When Jiang Xiao Tian entered the Crown Princess' palace, Princess Lingchen was walking back and forth in her garden as if something was occupying her thought. Jiang Xiao Tian immediately went before the Princess and offered his greetings.

"You're finally here," Princess Lingchen said.

"I come as quickly as I can," Jiang Xiao Tian said. He lifted his head and saw the black rim under the Princess' eyes. "Your Highness, what happened to you? Are you unwell?"

"I did not sleep well," Princess Lingchen admitted. "I was waiting for you to return."

Jiang Xiao Tian's expression grew serious. "Something happened?"

The Princess glanced at her maidservants and waved a hand to dismiss them. Once the maidservants had retreated until they were out of their earshot, Princess Lingchen spoke, "I met Prince Lu Wei of Qian Rong a few days ago. He told me something about the Shadow Gra.s.s."

Jiang Xiao Tian's expression grew dark, but he quickly calmed down before the Princess could notice his change. "What did the Prince say to you?"

"The Prince told me stories of how a person vanish just like that," the Princess said. She moved towards a stool and sat down. "He told me that in a few places, some people believed that Shadow Gra.s.s would appear only when a strong supernatural power was around."

"You believe in supernatural things, Your Highness?" Jiang Xiao Tian tried to control his emotion.

They have agreed to keep this matter a secret from the Princess. However, Jiang Xiao Tian did not expect that a Prince from Qian Rong would know of this legend. After all, he had investigated the Shadow Gra.s.s for years before he met the old man who then told them his stories.

"You know that I don't really believe in them," the Princess lowered her gaze. "But, when Mingyue disappeared, an eclipse occurred."

"Was that not a coincidence?" Jiang Xiao Tian said. However, he began to make a plan to visit the Prince of Qian Rong to learn more about whatever information that the Prince might have. It might lead to a few clues to help them to find Mingyue.

Princess Lingchen decided to share the stories she heard from Prince Lu Wei. "For a few people in the Southern part of Sui Country, the Shadow Gra.s.s was believed to be something from another world. During the eclipse, the people believed that a portal to another world would open. When Mingyue touched the Shadow Gra.s.s, she got sucked into the other world."

"Your Highness," Jiang Xiao Tian said. "Pardon me. But, without a proof, whatever the Prince had said will remain as a story."

Princess Lingchen bit her lower lips. "I know. But I wanted to have hope that Mingyue will be alright when I heard Prince Lu Wei's story."

Jiang Xiao Tian stared at the Princess with hesitant. He had never believed in supernatural things. However, he too wanted to think that Mingyue got sucked into another world. Therefore they can have hope that his sister will be alive. But, nothing that the Princess' said makes sense. Jiang Xiao Tian did not want to have a high hope only to get disappointed later on.

"I will send my men to Sui Country and investigate this matter," Jiang Xiao Tian said after a while.

Princess Lingchen nodded. "Second brother."

Jiang Xiao Tian looked up as he heard something from the Princess' tone.

"If what Prince Lu Wei said was not gibberish, then doesn't that mean that Mingyue disappeared because of me?" Princess Lingchen said weakly. "Mingyue knew that the gra.s.s was the only missing ingredients needed to concoct the potion and she was the one who picked up the gra.s.s."

Jiang Xiao Tian swallowed. He knew that they should never let the Princess know of the old man, Li Ran. When Li Ran told them his story of how his son vanished before his eyes, Mingyue was present. His sister knew that there might be consequences when she harvested the gra.s.s, but Mingyue still chose to pick up the herbs and refuse to let go of the only chance to cure the Princess.

If the Crown Princess learned that Mingyue was aware of the consequences, wouldn't the princess continue to blame herself?