Lu Tianjiao frowned and muttered to herself, “Princess Yongle.”

Then, a slender hand placed on the table slowly clenched into a fist, tightly, very tightly.

At this time, Princess Yongle's wedding procession from Dongning Kingdom had reached the border of Xiqin Kingdom.

With Xuan Yuanhan's wedding imminent, Lu Tianjiao and her brother Lu Tianlin will soon be traveling with their father to the Qin Prince's mansion to offer their congratulations and witness the ceremony. But she truly doesn't know if she will be able to control her resentment at that moment.

Just then, Lu Tianlin excitedly lifted the heavy curtain and walked in. "Sister, it's getting colder and colder. You must take good care of yourself. Remember to bring extra clothes when you go to the Prince of Qin's mansion. Don't catch a cold."

Since being reprimanded by Xuan Yuan Yue at Xi Qin Academy, Lu Tianlin has indeed changed a lot. He has been honestly helping his father, Lu Xian, manage the affairs of the academy and is now capable of handling things on his own.

As soon as he entered the room, he saw that his sister's originally delicate and pretty face now showed a dejected and gloomy expression, and that her small fist was tightly clenched on the table. He immediately guessed what was going on.

Lu Tianjiao glanced at Lu Tianlin but didn't say anything, returning to his deep thoughts.

Seeing this, Lu Tianlin felt sorry for his younger sister and advised, "Sister, this cannot be entirely blamed on His Highness Prince Qin. After all, His Highness's wedding and his princess consort are not things His Highness can control... especially not things that Father can control."

"But Your Highness hasn't said a single word to my sister all these years, has he?" Sometimes it's better not to say something, because saying it will only make people angrier and sadder.

Just like now, upon hearing Lu Tianlin's words, Lu Tianjiao's pent-up grievances instantly erupted, and he roared angrily, his usual gentleness, dignity, and composure vanishing without a trace.

"Sister, this isn't their fault," Lu Tianlin still tried his best to persuade her.

"So, according to brother, it's my fault?" Lu Tianjiao said in a somewhat unreasonable and desperate voice, with tears streaming down her face.

"Brother should know that Brother Han is your sister... the only person I've ever loved since I was little. I even think that I was born for Brother Han. Brother Han is my dream, my life!" Lu Tianjiao's emotions became more and more agitated, making it all the more heartbreaking to watch.

"Entering the gate of my longing, one knows the bitterness of my longing. Long is the longing, short is the longing, endless is the longing. If I had known it would bind my heart so, I would have preferred never to have met you in the first place," Lu Tianjiao murmured sadly at the end.

Seeing her filled with sorrow, Lu Tianlin still tried his best to think of how to comfort his sister, who was always sensitive and thoughtful.

Unexpectedly, Lu Tianjiao suddenly stopped crying, wiped the tears from her face, and said, "Brother, I can't give up. If I really give up, then I won't be Lu Tianjiao."

Lu Tianlin listened to and looked at his younger sister, and was startled by her words and actions. He immediately stood up and questioned her, "Sister, what do you want to do?"

"It's late, brother, please go back. Your sister needs to rest. We have to set off early tomorrow morning to offer our congratulations at the Prince of Qin's mansion," Lu Tianjiao suddenly said coldly without even looking at Lu Tianlin, and hurriedly urged Lu Tianlin out of the room.

Helpless, Lu Tianlin could only get up and walk away. After hearing his sister's words, he felt uneasy and murmured, "God help me, I hope this silly sister doesn't do anything outrageous."

Once he saw that Lu Tianlin had indeed gone far away, Lu Tianjiao returned to the table by the window and sat down again. A sinister smirk appeared on his lips and face, sending chills down one's spine in the already cold winter.

......

"What?".

Xuan Yuan Yue's startled scream echoed from Feng Hua Palace.

It turned out that a palace maid had just reported a big gossip rumor in the palace, so she was choked by the cup of milk tea that had just been served and started coughing non-stop. It took her a long time to calm down.

"Are you telling the truth?" Xuan Yuan Yue asked again in alarm.

"Your Highness, please calm down. Everything I said is true. Everyone in the Imperial Pharmacy saw it with their own eyes and can testify to it," the little palace maid said timidly, kneeling on the ground in fear.

"My royal uncle, did he really hug that girl in front of everyone? And he even gave her a bracelet a long time ago? Am I hallucinating?" Xuan Yuan Yue instinctively touched her ear, her face full of disbelief, and then paced back and forth in the hall.

Just then, Yi Shangyun and Dingxiang arrived with Xuan Yuan Yue's winter tonic soup, requesting an audience. Although she was already a senior medicine lady under Xuan Yuan Han's protection, she knew that Xuan Yuan Yue was not someone that just anyone could serve. Out of a special sense of gratitude towards her, Yi Shangyun would still personally handle the medicinal matters of Feng Hua Palace.

Before she could even bow to Xuan Yuan Yue, Xuan Yuan Yue saw Yi Shang Yun enter and hurriedly strode over to her, grabbing her hand and pulling her inside, saying, "Yun'er, you've come at the right time. Just now, these audacious servants told this princess that Uncle Qin hugged you in front of everyone in the Imperial Pharmacy and even gave you a bracelet. Tell this princess, is that true or not?"

Upon hearing this, Yi Shangyun and Dingxiang were startled. They looked at each other and then lowered their heads.

At this moment, Xuan Yuan Yue, who was tightly gripping Yi Shang Yun's wrist, stared at the strange expressions of the two people in front of her, looking around in confusion. Her hand accidentally touched the seven-colored gold-threaded jade bracelet under Yi Shang Yun's sleeve.

