Spring arrives and the land smiles

When Qingyan woke up, it was already the next morning. The exhausted man beside her bed had stayed by her side all night. Looking closely at Yunxuan, who was still fast asleep, she saw his long, curly eyelashes, almost like a woman's; his straight nose, thin lips, handsome features, and smooth, dark hair. It's said that men with thin lips are fickle, but if one were to call him fickle, even the gods and Buddhas would protest on his behalf.

Noticing that his figure was no longer clean and neat due to traveling all night, Qingyan couldn't help but feel guilty. The once cheerful and upright man was now so affected by her that he could fall asleep sitting up. Was her decision really too hasty?

Nanxia has always coveted Daqi, and now it has colluded with the Prince of Jin. As the crown prince of a country, Qingyan couldn't help but worry, and his five fingers unconsciously clenched.

She glanced up at Yunxuan, then lowered her eyes again, a warm feeling welling up in her heart. She placed the man's large hand on her face and gently stroked it back and forth. The calluses on his fingertips left a slightly rough feeling on her face, very firm but very real.

Qingyan smiled bitterly. Debts of money are easy to repay, but debts of affection are hard to settle. So, all she could say was, "Thank you, and I'm sorry!"

"What did you do to offend me that you apologize so sincerely?" A clear voice rang out from the languid state of someone who had just woken up. Yun Xuan smiled and gently pinched her soft little face, finding it quite pleasant to the touch.

Qingyan smiled faintly and remained silent, propping herself up against the headboard. Yunxuan placed a soft cushion behind her back and asked softly, "Are you hungry?"

Qingyan shook her head and reached out to stroke his face. "You're covered in dust. Wash up first, and we'll have dinner together."

Yunxuan nodded, got up and pushed the door open to go out, but bumped into Zhui'er who rushed into the room.

"The Prince Consort?" Zhui'er exclaimed in surprise. She gave a simple bow and ran into the inner hall without thinking further.

Yunxuan casually closed the door. Zhuier's words about being a prince consort filled him with mixed feelings. In the end, it was just a title without any real power, but it was still better than being nameless and powerless. At least there was still a chance.

With Zhui'er taking care of him, Yunxuan left the villa with peace of mind.

After a few days of rest, Qingyan has fully recovered, and her complexion is gradually becoming rosy again.

"Why should I return to the capital first?" Qingyan argued angrily with Yunxuan. Originally, she wanted to petition the court to immediately return the grain to Nanxia and put an end to the matter of going south. However, Yunxuan and Chu Huai both insisted that Qingyan return to the capital first and that Yunxuan return the grain. Qingyan was unwilling to break her promise, and besides, she wanted to take this opportunity to investigate Nanxia's unclear conspiracy. Thus, the two were deadlocked.

"You know perfectly well why I'm asking this." Yunxuan took a sip of tea. "A crown prince who disregards his own safety—where does that leave the country and its people? Qingyan, don't be so willful." Yunxuan's face was solemn, and his tone was quite firm.

“Nanxia’s target this time is me. Even if you arrange it this way, do you think Lan Zhen will let it go?” Qingyan’s mind flashed with the devilish face of King Zhao, and her brows furrowed slightly.

Even if Lan Zhen is a womanizer, Qing Yan wouldn't be foolish enough to think he's after her beautiful face. Lan Zhen was no ordinary person; he stood out among the many princes of Nanxia, ​​gained the trust of Emperor Hao of Nanxia, ​​and remained uninvolved in the struggle for the throne. So what exactly was his purpose? Qing Yan had a headache.

"Your safety is the most important thing right now. As for Lan Zhen, I have my own way of dealing with her," Yun Xuan insisted.

"My safety is more important than yours? What do you take me for?" Qingyan blurted out.

Yunxuan was taken aback, then smiled. His originally serious face softened, revealing a faint warmth: "If you say that, can I take it as you caring about me?"

It was all because of her quick tongue. Qingyan blushed with embarrassment and said, "I... this is my responsibility and you shouldn't have to bear it."

That's certainly a good excuse.

"The way of ruler and subject is that a subject should share the worries and difficulties of the ruler; the way of husband and wife is that a husband should protect his wife from the wind and rain." Yunxuan smiled broadly, "So I will do my duty without hesitation in either case."

"Whatever, whatever you want."

