Zhao Yi left the Empress's palace with a smile, and Li An dared not utter a sound, following closely behind him.

Thinking to himself, "The Great Xuan Dynasty is probably really in chaos. Even the Emperor has tacitly allowed the Empress to be pregnant with another man's child. How will the royal bloodline be restored in the future?"

He was so distracted that he didn't notice that Zhao Yi in front of him had already stopped and was standing there leisurely, waiting for Li An to run straight into him.

"Oh dear, Your Majesty, please forgive me! This old servant's eyesight is failing, and I can't even walk properly!" Li Ancheng was trembling with fear and prepared to kneel down, but Zhao Yi held his arm, indicating that he did not need to panic.

The two strolled leisurely up the city wall. The surroundings were quiet, with only the wind blowing through the corridor, bringing a slight coolness.

Zhao Yi waved his hand gently, and the servants tactfully retreated to a distance, leaving an empty space for the two to face each other.

He then realized that it was already early winter.

“Ang Lee, do you think I’m acting like a caged bird, with wings but unable to soar high?”

Zhao Yi asked, half-jokingly and half-seriously, a hint of weariness showing between his brows.

Upon hearing this, Ang Lee smiled bitterly to himself. This was no caged bird; it was a camel burdened with heavy loads!

But his smile was brighter than the spring sun: "Your Majesty is mistaken. You are a dragon lying in wait, poised to rise. Every act of forbearance is for the sake of your future soaring. In my heart, I admire you to the point of prostration. Even saying the word 'frustrated' feels like a desecration to you."

As he spoke, he even made a witty gesture by cupping his hands in a sarcastic manner, a sly smile flashing in his eyes, which seemed to lighten the atmosphere in the air.

Zhao Yi was amused by Ang Lee's sudden flattery, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. The loneliness he felt at the top was instantly relieved.

"You old fox, you sure know how to make people happy," he said with a laugh, then changed the subject, "Alright, let's not talk about that. Any movement from Shen Hanshan's side?"

"Your Majesty is wise. Rui, on the very day Shen Hanshan was demoted, he immediately rode to Yunchao overnight. According to our spies, he was even faster than the urgent reports from our palace!"

Ang Lee's words not only answered the question but also cleverly incorporated a touch of humor, which made Zhao Yi smile. The two looked at each other and laughed, and the wind on the city wall seemed to carry a bit of joy.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yi couldn't help but chuckle and shook his head, saying, "My uncle is quite a man of character. He went to great lengths to make me the villain, strip me of my princely title, so that he could go to Yun Dynasty to search for someone. I just wonder how much turmoil he can stir up in that sea of ​​clouds in Yun Dynasty."

After Zhao Yi's analysis, Li An suddenly understood and thought to himself, "So that's how it is. The matter of Prince Rui was actually a carefully planned drama. It was truly a case of 'Zhou Yu beating Huang Gai, one willing to hit and the other willing to be hit,' with all the officials just bystanders."

Furthermore, the fact that the Emperor vomited blood in his study was also part of this scheme. The Emperor intended to use his illness as a pretext to expose the plot of Song Jin and Empress Qin Sheng.

Thinking of this, he felt even more that the emperor's cunning was unfathomable.

Li An sighed softly, his awe for the young emperor growing even stronger. He nodded to himself, his thoughts swirling, but he uttered a simple exclamation: "Your Majesty is wise, this old servant is in awe."

Zhao Yi gazed at the distant clouds, and after a long while, he slowly said, "It seems that Zhizhi is most likely hiding in Yunchao. I hope that on this trip, she can resolve her inner conflicts, clear up the misunderstandings with Shen Hanshan, and restore clarity to both of them."

After speaking, he gently stroked the blue bricks on the city wall, a resolute and expectant look flashing in his eyes: "As for me, even if she harbors resentment and hatred, it is my own fault, and I will accept it willingly."

My only wish is that when I retire from the military and return to my hometown, I can personally and peacefully hand over a great Xuan Dynasty, a prosperous and strong nation where the emperor and his ministers are of one mind and the people are devoted to it.

At that time, merits and demerits, right and wrong, will all fade away with the wind. May she lead this beautiful land towards an even more glorious future.

The wind in the distance carried the chill of early winter, brushing against the high city walls, lifting the hem of Zhao Yi's clothes, and seemingly taking away some of the heaviness in his heart.

Zhao Yi slowly walked down the city wall, silently praying, "Zhizhi, when you return, may there be no more barriers between us; may the land of Daxuan become even more vast because of you and me."