Holding the script, I want to give up.

Three years have passed in the blink of an eye, and Shangguan Zitong and her friends have already traveled all over the beautiful landscapes of Nanning. They have enriched their life experiences through travel.

After arriving at their final stop, Baihuai, Shangguan Zitong and his entourage did not take any actions that would benefit the country or its people.

During their three years of travel, they witnessed too much joy and sorrow, but felt powerless to help.

Three years is enough to change a person; they have all grown into capable individuals.

"Brother, is this your mother's hometown? The scenery is quite nice."

When Shangguan Zitong heard from the Southern Emperor that his mother was a remnant of the previous dynasty, he secretly checked the records about his mother.

"Yes, so I plan to settle here. You can go back whenever you want, and I'll see you off when you do."

Shangguan Jin was filled with emotion.

He was finally back in this place that felt both familiar and strange to him.

What was familiar was that this was the place he had spent more than a decade in; what was unfamiliar was that his mother had not been able to return with him.

"Brother, do you need my help?"

Shangguan Zitong wanted to help him by moving his mother's grave to Baihuai. But she didn't want to say it outright, for fear of hurting his feelings.

"I appreciate your kindness. Mother probably prefers that place, since it's closer to that person."

He wasn't unaware that his mother's grave was directly facing the direction of the palace.

"So that's why you've never had a coming-of-age ceremony and have always worn your hair with a ribbon? You're already twenty-two."

When Shangguan Zitong arrived at their first stop, Lancheng, she knew he was already twenty and it was time for his coming-of-age ceremony. But his mother... and the Southern Emperor... so no one mentioned it.

"Hmm, is that not allowed? Is there a problem?"

Although Shangguan Jin said that, he was still quite sad inside. No one celebrated his coming-of-age ceremony. The person he wanted to share it with was gone.

"It's not that it's impossible, I'm just worried about my brother. Of course, if you're willing, I'm also your blood relative."

"Strange, why does this sound so awkward and unpleasant to say? Am I hallucinating?" Shangguan Zitong wondered to herself.

"Of course. Judging by the dates, your coming-of-age ceremony is coming up soon. As the eldest brother, I'll take care of the ceremony for you."

Shangguan Jin figured that person was far away and would never come to this remote corner to hold her coming-of-age ceremony. Since that person wouldn't come, he would do it in their place.

“Okay, brother, this is a jade crown that I’ve been saving for a long time... I... I... I really... wanted to... give it to you, but I was afraid it would hurt you.”

Shangguan Zitong hesitantly took out a jade crown that she had kept for a long time from her sleeve and gave it to Shangguan Jin.

"Little sister, thank you..."

Shangguan Jin took the jade crown, pulled off the light blue hair ribbon, held the ribbon in his mouth, and tidied his hair with his hands, half-squatting in front of Shangguan Zitong. The meaning was self-evident: he wanted her to tie the crown for him.

"Sister, please help me put on my crown."

Shangguan Jin handed her the jade crown.

"Okay, it would be my honor."

Shangguan Zitong took the jade crown and put it on him.

......

"Brother, is this the place you lived when you were little? I also want to find a place like this to live in seclusion in the mountains, like a fairyland."

Looking at the picturesque houses before her, Shangguan Zitong's eyes were filled with envy.

"Haha, it's been a long time since I've been back. Let's tidy up a bit first. I'll introduce you to your brother's friends later."

Shangguan Jin smiled sheepishly.

"Okay, everyone get moving."

After Shangguan Zitong finished speaking, she began to clean.

They didn't go to the Baihuai government office, but planned to have some fun instead. After all, this last stop was Shangguan Jin's hometown.

Although officials in various regions received news that the princess would be traveling incognito, they had no way of knowing her whereabouts.

Shangguan Jin and his long-lost friend were enjoying drinks and conversation in his courtyard. Shangguan Zitong watched quietly from the side, feeling a sense of peace and tranquility.

Youzhi and Youxi had already gone to sleep, while Yibai and Shangguan Jin were like two buddies, arm in arm, completely drunk.

Summoning her courage, Shangguan Zitong secretly took a jar of wine, hid it in her bosom, and tiptoed out of the courtyard. She wanted to drink alone and get drunk.

She found a plum grove where the plum blossoms were in full bloom, casually sat on a rock, and began to drink wine.

Perhaps the ancients were skilled at brewing wine, or perhaps there are too many unscrupulous merchants in modern times, diluting the wine to reduce its alcohol content. She only drank a few sips before becoming hungover in the plum grove.

Perhaps it was the cold of the winter night, because Shangguan Zitong was awakened by the cold in the middle of the night. She got up, pulled her cloak tighter around her, and staggered slowly toward the courtyard not far away.

Achoo!

Shangguan Zitong sneezed and then passed out again in the snowy plum grove, completely unaware that someone was approaching.

[They're such a worry! Years have passed, and while their brains haven't grown, their audacity has certainly increased.]

The system formed a white-haired boy who slowly picked up Shangguan Zitong and walked towards the courtyard.

Shangguan Jin and his friends drank themselves into a stupor, passing out drunk at the table. Yi Bai, on the other hand, stumbled back to his room and fell asleep.

The system carried the person into the courtyard, ignoring the several people who were drunk inside, and carried her directly back to the room.

The system gently placed Shangguan Zitong on the bed, took off her shoes, and covered her with a blanket.

The system sat on the edge of the bed, reached out and touched her forehead, examining her memories over the years.

[Tsk tsk tsk, how did you get yourself into such a miserable state?]

The system got up to examine the gold bracelet on her ankle and the Gu worm inside her body. With a wave of his hand, the gold bracelet on her ankle disappeared, replaced by another ordinary gold bracelet that looked exactly the same.

The Gu worms inside the body also disappeared.

[That's much better looking now.]

After the system finished speaking, it was about to return to its spatial dimension when Shangguan Zitong suddenly stood up as if she had risen from the dead and grabbed its sleeve. The system was forced to turn around and look at her.

She stared at him with unfocused pupils.

"Are you an immortal? How come you have white hair and are so handsome?"

【…】

"Why aren't you saying anything? Are you mute? Or am I hallucinating?"

Shangguan Zitong doubted herself and stood up to rub the boy's face.

"Okay, it's just a hallucination. I don't feel any pain."

【…】

That's outrageous! Don't you want to see whose face you're rubbing? Girl, don't be so reckless! You're bullying the system itself!

Stop fooling around, lie down and go to sleep.

"???Who is speaking?"

Shangguan Zitong reached out and grabbed at the air in confusion.

[Ancestor, you've had too much to drink.]

The system originally intended to knock her unconscious, but unexpectedly, her hand rubbed his hair, leaving his hand frozen in mid-air, at a loss.

"Holy crap, this texture is pretty good. What kind of hair oil did you use? Tell me, kid."

"Are you sick in the head?"

The system rolled its eyes, and the pink and white fox ears that suddenly appeared on its head gave it away.

"Holy crap, am I dreaming? Are you a vixen? Let me touch you."

Shangguan Zitong was about to make her move when the system swiftly knocked her unconscious, preventing her from continuing her misbehavior. If things continued like this, his true colors might be revealed.

......