Jiang Yinjin withdrew her gaze and smiled at Chen Mianmian, saying, "Don't misunderstand, I don't care about the meager sums from her household. I just think that she has lived a dissolute life and might regret it in her old age. If she were not a worldly person, she would not care at all if I told her about living off the family's wealth, and she might even scatter her wealth among the world."

Since I provoked her, it means she cares about worldly matters.

Caring too much about worldly matters yet living a dissolute life—it's alright when you're young, but when you're old, you'll be tormented by regret every day. It's better to provoke her a little, have a child while she's still able to have children. At least that will offer some solace in your old age.

Chen Mianmian carefully pondered Jiang Yinjin's words, "That makes sense. How one chooses to live one's life is a matter of personal freedom, but some people have figured it out and don't care about worldly matters; others do care about worldly matters, but are just confused for a moment."

Afterwards, he sincerely exclaimed, "It's wonderful that you two were able to turn hostility into friendship. When will you arrange for me to leave the palace?"

Jiang Yinjin nearly choked, unable to catch her breath. She looked at the innocent-looking woman beside her with a frustrated expression. "Wait, weren't we just talking about Princess Ruian? Why are you bringing up the palace again? Are you in such a hurry?"

Chen Mianmian smiled and tacitly agreed.

Jiang Yinjin said helplessly, "I arranged for someone to complete the formalities yesterday. We'll tell everyone that you and I had a secret affair before you entered the palace, but we lost contact. Now you've been harmed in the palace, and I can't bear to see you stay. So I'm giving you money to send you home. Just like what I told Princess Ruian."

Chen Mianmian nodded with a smile.

Jiang Yinjin said, "When you get back, just say that you were injured and lost your memory in the palace, and that the imperial physician can testify. I will also spread the word that I have asked Bai Qingzhou, the magistrate of Kaiyang County, to take care of you. By then, the two of you will develop feelings for each other, and no one will suspect anything."

Shen Mianmian's smile deepened. "I knew you would arrange it properly. Just like you were considering Princess Ryan's well-being."

Jiang Yinjin said unhappily, "Can it be the same? I'm too lazy to consider anything for her. I just said something to provoke her. If she's on the right track, she'll stop living such a ridiculous life. If she's hopeless, I'll just let her rot in the ground. I can't be bothered with her."

Chen Mianmian smiled and nodded, knowing better but saying nothing.

Jiang Yinjin blushed slightly, realizing she had been seen through. "What do you mean, 'leave'?"

"The sooner the better."

"..." Jiang Yinjin rolled her eyes. "Want to go see Zhong Yuwei?"

"No," Chen Mianmian replied without hesitation.

Jiang Yinjin asked with great interest, "Don't you want to see the body you used again? Aren't you curious about what it looks like now?"

Shen Mianmian answered seriously, "I don't want to. As long as we meet, there's always the possibility of complications. Besides, I've used that body before. You can recognize me quickly, and I'm afraid Zhong Yuwei can too. Although the chances are very small, I don't want any mishaps."

“That makes sense,” Jiang Yinjin agreed, then teased, “Would Your Majesty and Prince Qin like to meet again?”

Shen Mianmian was both amused and exasperated. "I finally changed my identity and got rid of those unwanted suitors. I'm trying to avoid them as much as possible. Why would I go see them? Please, let me go to Kaiyang. I promise, once I'm settled there, I'll come back to the capital to see you immediately."

Jiang Yinjin sighed helplessly, "Alright, alright, but it's almost noon now. We'll have lunch and tidy up a bit before it's time to close the city gates. We can leave tomorrow morning."

"I want to leave today!" Chen Mianmian said, deliberately acting coquettishly.

"..."

Jiang Yinjin had no choice but to agree.

I was thinking to myself, "Yesterday they were haggling and saying they'd stay for two more days, but today they immediately changed their minds."

She used to think that men in this world were unreliable, but now she realizes that women are unreliable too.

While getting up, washing up, and having lunch with Shen Mianmian, he arranged for someone to go to the "Ning Furong" room to pack their luggage. At the same time, he also asked Chu Yu to count some gifts and valuables for her to take with her.

Two hours later.

A royal convoy, escorted by elite soldiers, set off from the palace gates.

Half an hour later, the convoy left the capital city gates and drove onto the official road.

...

Chenmian opened the car window, stuck her head out, and felt the warm and gentle spring breeze.

What she didn't say was that she had been feeling uneasy the whole time.

Perhaps because of the bizarre events she had experienced, such as being transported into a book and encountering the Heart-Communicating Gu, she felt no sense of security in the capital. She always felt that the capital was like the eye of a storm, and who knows what might happen next.

In the capital, she had to live in constant fear and vigilance; only when she left the capital could she relax.

The thought that the convoy was heading to Kaiyang and that she would soon see the person she had been longing for filled her with excitement, making her wish she could grow wings.

She stuck her head out like that, letting the wind blow on her for a while, before she finally calmed down and sat back down in the carriage.

She was the only one in the carriage. Jiang Yinjin wanted to arrange two palace maids for her, but she refused.

She sat alone in the bumpy carriage, the smile on her face lingering, her thoughts wandering aimlessly.

Suddenly, she remembered Jiang Yinjin's name.

Yin Jin?

King Jin?

Yin? Same as Yin? Yinbi? Yinbi Jinwang?

Chen Mianmian chuckled, laughing at herself for talking nonsense. But then she thought that even if it was nonsense, at least it could be connected to something.

Because of Jiang Yinjin's support, the Prince of Jin successfully rebelled and ascended the throne. Wasn't this also a case of Jiang protecting Jin?

Perhaps this is all part of fate.

Just like her and Bai Qingzhou.

Phoenix Chick, who knows what he has become.

...

Kaiyang County is not close to Beijing, but it's not far either.

It would take two days and two nights for a fast horse and four days and four nights for an ordinary carriage. However, since Chen Mianmian was riding in a high-quality carriage pulled by fine horses, she compromised and arrived in Kaiyang in three days and three nights.

...

Even from a great distance, Shenmianmian could see the city gate of Kaiyang County.

There is a small river in front of the city gate.

During the three days she spent in the carriage, she read a lot of local geographical records about Kaiyang and learned that it was a beautiful place with abundant water resources, a place with both mountains and water.

The convoy stopped in front of the city gate. When the soldiers guarding the city saw the official document, they realized that it was a convoy sent by the Empress. They immediately went into high alert, with officers running out to greet them and others going to inform the county magistrate.

Soon, many onlookers gathered in the city, curiously watching the luxurious motorcade, filled with envy and discussing it amongst themselves.

The convoy continued on its way, first visiting the Ning family's residence.

Although Shen Mianmian wanted to see Bai Qingzhou as soon as possible, she still had to "go home" to visit her family first in order to make sense.

Soon, the convoy stopped at the entrance of an alley.

The alley is narrow, allowing only three people to walk side by side at most; a luxurious carriage like those in a palace cannot fit through it.

Without waiting for the team leader to invite her, Chen Mianmian got off the bus on her own.

After saying goodbye to the team leader, we headed into the alley.

The alley was already crowded with villagers who came to watch the excitement. Everyone congratulated Chen Mianmian and talked about how the Ning family was truly blessed, as Furong had actually become acquainted with the Empress.

That's the Empress!

What a blessing!

As she walked, Chen Mianmian secretly vowed that since she had used Miss Ning's body, she would help take care of her family and that she would treat the Ning family well.

But after taking only two steps, she suddenly stopped.

Because ten steps ahead of her, in the middle of a crowd, stood a middle-aged woman with red-rimmed eyes.

That woman... looked remarkably like her mother!