Before Yi Shangyun could retract her hand, Xuan Yuan Yue swiftly lifted her sleeve, revealing a beautiful seven-colored jade bracelet to everyone.

"My God, look, it really is there!" Inside Fenghua Palace, some people covered their mouths in surprise, while others exclaimed... and a buzz of discussion instantly arose.

Xuan Yuan Yue's eyes widened, and her cherry-like mouth opened in surprise. She was so shocked that she stammered, finally managing to say, "No way... this... could this be Uncle Qin... is all of this real?"

Xuan Yuan Yue couldn't believe her eyes. She stared at the bracelet for a long time before finally managing to say the sentence. Then she looked up at Yi Shang Yun's eyes, staring at her without moving, demanding an explanation.

Just as Yun was about to speak, filled with trepidation, Dingxiang interjected, “Your Highness, it’s all my fault. Please don’t blame Yun’er. I learned that Yun’er had a very precious bracelet, so I begged her to let me see it. But the former apothecary discovered it and tried to take it for herself. Yun’er refused, so the apothecary locked her up for a day and a night and tortured her. Fearing for Yun’er’s safety, I came to Fenghua Palace that day to ask Your Highness for help, but I met His Highness Prince Qin on the way. His Highness is kind and helped Yun’er. I can testify that this bracelet belongs to Yun’er; it wasn’t a gift from Prince Qin. Truly, Your Highness, please believe me. I would never dare to deceive you.”

Dingxiang was timid, but Yishangyun treated her very well, and she naturally repaid her kindness and could not let her down.

After hearing Dingxiang's words, Xuanyuan Yue felt a chill of fear and realized that she had been careless. She should have sent someone to check on the Imperial Pharmacy earlier; no wonder she hadn't seen this girl visiting Fenghua Palace for so long.

She quickly pulled Yi Shangyun up and down and looked her over carefully before asking earnestly, "Where are you injured? Are you alright? Is there any discomfort anywhere?"

Yi Shangyun smiled at her and quickly replied, "Princess, I am fine and all is well. Thank you for your concern, Princess."

Dingxiang, however, told Xuanyuan Yue indignantly, "It's not that she's not seriously injured. That great medicine woman was really wicked. She actually poured well water on Yun'er. In the middle of winter, she was almost frozen. If we had arrived any later, she might have lost her life."

"Hmph, who exactly is this great medicine woman? Does she have a death wish? How dare she touch my people!" Xuan Yuan Yue said angrily.

Dingxiang continued, "However, Your Highness, the original Grand Master of Medicine has been severely punished with fifty strokes of the cane by the Imperial Academy Master. Now, Yun'er is the newly promoted Grand Master of Medicine. All of this is thanks to His Highness Prince Qin." Dingxiang said with a look of admiration.

Yi Shangyun glared at her sideways before she finally quieted down.

"Uncle Qin handled this matter very well... Did Uncle really hug you?" Xuan Yuan Yue persisted, moving closer to Yi Shang Yun to confirm.

Yi Shangyun lowered her eyes and remained silent, but a long-lost blush returned to her face. At this moment, without her explanation or words, Xuan Yuan Yue understood everything simply by looking at her expression.

At this moment, Xuan Yuan Yue's lips curled up, a smug and mischievous smile on her face. Suddenly, her mischievous eyes rolled around, and she uttered these words: "Yun'er, the day after tomorrow, come with me out of the palace, we'll go to... the Prince Qin's residence."

Upon hearing her words, Yi Shangyun immediately looked up in surprise and exclaimed, "Princess, Yun'er..." But when she saw Xuan Yuan Yue's unquestionable gaze, she swallowed her words back.

Xuanyuan Yue walked to her side, turned to her and said, "You have received such a great favor from this princess's uncle. Now that his wedding is imminent, shouldn't you personally come to express your gratitude and offer your congratulations?" After saying that, she actually let out a hearty "hahaha" laugh, which was not at all like the dignified and elegant royal princess.

Yi Shangyun was now completely shut down by Xuan Yuan Yue's retort, leaving her with no room for refusal.

Yi Shangyun could only think to herself, "Oh well, I'll just follow behind Xuan Yuan Yue. I really should thank Xuan Yuan Han in person for saving me from danger so many times." But besides saying thank you, she realized she didn't have anything else of value to offer as a token of her gratitude.

“Oh right… a thank-you gift…” Yi Shangyun murmured.

That's His Highness the King of Qin. What could the Western Qin Kingdom or the entire Lingkong Continent possibly desire? He lacks nothing.

That night, however, he couldn't sleep. Although Yi Shangyun had already planned how to handle things at the Prince of Qin's residence, he still tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

She probably couldn't even explain why she was having insomnia. Little did she know, her entanglement of love and hate with Xuan Yuanhan had only just begun.

Inside and outside the Qin Prince's Mansion in the east of the city, everything has been decorated in a festive red atmosphere.

Xuanyuan Han was also lying on his bed in the palace, suffering from insomnia. The wedding was approaching, but his face remained cold and devoid of any joy. Instead, he lay on the bed, clutching a white silk handkerchief tightly in his hand. He himself did not know when it had started, but whenever he was quiet, he had a habit of taking out the handkerchief and examining it carefully.

It's as if every time I look at her closely, I see that slender, brave, and strong figure.

However, it is a case of "There are trees on the mountain, but no branches on the trees; I love you, but you do not know." It seems that the greatest distance in the world is not between life and death, but that he stands in front of her, yet she does not know... that he loves her.