Best friends dressed up in ancient times to become mistresses? You run, I run too!

The night was pitch black, and it was impossible to see one's hand in front of one's face outside the cave. Only a little light shone through the small entrance, and the occasional crackling sound of burning branches could be heard.

Suddenly, two low "cuckoo, cuckoo" sounds came from outside the cave. Shen Ningzhu, who had been leaning her head against the stone wall with her eyes closed, immediately opened her eyes.

His clear eyes were incredibly sharp, showing no sign of sleepiness whatsoever.

She glanced at Jiang Xuan Yan, who was sleeping peacefully next to her, and then quietly got up and walked out of the cave.

Upon exiting, they saw Chen Aniu, who was originally supposed to be heading to the capital. The two exchanged a smile and left together.

After the person left, Jiang Xuan Yan, whose breathing had been steady, slowly opened his eyes, his narrow phoenix eyes filled with hurt.

He glanced at the jade pendant left on the ground and gave a self-deprecating laugh. After sitting there for a long time, he slowly got up, picked up the jade pendant, went to the cave entrance, put two fingers in his mouth, and whistled.

Jiang Yi arrived shortly afterward.

Seeing the undisguised dejection on Jiang Xuan Yan's face, and noticing that he was alone in the cave, he immediately became anxious and said...

"Master, Madam, she..."

"She has returned to Beijing."

Jiang Yi breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, he wasn't taken away by Prince Chen.

Wait, why did Madam return to the capital alone? "Then...should we return to the capital now?"

Jiang Xuan Yan squinted, his fingertips stroking the warm, smooth jade pendant, and said softly,

"Gather our forces and eliminate all of Prince Chen's power as quickly as possible."

"That Prince Chen..."

"Spare his life."

Jiang Yi was deeply moved. Everyone said that the emperor was a tyrant who killed people without hesitation, but in his opinion, his master was actually very kind-hearted.

Only Jiang Xuan Yan knew that he kept Jiang Yan Che around not because he was kind-hearted.

On the official road not far away, Shen Ningzhu finally sat in the carriage that had been arranged in advance. On the small table was a fist-sized luminous pearl, which illuminated the entire carriage as bright as day.

Fuling and Shaoyao were already waiting in the car. They finally breathed a sigh of relief when they saw her.

"Madam, please have some tea to soothe your throat."

"Here are some pastries, have some to tide you over."

Shen Ningzhu waved her hand, "No rush, prepare the brush, ink, paper and inkstone, I need them now."

The original intention was to find a way to get Jiang Yanche away, but unexpectedly, there was an additional benefit.

Great! With potatoes, we can do so many things.

The two dared not delay and immediately began preparations. Chen Aniu, who was outside, heard the noise and slowed down the carriage considerably.

Relying on her memory, Shen Ningzhu drew a detailed picture of the place Jiang Yanche had taken her to on paper.

He then drew the leaves, fruit, and yam beans of the potato, and handed them to Chen Aniu by lifting the carriage curtain.

"Send people to find what I need according to the markings on this. Remember, find as much as you can, the more the better."

"Yes."

Chen Aniu called out, and a man in black immediately appeared. Chen Aniu then repeated Shen Ningzhu's words to the man in black.

The man in black nodded and withdrew.

The carriage traveled day and night and finally entered the capital.

Liu Zhiyi had received the news long ago and waited at the city gate early in the morning. Finally, she saw Chen Aniu drive the carriage into the city gate.

"Zhuzhu—"

Liu Zhiyi shouted happily, lifted her skirt, and strode towards the carriage.

Song Hanchuan, who was standing to the side, was terrified, afraid that she would trip him, but thankfully nothing happened.

Before Shen Ningzhu could come out, they squeezed onto the carriage, and the two best friends hugged each other, chattering away.

"Thank goodness, I'm so glad you're alright."

"With Song Hanchuan here, I'll be fine. I've always been worried about you. You're so stubborn, I'm really afraid you'll get stuck on something."

Shen Ningzhu awkwardly touched the tip of her nose.

"By the way, have you found a place to live?"

"Yes, it's in the west of the city, a two-courtyard house, not too big or too small, with a suitable layout. Let's go take a look at it now, I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

Shen Ningzhu nodded happily.

……

The carriage had barely left the city gate when Pei Yun Chu's voice came from outside.

"Hey, Song Hanchuan, didn't you take sick leave today? What are you doing here?"

"Oh~~~"

"I know, it must be your sister making a fuss about making you wait here with her while I, the general, am waiting, right?"

"I'm not trying to criticize you, but even if you spoil her, there should be a limit. I've already said I don't like her, so tell her not to waste her time."

I'd rather die than marry her. Give up on her.

Shen Ningzhu looked at Liu Zhiyi with suspicion.

what's the situation?

Liu Zhiyi awkwardly touched the tip of her nose and held up a finger to make a shushing gesture.

The two remained silent, listening to the sounds outside.

Song Hanchuan glanced at Pei Yun Chu indifferently, then looked at Chen A Niu and said, "Hurry up with the carriage."

"Yes."

With a crack of the whip, the glossy horse neighed, its hooves raised high, and it quickly began to gallop. The unsuspecting Pei Yun Chu was instantly covered in dust.

Enraged, he grabbed his horsewhip, pointed it at Song Hanchuan, and began to curse.

The other party ignored him completely and disappeared in a short while. Pei Yun Chu felt something was strange, so he asked the guards at the gate.

"You mean, just now a very beautiful woman dismounted from the Prime Minister's horse, and then got into a carriage that had just entered the city?"

Pei Yun Chu felt disdain.

Pshaw, how beautiful could Song Hanchuan's sister be? No matter how beautiful she is, she can't compare to Xiaoyi's finger.

"Where did that carriage come from? Who were the people on board? What were they doing in the capital? Were you asked them carefully?"

"Reporting to the general, the carriage is coming from the south of the Yangtze River. Inside sits a woman who is just as beautiful as a fairy, with her hair styled in a traditional Chinese updo."

"Two maids, probably in their teens, sat on the side, along with a young coachman, and no one else."

Song Hanchuan's younger sister seems to have been found in Jiangnan, so perhaps the people who came this time are her friends or relatives from there.

"Hmm, I understand. Since everything is normal, go back and guard the city gates carefully."

Shen Ningzhu originally thought that with her best friend around, she wouldn't have to worry about anything. But she never expected that the courtyard would be decorated to her liking so perfectly.

"My God, this...this...this is not a courtyard, it's a dreamlike fairyland!"

Xiaoyi, you didn't start preparing all this a long time ago, did you? Otherwise, how could you have prepared so many fruit trees and so many flowers?

Liu Zhiyi raised an eyebrow.

"Of course, I started preparing all of this as soon as I returned to the capital. By the way, Zhuzhu, you should be prepared. Jiang Qingyi has been very unruly lately. She has contacted some ministers and is spreading rumors in the court, questioning the true identity of Jinxiu Huanian."

"Yesterday, they even jointly submitted a memorial, saying that the Emperor may have been imprisoned by Song Hanchuan, and that Huan Nian was just a puppet he had set up."

Shen Ningzhu's lips twitched slightly.

What bad luck! I just got back and haven't even had a chance to catch my breath, and this green tea bitch is already causing trouble.

Just as I was about to unleash a string of profanities, I heard hurried footsteps outside the gate.