"Rou'er, could you come out with me for a moment?" Bai Wei noticed that Zhao Rou seemed absent-minded and dazed, so she stepped forward, gently put her hand on Zhao Rou's shoulder, and said in a low voice.

Zhao Rou nodded, and the two of them walked together to a side room and sat down. Bai Wei asked with concern, "You've seemed restless ever since you came back from the main house. Has something gone wrong with your father's condition?"

Zhao Rou shook her head, indicating that this was not the case.

"So, is there something wrong with Wan'er?"

Zhao Rou shook her head again, indicating that Wan'er was fine.

"It can't be... An'er... An'er, he..."

Seeing that Bai Wei's guesses were getting more and more outrageous, Zhao Rou had no choice but to lie and said, "Madam Bai, I saw Prince Rui in the main house just now. I was thinking that you miss your son so much, and I was wondering how to say a few words to him. Could you ask the prefect to make an exception and let the garrison let the young master out to see you and your son?"

"So that's what it was." Bai Wei suddenly realized. She looked at Zhao Rou, her eyes revealing complex emotions. "I was angry with you for plotting against you and your older sister to get An'er to do those things with you in advance, but I didn't know you were such a sentimental and nostalgic person."

Zhao Rou felt a little embarrassed by what she said, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Madam Bai, I was young then and made many mistakes. It is thanks to my mother's guidance and your tolerance and generosity that I have come this far," she said with deep emotion.

"Let's forget about meeting," Bai Wei said with a sigh, a hint of helplessness and disappointment flashing in her eyes.

She gently stroked the teacup in her hand, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She slowly said, "Rou'er, I appreciate your kindness, but this matter is of utmost importance. It concerns the face and rules of the royal family, and we cannot act rashly. Although I miss An'er deeply, I also know my limits."

Although your father has a deep friendship with the prefect, if this matter is brought up rashly, it may not only fail to achieve our goal, but also bring unnecessary trouble to the Zhao family.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Rou felt a mix of emotions. She gently took Bai Wei's hand and said softly, "Madam Bai, I admire your magnanimity. However, I always feel that people are all made of flesh and blood. If the young master knew your painstaking efforts and longing, he would surely be moved as well."

However, we need to find a more appropriate method that will neither put you in a difficult position nor put the Zhao family in a dilemma.

Bai Wei smiled slightly, a hint of warmth flashing in her eyes: "Rou'er, I am very pleased that you think this way. Indeed, everything in this world depends on 'fate'. Perhaps, when the time is right, everything will fall into place naturally. Until then, we just need to do our best and wait for the flowers to bloom."

The two smiled at each other, and Zhao Rou immediately felt much more relaxed.

"By the way, Rou'er, do you have any plans lately?" Bai Wei changed the subject and asked.

Zhao Rou thought for a moment, then answered earnestly, "I want to go out and travel, like my second sister..." She suddenly stopped, lowered her head, looking at her fingers, slightly roughened from constantly handling herbs, and continued, "As a woman, I've experienced marriage and miscarriage. Perhaps I'm not suited for a family. So, I want to see the outside world; maybe there will be different scenery!"

As she said this, she looked up and gazed towards the doorway.

For a moment, Bai Wei seemed to see her former self in Li Zan's eyes and face. Before marrying Li Zan, she too had been full of dreams and hopes for the future.

In the end, after getting married and having children, she put all her dreams and hobbies aside. This was because her husband believed that a woman's virtue lay in her lack of talent.

To say she's pretentious or that women are more endearing when they're a little foolish is an understatement.

But years later, her husband divorced her because of a prostitute who was good at painting.

It's really laughable.

"Good child, you are still young. You should strive, explore, and live a different life. Women should not be confined to the inner quarters. What men can do, we women can certainly do as well."

Bai Wei stood up and gently patted Zhao Rou's shoulder. Zhao Rou stared at her in shock, "You, you don't think what I said was rebellious? You...you actually encourage and support me?"

Bai Wei nodded. "A girl like Zhizhi is the kind of girl I've always longed for!"

Hearing her mention Zhao Zhi, Zhao Rou's mind flashed back to her image of Zhao Zhi in armor, and her eyes sparkled as she said, "Yes! My second sister has been my idol since I was little!"

When the two finished their heart-to-heart talk and came out of the side room, Zhang Wan had just finished talking with Zhao Zhi and was seeing her off.

"Wan'er!" Bai Wei was overjoyed to see Zhang Wan and hurried over. Upon seeing the beautiful woman beside her, she paused slightly, "And who is this?"

"Hello, I'm Zhao Chunhua." Zhao Zhi nodded slightly and introduced herself politely with a smile. Bai Wei had never seen her face before, and she didn't intend to reveal her identity to her.

"Zhao Chun... Your Highness, this humble woman greets Your Highness!" Bai Wei realized who was in front of her and hurriedly bowed. Zhao Rou, who was beside her, nodded in response.

Zhao Zhi did not stop them. After they had paid their respects, she said nothing more and returned to the princess's residence with Shen Hanshan, who came out from the side.

"Greetings, Your Highness!" Upon seeing Zhao Zhi return, the servants at the princess's residence greeted her and then dispersed to perform their respective duties.

When Lanru and Fenghong saw Zhao Zhi, they were both moved to tears. They stepped forward, took her hands, and carefully examined her from head to toe.

"Your Highness, if anything were to happen to you, how could I face the Empress Dowager in the afterlife?" the two said, choking back tears.

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