After transmigrating into the book, I helped my mother reconcile with her divorced husband.

The weather was clear, and a flock of sparrows perched on the rooftops, chirping away. Lu Zhiyuan had specially changed into a dress that the Crown Prince liked, wearing the hairpin her mother had given her. She took her maternal grandfather's arm and stepped over the threshold, stopping in front of the carriage that was about to return to the capital.

General Xie originally wanted to ride a horse, but he couldn't persuade his granddaughter and daughter otherwise, so he had to get into the carriage. Xie Chaoyun said worriedly, "You've only just recovered, so don't overwork yourself. Let Manager Xie do whatever he can. Our Xie family doesn't support idlers."

"I know, Mother." Lu Zhiyuan deliberately rubbed against Xie Chaoyun. "I've prepared some food and commonly used medicines, all of which are in the carriage. There's also medicine for you and your grandfather; remember to take it on time. And a change of clothes..."

"I know, it's not like your grandfather and I haven't traveled far before." Xie Chaoyun was both distressed and touched: "Finish things here as soon as possible, your grandfather and I will wait for you in the capital."

“Okay!” Lu Zhiyuan nodded obediently and urged Xie Chaoyun to get into the carriage.

She turned around and bumped into the Crown Prince's arms, softly calling him "Husband." The Crown Prince's heart stirred, and he couldn't help but pull her into his embrace: "Aren't you really coming back with me?"

"I can't go back with you; I still have some things to take care of." She squirmed in his arms. "Have a safe journey, and remember to write to me when you get to the capital! Take good care of Grandfather and Mother, and be careful in everything you do!"

"Stop nagging." The Crown Prince couldn't help but kiss her forehead. "I'll go back and take care of Father's affairs first, and then I'll come to pick you up."

"The new emperor can't just leave the capital after his ascension to the throne, can he?" Lu Zhiyuan stood on tiptoe and whispered in his ear, "Aren't you afraid that the officials will say you're a foolish ruler who only loves beauties and not the country?"

The Crown Prince smiled indulgently, nuzzling his nose against hers, and said softly, "If it were any other beauty, she would naturally be scolded. But if it were you, my lady, the officials would not only not scold her, but would also praise her. My lady, have you forgotten that you are not only the Crown Princess personally chosen for me by my father and mother, but also the Eastern Palace Empress recognized by all the civil and military officials, and the one and only Empress in the hearts of the people?"

The last two words were spoken directly into her ear.

Lu Zhiyuan carefully traced the Crown Prince's features in her mind. This was her husband, the person she was closest to in this world. Today's parting was a final farewell. She wanted to etch his image into her heart, yet she couldn't show it too deliberately.

The Crown Prince noticed it after all, and gently asked, holding his hand, "My wife, are you reluctant to part with me?"

Lu Zhiyuan didn't deny it, but gently pushed him with her hand: "It's getting late, we should set off!"

The crown prince kept turning back to look at himself, unaware that this was their last meeting. He wanted to return to the capital as quickly as possible, settle his affairs there, and bring his A-Yuan home.

As soon as the carriage left, Lu Zhiyuan felt a sudden darkness engulf her, but luckily Lu Yun caught her in time. Only then did Lu Yun notice that Lu Zhiyuan's forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat, her face was pale, and her palms were ice-cold.

"Miss, this is..."

"Shh, keep your voice down, don't let them hear."

Lu Yun felt heartbroken and helped her back to the mansion, instructing a servant, "Go find a doctor, from the Xie family."

"No need, I know my own body, I just need to rest." Lu Zhiyuan waved her hand, and only after entering the courtyard did she show a little pain. At the same time, she breathed a sigh of relief, so that her mother and maternal grandfather would not notice. Even Lu Yun thought that her old illness had relapsed.

Roll up the sleeves, and you can see faint traces of livor mortis through the skin.

She should have died long ago; she was kept alive with poison before, and she still is. She's less a person and more a living dead still breathing. He touched his chest; his heart was beating slower and slower, soon to fall completely still.

Has Han Ting set off yet?

"We've set off, an hour earlier than His Highness the Crown Prince's entourage," Lu Yun said. "I wish to accompany Miss to Southern Chu."

"You're not at ease?"

“Miss has never been to Southern Chu.” Lu Yun paused for a moment. “I’m afraid Miss might suffer because she’s unfamiliar with the place. As for the firearms, it’s not too late to take care of it after I send Miss to Southern Chu.”

"The firearms matter is quite urgent. I don't trust anyone but you and Han Ting to handle it." Lu Zhiyuan patted his shoulder. "I've already written to Xiao Yebai, and it should be here by now. With the King of Southern Chu accompanying me, are you worried I'll suffer any losses in Southern Chu?"

Lu Yun was relieved, but still stubbornly insisted, "I'm afraid he has ulterior motives towards Miss!"

Lu Zhiyuan chuckled, "I'm married now, and my husband is about to become the new emperor of Beiliang. He won't make an enemy of the entire Beiliang for a woman like me. Lu Yun, let me teach you one last thing. As men, those in power are different from ordinary people. Ordinary people might give up everything for love, but those in power won't. The crown prince won't abandon Beiliang for me, and Xiao Yebai won't sacrifice the entire Southern Chu for me."

"Why can Miss say these things so calmly? Aren't you sad, Miss?"

“Sad? What’s there to be sad about? Do you know how much a prince has to learn to become a qualified successor? From the moment he was born, he was raised to be a qualified monarch. What right do I have to ask him to give up his studies for me? Xiao Yebai has suffered so much from being a hostage to becoming a monarch. He deserves a queen who is his equal and can help him stabilize the Southern Chu court, not a sickly princess from another country who has done him some small favors.”

Seeing that Lu Yun was still muttering indignantly on her behalf, she stood on tiptoe, grabbed the clothes on his shoulder, and urged, "I've sent away all the servants from the Xie family. Han Ting isn't here, and Qingzhi has left too. You have to help me pack my luggage. I don't want Xiao Yebai to think I'm sloppy. It's been a while since we last met, so I need to leave a good impression so I can freeload in Nan Chu."

The packing was haphazard; there wasn't much to take. Besides everyday clothes, there were only some jewelry and medicinal herbs. They didn't plan to take the jewelry, so after sorting it, they had Lu Yun call the steward to distribute it among the young women and wives in the courtyard. They only kept the useful herbs, storing the rest at the Xie family's herbal shop.

The Xie family also has shops in the capital of Southern Chu. If you need anything, just take it; there's no need to travel a long distance with heavy bags. Just as she finished packing, Butler Xie rushed in, wiping the sweat from his brow: "Miss, a guest has arrived with your letter, saying you invited them."

Xiao Yebai leaned against the carriage with his eyes closed. The carriage was sapphire blue, embroidered with gold and silver threads using a special technique, which was quite dazzling in the sunlight. As the footsteps approached, he smiled and opened his eyes.

Southern Chu, the capital city.

On the bustling street, a gorgeously dressed young woman, accompanied by guards, aggressively blocked the carriage carrying Lu Zhiyuan.

"Get out of the way! It's that little princess from the eldest princess's family. If you mess with her, you'll be in big trouble!" Pedestrians quickly moved aside, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.

They looked at the conspicuous carriage with great sympathy. "Whose is this? Don't they know the little princess's temper? In Southern Chu, besides our king, who dares to eat and use things better than the little princess? This person is probably going to be in big trouble."

"Am I seeing things? I think that carriage belongs to our king."