Baby, don't be afraid, I'll accompany you to the heavens and the seas!

The imperial palace's high walls soared into the sky, casting heavy shadows on the narrow palace corridors.

This narrow palace path could not contain the enormous reflection of the palace walls, nor could it catch the lingering light of the setting sun.

Qianqian walked alone on the secluded path, on the oppressive palace road, her whole body blending into the dark shadows falling from the high walls.

"How many years, months, and days has it been since I came to the capital? Has Tu Fen, who lives at the foot of Wuming Mountain in the southern border, recovered? How are my people? And how am I supposed to go on?!"

Dragging her loose, dark robe, she hunched over with no grace whatsoever. To the little tyrant on the high platform of the imperial palace, she was extremely ugly and repulsive.

"Hahaha! Young Master Luo, I heard from a rumor that you can be admitted to this year's Spring Imperial Examination?!"

Mei Zifeng, a guard of the Eastern Palace, was driving the Crown Prince's personal carriage when he happened to pass by Qianqianluo, who was hanging her head.

"Yes, yes! Hahaha, Zifeng, are you going to pick up His Highness the Crown Prince and Miss Fanfan?!" Qianqianluo immediately straightened up and replied with a smile when she heard the caring question.

"Yes, that's right! Young Master Luo, your friends just sent someone to the East Palace to tell you that they will come to pick you up tomorrow morning to prepare for the Spring Imperial Examination!"

"Oh? Is that so? Then Zifeng, I'll go back to the East Palace to prepare some things. You should hurry and go pick up His Highness the Crown Prince and Miss Fanfan!"

Qianqian happily lifted her robe and ran wildly down the palace road. Facing the twilight sinking below the horizon, she was surrounded by a faint glow, like a luminous flame burning on the imperial road.

Mei Zifeng watched Qianqian run wildly, her carefree figure truly infectious, and felt a warm feeling in her heart.

……

The Crown Prince's Treasury.

Qianqianluo carried a rough hemp sack, opened the boxes of gold and jewelry, and began to select items.

"Young Master Luo, why did you suddenly think of the Imperial Treasury?" Guang Er, the dog trainer and head of the Crown Prince's Imperial Treasury, scratched his head in confusion.

"Uncle Guang, my friends from Beijing are coming to visit me tomorrow morning, and I'd like to prepare some gifts for them!"

As Qianqianluo looked at the chests of silks, satins, pearls, and gold treasures bestowed upon her by Emperor Qingtingmo, drool uncontrollably trickled from the corners of her mouth.

"Tsk tsk tsk~ Bringing a few boxes back to the modern world would be enough to live comfortably for generations!!"

"Uncle Guang, please remember this: I need three boxes of jewelry, a piece of mutton-fat jade, and two bolts of brocade!!!"

As Qianqian spoke, she closed her eyes and took out the things she needed. She didn't dare to open her eyes to take them because she was afraid she wouldn't be able to control her sinful hands and would carry them all back to the Dog Palace.

"Young Master Luo, this was originally a gift from our Emperor, you don't need to be so careful!" Guang Er quickly reminded him, seeing Young Master Luo's timid appearance.

"No, no, Uncle Guang, I only received these rewards because of His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Please, Uncle Guang, you must remember all these entries and exits!" Qianqianluo dared not—she had a brain, not one to play around with it.

"Good! Young Master Luo, it's always good to be cautious! With your meticulous mind, you're bound to achieve great things in the future!" Guang Er picked up his pen and wrote down the entry and exit information in the household register, praising Qianqian Luo once again.

"Hey! Uncle Guang! Ah Huang, where did Ah Huang go?!" She suddenly wondered, as she hadn't seen Ah Huang for several days.

"Young Master Luo, I'll tell you a secret: because that guy named Fanfan is afraid of fierce dogs and beasts, His Highness the Crown Prince has kept Ah Huang in the back mountains!"

Koji looked around very cautiously, as if afraid that someone would hear him.