Yunxuan's intense gaze made Qingyan suddenly recall the numerical love poem. She turned around awkwardly and quickly walked out of the room, her heart beating faster than usual.

But what came from behind him was Yunxuan's hearty laughter.

Two days later, Qingyan was forced to leave the country under the combined attack of Yunxuan and Chu Huai.

To avoid suspicion, Qingyan only brought twenty people with her on her return to the capital, but each of them was an elite.

"Qin Mian, how long have you been in the palace?" Qingyan and Qin Mian rode side by side on separate horses, while Zhui'er was thrown into the carriage by her.

"Your Highness, I have been in the palace for eight years." Qin Mian maintained a poker face, respectful and polite.

Eight years! So they're old servants in the palace. The Fu family is indeed a deeply rooted and prestigious clan in the Great Qi Dynasty.

"Eight years is not a short time, Qin Mian, how old are you?" Could it be that he and Yun Xuan are childhood friends?

"This humble servant is twenty-three," Qin Mian replied.

“Oh, the same age as the prince consort,” Qingyan casually uttered.

Qin Mian's poker face finally changed slightly, but then returned to normal: "I have been an orphan since childhood, and Lord Fu has treated me like a brother."

So that's how it is. Qin Mian was adopted by the Fu family, no wonder he was so close to Yunxuan.

Seeing that Qin Mian had told her everything, Qingyan knew that it was Yunxuan's doing, which would put her at ease. He really had put a lot of thought into it.

"After returning to the capital, I will request my father to transfer you to Xuanhua Palace." Qingyan sighed helplessly and whipped his horse to quicken its pace.

"Thank you, Princess." Qin Mian's voice remained calm and even.

"Tell your brother I appreciate his kindness," Qingyan said, her voice fading into the distance.

Qin Mian's perpetually unchanging face revealed a relieved expression.

The journey back to the capital was interrupted by Qingyan's deliberate procrastination. The news of grain and money being received from the post station made Qingyan increasingly worried. The journey, which was originally supposed to take fifteen days, was delayed by the imperial grain convoy arriving in Qiongpu three days ahead of schedule. The next step was to return the grain in Qiongzhou.

Inside the Tianzi Room of the Donglai Inn in Pupu.

"General Chu, how do you intend to explain this?" Lan Zhen placed the teacup back on the table, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

“Your Highness, since the Prince Consort arrived at Qupu, the matter of the Princess has not been my concern. I am truly unaware of it and have no way to explain.” Chu Huai was fearless and his face was calm.

"If that's the case, then I've misunderstood the general." Lan Zhen's tone softened slightly, but his murderous intent remained.

"Your Highness is too kind. If there is any news, I will inform you immediately." Chu Huai still ignored him.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, General." Unable to find any fault with him, Lan Zhen gritted his teeth but had no choice but to endure it for the time being.

Lan Zhen's face remained ashen until Chu Huai withdrew.

A dark figure always appears at the right time from the shadows.

"Cao Yu, tell Prince Hai Tu that the fledgling phoenix has returned to its nest." Lan Zhen's devilish face gradually revealed a smile, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes, like a hunter who had spotted his favorite prey, seven parts hunting and three parts playing.

Careful and cautious, Chu Huai returned to the villa before dawn. Lan Zhen's questioning was expected, and his reluctance to reveal the princess's whereabouts was indeed a matter of personal motive. If his younger sister, Chu Lian, hadn't fallen seriously ill, and the Prince of Jin hadn't visited a doctor and provided medicine to help her survive, he wouldn't have been controlled by the Prince of Jin and made to do things that violated the proper relationship between ruler and subject. He had initially thought the Prince of Jin was merely trying to consolidate his position in court by winning her over, but now it turned out he was colluding with the Prince of Nanxia Zhao. This matter could be serious or minor, and Chu Huai was now in a difficult position.

The next morning, with Chu Huai's assistance, Yun Xuan escorted the grain to the border city of Qiongzhou. The result of informing Nanxia in advance was that if the eldest princess had not come to return the grain, King Zhao of Nanxia would have demanded to personally lead troops into Qiongzhou to receive the grain.

Yunxuan pondered for a long time and still felt it was inappropriate, but since he had asked for a favor first and was about to break his promise, he couldn't do much to stop him. So he could only warmly welcome King Zhao into the country.

