The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Chapter 234 Autumn Hunting Crisis (8)

"How is it?"

In the pouring rain, the guards could only hold an umbrella in one hand and a torch in the other, and for a moment, the hillside was ablaze with flickering light.

"Your Highness, we have searched this area thoroughly, but have not found Princess Anle." The guard replied, bowing low, afraid that Jing Fengyao would take his anger out on him.

Jing Fengyao didn't have time to worry about that right now, and said, "Keep searching! Don't miss a single corner!"

"Anle, where are you? Please don't let anything happen to you!"

Qin Xiuyuan lowered his eyes, also looking worried. The hunting grounds were only so big, and they had searched the entire area. If Jing Anle was here, there was no way there wouldn't be any trace of her. Unless… His eyes caught sight of the steep cliff ahead. He dared not think about it. Jing Anle didn't know martial arts; if she fell off such a high cliff, there would be almost no chance of survival.

"Xiuyuan, what are you looking at?" Jing Fengyao saw Qin Xiuyuan staring blankly at the cliff. The moment he spoke, he almost instantly guessed Qin Xiuyuan's thoughts and blurted out without hesitation, "No, this is impossible..."

The sky gradually brightened, and the rain lessened. Xue Han, who had come from the other side to investigate, also walked over.

"See the First Prince."

"Have you found them?" Jing Fengyao asked anxiously.

Xue Han lowered his head even further, "Your subordinate has failed in his duties and has not yet found the princess."

Jing Fengyao and Qin Xiuyuan were both deflated.

Qin Xiuyuan refused to give up and asked, "May I ask General Xue, what lies below the cliff?"

Xue Han suddenly looked up. "This cliff is called 'Unknown Cliff.' It's several hundred feet high, and below it lies 'Hidden River.'"

“Several hundred feet!” Qin Xiuyuan and Jing Fengyao exclaimed in unison.

The two were both shocked and frightened. At such a height, even a highly skilled martial artist would likely struggle to protect himself, let alone a woman who was completely defenseless.

“No, we must search even if there’s only a sliver of hope.” Jing Fengyao made a decisive decision. “I’ll take some men down the cliff to search.”

Qin Xiuyuan snapped out of his daze and quickly stopped him, saying, "No, it's too dangerous. Below is Yinchuan, where the river is swift and the floodwaters have just risen after the heavy rain. Let me go instead."

Jing Fengyao's eyes were firm. "How will I know if I don't try? Anle is my sister, I can't just give up like this."

"Your Highness, General Qin, there are actually other ways," Xue Han said upon seeing this.

Jing Fengyao and Qin Xiuyuan looked at him simultaneously, "What method?"

Xue Han pointed to the mountain path on the other side and said, "This path leads to the Hidden River below the cliff. If Princess Anle really fell off the cliff, she might have been swept into the Hidden River. We can search along the river."

Everyone looked in the direction Xue Han pointed. It was overgrown with weeds, and you wouldn't know it was a mountain path unless you looked closely.

Jing Fengyao thought for a moment and decided that the plan was feasible. "Alright, let's do as General Xue says. We'll split into two groups. One group will come down the cliff with me, and the other will stay in the hunting grounds to continue the search."

Seeing that Jing Fengyao insisted on going in person, Qin Xiuyuan could only follow closely behind him to protect his safety. "Alright, I'll go down the cliff with you."

Jing Fengyao patted him on the shoulder, "Good brother, be careful."

Then, the two teams set off separately.

Jing Fengyao and Qin Xiuyuan led a group of people through the dense forest and slowly descended the mountain path, both of them silently praying that Jing Anle would be safe and sound.

……

Meanwhile, after learning where Jing Anle was, Can'er quietly left after Jing Rou fell asleep.

The hunting grounds are under strict surveillance right now, and since Can'er is Jingrou's maid, she can't openly go to Muping, otherwise it will definitely arouse suspicion.

Can'er paced anxiously in the room; she had to get the message to Mu Ping as soon as possible.

She came up with an idea and decided to take the risk. Under the cover of night, Can'er changed into dark clothes and quietly slipped out of her residence. She carefully avoided the patrolling soldiers and headed towards Mu Ping's direction.

Finally, Can'er found Mu Ping.

"Who?" Almost instantly, Mu Ping noticed Can'er's presence.

"Ning Wen? What brings you here?" Mu Ping's voice was very low as she pulled her inside.

"Sister Muping, without further ado, I know where Princess Anle is." So Can'er told her what Jingrou had told her.

Hearing Can'er's words, Mu Ping felt something was off. "You mean Princess Anle fell into a trap?"

"Yes, Princess Rou said it herself."

"Ning Wen, I don't doubt you, but I doubt Princess Rou!"

Can'er was startled by these words and immediately understood, "Does Sister Mu Ping mean that Princess Rou is trying to trick me? Could it be that she already suspects me?"

"It's not clear yet," Mu Ping shook her head.

"However, based on Miss Zhao's description of the direction Princess Anle fled in, there is only one cliff over there!"

"So Sister Muping thinks the princess fell off the cliff?" Can'er's face paled, and she murmured, "Such a high place..."

Mu Ping's face also darkened, and she sighed, "This is just my speculation. What if Princess Rou isn't lying?"

"What should I do?"

"Go back first, don't arouse suspicion, I have my own way."

After Can'er left, Mu Ping stared at the map in deep thought.

"Mu Ping, what should we do?" Ever since Jing Anle disappeared, A Fang has been frantic and at a loss, and can only rely on Mu Ping.

Tonight, Jing Fengyao and Qin Xiuyuan, along with their guards, searched the entire hunting grounds, but there's still no news. Could it really be buried underground? If so, wouldn't that mean...

"We can't wait any longer." Mu Ping had just changed into her night clothes and was about to go out when she heard hurried footsteps. She immediately knew something was wrong. She gestured for A Fang to be quiet and then blew out the lamp.

Afang was also too frightened to make a sound, and the two pairs of bright eyes stared at each other in the darkness.

After everyone outside had completely left, Mu Ping whispered, "They're gone."

Afang breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "Should we still go?"

Mu Ping glanced at the door and said calmly, "It wasn't us, it was me."

Afang grabbed Muping in fear, her voice trembling with tears, "Should we go and report to His Majesty? What if the princess really..." The immense fear prevented Afang from continuing.

Mu Ping also felt a chill. She shivered and forced herself to calm down. She looked at A Fang and said softly, "We must trust the princess, and you must trust me too. This matter is most likely a trap. If we report it now, it will expose Can'er and make all our efforts go to waste."

Suddenly, Afang remembered Jing Anle's plan. She nodded blankly, then worried about Jing Anle's safety and asked anxiously, "What should we do now?"

"Promise me you'll stay here obediently. First, it'll serve as a cover to keep everyone in the dark. Second, Princess Rou will only fully trust Can'er if no one reports us, which will benefit us in the future."

Afang swallowed nervously and obediently replied, "Okay, I'll do whatever you say."

After saying that, Mu Ping felt relieved and quietly slipped out.