empty. He frowned, his confusion growing. What had happened? Why was the villa so quiet even though there were attendants guarding it?

Qin Ruoyu decided to continue deeper into the villa to search for answers. He walked quickly along the corridor, carefully checking every room. However, he still found nothing unusual.

Just as he was feeling confused, he suddenly heard a faint sound of footsteps. Qin Ruoyu immediately stopped and looked warily in the direction of the sound. A figure gradually appeared in his sight. It turned out to be an attendant.

"Why are you here? What happened in the manor?" Qin Ruoyu asked anxiously.

The attendant quickly saluted and replied, "Your Highness, the owner of the villa has ordered us to guard here. I don't know the specific reason, but the atmosphere in the villa has been a little tense recently, as if they are on guard against something."

Qin Ruoyu frowned, "Do you know who you are guarding against?"

The attendant shook his head. "I don't know. The master didn't tell us the details, but only asked us to be on high alert."

"Where is the emperor's uncle?" Qin Ruoyu asked, his tone filled with anxiety. He was eager to see the emperor's uncle and find out what happened in Hanmei Villa.

"The prince is in the plum garden in the backyard." The attendant said and left, his figure quickly disappearing at the end of the corridor.

Qin Ruoyu didn't hesitate at all and immediately headed towards the Plum Garden. His steps were hurried, his heart filled with doubts and worries. Along the way, various speculations kept emerging in his mind. What could have caused the emperor's uncle to be so nervous and put the entire Hanmei Villa on alert?

As they drew closer to the Plum Garden, Qin Ruoyu could smell the fragrance of plum blossoms. The familiar scent calmed him down a bit, but the questions in his mind remained unanswered.

Finally, he arrived at the Plum Garden. The blossoms swayed gently in the breeze, creating a picturesque scene. However, Qin Ruoyu had no time to admire the beauty. His gaze searched the garden for his uncle. The blossoms, as white as snow and as bright as fire, swayed gently in the breeze, emitting a delicate fragrance. But Qin Ruoyu's mind was far from this picturesque scene. His eyes were filled with anxiety and worry.

He paced slowly through the plum garden, each step tinged with deep concern. Sunlight filtered through the plum blossoms, casting dappled shadows across the ground, as if telling an untold story. Qin Ruoyu's steps were light, afraid to miss any clue that might lead him to his uncle.

He carefully scanned every corner, behind the scattered plum trees, beside the exquisite rockery, and along the winding path, but there was no sign of the emperor's uncle. Qin Ruoyu's heart tightened. He didn't know where the emperor's uncle was, nor did he know what had happened at Hanmei Villa.

A gentle breeze blew, and plum blossom petals fluttered down like a beautiful rain of flowers. Qin Ruoyu stopped and closed his eyes, taking in the moment's tranquility. But soon, he opened his eyes again and continued searching the garden for his uncle.

"Ruoyu, what are you doing?" Qin Rongchen's voice came from behind, with a hint of doubt and concern.

Qin Ruoyu stopped and turned around in an instant, only to see his uncle Qin Rongchen standing behind him. Qin Ruoyu's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, mixed with many questions.

"Uncle, I heard that something seemed to have happened at the villa, and I was worried, so I hurried here. Why are there followers guarding the gate of the villa? What exactly happened?" Qin Ruoyu asked anxiously.

Qin Rongchen frowned slightly, his expression somewhat solemn. "This is a long story, let's go inside first." He turned and walked into the house, and Qin Ruoyu hurriedly followed.