Zhou Qiheng didn't even bother to open his umbrella and ran out early.

Standing outside the palace gates were Feng Wuwei and Jiutian.

The rain had stopped, and the streets were filled with people picking up fish, cheering and jumping for joy, all recalling the torrential rain and the rain of fish twelve years ago.

When Feng Wuwei saw Zhou Qiheng, dressed in a golden dragon robe, come out, he said to Jiutian, "Junior sister, farewell. May we meet again someday."

Jiutian also gave Feng Wuwei a greeting of equal seniority, and then took his leave.

Zhou Qiheng looked at Jiutian, who was still wearing a Taoist robe and was extremely thin, and felt heartbroken. He immediately ordered someone to fetch Jiutian in a sedan chair: "Father and Mother have been waiting for a long time."

Jiutian learned his identity on the mountain, and now that he saw Zhou Qiheng, he realized that the vanguard general of Yulong during the war against Liao Dynasty was his elder brother, the crown prince. It turned out that they had met long ago.

Without hesitation, he boarded the sedan chair.

She was content with a simple life in the mountains, and she enjoyed a life of luxury and honor in the palace; these two things were not contradictory.

In this world, everything is best when it goes according to its own will.

However, she refused when Zhou Qiheng, Zhou Qiyuan, and Zhou Qize personally carried her in a palanquin.

Xie Zhaozhao and Zhou Shaoyu stood in front of the princess's palace, eagerly awaiting her return, when the imperial guards rushed in to report: "The princess has returned."

The two left the palace hand in hand and went to the front hall.

When Jiutian saw Xie Zhaozhao, his vision immediately blurred.

Her complexion was like the morning glow reflecting on snow, or like a lotus emerging from the water; her hair was like spring clouds, her eyes like autumn waves, and her lips like cherries. She was a top-class lady and a majestic empress. This was her mother.

Her father was tall and handsome, with a slender figure, serious and sharp eyes, and a calm demeanor that could not conceal his noble and refined character.

The Jade Dragon Emperors, unparalleled in their elegance and grace.

Xie Zhaozhao's eyes were already red, but she didn't dare to step forward, tears falling like a broken string.

"Mother Queen!"

"Father!"

Jiutian walked up with a smile, his eyes reddening and filled with tears.

Time flies, and twelve years have passed. After more than four thousand days and nights of separation, the family is reunited. Although they are somewhat unfamiliar with each other, their joy is beyond words.

"Jiutian, you're finally back..."

Xie Zhaozhao stepped forward and hugged Jiutian. Mother and daughter embraced, their eyes brimming with tears…

He had longed for a daughter for twelve years, and thought about her for twelve years.

She knew perfectly well that Yu Chanzi, who had accompanied her, was an enlightened person and would certainly not mistreat the princess, but what could she do when her daughter was destined to be unlucky with wealth?

She had imagined countless scenarios of spending time with her daughter.

Seeing other people's daughters so delicate and sweet, she thought that if her own daughter were like that, she would buy her the prettiest clothes, feed her the best food, and take her to the most beautiful scenic spots.

Seeing other people's daughters being arrogant and domineering, she thought that Jiutian had studied in the Taoist sect, so his foundation couldn't be bad. Even if some of the younger daughters were arrogant, they were her daughters, Xie Zhaozhao's daughters. What was wrong with her protecting them?

But what's the situation right now?

I always felt that my daughter was floating in the sky, separated from me by a layer.

Since returning from Jiutian, she has been diligently observing the proper rites of gratitude every morning and evening.

No matter how good Xie Zhaozhao and Zhou Shaoyu were to her, she remained indifferent, showing neither surprise nor delight. She had a deep affection for her parents, but was clearly distant from them.

She accepted invitations from various powerful and influential families, and her manners were no less refined than Xie Zhaozhao's, though she remained gentle and aloof.

When someone gives her a lavish gift, she accepts it without hesitation. Then, she gives the giver a divination, such as: "The manager of your shop is extremely corrupt, and his gold and silver are hidden somewhere"; or "There's a mine in one of the mountains near your residence..."

Those who received her divination all had their predictions come true, so the whole capital was abuzz with the news that she had an uncanny way of speaking, and invitations were being sent out until next year.

Even though *** had only been back for ten days, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review personally visited *** with gifts, earnestly requesting ***'s guidance on one of the long-unsolved cases.

Zhou Shaoyu was so angry that he ordered his men to give the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review a good beating: "My princess is here to help you solve cases? I don't even want to tire her out."

However, Jiutian said to Zhou Shaoyu, "Father, upholding justice is the royal duty, and I am willing to lend them a hand."

"Nine Heavens, do you know that everyone has their own responsibilities? If everyone takes shortcuts and asks you to figure out the whole story, then what's the point of having these departments?"

Jiutian said, "They understand this principle even better. They come to me because they are helpless and want to clear their name as soon as possible."

Ultimately, he helped solve three of the most difficult cases, pointing out crucial evidence and witnesses that had been overlooked, and correcting the line of reasoning.

The entire Dali Temple kowtowed in gratitude, and Jiutian accepted their thanks, but said, "You must be diligent and conscientious in your work, and not be negligent. You should always work hard and exert yourself so that you can achieve merit and establish a career, and thus live up to your mission."

The Dali Temple sincerely agreed: "We will certainly do our duty and live up to the princess's expectations."

Every word and action of his was impeccable.

Ironically, this indifference, less than half a month after his return, had won over the hearts of the people, showing a potential to surpass even that of Crown Prince Zhou Qiheng.

There are countless people who worship him.

On the twentieth day after returning, Jiutian declined Xie Zhaozhao and Zhou Shaoyu's suggestion to travel around the Tiansheng Continent and proposed to study at the newspaper office instead.

Xie Zhaozhao then belatedly asked, "You can read?"

“I have learned a lot in these twelve years, including classics, history, philosophy, literature, astronomy, geography and everything else.”

Xie Zhaozhao's eyes welled up with tears. The child had truly suffered; he not only knew Taoist arts and magic but also possessed both literary and martial talents.

Zhou Shaoyu was very pleased: "My daughter should be learned and ambitious."

Xie Zhaozhao, however, was filled with anxiety: "Jingchen, why do I always feel like there's something separating me from my daughter?"

“Our daughter has never lived with us since she was little, so it’s normal for us to be estranged.”

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