"What? The back mountain? I knew I hadn't seen Ah Huang these past few days! That's strange, isn't Ah Huang kept in the gilded cage at the Dog Palace? How could he have hurt Miss Fanfan?!"

Qianqian blinked and weighed the contents of the sack in her hand.

Kouji chewed on his pen, shaking his head and sighing, "That's what I think too! I miss Ah Huang so much!"

"I really find this official's daughter incredibly troublesome~ Besides, isn't this Fanfan from a family that's been in the military for generations? Hasn't she ever seen any canines or wild beasts before?!"

"Cough cough cough cough!!" Mei Ziye, who had just arrived at the inner warehouse, risked being beheaded at the Meridian Gate by coughing loudly to remind the two to shut their mouths.

Upon hearing the cough, Qianqianluo and Guang'er immediately turned around. Coincidentally, His Highness the Crown Prince and Miss Fanfan had been standing quietly outside the storeroom for a long time.

The little tyrant's eyes conveyed only one word: Death!!!

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Crown Prince?!"

"May Your Highness the Crown Prince be well, and may Miss Fanfan be well!!!"

"May Your Highness the Crown Prince be well, and may Miss Fanfan be well!!!"

When Qianqian met the little tyrant's gaze, she panicked. She didn't even have time to carry the sack she had just hoisted onto her back. She quickly freed her hands to kneel and pay her respects to His Highness the Crown Prince and Mo Fanfan.

Guang Er also felt like he was about to break, so he lowered his head and knelt down to pay his respects to His Highness the Crown Prince and Miss Fanfan.

Mei Ziye, the guard behind His Highness the Crown Prince, truly dared not open her eyes to witness the embarrassing and tragic scene.

Mo Fanfan's face turned pale, her eyes brimming with tears. She clutched her handkerchief, looking utterly helpless: "N-no, it's alright! I... I'll go first, A-Yu, I'll go first!"

"Fanfan!!" Qing Tingyu tugged at Mo Fanfan's arm, feeling somewhat guilty.

"Ayu, let go! I... I have to go back to where I belong!" Mo Fanfan bit her lower lip and pushed Qing Tingyu's hand away forcefully.

The little tyrant, fearing he might hurt Mo Fanfan with his strength, reluctantly let go: "Ziye, take Fanfan back to the outer residence to rest properly!"

"Yes, Your Highness!!" Mei Ziye felt finally relieved and hurriedly caught up with Miss Mo, who was covering her face and weeping.

Kneeling on the ground, Qianqianluo and Guang'er, looking weak and helpless, clung to each other as Qing Tingyu turned around, their lips trembling as they explained to His Highness the Crown Prince:

Guang Er: "Waaaaah~ Your Highness, I, I was just telling the truth, I didn't mean to offend Miss Mo."

Qianqian, who was hugging Uncle Guang, quickly covered his mouth upon hearing this and then explained herself:

"Your Highness, sob sob sob ≈ It was this lowly person who brought up this topic first, it's all this lowly person's fault; Guang, Uncle Guang just fell into this lowly person's trap!"

"You, you should punish the lowly people if you want!!" Qianqian lowered her head, curling up and protecting Guang Er behind her.

"That's not how it is, Your Highness...!!"

"Alright, it's nothing!!" Qing Tingyu interrupted their explanation as if nothing had happened, then turned and left, leaving the two weak and helpless people to comfort each other.

……

After calming down, with the determination of a warrior going forth never to return, Qianqian bid farewell to Uncle Guang.

Carrying a sack, she followed behind the girl, Shu'er, who had come to call for her, with her steps faltering and disorganized.

Upon arriving at Tingyu Palace, Qianqianluo stepped through the outer hall gate with the determination of a warrior cutting off his own arm.

"All of you may leave. I am going to have dinner with Young Master Luo!"

"Yes, Your Highness, may you rest well!"

The guards, palace maids, and imperial maids lowered their heads and quietly left the palace.

Squeak!

As soon as the palace doors closed, only Qianqianluo, carrying a sack, and Qingtingyu, the little tyrant, propping his head up and wiping his cold sword, remained in the outer hall.