The mistress has no feelings, why do you provoke her?

The night was as thick as ink, and fine rain wove an endless net, tightly enveloping the world.

A pale bolt of lightning suddenly tore through the night, briefly illuminating a pair of sharp, eagle-like eyes in the darkness, their cold glint fully revealed.

The man rode steadily on his horse, and in the blink of an eye, he galloped a hundred meters away, braving the wind and rain.

From the border to the capital, a journey of a thousand miles.

He had been rushing around for seven days and seven nights without sleep, but it wasn't enough, far from enough.

He needs to be faster, much faster.

The horse beneath him was already exhausted, foaming at the mouth, staggering, and breathing heavily with each breath.

The man's whip lashed mercilessly across the horse's body again and again, tearing its skin and drawing blood that mingled with the rain.

Suddenly, the horse let out a mournful whinny, its front hooves buckled, and it collapsed into the mud.

The man on horseback was thrown off with a thud, tumbling several times in the mud like a kite with a broken string.

But the man didn't stop at all. He quickly got up from the ground, ignoring his injuries and mud, and continued running towards the capital.

The rain lashed his face, blurring his vision, but it couldn't extinguish the burning anxiety in his eyes.

After running for an unknown amount of time, a post station appeared ahead.

With his last ounce of strength, he rushed toward the post station, shouting, "Quick, get me a different horse!"

The people at the post station looked at him with suspicion when they saw how disheveled he was.

Upon seeing the token in the man's hand, he immediately showed a look of fear and hurriedly led out a horse.

He mounted his horse, gave it a sharp spur, and the horse neighed as it galloped off towards the capital once more.

He had been traveling for eight whole days from the border to the capital.

When hungry, he would take out a dry, hard bun from his backpack; when thirsty, he would tilt his head back and drink a mouthful of rainwater.

At this time, they were still one-third of the way from the capital.

It will take another five days and five nights to reach our destination.

……

With Xiao Nanzhi's marriage arranged, the entire palace was thrown into a flurry of preparations.

Red silk ribbons fluttered among the palace walls, colorful paper flew everywhere, craftsmen hammered and pounded, and palace maids and eunuchs hurried along, creating a scene of bustling activity.

Seeing her so happy, like a little swallow, the princess's sadness disappeared.

Xiao Nanzhi sat in front of the dressing table, the sunlight from outside the window filtering through the carved window lattice, casting dappled shadows.

The princess held her long, smooth hair in her hand and combed it gently.

Looking at her daughter's increasingly beautiful face in the mirror, the princess was filled with emotion. As soon as she spoke, her eyes instantly reddened: "Time flies so fast. In the blink of an eye, you've grown up so much and will be getting married soon. Your mother still feels like you're that little girl who used to fuss about wearing pink dresses."

Her daughter was raised with the utmost care and affection.

The thought of her marrying into the distant Dongling made the princess's heart ache terribly, as if it were being squeezed by a large hand.

Looking at the princess's red eyes in the mirror, Xiao Nanzhi showed no sorrow. Instead, she comforted her, saying, "Mother, what are you doing? Your daughter is going to marry into Dongling and become the empress. You should be happy for me."

The princess looked at her innocent face and tears streamed down her face.

The amnesia medication not only made Xiao Nanzhi lose that painful memory, but it seemed to have also made her lose her mind.

She was always cheerful and never seemed sad.

This is a side effect of the amnesia medication; among the seven emotions, she lost her grief.

The eldest princess lovingly patted Xiao Nanzhi's head and forced a smile: "Yes, Mother should be happy."

At this moment, even she herself didn't know whether it was right or wrong to give Xiao Nanzhi the amnesia drug back then.

At this moment, a palace maid walked forward with light steps and curtsied to the princess: "Your Highness, the King of Dongling requests an audience."

These days, Xiao Nanzhi often goes out of the palace to play with Ji Huaili. The two are about the same age, and they look very good together, attracting a lot of attention.

Ji Huaili also genuinely cared for Xiao Nanzhi.

Whatever Xiao Nanzhi wanted, he would do it for her. The princess saw this and was delighted.

Entrusting Xiao Nanzhi to such a person, she knew that her daughter would be cherished and loved in the future, and she could finally put her mind at ease.

When the eldest princess saw her daughter in the mirror hear Ji Huaili's name, her cheeks quietly flushed.

She patted her shoulder gently and smiled tenderly: "Go ahead, and remember to come back soon."

"I know, Mother!" Xiao Nanzhi's voice was full of undisguised joy. Before she could finish speaking, she rushed towards the door, her light steps creating a gust of wind, without even turning her head back.

The eldest princess watched her departing figure and tears welled up in her eyes again.

Outside the hall, the warm spring sun shone down, and Ji Huaili stood amidst that golden light.

He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, with an innate heroic spirit in his eyes and brows, exuding an imposing aura.

The moment he saw Xiao Nanzhi, his eyes lit up with a dazzling light.

"Nanzhi," he called her affectionately.

Xiao Nanzhi ran up to him and sweetly asked, "Brother Huaili, where are you taking me to play today?"

"It's up to you. Wherever you say we'll go, we'll go." Ji Huaili smiled gently, his sharp eyes full of doting affection.

"Then, I want to go boating on the lake." Xiao Nanzhi tilted her head and smiled, her eyes sparkling like twinkling stars in the night sky.

Upon hearing this, Ji Huaili's eyes flashed with a hint of doubt. He looked up at the sky and gently advised, "Going boating on the lake is not suitable in this weather. You might catch a cold."

It was already winter, and the wind was strong on the lake.

With no scenery to see, Xiao Nanzhi was very interested in boating on the lake.

He had spent the last few days playing with her, but Xiao Nanzhi was still very enthusiastic after each time.

Xiao Nanzhi pouted in dissatisfaction: "What, you don't want to?"

"How could that be?" Ji Huaili chuckled lightly. "If you're willing, I'll risk my life to accompany you."

Xiao Nanzhi smiled smugly: "Let's go."

She grabbed Ji Huaili's hand and ran outside. Ji Huaili paused, his gaze falling on their intertwined hands, his eyes brightening.

He didn't take the marriage alliance seriously; to him, he wouldn't care who held the position.

But after meeting Xiao Nanzhi, Ji Huaili's heart was gradually captured by her.

Meanwhile, at the Chu King's Palace.

Xiao Ji held a secret letter in his hand, his eyes filled with shock, the letter trembling slightly at his fingertips.

His eyes widened, and upon closer inspection, his sharp pupils were surprisingly moist.

"Husband." Song Wenjun rarely saw Xiao Ji so out of control. She stepped forward and called to him softly. It took Xiao Ji a long time to come back to his senses.

He slowly handed the letter in his hand to Song Wenjun, and said excitedly, "Look, what is this?"