"Lord Fu, your princess promised to personally deliver the grain, but why did she break her promise?" Lan Zhen questioned.

"Our Empress has fallen ill with a serious illness, and the Princess is deeply concerned for her mother, so the matter of returning the grain has been somewhat delayed. We hope Your Highness will forgive us." Yunxuan's reply was clever and seemingly impeccable.

"Of all virtues, filial piety is the most important. The princess's filial piety moved Heaven and is truly a model for everyone. Your Excellency is too kind." As if returning a Tai Chi answer, the matter was glossed over without any real impact. Lan Zhen looked at this unexpected obstacle and felt quite displeased.

"Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness." Yun Xuan bowed, very modestly.

Lan Zhen smiled faintly, "Since that's the case, I must return to the court to report." He rose to take his leave and stepped out of the post station. Suddenly remembering something, he turned back and whispered to Yun Xuan, who was seeing him off at the door, "Please trouble the prince consort to tell your princess that next time you go to a crowded place, remember to inform me so I can protect her." His bewitching face was full of charm, and a hint of ambiguity in his peach blossom eyes made Yun Xuan clench his fists tightly, but he couldn't show it on his face.

"Your Highness need not worry. As my eldest princess, I will take care of her."

In an instant, their eyes flashed with lightning.

Upon learning that the grain return matter had come to an end and that Yunxuan would be staying in Qiongzhou and other places to handle the aftermath for several days, Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief. However, Ningyuan's disappearance remained a worry for her.

"Princess, Quzhou truly lives up to its reputation as a commercial capital; its prosperity rivals that of the capital!" Zhui'er leaned against the window of her inn room, looking down at the bustling crowd with great joy, her face beaming with excitement.

Quzhou was a transportation hub in the central part of the Great Qi Dynasty and a major distribution center for goods from the north and south. Not only were the goods of high quality and low price, but there was also a wide variety of goods. Trade was very prosperous, and merchants from the north and south, dressed in different styles, could be seen discussing business everywhere.

"Let's go for a stroll!" The bustling main street downstairs also attracted Qingyan. Seeing that it was still early, she became interested as well.

"Princess." As soon as the door opened, Qin Mian and another guard stood before Qingyan like guardian deities.

Qingyan rubbed her forehead, knowing that Qin Mian's constant presence must be at Yunxuan's behest, so she said casually, "I'm just going out for a stroll, you don't need to follow me."

"Princess--"

"Alright, Lord Qin can accompany me alone." Qingyan interrupted him. There was no point in arguing with someone as stubborn as Qin Mian. So she simply stopped insisting.

With a man accompanying her, the joy of shopping as a woman is greatly diminished. Moreover, if the crown prince of a country were seen by his subordinates haggling with someone in such an unseemly manner, wouldn't he lose all his prestige?

Alas, Qin Mian ruthlessly deprived him of one of the joys of shopping and bargaining. However, Qin Mian was sensible enough to follow from a distance and not get too close.

Sure enough, Quzhou, known as the commercial capital, was bustling and prosperous. Peddler hawked all kinds of goods, and Zhui'er was overwhelmed with excitement as she walked along.

"My lord—" Zhui'er was stopped by Qingyan's eyes as soon as she opened her mouth.

“Miss,” Zhui’er stuck out her tongue and pulled Qingyan into a jewelry store called Zhuji Pavilion.

What caught her eye were various kinds of hairpins and rings. Although they were not as precious as those in the palace, they were still very exquisite and had their own unique charm. Qingyan's gaze lingered with great interest on the delicate jewelry.

The shopkeeper was about fifty years old, but he had an excellent eye. He could tell from Qingyan's clothes that she was of high status, so he served her very attentively and diligently.

"This jade hairpin is made of the finest Hetian jade, and the carving is exquisite. Look—" Zhang Ju carefully handed over the hairpin, his face full of a fawning smile. "The color and the carving are rare treasures, tsk tsk."

Qingyan held the jade hairpin in her hand and examined it closely. Its color was clear and translucent, and its texture was delicate and warm. At first glance, it did have some characteristics of Hetian jade. However, upon closer inspection, it was not difficult to find that it was actually made of Kunlun jade. Although the texture was delicate and uniform, its transparency was extremely high, and it lacked a sense of weight. In particular, it appeared especially light after polishing.