Shocking! Five men are in love with the same woman!

Xiao Muyao and the other two then parted ways and headed west.

The three of them acted independently and did not work together.

Since the three of them are searching separately, the chances of success are naturally higher than if they are searching together.

However, they all had their own tacit understandings.

That means whoever finds Lingyan first must leave clues so that the other two can come and meet up.

And so, the three of them searched intermittently, traveling day and night without stopping.

Even though they were disheveled and exhausted, they persevered and continued to move forward with determination.

It wasn't until they were halfway there that they realized their search had yielded absolutely no results or traces.

So they considered all the signs and thought it over carefully.

Suddenly realizing that they might be going the wrong way, they decisively turned their horses around and headed east.

As for why we went east, it's naturally because east and west are the two directions that are furthest apart and most diametrically opposed.

Based on their understanding of Lingyan, they naturally deduced that she must have gone east.

So the three of them rallied their spirits and, with unwavering faith, continued eastward.

Meanwhile, Chu Xiyao also received a message and told it to Lingyan.

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sweeping over Ling Yan's face from time to time, his eyes full of caution and probing.

He lowered his voice deliberately, revealing a hint of caution: "I just received news that he was assassinated and is now bedridden, having handed over the affairs of state to the Prince of Xiang."

He paused, staring intently at Ling Yan, and said, "So you should understand what's behind this now, right?"

When Lingyan heard this, her heart trembled violently, as if she had been struck by a heavy hammer.

My heartbeat instantly went out of control, like a rapid drumbeat.

But in the blink of an eye, she calmed herself down.

A slight smile played at the corners of his lips, and a soft chuckle escaped his lips.

The smile held a hint of self-deprecation and a touch of clarity: "Of course I understand, so he came to find me in person, didn't he?"

She raised her eyes and looked into the distance, her gaze seemingly piercing through the void: "But what good does it do? What purpose or meaning does it have? The crux of the matter is not whether he comes to find me, but that he is the emperor's helplessness."

Then she smiled bitterly, "But I also know that he won't give up the throne for me. After all, since he has taken this position, he has to shoulder his responsibilities. I know that he loves me deeply, but in his heart, the country will always come before me. So let him come looking for me, I don't need to pay attention to him."

After speaking, his expression remained calm as before, as if the news was nothing more than a passing breeze.

Upon hearing this, Chu Xiyao frowned deeply, his eyes filled with tenderness for Ling Yan.

Shen Qingchen was no different.

His expression was somewhat complicated, showing both pity for Lingyan and a sense of helplessness and melancholy.

Then he sighed softly and said slowly, "Ayan, since you understand so well, then we two will not say any more. From now on, we will do our best to fill you with joy every day, so that you will no longer be troubled or saddened by the past. If you want to see the spring flowers, we will accompany you to explore the mountains and fields; if you want to stay in a quiet corner, we will build a peaceful place for you, wishing that you can smile and have no worries."

Upon hearing this, Ling Yan's lips curled up slightly, her smile as gentle and genuine as the warm spring sun.

The two nodded slightly in response.

...............

As the calendar pages turn, January swiftly departs, and July arrives in its summer finery.

At this moment, the lake surface resembles a giant mirror, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and weeping willows on the shore.

The shimmering waves resemble tiny diamonds, sparkling and lively.

Indulging the scorching sun to cast its golden rays, weaving a dreamlike July scene simmering in the summer heat.

Lingyan and her two companions had already arrived in the capital city of Dongling for sightseeing.

They traveled in disguise throughout the journey, constantly changing their appearance.

Their individual auras were also concealed, including their voices, figures, and even some of their habits were completely changed.

Besides these, they also kept erasing the traces they left behind wherever they went.

Therefore, Xiao Muyao, He Jingchuan, and Lu Yanqing could not find any trace of their passage along the way, nor were there any clues whatsoever.

However, they all have a very strong intuition.

My intuition tells me they're heading in this direction.

The three were so cautious that they couldn't find any trace of their presence.

It really felt like searching for a needle in a haystack.

With the intelligence of all three of them, especially hers.

They felt that if she continued to hide herself so deliberately, they would probably never find her in their lifetime.

So after many setbacks, the three finally left clues and met up to discuss the matter.

After discussing it, the three of them came up with a plan to lure her out.

That is to spread the news that He Jingchuan was assassinated while traveling and was poisoned, and that there was no cure for him.

Many doctors have been consulted, but none have been able to help. He is now hanging by a thread.

The three of them were only 50% sure that this method would lure her out.

If that doesn't work, then we'll think of another way.

This news immediately caused great concern among many people around the world.

But everyone thought it was alright, since the Empress was still there.

The Empress will surely be able to cure General He's poison.

Only He Jin'an knew that her brother must have done this on purpose because he couldn't find Sister Ling.

So he wasn't worried at all, but he still had to pretend to be anxious and worried on the surface.

Lingyan, who was being talked about by everyone, naturally learned of this news as well.

When Lingyan first heard the rumor that He Jingchuan was "poisoned and beyond medical help".

She merely raised an eyebrow and let out a sneer, as if she had heard some absurd gossip from the marketplace.

In her firm belief, this must be a trick by the three men to lure her into appearing.

Therefore, he continued to leisurely stroll through the streets and alleys of the Eastern Mausoleum capital every day.

Watching street performers wield knives and sticks, listening to storytellers in teahouses speak eloquently, and admiring the exquisite brocades in silk shops, one's eyes and brows are full of leisure.

He put that news out of his mind, like a wisp of smoke that dissipates in an instant.

As time went by, half a month had passed, and people on the streets and alleys were sighing that He Jingchuan was "poisoned and would not live much longer."

Rumors surged like a tidal wave, one wave higher than the next, gradually engulfing her composure.

A sense of panic and hesitation crept into my heart.

Her mind was in turmoil, and she tried to reassure herself that it must be a scam.

But what if?

What if this is true?

What if he really is poisoned and his life is hanging by a thread?

If she doesn't go to save him, then if this is really true, He Jingchuan will truly...

Will she really not regret it?

The answer is yes!

And she will regret it very, very much!

So at this moment, this "what if" felt like a sharp thorn, piercing her heart.

Anxiety, like vines, grew wildly, quietly tangling her originally firm defenses of "ignoring" the situation and tearing them apart.

At this moment, she was caught in a fierce internal struggle.

His brows were furrowed as he pondered the current situation.

After some thought, he decided to head to Qingcheng, where He Jingchuan was located, to investigate.

If this is false, she can simply run away later.

But if this is true, and if He Jingchuan really does meet with misfortune, then she will regret it for the rest of her life.

Then she told Chu Xiyao and Shen Qingchen about her decision.

Neither of them had any objections and listened to her in everything.

So the three of them immediately left the capital of Dongling and embarked on their journey to Qingcheng, where He Jingchuan was located.

Along the way, they rode at full speed, traveling day and night.

Ten days later, we finally arrived in Qingcheng.

Because the matter of He Jingchuan had already spread far and wide, his whereabouts naturally became a well-known secret.