Gu Shaoyu and Xie Zhaozhao escaped from the palace. Qingpuyuan dared not return and immediately left the city.

Gu Shaoyu and his group rode their horses to a village outside.

It looks ordinary and inconspicuous.

It's called Lao Ding Zhuang.

Xie Zhaozhao was still somewhat uneasy. Empress Xie had been poisoned and would surely seek revenge.

Gu Shaoyu said, "Don't be afraid, there's always a way out."

Feeling uneasy, Xie Zhaozhao suddenly felt a wave of fear.

She has left the palace, but what about the Xie family and the Pingyang Earl's Mansion?

Gu Shaoyu pulled him into his arms and said, "You just need to rest well, leave everything to me."

But how could she put her mind at ease?

Gu Shaoyu asked Yuan Yuanman to cook some breakfast for them, but Xie Zhaozhao was too worried to eat much.

Gu Shaoyu handed her the bowl of porridge: "I've been running for over a month, and when I'm hungry I just eat a few bites of bread. I sleep on the roadside fully clothed. Can you bear to see me go hungry?"

Xie Zhaozhao couldn't bear to see him looking so wronged. She quickly served him porridge and ate breakfast with him.

Gu Shaoyu ate quickly, finishing his snacks and porridge, then watched her eat.

She always eats at a very rhythmic pace, a habit she developed since childhood, so she can't eat quickly even if she wants to.

After they finished eating, the two washed up, and Gu Shaoyu carried her to bed, saying, "Sleep with me for a while!"

Xie Zhaozhao said that it was already broad daylight and she really couldn't sleep.

Gu Shaoyu said, "Just sleep with me. Because of the son in my arms, I've only been looking at her for almost a year. Now I just want to hold her and sleep with her. Can't you even grant me this little wish?"

Xie Zhaozhao felt extremely ashamed after hearing this, so she went to bed with him. At first, she thought she would just sleep with him, but when she lay down, she felt incredibly sleepy herself.

Perhaps it was because Gu Shaoyu had finally returned and was by her side, giving her a pillar of support, that she completely relaxed and slept incredibly soundly.

Gu Shaoyu slept soundly until dusk.

The couple were unaware that the Imperial Guards had turned Qingpu Garden upside down; they simply slept soundly.

Xie Zhaozhao woke up, but Gu Shaoyu was still asleep.

As he slept, his long, clearly defined eyelashes rested quietly on his lower eyelids, his eyebrows were strong, and his nose was high and straight.

His thick, black hair looked somewhat docile on his forehead, and when he was asleep, he lost much of his sharpness and became somewhat docile like a large dog.

He had groomed himself; after shaving his beard, his chin was covered in a bluish tinge, which made him look very reassuring.

Xie Zhaozhao didn't move, she just stared at him greedily.

Perhaps due to his innate alertness, Gu Shaoyu woke up not long afterward.

His eyes were somewhat dazed, like those of a newborn baby, opening unconsciously for a moment before snapping back to reality.

With a hint of languor from waking up, and a slightly nasal voice, she said, "Awake? Why didn't you sleep a little longer?"

Xie Zhaozhao said, "I was in postpartum confinement and lay in bed for more than a month. My bones ached every day from sleeping."

Gu Shaoyu blinked a few times, leaned in, and kissed her. Xie Zhaozhao immediately sensed something was wrong.

"The imperial physician said it will be a month and a half later..." Xie Zhaozhao said, blushing.

Gu Shaoyu pulled her close, kissed her, his eyes slightly red, and said in a hoarse voice, "Don't worry, I won't hurt you. But other things are fine too."

Other things are fine, but Xie Zhaozhao is currently preoccupied with a lot of worries.

But then he started kissing, hugging, and stroking her, completely forgetting about everything else.

Indeed, beauty is the cure for troubles.

The two ate a simple meal, and then Xie Zhaozhao heard Nanxing come in to report.

The imperial court launched a city-wide search for Gu Shaoyu. Qingpu Garden was turned upside down, and the Xie Mansion and the Pingyang Earl's Mansion were also forcibly searched.

