522 The Secret About the Past 140 (1/2)

”Yangyang, you must be careful at all times. Call me if anything happens,” Long Tianze reminded her worriedly.

”Got it, rest assured. Take care of everything at home. I'll be on my guard at all times,” said Mei Yangyang as she tiptoed to give him a kiss.

Long Tianze nodded earnestly.

Jin Qingyan and Mei Yangyang set off to B City in his car. Jin Qingyan had also instructed for his private jet to tag along, so as to shorten the duration needed for the journey home.

It was noontime when they arrived in B City. He immediately sent An Xiaoning a text message to inform her about their plan to switch places. However, the latter had yet to reply.

Naturally, there was no way she could make it out of the palace during the daytime, especially since security was tight in the Autumn Palace. Servants and bodyguards would only be allowed to leave when they were told to do so by their masters or superiors.

They waited near the entrance of the Autumn Palace for a long while, during which Jin Qingyue called to inform that Mrs. Jin fainted and came to repeatedly. The pain was so unbearable that Mrs. Jin expressed her desire to die and end her suffering. She was practically in a living hell.

As much as Jin Qingyan was panicky and anxious, he nonetheless continued to wait patiently for nighttime to arrive.

They had to reduce the chances of getting exposed during the switch in order to let An Xiaoning make a trip back home.

However, An Xiaoning still did not reply to the text message he had sent her during noon.

At almost seven o'clock in the evening, she finally replied, saying that she could come out of the palace immediately.

Jin Qingyan drove toward the main gate. Shortly after, An Xiaoning showed up and zoomed toward the car.

”Let's go back,” she said, panting heavily.

”Let Yangyang take over your duties.”

An Xiaoning refuted, ”No need for that. I've already applied for leave, which was approved by Her Highness. I'm supposedly allowed to take a day off every month, but Her Highness has been in a bad mood recently and initially refused to let me go home. I had no choice but to lie to her.”

”How did you lie to her?” Jin Qingyan asked while speeding toward the airport.

”I said that my boyfriend was on the brink of death.”

Jin Qingyan turned to glare at her abruptly. ”Do you think I won't beat you up into a pulp?”

”I said my boyfriend was dying, not my husband. Why are you getting so worked up? A bodyguard whom her Her Highness carries a torch for was secretly executed. She only agreed to let me come out because I lied to her. I have to make it back to the palace by tomorrow evening, though,” An Xiaoning explained after taking a few sips of mineral water.

”That's good. I activated the private jet while on my way here. We'll fly home instead. I'll get someone to drive the car back,” said Jin Qingyan.

”What exactly is the situation? Tell me about it again,” An Xiaoning asked.

”Let's talk on the plane,” Jin Qingyan answered, keeping his eyes fixed on the roads ahead as he raced toward the airport.

As soon as they arrived at the airport, they hurriedly boarded the private jet back to A City.

Jin Qingyan explained the situation to An Xiaoning again on the jet, after which he asked, ”What do you think is going on?”

”Both the mediums you consulted said that it wasn't a spirit's doing?” After pondering for a moment, she continued, ”Maybe they're not skilled enough to tell, or perhaps it could be because of another reason. I'll know exactly what it is once I go back to take a look. But, who told you to look for Yuan Mingzhu?”

”I didn't want to find that woman who replaced your position either, but I really didn't have another choice.”

”Sis, how could you hide it from me? If Brother-in-law didn't ask me to switch places with you, Tianze and I wouldn't have guessed that you'd be so brazen as to step foot into the Autumn Palace. But, is it even possible to find any clues in such a huge place?” Mei Yangyang asked.

Shaking her head while leaning back against the seat, An Xiaoning answered, ”I don't know, but searching for my parents would be akin to finding a needle in the haystack if I don't go inside. So, I must give it a try no matter how slim the chances may be.”

”Sis, I believe you'll definitely find them someday. But it's really way too dangerous in there. Besides, you're under the disguise of a mask, so you must be very, very careful at all times,” said Mei Yangyang.

”Got it, I'll be on my guard.”