CHAPTER 1648: CHAPTER 1649: FELL INTO THE TRAP

A Yi first feigned concern about Ah Hong’s health, then said to some other guards, "Officer, my wife is not feeling well from the journey these past few days. I think it’s best I take her back to the inn to rest. If the Queen asks, please let her know we’re staying at the Fushou Inn."

"Alright."

Seeing that the guard agreed, A Yi took Ah Hong away.

They don’t look like Shi Xiaolan at all. If An Jing saw them, she would surely realize they were impostors, and with strict guards here, capturing An Jing was as difficult as climbing to the heavens. It was better to lure An Jing to the inn.

An Jing was in the room with Tobanya, taking care of her three beautiful babies, when a guard suddenly came in to report, "Your Majesty, at the gate, there’s a farmer couple claiming to be your old friends Shi Xiaolan and Wu Xiaoshan. They happened to come to the Capital on business and wish to see the Queen. This is the hairpin from the farmer’s wife, she said the Queen would recognize it."

Upon hearing Shi Xiaolan’s name, An Jing was delighted, but then something felt off. She and her husband’s identities were never disclosed to Shi Xiaolan and Wu Xiaoshan, how could they know to find her at the Xiyun mansion?

However, when An Jing saw the hairpin, she believed it really was Shi Xiaolan.

This hairpin was something she and Shi Xiaolan had picked out together at the market and An Jing had given it to Shi Xiaolan. Shi Xiaolan was initially reluctant to accept it, and An Jing had insisted she take it. Although it wasn’t worth much, An Jing remembered it very clearly.

Considering she was now the Queen of Xiyun, and the last time she and her husband married, it was actually the coronation ceremony, which was proclaimed throughout Xiyun on royal edicts, it wasn’t surprising for Shi Xiaolan and Wu Xiaoshan to know her as the Queen residing at the Xiyun mansion.

Thinking of this, An Jing happily stood up, "Jade Jade, please watch the children, my childhood friend is here, I want to personally welcome them in."

"Alright."

An Jing put down the hairpin and cheerfully went to the Xiyun mansion gate to greet them.

She had left Qilin County several years ago and would occasionally write to Shi Xiaolan, telling her she was doing well. Now that Shi Xiaolan, her old friend, had come, An Jing was truly happy.

When An Jing arrived at the gate, she did not see Shi Xiaolan. She immediately asked, "Where’s the farmer couple just now?"

A guard immediately replied, "That lady was not feeling well from the journey, looking like she might faint, so her husband supported her back to the inn to rest. They also asked me to tell the Queen they are staying at the Fushou Inn."

Upon hearing that Shi Xiaolan wasn’t feeling well, An Jing became a little worried. She took four guards and went to Fushou Inn to look for Shi Xiaolan, intending to bring Shi Xiaolan and Wu Xiaoshan into the mansion, where there was an Imperial Physician, which was better than staying at the inn.

Leading the guards into the Fushou Inn, An Jing asked the Innkeeper, "Innkeeper, is there a farmer couple staying here? The husband’s surname is Wu, and the wife’s surname is Shi."

The Innkeeper feigned a fearful look, lowered his head, but had an accomplished smile at the corners of his mouth, saying repeatedly, "Yes, yes, they’re staying on the second floor, fourth room to the left. The officers can find them there."

As soon as An Jing learned that Shi Xiaolan was staying on the second floor, fourth room to the left, she went upstairs, and the four guards quickly followed her up.

Halfway up the stairs, the inn’s door suddenly closed. An Jing immediately stopped, turned to look, but a large amount of knockout gas was already being blown down from upstairs. The gas was overwhelming, causing An Jing and the four guards to instantly pass out from inhaling it.