Lin Ning was given a carriage that Qin Yun would lead the way to the border since Cao Peizhi was his master. Xia Ling and Hun Cuifen were also inside the carriage with Lin Ning, looking a bit pale. “Young miss, why did you want to go to the border this late?” Xia Ling needed answers; it was just too abnormal that it made her feel worried at the same time.

“Ling, I have to clarify something.” Lin Ning did not want to explain it. ‘Would you believe me?’ She thought most would think that she could be some crazy lady who was possibly under some curse. Xia Ling could see how unclear she was, but she then took a look outside and met eye contact with Qin Yun. Knowing the signal, Qin Yun took out his whistle, which he blew to have their people help lead the way and help if there were any danger. Lin Ning was too lost in her worries that she did not sense them traveling with her.

***

Yi Qiao (Second Prince) had been resting for some time; he had been comforted by his princess consort ever since the loss of his sister. He had struggled to walk since the wolves had managed to maul him around a bit, but they did not maul him as much as his younger sister. He could not go anywhere because he could be crippled if he went off being careless. “How has Miss Lin been?” He decided to ask his close comrade, who had been taking care of him when the princess consort was not around.

“Miss Lin?” His comrade did not even want to see Lin Ning since the hounds were always alert, which he found hard to give the second prince information about her. Not only that, but he discovered that Lin Ning had recently moved and no one knew where her family had moved to. Lin Ning’s father would still come to the palace, but it was never long enough for him to be able to follow and find their new manor.

“En.” Yi Qiao wanted to know what had been going on for the past few weeks that he had been recuperating.

“Miss Lin no longer lives where she used to. Not only that, but it seems as though her father is never here long enough for me to find out where he has gone.” The second prince did not know that Lin Ning’s family had moved. He was just about to get up when the door to his studies was opened.

“Husband, are you feeling better?” Qian Qiang had stumbled upon their conversation, hearing how her husband was still trying to look after Lin Ning.

“En, I’ve been feeling better and better. With your care, then I have been feeling much better than before.” Yi Qiao would usually have to please Qian Qiang with his words, but he had never known that she kept him in check with women.

“I’m glad that you have been feeling better. Why don’t you go ahead and take your medicine and then rest?” Qian Qiang had his medicine brought over by a maid, leaving them while ensuring that he took his medication. Yi Qiao had taken medicine, but he felt his body turn hot, which had never happened before as he looked at Qian Qiang. Feeling as though it was Lin Ning in front of him, he could not help but kiss the soft lips that were right in front of him.

“Lin Ning…” He called out.

***

Viscount Lin woke up with an unsettling feeling in his chest, getting up with the sun barely coming out. Seeing his wife was still sound asleep next to him, he smiled to see that they still had a child together that was growing within her. Seeing the little bump, he smiled to know that he had a growing family that looked after him even though he was gone constantly. There were shadows outside their room; he took out his sword that stood by close to his bedside. “Husband…” Hearing his wife wake up, she knew the sound of his sword that stood by their bedside every night.

“Shhh…” He silenced her, going over to the door as he knew that they were in a dangerous situation. His wife worried about him, seeing how he would risk his life for them.

“Master! Madam! There is a fire!” Hearing Duan Fa shout, Viscount Lin had opened the door to see that there were indeed unknown men as Duan Fa had come just in time to visit. Helping Viscount Lin with the men dressed in black, they could hear the sound of swords clashing against each other.

“Madam!” Hun Lian had hurried over to help Lin Ning’s mother, who was still holding onto her belly. Seeing one of the men dressed in black, he came at them both, which left Hun Lian no choice but to fight back when she did not know martial arts. Tossing anything in the room at the man, she was going to protect Lin Ning’s mother at all cost. Catching the scent of the smoke, the spies were all immediately killed by Duan Fa and his men that he had called with the whistle.

“AAAHHH!!!” Viscount Lin heard his wife scream, which made him run back to their room, seeing one more man there as Duan Fa threw his sword that had plunged into him. “Lian! Lian!” They all saw Viscount Lin’s wife holding onto Hun Lian, panting heavily with a deep wound on her back.

“We have to leave now.” Duan Fa knew that they could not stay there any longer. It would get more and more dangerous if they waited any longer.

“What about Ning’er?!” Viscount then asked.

“Don’t worry. She is safe. We need to get you all out of here first.” Duan Fa saw the whole place coming down as he carried Hun Lian into his arms. The fire was burning fast, with people all waking up by the smell of the smoke that was forming in the early morning.

“Put out the fire!”

“Bring more water!”

People who lived nearby were getting buckets of water to put out the fire as they could see bodies all burnt within the burning manor.