Yelu Qianqian, now taken captive, quickly noticed something was wrong — this group of “bandits” was heading steadily west, straight toward the frontier pass!

Already utterly exhausted, she no longer had the energy for futile struggling. Trapped inside the carriage, she lifted the curtain to peek at the old nanny outside.

This old nanny had to be at least fifty years old, yet her frame was slight and her movements sharp and agile — clearly someone in excellent physical condition, a true martial practitioner.

Who exactly was she?

Why had she taken her captive?

Why were they heading toward the western frontier?

She wasn’t one of Jun Beiyue’s people — could it be…

Something suddenly occurred to Yelu Qianqian, and she was struck with alarm. Could this old nanny belong to Wanyan Lie?

Wanyan Lie had also been searching everywhere for her — how had she forgotten that!

At the thought, she immediately shouted, “Hey, old woman, you can’t take me captive! You can’t do this! I want to see your Crown Prince! I need to discuss something with him!”

Crown Prince?

At these words, Nanny Qin stopped dead in her tracks. Could this little girl have somehow guessed who she really was? Did she even know A’Li’s true identity?

Nanny Qin turned back to look, seeing Yelu Qianqian’s earnest expression, and though she knew the odds were slim, a spark of hope still kindled in her heart. Perhaps this girl actually knew what had happened to Crown Prince Li when he disappeared!

Nanny Qin signaled for the group to halt and climbed into the carriage herself.

The moment Yelu Qianqian saw her come aboard, she immediately shrank into the corner. The people of Xiliang were notoriously savage, second only to the Xiongnu! And Xiliang’s guards were famously loyal — after the humiliation she had brought upon Wanyan Lie by eloping, surely his men hated her to the bone!

The old nanny had actually come into the carriage herself — she really had guessed correctly!

In this moment, Yelu Qianqian’s mind was in complete disarray. She truly had no idea how to speak to this old nanny.

Nanny Qin studied her, then sat down beside her, clearly settling in for a long conversation.

“Princess Qianqian, you want to see our Crown Prince?” Nanny Qin asked, raising an eyebrow.

Yelu Qianqian nodded immediately. She decided not to waste time arguing with this old nanny — she would insist on seeing Wanyan Lie, and demand that he come to her in Xijing rather than dragging her back to Xiliang!

Wanyan Lie had started this war for her sake, hadn’t he — at the very least, he could call a temporary halt to the fighting!

Thinking this, Yelu Qianqian almost felt grateful to have run into this group. She knew that with their capabilities, helping her cross Da Zhou’s western border would surely be an easy matter.

Yelu Qianqian’s calculations seemed sound enough to her, but as Nanny Qin studied her, she suddenly laughed. “Princess Qianqian, why exactly do you want to see our Crown Prince?”

From Yelu Qianqian’s reaction, it was clear she had no idea where Crown Prince Li actually was — but what Nanny Qin truly wanted to know was what had happened to cause Crown Prince Li to vanish without a trace.

And why would this girl, who had no connection to Crown Prince Li whatsoever, want to see him?

“I have something important to discuss — this isn’t something you can afford to delay. Go report it right now!” Yelu Qianqian said, her tone hardening slightly.

To her surprise, Nanny Qin burst out laughing. “Report it? Little girl, don’t you know Da Zhou has declared war on Dong Qin? Even news that enormous can’t reach him — and you want to see him? Ha! We’re the ones looking for him too!”

At these words, Yelu Qianqian was completely lost. What did the old nanny mean by that? Why couldn’t she understand any of this?

Da Zhou declaring war on Dong Qin — what did that have to do with Wanyan Lie?

Were they also searching for Wanyan Lie?

“You… you…” Yelu Qianqian had no idea that Xuanyuan Lige was actually the Crown Prince of Dong Qin. She couldn’t make sense of any of it!

But then Nanny Qin suddenly seized her by the collar, demanding furiously, “Tell me — what did you people do to Crown Prince Li? Where is he now!”

Crown Prince Li?

Yelu Qianqian was even more bewildered. What on earth was this old woman going on about?

“Answer me!” Nanny Qin had no patience left for this. She had served the Empress of Dong Qin for most of her life, and had plenty of ruthless, calculating methods at her disposal — all the tenderness she possessed, she reserved entirely for her Crown Prince Li.

“You’re not from Xiliang — who exactly are you people! I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Yelu Qianqian shouted, and with strength she didn’t know she had, shoved Nanny Qin away and tried to bolt.

But the moment her foot stepped out, Nanny Qin yanked her right back in, one hand gripping her collar, the other seizing her arm, pinning her against the seat.

“Of course we’re not from Xiliang! We’re from Dong Qin!” Nanny Qin said sharply, finally understanding what had happened — this girl had misunderstood her, just as she had misunderstood this girl.

Dong Qin people?

Yelu Qianqian was even more confused — not because she was slow, but because she genuinely had no idea.

“Dong Qin… where does Dong Qin’s… Crown Prince come from.” she asked timidly.

The question struck straight at Nanny Qin’s heart. She suddenly grew calm, her hand still gripping tight, staring coldly at Yelu Qianqian.

This question, asked so plainly, proved one thing beyond doubt — this girl truly knew nothing at all.

So be it. All of this had been for nothing. Better to just take her to the frontier and question Han Ziqing directly.

Nanny Qin’s spirits sank. Without another word, without any explanation, she released Yelu Qianqian and turned to leave.

But just as she was about to step out of the carriage, she suddenly stopped and said flatly, “Princess Qianqian, have you ever met Xuanyuan Lige?”

Xuanyuan Lige?

Crown Prince Li?

They were people of Dong Qin, yet they were escorting her toward Da Zhou’s western frontier?

Yelu Qianqian was confused, but she wasn’t stupid — she immediately caught the scent of danger!

Whatever her answer about Xuanyuan Lige might mean, and wherever they were really taking her by forcing her westward, there had to be some scheme behind it.

“I’ve met him,” Yelu Qianqian answered immediately. Xuanyuan Lige was the greatest qin player under heaven — she knew of him, though she had never actually seen him in person.

Back when she had fainted, Xuanyuan Lige had already left the clinic next to Sha Qiuzi’s place — how would she have known that?

“Where is he!” Nanny Qin demanded urgently.

Yelu Qianqian’s eyes flickered a few times, nervous, but hidden behind the curtain, unable to see Nanny Qin’s expression, she steeled herself and spoke. “He’s in Xijing.”

Nanny Qin’s face lit up with delight. She yanked the curtain open at once, her sharp, cold eyes bearing straight down on Yelu Qianqian’s frightened gaze.

“Where in Xijing? How do you know this?”

Yelu Qianqian desperately wanted to look away from that piercing scrutiny, her small hands clenched into fists behind her back, but she forced herself to meet Nanny Qin’s eyes.

If she could just get this lie out smoothly, she could make it safely back to Xijing!

She had to answer. She had to get back as soon as possible!

Images flashed through her mind — her aging father’s weathered face, her late brother’s doting smile from days past, her mother’s final moments, her lingering attachment to her children and to their father — all of it, every bit of it, became Yelu Qianqian’s courage.

She had found the courage to run all the way to Xiliang — what was one lie compared to that?

Yelu Qianqian took a quiet, deep breath, looked at Nanny Qin, and steeled herself, gathering every ounce of courage.

She had to say it.