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"Qiao Xiaoran?"

Before Qiao Ran left, Supervisor Xu suddenly stopped her and said, "You are not as good as the others. I should punish you by making you practice more, but I will let it go today. Go back and reflect on your actions. If you are still like this tomorrow, I will have someone teach you separately so that you don't slow down everyone's progress."

Qiao Ran was still covered in cold sweat, and after listening, she could only nod silently.

Xu Shangjian noticed something was wrong with her and, after changing his expression, asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"

"Mmm." Qiao Ran just wanted to go back and get away from here.

What if she leaves too late and Yao Yuze sees her and recognizes her?

Xu Shangjian said, "Then go back and rest quickly."

"Yes."

Qiao Ran hurriedly ran off.

Xu Shangjian was also exhausted after a long day. She stretched her muscles a little and then waited for Kong Hanyan to return.

After watching Qiao Ran leave, Lady Sun stepped forward and said, "Everyone else is teachable, but this Qiao Xiaoran is really stubborn. I think the Imperial Supervisor is very patient with her."

Xu Shangjian smiled.

Those who know her well understand that Supervisor Xu is known for her strictness. She has taught countless people in the past, and if anyone fails to meet her requirements in any way, she will not teach them a second time.

Qiao Xiaoran is clearly hopelessly stupid, yet Xu Shangjian has not lost his temper, which puzzles Sun Shangyi.

Looking at the scene outside the pavilion, Xu Shangjian said slowly, "We need to be careful this time, whether we are choosing a female official or a master. Although Qiao Xiaoran is a bit slow, she can stand out among all these young ladies just by her looks."

Lady Sun was startled, then said, "I understand, Supervisor."

After waiting for a while, Kong Hanyan returned alone. Xu Shangjian didn't ask any questions, but just reminded her, "Let's talk things out today. Just pretend that today's events never happened. If the General comes to you again, tell me first to avoid gossip. It's taboo in the palace to leave things unclear."

Kong Hanyan said softly, "I understand."

The two then walked out of the pavilion, when Kong Hanyan suddenly asked, "Does the Imperial Supervisor know my mother?"

Xu Shangjian was stunned, as if she hadn't expected Kong Hanyan to ask such a question. Recalling the past, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes became much smoother. After a long pause, she softened her voice and said, "Your mother and I entered the palace at the same time to participate in the selection. We were the two best among that batch of young ladies, and we were already destined to stay in the palace. But fate played a trick on us."

Kong Hanyan lowered her brows. "Is it because of my father?"

“It just so happened that the Prince of Jiangling was summoned back to the palace and met us there. Your mother fell in love with him at first sight,” Xu Shangjian said, his eyes welling up with tears. “I tried to dissuade her in private many times, but she was determined to do it. I don’t know how she met the Prince of Jiangling, but she abandoned everything in the palace and insisted on going back with him.”

“My mother was a stubborn person.” Kong Hanyan looked away and walked along the palace path, seemingly following the traces of her mother’s past. She felt a deep sadness. “I counted the days, and my mother already had me before she entered the palace.”

She spoke calmly, and by the time Xu Shangjian turned to look at her, she had regained her composure, with only a self-deprecating smile on her face.

Xu Shangjian suddenly felt sorry for her and grabbed her hand. "The Prince of Jiangling stayed in the palace for three months. When he left the palace, your mother was already two months pregnant. At that time, many people were punished in order to suppress the matter. Fortunately, everything went as planned, and your mother left the palace smoothly and returned to Jiangling with your father."

What's the use of the light in Kong Hanyan's eyes gradually fading away?

The young and arrogant mother gambled her entire life on this, resolutely abandoning the glory and wealth of the palace and returning to Jiangling with her philandering father.

She thought that what awaited her was a son and a daughter, and a lifetime of happiness.

But how could she have foreseen that she would spend the next few years in regret and resentment?

This selection was made by my stubborn mother, who insisted on sending me. Anyway, my father would not care who he sent, since he could just send any daughter.

Rather than sending her away from her unfair home to make a name for herself in the capital, it's more like letting her walk the path her mother should have taken back then, pulling her stubborn young mother back onto the right track, and letting her know how smooth the road would be if she hadn't been so headstrong.

Kong Hanyan could no longer hold back, and a tear slid down her cheek.

Xu Shangjian wiped it away for her. He wanted to ask her if her mother was doing well in Jiangling, but seeing Kong Hanyan's appearance, he knew that everything was self-evident. He hugged Kong Hanyan with a heavy heart.

“You’ve suffered all these years too.”

Kong Hanyan buried her face in Xu Shangjian's shoulder and wept. What should her mother's life have been like? She found the answer in Xu Shangjian.

But time never returns, and the past cannot be retrieved. Mother is forever trapped in the courtyard, with no possibility of turning back.

Supervisor Xu escorted Kong Hanyan back to Shufang Palace, repeatedly telling her not to overthink things. The past is the past, and only if Kong Hanyan is doing well can her mother be well.

Therefore, no matter which path Kong Hanyan takes, she is determined to make a name for herself.

Everyone watched quietly from inside the room. It was one thing for Kong Hanyan to be close to Xu Shangjian, but today she was even befriending Yao Yuze, the Grand General of the Golden Guard. They were absolutely insanely jealous.

Although Liu Yun didn't go out all afternoon, she had already learned what had happened from He Yingying, and she was so jealous that she almost gritted her teeth and swallowed it.

Why not her!

