The officials in the court followed Emperor Wen closely out of the city gate, while Xiao Jinghan and the prince followed closely behind, staying close to Emperor Wen.

At this moment, a hint of coldness flashed in the prince's originally gloomy eyes, and his heart was filled with endless resentment and hatred. That was the original owner's emotion!

Deep down, the original owner had always believed that not being able to gain his father's favor was bad enough! His father had always favored the King of Qin. Now, even Xiao Jinghan was more valued than him, which made the prince feel extremely humiliated.

Along the way, Emperor Wen smiled and talked to Xiao Jinghan in a soft voice, as if he poured all his attention and love on Xiao Jinghan.

Emperor Wen didn't even cast a glance at the prince. This attitude of indifference and disdain was obvious to everyone, as if he was announcing to everyone that the prince was not worthy of his attention and love.

The Crown Prince turned to look at the Prime Minister, who gave him a barely perceptible nod. Their eyes met, a thousand words woven together, yet words seemed unnecessary. In that instant, they seemed to have reached some kind of tacit understanding.

Meanwhile, the King of Qin, dressed in military uniform, rode atop a black horse with a dashing presence. His figure was tall and straight, emanating a majestic aura.

Princess Nanzhi rode a horse as white as snow, walking side by side with the King of Qin. Her beauty formed a sharp contrast with the King of Qin's majesty, which was eye-catching.

At this time, the Fourth Prince and Duanmu Qin bowed to Emperor Wen and said goodbye, then boarded a magnificent carriage.

The carriage was beautifully decorated, displaying the majesty of the royal family. With the crack of the driver's whip, the carriage slowly moved forward.

The King of Qin dismounted and quickly walked before Emperor Wen. He knelt in greeting and raised his head, shouting, "Father, take care of your health! I will do my utmost to help the Fourth Imperial Consort become the Empress of Beiliu! Once this is accomplished, I will return to the capital immediately!"

Emperor Wen looked at him expectantly, tears glistening in his eyes. He reached out and helped the Prince of Qin up, saying softly, "Chengjin! Be careful! Take good care of yourself! Your mother and I will be waiting for your return in the capital!"

The Imperial Noble Consort An Qinghuan, who was standing by, couldn't help but admonish, "Chengjin, you must protect Princess Nanzhi well and don't let her suffer any grievances!"

The King of Qin nodded solemnly in response, "Son, I've made note of this! Don't worry, Mother!"

The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes slightly, watching the heartwarming interaction between the three of them with a cold gaze. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly. He secretly lamented that the King of Qin was so favored by Emperor Wen, while the original owner had never received such treatment.

When Emperor Wen married Li Qianwan, perhaps he was just attracted by the power behind the Li family.

And for An Qinghuan, perhaps this is the embodiment of true love. However, the heart of an emperor is always unpredictable, and who can predict what will happen in the future?

Since ancient times, emperors have been known to be sentimental, often only seeing the smiles of their new loves while forgetting the tears of their old ones. Within the harem, the unpredictable nature of emotions is truly heartbreaking.

After bidding farewell to his father, the Emperor, and his mother, the King of Qin set out on his journey to Beiliu. Leading a large group of guards and envoys, he marched northward in a mighty procession. Emperor Wen watched them depart, his heart filled with anticipation and reluctance.

Emperor Wen narrowed his eyes, his gaze deep and complex. He turned to look at An Qinghuan beside him and said firmly, "Don't worry! With Luo Jing here, Cheng Jin will be fine. I believe he can handle everything. This marriage may be the best choice for the Fourth Prince."

An Qinghuan nodded slightly, but a hint of worry still appeared on her face. She whispered, "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince's mother didn't come to see him off."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wen's eyes grew cold. He frowned and said dissatisfiedly, "Shufei is an ignorant woman! Last night, she was trying to commit suicide and was giving me a headache. I have had her locked up and let her reflect on her mistakes."

Emperor Wen knew Shufei's character very well. She was always too emotional and lacked rationality and overall perspective. This marriage was of vital importance to the national interest.

He could not tolerate anyone ruining this plan, so he took decisive action and placed Concubine Shu under house arrest to ensure that things went smoothly.

Emperor Wen took a deep breath and calmed himself down. He knew his decision might cause some controversy, but he firmly believed it was for the future of Dazhao.

He hopes that through this marriage, he can strengthen the relationship with Beiliu and jointly fight against foreign enemies. At the same time, it can also give the fourth brother a better opportunity for development.

Emperor Wen prayed silently, hoping Cheng Jin would be safe and complete his mission successfully. He believed his son had enough wisdom and courage to face all challenges. As a father, this was also an opportunity for his son to train and grow.

The Fourth Prince's uncle, Minister of Works Qian Zhiyuan, stared at the Fourth Prince's carriage driving away with a gloomy expression, his eyes revealing a fierceness and dissatisfaction.

Ever since learning yesterday that the Fourth Prince had decided to follow Duanmu Qin to Beiliu, Qian Zhiyuan had been earnestly trying to persuade him to give up the idea. However, no matter how hard he tried, the Fourth Prince seemed unmoved and persisted in his opinion.

Qian Zhiyuan naturally longed to see his nephew ascend the throne and become the emperor of Dazhao. In this way, the Qian family would be extremely glorious and become the most prominent family in the entire country.

Even if he was only a prince, at least he could guarantee the Qian family a certain status and influence in the court. But now, the Fourth Prince turned a blind eye to all this, and even his own mother could not change his mind.

The Fourth Prince wore an icy smile, his tone filled with sarcasm. "Mother! Uncle! Have you never considered that one day I might lose my head and body in the fight for the throne? You only care about the prosperity of the Qian family! But have you ever thought about me? What have you planned for me over the years?"

The Fourth Prince's emotions grew increasingly agitated, his voice rising in pitch. "My mother wasn't a favored imperial concubine, and my uncle wasn't a general commanding a large army! I have no background at all, so how can I compete with other contenders? If my uncle wishes the Qian family to enjoy eternal prosperity, then come with me to Beiliu!"

Qian Zhiyuan and Concubine Shu were so angry that their faces turned red and their heads were buzzing! They stared at the Fourth Prince with wide eyes in disbelief, their hearts filled with anger and disappointment.

"Fool!" Qian Zhiyuan cursed inwardly. He knew full well what this opportunity meant to the Fourth Prince. If he could seize it, perhaps he could win the Emperor's favor and increase his chances of inheriting the throne. But now, the Fourth Prince had chosen a completely different path, leaving Qian Zhiyuan feeling extremely disappointed and angry.

He shook his head helplessly and sighed inwardly: "Forget it, since he insists on having his own way, I can only let it go. I just hope he won't regret his decision today..."

As the carriage disappeared from sight, Qian Zhiyuan followed Emperor Wen and turned away, his heart full of worry and uneasiness.