Then, she helped An Qin get off the carriage.

When An Qin and Qiao Shu both got off, Sicha led the horse to ride aside.

Shortly, she ran back after hiding the carriage.

"Your Highness, everything's done," Sicha looked at An Qin and reported.

An Qin nodded and turned to Qiao Shu, "Qiao Shu, how far are we away from the place you mentioned?"

"If I remember it right, we should move along this road," Qiao Shu pointed at the road ahead and explained.

Then, they set off.

Just when they took a few steps, Sicha frowned and glanced at Qiao Shu but still kept following her.

It seemed that Qiao Shu didn't lie to them. Although it was so dark last night, she could remember where she had been. It was exactly where Qiao Shu pointed at.

As expected, Qiao Shu led them to the foot of the mountain she found last night.

Qiao Shu walked forward and rummaged through piles of withered grass nearby for something.

Those piles of withered grass had reached the height of an adult.

Later, Qiao Shu said, "Right, this is the place."

Hearing that, An Qin and Sicha rushed there. Qiao Shu parted the withered grass and they saw a cave.

The cave was rather concealed. No wonder Sicha didn't find any clue last night.

Later, Sicha whispered to An Qin, "Your Highness, this is the place. I lost track of them here last night."

An Qin nodded.

Then, she stepped forward to say to Qiao Shu with a smile, "Thank you so much. Without you, I'm afraid we couldn't get here."

"An Qin, please don't say that. I told you I would help you, so I have to keep my promise," answered Qiao Shu who also smiled.

An Qin continued, "Sicha, lead the way. Let's get in to have a check."

"Your Highness, please wait here. Let me explore the way first to see whether it's dangerous inside," Sicha frowned at An Qin's order and suggested.

However, An Qin shook her head and refused, "It's fine. Let's get in together."

Sicha still wanted to persuade her but then stopped after An Qin glanced at her.

Afterward, An Qin took the lead to head to the cave.

Sicha quickly caught up with her and said, "Your Highness, please allow me to lead the way."

While speaking, she walked into the cave first.

An Qin took a look at Qiao Shu and went into the cave with her.

The evening hadn't come yet, but it was so dark in the cave.

Sicha took out a paper igniter and blew a few times, after which, the igniter was lit.

At once, the light shone in the cave. They looked around and found nothing but the darkness and humidity.

An Qin turned to Sicha and said, "Keep walking."

Sicha nodded and stepped forward to explore more slowly.

However, even when they reached the end, they found nothing.

Sicha asked, "Your Highness, is it possible that they've built some secret compartments here?"

"Search the area more carefully," An Qin thought for a while and ordered.

According to Sicha, she lost track of them here. Plus, Qiao Shu led them to this cave.

Therefore, there must be some secret compartments, or everything that happened couldn't make sense.

At the thought, she took the lead to walk to the cave wall and started to fumble for the secret compartment.

But after a long time, they still found nothing.

An Qin started to doubt herself. They had searched everywhere but had no findings. So there was nothing special about the cave?

At the thought, An Qin could not help frowning.

Right at this time, Sicha suddenly blew out the paper igniter.

At once, the darkness was back to the cave.

Seeing that, An Qin asked in a low voice, "Sicha, what's wrong?"

"Your Highness, I heard something," Sicha also answered in a low voice.

Later, Sicha continued, "Your Highness, let's hide first and see what's going on."

"I agree," An Qin nodded.

Then she said to Qiao Shu, "Qiao Shu, let's go."

Then, they walked quietly and fumbled their way forward.

They didn't stop until walked far.

Then, they looked at the entrance.

Soon, they heard footsteps.

They held their breath.

Against the dim light coming from the entrance, they saw a woman walking in with something in her hand.

She walked to the cave wall and fumbled for something. Afterward, a burst of sounds followed.

After that, the cave before the woman swung open slowly.

Instantly, the light shone in.

Seeing that, An Qin, Qiao Shu, and Sicha quickly pressed themselves to the cave wall in case the woman saw them.

They heard a male voice coming from outside.

"Bai Shuangshuang, why does it take you so long? You aren't exposed, are you?" Luo Shu ran to Bai Shuangshuang and asked.

Bai Shuangshuang looked at Luo Shu and answered, "Just drop this topic. I'm not in luck today, but I wasn't exposed. Well... Are you waiting here for me all the time?"

After answering him, Bai Shuangshuang posed one question.

But Luo Shu turned his head away and said, "Or why am I here? I know you left the Youyou Valley. I feel improper if not telling General Bai about this after going back. However, if I do, you will get punished."

"Luo Shu, it's so nice of you. Here, my gift for you," Bai Shuangshuang replied and handed the roast chicken to him.

