I died tragically in my previous life, and I want to be an empress in my next life

Not long after, news came from Xiao Lin and Li Qiuniang.

Xiao Lin said that Xuanyuan Ping did go to Jiangnan with Madam Qingyao. After arriving in Jiangnan, he stayed in the mansion and did not go out until Madam Qingyao's father's condition stabilized. Then he returned to Beijing with Madam Qingyao. He should be on his way back to Beijing now.

The news from Li Qiuniang was that Xuanyuan Ping seemed to be secretly planning something recently. Zhang Musheng was also very tight-lipped and did not leak out any news, only saying that the matter was of great importance.

Pei Zhiyan couldn't help but fall into deep thought. She absolutely didn't believe that Xuanyuan Ping went to Jiangnan just to accompany Qingyao back to visit her father. He was a cold-blooded man, and his feelings for Qingyao were not that deep.

If Xuanyuan Ping was really planning something secretly, then the reason for his trip to Jiangnan would be even more confusing.

Just when Pei Zhiyan was at a loss, news came from the outer courtyard that Xuanyuan Ping had returned home.

Pei Zhiyan changed into casual clothes, holding an exquisite teacup in her hand, and walked lightly towards Xuanyuan Ping's study.

She wanted to find out what secrets Xuanyuan Ping was hiding.

When she reached the door of the study, she knocked lightly. Xuanyuan Ping replied in full force, "Come in."

Pei Zhiyan walked in lightly, only to see Xuanyuan sitting at the desk, calm and radiant, without any sign of fatigue from running around outside for many days.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Pei Zhiyan bowed.

Xuanyuan Ping raised his head slightly, his eyes swept across Pei Zhiyan's face, "Princess, please don't be polite."

Pei Zhiyan was slightly stunned. Xuanyuan Ping's tone was polite yet a little distant. Today he even changed his words and called her "Princess" again.

Pei Zhiyan smiled secretly in her heart. Could it be that he really doted on Qingyao so much that he accompanied her to Jiangnan?

She handed the teacup in her hand to Xuanyuan Ping, "Your Highness must have been very tired from traveling these days. This is the ginseng tea that I specially prepared for you."

"Princess, this is so thoughtful." Xuanyuan Ping took the teacup but just put it on the table.

"Madam Qingyao's father is seriously ill, and she came to me personally to beg me for help. I couldn't bear it, so I went with her. I was in a hurry to leave Beijing this time, and I didn't say hello to the princess, which made her worry." Xuanyuan Ping said slowly.

Pei Zhiyan couldn't help but feel an inexplicable emotion when she heard Xuanyuan Ping's words. She looked into Xuanyuan Ping's deep eyes, as if she wanted to find out something from them. However, Xuanyuan Ping's eyes were like a deep lake, making it impossible to see the bottom.

She gently lowered her eyes, hiding her thoughts, and said softly, "Your Majesty has his own reasons for doing things, and I dare not complain at all. However, Your Majesty should also take care of your health and not overwork yourself."

"Thank you for your concern, Princess."

It seems that Xuanyuan Ping has become wary of me, but I don't know why he behaved like this. Did he discover something?

Pei Zhiyan left Xuanyuan Ping's study with doubts.

After coming out of Xuanyuan Ping's study, Pei Zhiyan turned into Zhenxiang Pavilion where Qingyao lived.

Qingyao was drinking tea in the pavilion. When she saw Pei Zhiyan coming, a flash of surprise flashed in her eyes. But soon, she regained her composure, stood up gracefully, and saluted Pei Zhiyan respectfully, "Meet the princess!"

Pei Zhiyan smiled slightly, lifted Qingyao's hand, and said gently, "Madam Qingyao, we are all family, no need to be polite."

Qingyao thanked her softly, and then personally poured her a cup of hot tea. The aroma of tea filled the air, and the two sat facing each other.

Pei Zhiyan picked up the teacup and took a sip, feeling the aroma of the tea spreading in her mouth. She put down the teacup and asked with concern, "I heard that Madam Qingyao's father was ill. I wonder how he is doing now?"

Qingyao's eyes flashed with gratitude when she heard this. She sighed softly and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Princess. My father's condition has stabilized. However, he is old and his recovery is quite slow."

Pei Zhiyan gently held Qingyao's hand and said in a warm voice, "Madam Qingyao, please rest assured. There are many famous doctors in Jiangnan. They will surely be able to bring your father back to health. Your father will surely recover soon."

Qingyao's eyes were filled with tears of gratitude. She took a deep breath, tried to calm herself down, and then said softly, "Princess, Qingyao is very grateful for your concern."

Qingyao is also a smart person. She knows that Pei Zhiyan must want to know the reason why Xuanyuan Ping accompanied her back to Jiangnan. In fact, she was also very surprised that Xuanyuan Ping returned to Jiangnan with her this time.

She was just a little concubine in Prince Jing's mansion, and Xuanyuan Ping did not favor her much. How could she put aside her official duties and accompany him back to Jiangnan just because her father was seriously ill?

So, she said, "The news that my father was seriously ill should not have reached Qingyao so quickly. It was the prince who got the news first, and then said that he would accompany Qingyao back."

Pei Zhiyan was slightly stunned when she heard this. Did Xuanyuan Ping get the news first? Why did he care so much about Qingyao's family? Everything was unusual.

Qingyao continued, "After arriving in Jiangnan, the prince has been staying in the other courtyard of the mansion. He has not gone out, nor has he had any contact with officials inside or outside the mansion."

This made Pei Zhiyan even more confused. She asked, "Did the prince visit your father?"

"On the day we arrived, I went to visit my father with Qingyao, and then stayed in the other courtyard until my father's condition stabilized and we were about to return to Beijing. Only then did the prince say goodbye to my father."

"Do you know what the prince was doing when he was in the villa?" Pei Zhiyan asked again.

"Qingyao didn't know this. Qingyao took care of her father every day and neglected it." Qingyao lowered her eyes and said softly.

Pei Zhiyan thought to herself that Xuanyuan Ping went to Jiangnan for dozens of days, which means that he only appeared in front of everyone on the first and last days. No one actually knew what he was doing during the rest of the time.

It can be seen that his trip to the south of the Yangtze River this time is definitely not just to visit a patient, he must be plotting something behind the scenes, and now he is hiding it even from himself, it seems that he has become wary of himself.

After sitting in Zhenxiang Pavilion for a while, Pei Zhiyan got up and returned to Yime Garden.

On the second day, Lin Xiaoyu sent a secret letter, asking Pei Zhiyan to go to a farm outside Beijing.

When Pei Zhiyan saw the news, her heart skipped a beat and she felt an inexplicable sense of nervousness.

Lin Xiaoyu would not have asked him out like this unless it was something serious, and this manor was the same one where Xuanyuan Che recuperated last time.