She wanted to jump out of the high walls, but the group of useless guards the emperor kept in the deep palace should not be able to stop her.

But there was no Shi Qiang outside the palace.

This is why Chu Qi has been staying in the palace.

Shi Qian hasn't been out for half a year.

When Chu Qi suddenly got the news that she could leave the palace, she immediately thought of Shi Qiang. Maybe... she could take the opportunity to take Shi Qiang out to play. As the New Year was approaching, it should be quite lively outside the palace, and maybe Shi Qiang would like it.

At night, Chu Qi washed up, put on the not-too-thick eunuch's attire and went out.

When her martial arts skills have reached this level, the colder the outside temperature is, the less likely she is to be frozen. On the contrary, the scorching summer heat will make her unbearable. People who practice martial arts have strong internal heat, and this kind of ice and snow makes her body comfortable.

As the snow fell for longer and longer, the snow on the roads could not be cleared. Except for the snow piles at the palace gates and corridors, no one had cleaned up the snow piles in other places, and there was no ability to do so.

Chu Qi walked steadily on the dark snowy road. The shallow footprints were soon covered by new snow, leaving no trace.

The days are short in winter.

The night extended indefinitely.

For example, now, it seems very late, but in fact, it is only the You hour. Two months ago, at this You hour, the sun was still stubbornly hanging in the sky and had not set yet.

There was plenty of time, so Chu Qi did not use his internal energy. Instead, he went to the imperial kitchen at a leisurely pace.

She wanted to see what delicious food there was today.

Shi Da Ying was too thin and needed to be taken good care of. Every time Chu Qi went there, he would not go empty-handed and would always want to get some food to feed him.

Of course, one portion is not enough, and there is also a little red apricot who has eaten so much that his cheeks are as round as an apple, and he has to be fed as well.

Chu Qi didn't dislike this straightforward and carefree girl Hong Xing. On the contrary, she liked her very much. She didn't think it was a bother at all as she was just feeding her.

There are never as many fruits to choose from in winter as in summer and autumn.

Especially in Yan State where agriculture is not very developed.

There was no one on duty in the imperial kitchen. After the palace maids from all over the palace had taken their masters' evening meals, the imperial chef resigned, and the eunuchs and palace maids who were in charge of helping him also resigned.

Chu Qi walked in through the window as if she knew the place well, picked six oranges from the pile, and then picked out a plate of winter dates.

She packed all the food in her own lunch box.

Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly heard a rustling noise from the window that had been closed, as if someone was prying it open.

Her heart tightened. Could it be that there were other thieves who broke into houses like her?

Looking around, there was no place to hide in the spacious and unobstructed imperial kitchen, so Chu Qi simply jumped onto the beam and half-crouched there, waiting for his "companions" to arrive.