Luo Shu turned around to take over the roast chicken.

After that, Bai Shuangshuang continued, "We'd better hurry back in case my father finds out that I have left the valley."

Then, she had a leap and flew over the valley.

At the sight of her, Luo Shu wore a bitter smile. He didn't want to just be her close friend. He was desperate to tell her his feelings, but it was not a good time to do so under such crucial circumstances.

At this time, Bai Shuangshuang shouted across the valley, "Luo Shu, hurry up."

"I'm right behind you," Luo Shu responded and also leaped to fly over the valley.

An Qin, Qiao Shu, and Sicha didn't show themselves until the cave wall closed. An Qin walked to where Bai Shuangshuang stood and felt about in the dark for the place Bai Shuangshuang turned on the wall.

As expected, she found a dented rock.

If not careful enough, no one could find it.

Just now, they mentioned "General Bai".

An Qin frowned. But now that she found where the secret compartment was, this wasn't a wasted trip.

Then, An Qin said to Sicha, "Let's go."

"Your Highness, we don't follow them to have a check?" Sicha asked after hearing An Qin's order.

However, the latter shook her head and explained, "It's too dangerous to get in because we may alert them. Moreover, we've spent much time outside and the play is about to end. We can come back later."

Then, An Qin took a glance at Qiao Shu.

Sicha immediately understood what she meant, so she nodded, "Yes, Your Highness."

"Qiao Shu, let's get out first," An Qin walked to Qiao Shu and said.

After the latter nodded, they left the cave.

When they walked out, An Qin asked Sicha to put the piles of withered grass back so that others wouldn't detect any clue.

Then, they moved to where Sicha hid the carriage.

Chushi Weiyang was already back to the royal palace, but he couldn't stop thinking about Bai Shuangshuang, a straightforward and innocent girl. He couldn't help laughing whenever he recalled how she handed the drumstick to him.

He didn't know there was such an interesting girl.

But how could he sneak out of the palace again three days later?

That girl ran away so fast that he forgot to ask about her address.

At the thought, Chushi Weiyang clapped.

What was wrong with him? He usually went to sleep after sneaking out to have fun, but why didn't he feel sleepy today?

At this time, Qiao Shu, An Qin, and Sicha came back to Jing City. Sicha parked the carriage near the back door of the theater.

The play was over and the audience walked out one after another.

Getting off the carriage, An Qin just left it near the back door and blended in with the crowd to head to the front door.

Seeing An Qin and Qiao Shu showing up at the theater front door, the man Zhou Ji asked to spy on them followed them back to the mansion.

He knew that the theater wouldn't allow people to leave once the play was on.

This was why he relaxed his vigilance. However, this tiny mistake almost resulted in a huge disaster in the future!

They arrived in front of the mansion of Marquis Shuo.

An Qin walked in after having a small talk with Qiao Shu.

However, Qiao Shu didn't go home but headed to the mansion of Lan’s family.

When they were still in the cave, An Qin suggested that they should go back later. Actually, this meant that An Qin didn't completely trust Qiao Shu.

If things went as she expected, An Qin might send Sicha to go back to the cave and have a check tonight.

If so, she could tell Lan Ruojing that she "overheard" An Qin telling Sicha to do so when she was in the mansion of Marquis Shuo.

In this way, Lan Ruojing would ask people to spy on Sicha.

Then, even if his men had some findings, it would have nothing to do with her.

So, when Shuo Ling knew what they did, she could disassociate herself from this.

At the thought, Qiao Shu walked more quickly to the mansion of Lan’s family.

In the mansion of Marquis Shuo, Zhou Ji asked the man he sent to spy on An Qin, "What did she do?"

"Nothing. They were watching the play in the theater all the time," said the man who shook his head.

Zhou Ji nodded and continued, "Alright, you can leave now."

Then, he looked at the courtyard where An Qin lived and walked there.

As soon as An Qin went back to her room with Sicha, she ordered, "Go to investigate General Bai."

"Yes," Sicha answered and walked outside.

In the cave, An Qin heard that the man mentioned "General Bai" who she hadn't heard of. But she remembered that there was a general in Dongling whose surname was Bai. To figure out who they were talking about, An Qin decided to send Sicha to investigate.

At the same time, Qiao Shu had arrived at the mansion of Lan's family.

She stepped to the guard near the door and requested, "Please tell Master Lan that someone is waiting in No.1 Teahouse for him."

"Who are you?" The guard looked at Qiao Shu and asked after hearing her request.

But she just smiled and replied, "Just tell him what I said and he will know who's there."

Later, Qiao Shu turned around and headed to the teahouse.