The Eldest Daughter Returns with Power

Just as everyone was lost in thought, a clear sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside the door. Everyone turned to look, and saw a handsome and imposing man walk in steadily. He had striking features, with deep, unfathomable eyes that shone brightly; a faint smile played on his lips, as warm as a spring breeze; he exuded a unique aura, possessing both the refinement of a scholar and the boldness of a chivalrous knight, captivating all who beheld him.

"And who is this?" Su Yunruo asked, her gaze turning curiously to the man. "I am Si Yunyi, greetings to everyone." The man bowed respectfully, a smile on his face, and introduced himself sincerely. His voice was clear and melodious, like a spring flowing through the mountains, giving a sense of tranquility and peace. "So it's Second Young Master Si." A hint of surprise flashed in Nangong Sheng's eyes, seemingly taken aback by Si Yunyi's arrival. "I didn't expect you to come too." His tone carried a touch of astonishment, but more so, it showed his approval of Si Yunyi.

"I heard that my third brother was here, so I came to see him," Si Yunyi said with a smile. "However, it seems that I have come at the wrong time and have disturbed everyone." His gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on Su Yunruo and Si Yunchu, a barely perceptible smile flashing in his eyes.

"Young Master Si is too kind," Aunt Liu said quickly. "Since you're here, why don't you sit down and have a cup of tea with us?" She stood up and invited Si Yunyi to sit down, and personally poured him a cup of tea.

Si Yunyi did not refuse and sat down generously. He took the teacup, took a small sip, put down the cup, and smiled at everyone.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the conversation naturally turned to the Third Prince.

"I wonder who the Third Prince is waiting for?" Su Yunruo asked bluntly. Her eyes revealed a hint of curiosity and doubt.

Si Yunyi smiled slightly and said in a relaxed tone, "Perhaps it's some high-ranking official. However, this also shows that tonight's gathering must be extraordinary." His words carried a hint of profound meaning, causing everyone to fall into deep thought.

"It seems we can only wait and see," Nangong Sheng said in a deep voice. His expression was serious, as if he was filled with worry about what was about to happen.

"Don't worry," Si Yunyi reassured them. "With me here, I'll do my best to gather information for everyone." His voice was firm and confident, which made people feel at ease.

Everyone nodded in thanks, but they were still somewhat uneasy.

…………

In this antique-style Ningcui Pavilion.

The Third Prince was sitting in the side room, leisurely listening to a little tune and admiring Ruyue's graceful dance.

Suddenly, the door was flung open with a dull thud. A guard rushed in, looking tense. He quickly walked to the Third Prince's side, leaned down, and whispered a few words in his ear. The Third Prince's expression changed slightly. He waved his hand, signaling Ruyue to leave.

"What's the matter with such a panic?" The Third Prince frowned, his tone tinged with displeasure. The guard lowered his voice and replied, "Your Highness, something bad has happened. We just received news that our plans may have changed; that person won't be able to come today." The Third Prince's eyes instantly sharpened like a hawk's. He stood up, put his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth in the room. His steps quickened, as if his anxiety intensified with each step.

"How could this be?" The Third Prince stopped and turned to look at the guard, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes. "Send someone to see what happened and why he can't come over." The guard nodded hurriedly and then turned to leave.

The Third Prince sat down again, his face so gloomy that no one dared to look him in the eye. The atmosphere in the room instantly became heavy, as if even the air itself had frozen.

Meanwhile, the others on the other side were still anxiously awaiting news. They were extremely impatient, glancing towards the door every now and then, hoping for that person's arrival.

Si Yunyi, however, appeared quite calm. He sat there quietly, picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and then turned his gaze towards the door. His eyes were deep and serene, as if he were confident in everything.

After leaving the Third Prince's side, Ruyue carefully took several detours to make sure she wasn't being followed before arriving at the top-floor room. She pushed open the door and bowed to everyone inside: "Second Prince, esteemed officials."

"How is it?" Second Prince Si Yunyi asked softly.

Ruyue took a deep breath and reported truthfully: "As you expected, the Third Prince is indeed waiting for someone. However, just now, a guard came to see the Third Prince and whispered a few words in his ear. The Third Prince's expression immediately changed, and he kicked us all out."

Ruyue recounted her experience with the Third Prince in detail, including the changes in his expression and tone. Upon hearing this, the people in the room exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions varied.

"What happened? Did something happen to the Third Prince and his men?" someone couldn't help but ask.

