Let them offer their loyalty!

Upon hearing Princess Xi's words, Ai Li's expression subtly changed. Then, with an enraged look, she exclaimed, "Kou Yu has gone mad, hasn't he?"

"Detaining the Princess? Aren't they afraid of being held accountable once we return?"

Ai Li then spoke earnestly, "Princess, rest assured. I'll report this to Old Pang immediately and have him seek justice on your behalf."

With that, she turned and prepared to leave.

But at that moment, Princess Xi hurriedly grabbed Ai Li's arm.

Being stopped, Ai Li turned back to look at Princess Xi with a puzzled expression.

Princess Xi's face shifted through a range of emotions. Finally, she opened her mouth and said, "Ai Li, Old Pang... Old Pang... is not trustworthy."

Ai Li tilted her head, her brows furrowed, looking at Princess Xi with a questioning expression, clearly struggling to understand her words.

If even Old Pang cannot be trusted, then who can? Qiu Tu?

Seeing Ai Li's reaction, Princess Xi bit her delicate lips, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Time is pressing now, and I can't explain it all clearly."

"I can only tell you... your parents' death may very well be connected to Old Pang."

Upon hearing Princess Xi's words, Ai Li's pupils shrank slightly, her mind buzzing.

Who was Old Pang? He was the leader of the "Academic Faction" and the founder of "The Eighth Sanctuary Military Academy."

Unlike the other leaders, Old Pang had always been more principled. He preferred to see himself as a teacher or principal rather than a politician.

Thus, even while holding a high position, he continued to teach classes regularly. This not only earned him widespread respect from the "Academic Faction," but also a legacy of students spread across the land.

And Ai Li... as an orphan of the founding team of the Officer Academy, grew up listening to Old Pang's lectures.

Although Old Pang didn't personally mentor her, he entrusted her upbringing to Huang Shangzong. Still, during her childhood, Old Pang's presence was towering and awe-inspiring.

And now, Princess Xi was telling her that Old Pang was connected to her parents' death?

At that moment, Ai Li felt as though her entire worldview had collapsed.

Seeing Ai Li's stunned reaction, Princess Xi bit her lip and quickly said, "Ai Li, Ai Li."

"Calm down first, please calm down."

"I will explain this to you slowly after I escape, alright?"

"Right now, I need your help. There's no time left; they'll be back any moment."

Hearing Princess Xi's urgent call, Ai Li slowly returned to her senses.

Although she still harbored doubts about Princess Xi's words in her heart, seeing Princess Xi's desperate demeanor, Ai Li wanted to find out if Princess Xi, forsaking Old Pang's help, had any other plan.

With that thought, she regained her composure and, with a slightly unnatural expression, asked, "Princess, what... do you want me to do? Who should I approach for help?"

Hearing Ai Li's question, Princess Xi reached into the neckline of her dress, and from the soft folds, she retrieved a pale pink card.

She placed it in Ai Li's hand and said, "Give this to Qiu Tu."

"He will naturally know what it is."

"Right now, in all of Dongye State, only he can help me."

"Qiu Tu?" Upon hearing Princess Xi's words, a vivid image of the man who had taken her first... and second time flitted across Ai Li's mind.

Her gaze instinctively returned to Princess Xi. A woman's intuition gave her an elusive sense of unease...

But seeing Princess Xi's urgent expression, she couldn't bear to refuse and thus silently nodded her head.

At this moment, Princess Xi turned again, opened a box, and from it took out a jade pendant, which she handed to Ai Li, saying, "This is your parents' keepsake left for you."

"When you've completed this task for me, I'll tell you all about it."

Having said this, Princess Xi ignored Ai Li's stunned reaction while holding the jade pendant. She opened the door, cautiously glanced both ways down the hallway, and then pushed Ai Li out the door, whispering, "Go quickly, just treat this as if you were never here."

Meanwhile, at the corner of the hallway, the sound of two women conversing echoed...

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Thank you, "2015pk," for the 100,000 reward! Congratulations on becoming the Alliance Hierarch for this book! Wishing you joy every day and nightly revelry!

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