Madam Xie was both angry and worried, and fell ill.

Xie Zhaozhao's beautiful feelings vanished completely.

If we keep searching like this, we'll find this village sooner or later.

Seeing her calm expression, Gu Shaoyu knew she was worried and comforted her, "You don't need to worry, just rest well and wait for me to come back."

Gu Shaoyu left with Nanxing. Xie Zhaozhao pondered for a while and said to Beichen, who was guarding her, "Find a way to contact Xiluo. I want to see Princess Yurong."

Bei Chen said, "Madam, Xi Luo and Princess Yu Rong fled in panic a few days ago and are now hiding in Da Qingshan."

"Princess Yu Rong actually ran away to the deep mountains and forests?" Xie Zhaozhao pondered for a moment and said, "Find a way to have Xi Luo secretly bring her here."

A few days ago, she told the Empress that she wanted to see Princess Yurong, but later the Empress said that Princess Yurong had actually run away!

What is it that she doesn't know about this situation?

Bei Chen contacted Xi Luo, and it wasn't until the following night at Hai Shi (9-11 PM) that Bei Chen brought Princess Yu Rong to Lao Ding Village.

Xi Luo hid to the side and did not show himself.

Xie Zhaozhao removed the cloth bag covering Princess Yurong's head and held the candlelight close to her eyes.

They splashed some cold water on her face.

Princess Yu Rong woke up and found herself in an unfamiliar place. She sat up abruptly.

Once her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw Xie Zhaozhao sitting in the armchair, looking at her indifferently. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

That's right, it's Xie Zhaozhao.

"Xie Zhaozhao?"

"right."

What are you doing here?

"This is my room."

Princess Yu Rong stood up and looked around the room. Yuan Yuan drew her soft sword and said, "Stop!"

Princess Yu Rong angrily retorted, "How dare you hold me hostage!"

Xie Zhaozhao pointed to the stool below her and said calmly, "Princess, please sit down. Let's talk."

What should we talk about?

"Tell me why you ran away?"

Princess Yu Rong blurted out, "Where I go is none of your business!"

Suddenly, she belatedly realized something and exclaimed excitedly, "Wait a minute, Xie Zhaozhao, weren't you imprisoned in the palace by Consort Xi? How did you end up in this wretched place? Don't tell me this is somewhere in the palace!"

Seeing how nervous she was, Xie Zhaozhao said, "You are a princess. Wouldn't it be more to your liking to be in the palace?"

"Is it really the palace?" Princess Yu Rong's face changed, and she hurriedly ran towards the door.

Yuanyuan used her sword to force her to sit still.

Princess Yu Rong frantically tried to leave, shouting for Xi Luo and Chen Su.

Yuan Yuanman and the others wanted to laugh, but they held it in.

It's ridiculous that she cried out for Xiluo to save her in front of her master.

Xie Zhaozhao said, "Princess, don't be anxious. This is not the palace."

Princess Yu Rong asked with a strange expression, "Then how did you get out of the palace? Did Consort Xi let you out?"

Xie Zhaozhao reminded her, "Consort Xi has already been made Empress!"

"She'll be crowned empress? Ha..."

Princess Yu Rong sneered and said to Xie Zhaozhao, "Why did you kidnap me here? Let me tell you, I have no money, no soldiers, and the Wei family has nothing to do with me! So you called me here to eat at this banquet?"

Xie Zhaozhao said, "There's no banquet, but we'll provide you with several full meals, no problem, provided you cooperate."

What do you want to know?

"Her Majesty the Empress has ordered you to come to the palace to have a chat with me, why did you run away?"

Why do you want to chat with me?

"I've heard that your men have been breaking into my father's study, so I'd like to have a talk with you."

Princess Yu Rong was starting to believe it; Xie Zhao Zhao was here to settle scores with her, and she couldn't admit it!

She vehemently denied it.

Xie Zhaozhao said, "You want to find a secret letter in my father's study, right?"