Si Yunyi put down his teacup, narrowed his eyes slightly, and seemed to be thinking about something.

Just then, a scout rushed over. He walked up to Si Yunyi and said in a low voice, "Second Prince, our scouts have learned that the person the Third Prince is waiting for will not be coming today."

Si Yunyi frowned slightly. "Do you know why?"

The scout shook his head. "It's still unclear, but as far as I know, the person had already set off, but for some reason suddenly turned back."

Si Yunyi stood up, his eyes sharpening. "This matter is probably not so simple. The Third Prince meticulously planned this, yet this person failed to show up on time. There must be something fishy going on."

Everyone nodded, each wondering what the hidden meaning was. They knew that the Third Prince's actions must have some ulterior motive, and if they couldn't grasp the situation in time, they might find themselves in a passive position.

At this moment, another subordinate rushed in, knelt on one knee, and respectfully said, "Your Highness, we just discovered that the Third Prince sent out a lot of people, but their whereabouts are unknown."

Si Yunyi frowned slightly, his gaze deep and unfathomable. After a moment of silence, he said, "It seems the Third Prince intends to investigate personally. We cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom. We must immediately send people to keep a close watch on the Third Prince's movements and report back at the slightest sign of trouble."

"Your Highness, you should have been prepared for this," Nangong Sheng said slowly from the side.

Si Yunyi smiled slightly, nodded, and said with a firm and confident look in his eyes: "Of course, everything is under my control."

Nangong Sheng looked at Si Yunyi with a hint of admiration in his eyes, then turned to Su Yunruo and said, "Junior Brother, it's getting late, we should head back." He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Si Yunyi and said politely, "Second Prince, we'll take our leave now. We'll meet again another day." With that, he turned and left with Su Yunruo.

"Aunt Liu, I'm sorry to have bothered you today. Farewell." The Second Prince, Si Yunyi, also left with his entourage.

Using their lightness skills, Nangong Sheng and Su Yunruo moved as nimbly as swallows, quickly leaving Ningcui Pavilion and heading towards the Su residence.

Back at the Su residence, Su Yunruo was filled with doubts and couldn't help but ask Nangong Sheng, "Senior brother, how do you think things will develop today?" Her voice revealed unease and worry.

Nangong Sheng stopped and looked back at Su Yunruo. He smiled slightly and comforted her, "Don't worry, Junior Sister. Everything will be alright." His tone was full of confidence, as if he could already see how things would turn out.

Nangong Sheng frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "It's hard to say for now, but there must be a huge conspiracy hidden in this. The Third Prince's plan has been thwarted this time, and he will probably not let it go."

Su Yunruo nodded in agreement, then asked, "So what should we do next? We can't just sit here and wait to die!"

With a firm gaze and a calm tone, Nangong Sheng replied, "For now, we can only remain still and observe what the Third Prince and the Second Prince will do next. However, we must also prepare for all possible scenarios in advance, just in case."

As night deepened and all was quiet, the two returned to their rooms to rest. However, this night was destined to be anything but peaceful, as many others found themselves unable to sleep.

The third prince, accompanied by a group of men, searched the capital for any clues that might be related to that person, but to no avail. His expression grew increasingly grim, and his anger burned ever brighter.

Meanwhile, the Second Prince Si Yunyi was anxiously waiting for news from his spies in his own residence. He gripped his teacup tightly, as if he could crush it with the slightest force.

In contrast, the emperor in the palace was unaware of what was happening outside and remained focused on dealing with the mountain of official business.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the clouds into the courtyard of the Su residence, casting a golden glow. Su Yunruo rose early and opened her door, only to be surprised to find Nangong Sheng already standing in the courtyard. He wore a plain white robe, held a long sword, his posture upright like a pine tree, his swordplay sharp as lightning, every move filled with power and majesty.

Su Yunruo was captivated by the scene before her. She watched Nangong Sheng practice martial arts quietly, a hint of admiration in her eyes. After a while, Nangong Sheng noticed her gaze, slowly sheathed his sword, and turned to walk towards Su Yunruo.

"Senior brother, did you sleep well last night?" Su Yunruo asked softly, her face showing concern.

Nangong Sheng frowned slightly, shook his head, and said, "I have something on my mind, so I can't fall asleep." His voice was low and hoarse.

Su Yunruo sighed softly, walked to Nangong Sheng's side, and comforted him, "Senior brother, don't worry too much. There's always a way out. We'll find a solution eventually."