Kong Hanyan is just a lowly concubine's daughter, what good is she?

Qiao Ran kept her door tightly shut and didn't eat dinner. She locked herself in her room and thought carefully. Yao Yuze shouldn't have recognized her, right?

She didn't even dare to look up, so she probably didn't?

Besides, it was not only dark on the day of the massacre, but it was also pouring rain. Yao Yuze might not have been able to see Qiao Ran's face clearly. With so many people dead, how could he remember anyone?

Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, they definitely won't recognize you.

Qiao Ran finally managed to convince herself, but Kong Hanyan knocked on the door and came in, telling her a shocking answer.

"The General asked me about you. What? You two knew each other before?"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Ran's face turned pale, and she stammered, "What else did he ask?"

Seeing that her expression was not right, Kong Hanyan said worriedly, "I only asked one simple question, and I truthfully said that you are the daughter of the governor of Qianzhou, and that was it."

Qiao Ran: "..."

Was it still noticed?

What to do, what to do! She doesn't know any Prefect of Qianzhou, not even his name. If anyone asks her, she'll be exposed.

Qiao Ran had only one thought: this place was no place to stay any longer!

Kong Hanyan looked at her, "Xiao Ran, what's wrong with you?"

Qiao Ran was on the verge of tears, and now she could only trust Kong Hanyan, so she said, "Hanyan, you're a good person, aren't you?"

Kong Hanyan: "..."

“Promise me that no matter what happens, you’ll say we’re not close,” Qiao Ran grabbed her and said seriously, “You didn’t come to my room to look for me today either.”

"Xiao Ran, is something wrong?" Kong Hanyan was scared by her question.

Qiao Ran insisted, "Promise me that no matter what happens, you'll say you didn't see me privately today!"

Kong Hanyan paused for a moment and then nodded. "Okay, I promise you."

"You should go back now," Qiao Ran said, getting up to urge her to leave quickly.

Kong Hanyan was worried and turned back to pull her, but Qiao Ran nimbly dodged her. Kong Hanyan was shocked and asked, "Xiao Ran, you know martial arts?"

Others might not be able to tell, but Kong Hanyan had practiced martial arts since childhood, so she was at least able to tell whether someone had real skills or not.

Qiao Ran wasn't afraid that Kong Hanyan would find out, and said helplessly, "It's just my bad luck. It seems that my internal energy is sealed, otherwise I would have found a way to escape."

She could easily steal the palace exit token, but now that she had lost her internal energy, the palace was so large that she would definitely be discovered if she took the right path.

Kong Hanyan covered her mouth in shock, "Don't talk nonsense, sit down first, let me take a look at you."

Kong Hanyan felt Qiao Ran's pulse and found that she had a strong internal force that was surging but could not be broken free as if it were bound.

"It really is sealed off," Kong Hanyan said. "Who did this?"

Qiao Ran shook her head. "I don't know."

The two were silent for a while. Kong Hanyan guessed that Qiao Ran was a big problem. She wanted to stand by and do nothing, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Although she had only known Qiao Ran for two days, she liked her from the bottom of her heart. Her intuition told her that this person was worth befriending for a lifetime.

After hesitating for a long time, Kong Hanyan asked in a low voice, "Xiao Ran, you're not the daughter of the Prefect of Qianzhou, are you?"

Qiao Ran suddenly raised her head, her heart racing. She looked at Kong Hanyan, moved her lips but ultimately said nothing.

Kong Hanyan already knew, and she frowned, asking, "Then how did you get into the palace?"

Qiao Ran: "I was drugged and woke up in a carriage. The carriage had already entered the palace."

This was truly unheard of, and Kong Hanyan was unsure as well. She asked again, "Do you have a grudge against Yao Yuze?"

Kong Hanyan is too clever; hiding it is useless. Qiao Ran nodded.

"I understand," Kong Hanyan stood up, looking at her seriously and solemnly, "So what do you plan to do next?"

Qiao Ran said in a deep voice, "Leave the palace."

"I'll help you."

Qiao Ran was incredulous, knowing that if the Imperial Guards discovered them, neither of them would escape unscathed.

She shook her head and refused, "No, it's too dangerous."

Kong Hanyan said, "Isn't it more dangerous for you to go alone? Your internal energy is sealed right now, so you can't get out at all. The palace gates won't be opened again after they're locked. The only way is to get the exit token tonight and sneak out of the palace tomorrow."

They also had to leave the palace as soon as the palace gates opened.

Despite Qiao Ran's reluctance, Kong Hanyan was determined to help her, so the two decided to get a palace exit token at midnight tonight.

The nearest place was the residence of the palace maids and eunuchs. The head eunuch in charge should have had a pass to leave the palace, so they went to steal it overnight.

At midnight, the young ladies in the courtyard were all fast asleep. Qiao Ran and Kong Hanyan went out at the same time. They exchanged a glance and then walked quickly towards the outside of the palace.

Liu Yun got up in the middle of the night and happened to see the two of them acting suspiciously, which immediately aroused her suspicion.

"What are those two doing out so late? It can't be anything good! I'll tell the eunuch and have you punished."

The two never expected to be discovered by Liu Yun. They headed towards the eunuch's residence through a secluded spot, encountering three waves of Imperial Guards on night patrol along the way. The two hid in the shadows, not daring to breathe.

Kong Hanyan brought a sleeping potion and said, "I'll keep watch outside; you go in and look for her."

“Okay,” Qiao Ran said, “Be careful.”

"Ah."