Tangli Fried Snow

Finally, the snow stopped, and just as dawn was breaking, Xue Li got up and started preparing. Today was the big day that Jin Cheng was going to take her out of the palace!

She first dressed herself up, then changed into an inconspicuous old palace dress. Hong Yao had been waiting for her outside the palace for a long time. The two of them secretly found their way to the place where they had agreed to meet Jin Cheng through an inconspicuous path.

Jin Cheng handed her a soldier's uniform and told her to change. Xue Li chuckled to herself and went to get dressed. When she came out again, she had transformed into a handsome soldier.

Jin Cheng led the two men to their "workplace" and handled some official business for a while. After arranging all the tasks at hand, he led them to the West Gate, intending to ride horses out of the city.

Shirley had no idea how to ride a horse, so Jin Cheng found a secluded spot and taught her for a while. "You just need to ride with me out of the palace and walk to where the carriages are parked. Then you don't need to ride anymore. Just sit in the carriage and follow me."

"This horse is a gentle old horse that I specially found for you. Even a novice can ride it slowly for a few steps without any problem. Come on, get on and try it out."

To see her best friend, she was determined to give it her all! Sherry mentally prepared herself before mounting her horse.

She was so nervous that she put her foot in the wrong direction the first time. With a strong push of her right foot, she managed to mount the horse. But once she was on the horse, she realized that she had fallen over and was facing the horse's rump.

The two men laughed without any manners. Hong Yao was a little better, just chuckling to himself, but Jin Cheng, that brat, laughed so hard he couldn't straighten up, as if he'd seen the biggest joke in the world.

What's even more infuriating is Jin Cheng's big black horse, named Black Gold. Just like its owner, it's a mischievous fellow, chuckling to itself. Shirley was speechless; it was the first time she'd ever heard of a horse that could laugh.

Sherry blushed deeply, pouting as she waited for the jerk to finish laughing before he lifted her down. Jin Cheng even kissed her blushing cheeks and patiently taught her how to mount the horse again.

Soon she was able to ride it a few steps. The three of them slowly walked out of the city gate and headed out of the city.

Shirley learned quickly, mastering the technique in less than fifteen minutes, and rode quite well behind Jin Cheng. Jin Cheng would occasionally turn around to look at her, his eyes overflowing with affection. Shirley, her face flushed with happiness, would glance at him sideways, feeling incredibly sweet inside.

The palace gates were not far away, and Shirley was incredibly excited. She had completely forgotten the embarrassing incident she had just made. As she was about to leave the palace, her heart pounded with excitement.

We were still a few steps away from the palace gate.

Suddenly, a dramatic change occurred ahead. A group of people on horseback rushed in from outside the palace like a dark cloud. The person at the front was an exceptionally handsome man. Coincidentally, Shirley recognized him. This handsome man was none other than Qi Mo, whom she had peeked at through a crack in the wall last year at the palace banquet, the one who had "dated" the Second Prince!

The group of people arrived in an instant. Qi Mo looked anxious, his handsome eyes filled with worry. As soon as he saw Jin Cheng, he said hurriedly, "It's so good to meet you. I was just about to send someone to inform you."

Jin Cheng said in surprise, "Lord Jiang, what's wrong? I rarely see you so impatient."

Jiang Qimo said urgently, "I just received a military report that on the 13th, Yelü Hongdan of the Khitan led his army across the Songhua River and captured Yingzhou with 120,000 cavalry!"

"Also launching a major offensive alongside him is Princess Mingyue's newly chosen consort, Zhao Muqing! They have already captured two water fortresses, and if they sail south, they will be at the city gates in less than twenty days!"

Jin Chenghu's body trembled violently, and he cried out in shock, "Ah!"

Sherry and Hong Yao were also too frightened to speak. Jin Cheng turned to look at Sherry; the little girl was pale with fright, her beautiful eyes filled with terror.

He told Hong Yao, "Take her back first, and make sure she is safe."

Hong Yao gave a low reply: "Yes."

Jiang Qimo's hawk-like eyes shot over, chilling Xue Li to the bone. She regretted not putting on more makeup to cover it up. She had left in such a hurry this morning that she had only brought her fake nose and hadn't put on much makeup.

Jin Cheng pulled on the reins and turned to ride away alongside Jiang Qimo. The sound of hooves suddenly rose, and the group of people vanished in a flash, leaving only Xue Li and Hong Yao standing there, shivering in the cold wind.

The city gate, which was just a stone's throw away, was closed by several soldiers. After the gate was closed, bugle calls sounded from the city wall, and soon the city wall was filled with fully armed soldiers.

It seems that I will not be able to leave the palace today, or even from now on.

With no other option, Shirley dejectedly returned to Gyeongbokgung Palace with Hongyao.

This was the closest she had ever been to the palace gates, the closest she had ever been to freedom, and the last time she would be so close to Jin Cheng. She was now only regretting not being able to go out and see her two best friends, unaware that the gears of fate had quietly begun to turn.

From then on, her life underwent a dramatic change. Not only did she leave the palace, but she was also swept away by the vortex of fate to a faraway place.

…………