Li Yue Shu had long decided to go to Qing Yan Country, so she packed all her belongings in advance.
Knowing that Li Yue Shu and Qin Mo Yuan were leaving, the children were all very reluctant. Even Shen Yi Min and Mo Lian made excuses to come out of the palace.
Only Mother Mo and Hong Dai accompanied them on this trip.
Li Yue Shu's goal was to see He Xiao Yu as soon as possible and confirm if her best friend had also transmigrated to this world. She did not want to delay, so she did not even bring Chai Yang Xing He.
"Mother, you must come back soon."
Shen Zhi Yu's eyes were red, but he bravely held back tears.
Li Yue Shu gently rubbed his head. "Good Yu, Mother couldn't be with you for your birthday this year. I will definitely return as soon as possible."
Her original plan was to leave after Yu's birthday, but because of Li Xiang Ru's meddling, leaving now was the best timing.
Shen Zhi Yu nodded very sensibly. "Mother already celebrated Yu's birthday yesterday. I received the cake and gifts."
Li Yue Shu dotingly stroked his head, then looked at the twins. "You two be good at home. If anything happens, have Chai Yang send me a message."
The twins nodded firmly. Shen Ting Yi even patted her chest and promised, "When Mother returns, I will have memorized all the books you gave me!"
The book Li Yue Shu had written herself was always with Shen Ting Yi. This child was as engrossed in studying poisons as she was, forgetting to eat and sleep.
Shen Ting Wen also spoke sensibly, but his instructions were directed at Qin Mo Yuan. "Father, you must protect Mother well and not let her be wronged!"
Qin Mo Yuan: "..."
Why were these three little brats acting like it was a parting of life and death!
Li Yue Shu found the children's reactions both amusing and touching.
She stroked each of the three little ones on their heads, not even sparing Shen Yi Min, who had been standing by silently.
This child was the eldest and precocious. He was a bit shy at Li Yue Shu's gesture of patting his head but did not pull away.
Li Yue Shu's eyes twinkled with a smile. As if by magic, she took out a wooden box from her sleeve. "This is medicine for your mother. Take one pill every night before sleeping."
She had specially entered the palace to see her before. Concubine Rong's health was truly not good, and there was little she could do to help.
Shen Yi Min accepted the wooden box with both hands and nodded gently, offering no thanks.
He knew she did not want him to say those two words to her.
After comforting the children, Li Yue Shu turned and followed Qin Mo Yuan.
The carriage slowly drove towards the city gate. Li Yue Shu tidied her belongings, adjusted her emotions, and waited for Qin Mo Yuan's friends to see them off, preparing to put on a good show.
To her surprise, when she stepped out of the carriage, she found the Emperor standing there.
Li Yue Shu: "..."
This small matter shouldn't have required the Emperor's presence, right?
The Emperor looked at her with sympathy. "Miss Li, I know you are not feeling well. You and Ah Yuan should go out and relax for a while. Don't pay attention to those baseless rumors."
Li Yue Shu turned to Qin Mo Yuan in confusion, her eyes asking what he had said to the Emperor.
The latter smiled at her gently, then said in a clear voice, "Imperial Brother, Ah Shu has a bitter fate. She was not favored by her parents since childhood. Coming to Chong Zhou with this subject should have meant a good life for her, but alas, she is still being harassed and harmed."
As he spoke, Qin Mo Yuan did not hide the tenderness in his eyes, which made Li Yue Shu's mouth twitch.
She quickly lowered her head and pretended to be sad, afraid that the onlookers would notice her stifled laughter.
The Emperor frowned and earnestly promised, "I will give Miss Li an explanation for this matter. You two go out and relax with peace of mind!"
This statement was beyond Li Yue Shu's expectations.
If the Emperor intervened, Li Xiang Ru's "mistreatment of her sister" charge would be hard to shake off.
She wondered what Li Xiang Ru's reaction would be when she realized her plan had backfired.
Hearing the Emperor's words, Qin Mo Yuan said no more. He quickly bid farewell and got into the carriage.
As the carriage rumbled out of the city, the Emperor stood at the gate to see them off. The conversation between him and Qin Mo Yuan spread like wildfire.
Within a day, the streets and alleys were abuzz with the news that the Crown Princess, in a bid for favor, had slandered her adoptive parents' daughter, even forcing her to leave Chong Zhou to recuperate.
The Second Prince, who had suffered under the Crown Prince before, was so delighted by this first blemish on the Crown Prince's always good reputation that he threw a grand banquet at his residence.
Consort Lan, upon hearing this, was so angry that she immediately sent her trusted eunuch to find Qin Ye Cheng, instructing him to be less ostentatious recently.
The Regent King returning alive from Guan Zhou was something she had not anticipated. Her previous plans had been set in motion, and there was no turning back.
At this critical juncture, Cheng'er absolutely could not afford any mistakes!
Eunuch Chang Gui, as Consort Lan's trusted eunuch, was naturally assigned this task.
However, looking at the dark night outside, Chang Gui was reluctant to make the trip.
Having served the Consort for many years, he often conveyed messages to the Second Prince on her behalf.
But the Second Prince at this time was usually indulging in pleasures, and he was almost always scolded when he went.
After some thought, Chang Gui quickly passed the task to his most obedient subordinate.
"Zhang Yang, you go to the Second Prince's residence..." Chang Gui said haughtily, specifically instructing, "Remember, you must deliver the Consort's message!"
Zhang Yang, whom he referred to, appeared to be only about ten years old, but there was a feminine air about his movements.
At such a young age, he had already been castrated.
"Don't worry, Eunuch. I will remember everything," Zhang Yang replied in a high-pitched voice. He bowed respectfully to Chang Gui before taking a lantern to find the Second Prince.
In the pitch-black night, lanterns were lit throughout the palace, illuminating the path even at night.
Zhang Yang lowered his head and walked quickly towards his destination.
Having served by Chang Gui's side for so long, he knew very well that if he was late in reporting back and delayed Eunuch Chang Gui's sleep, he would face a scolding.
There were many patrolling guards in the palace at night, and Zhang Yang happened to encounter a patrol team.
He quickly moved to let them pass, but saw the guards suddenly bow respectfully in one direction, "Greetings to the Fourteenth Prince."
The Fourteenth Prince?
Was it the Fourteenth Prince who had been missing for many years, then found, and was currently favored by the Emperor?
Startled, Zhang Yang quickly bowed as well.
He knelt behind the guards, filled with curiosity about this Fourteenth Prince.
With the cover of darkness, his courage increased slightly, and he secretly looked up.
The next moment, Zhang Yang's body jolted. He knelt on the ground, staring incredulously at the face.
Shen! Yi! Min!
Impossible!
How could it be him?!
In an instant, Zhang Yang's face turned ashen. He never imagined that his reunion with Shen Yi Min would be under such circumstances.
How could he be a prince?
He had caused his family's ruin, turned him into a eunuch's dog, and even caused the Zhang family to have no descendants. How could he be a prince!
Zhang Yang's face was as pale as paper, looking like a terrifying ghost under the flickering candlelight.
Shen Yi Min, holding the medicine given by Li Yue Shu and preparing to see Concubine Rong, was preoccupied with his thoughts and did not notice the person in the corner.
However, Mo Lian, who was behind him, caught sight of a strange figure out of the corner of his eye and instinctively looked over.