The palace paths twisted and turned, and the palace maid leading the way walked quickly. By the time Xu Nian came to her senses, she had already disappeared.

She wandered aimlessly through the imperial garden, hoping to meet a palace maid or eunuch who would take her to the imperial study. She didn't meet anyone, but instead heard soft voices coming from behind a rockery.

What are you doing here?

It was a woman's voice.

Someone moved slightly, probably from their accessories, making a sound. "I'm on duty in the palace, how could I not come? Besides, Your Majesty, don't you miss me?"

This place is really well hidden. If Xu Nian hadn't taken the wrong turn, palace maids and eunuchs would not have easily come this way.

She listened to their conversation and covered her mouth in surprise.

Did I just stumble upon the emperor's woman having an affair?!

Her bright eyes gleamed with excitement; everyone loves gossip. Although reason told her she needed to run away quickly before anyone noticed.

But the gossip fire in her heart still made her feet take root and unwilling to move.

"If you need anything, come find me at Fanghua Palace." The woman's voice sounded very urgent. "Do you know I'm under house arrest right now? How dangerous it is to go out!"

Good heavens, that imperial concubine is playing such elaborate tricks!

[Upstairs. How can you be so sure it's the Imperial Concubine? It could be any other concubine.]

“No, it must be the Imperial Concubine.” Xu Nian quietly stepped back. “Fanghua Palace was granted by the Emperor to the Imperial Concubine for her exclusive residence. There is only one Consort in the palace, so it cannot be anyone else.”

She explained to the viewers in the live chat, but her footwork was anything but hesitant.

It was such a remote place that even ordinary palace maids wouldn't notice it while sweeping. She simply moved, and crushed a leaf under her foot.

The sound was very faint, but it did not escape the ears of the two highly vigilant people.

The adulterer suddenly lowered his voice, "You wait."

Then he strode towards Xu Nian, gripping the long sword at his waist, becoming more vigilant as he got closer!

Suddenly! A small figure leaped out of the woods—it was a cat!

The adulterer's eyes flashed with malice as he raised his knife to strike, when suddenly he heard the imperial concubine rushing up behind him say, "Wait! That's the emperor's cat, you can't kill it!"

“That little beast often wanders around the palace.” The Imperial Concubine picked up the white cat, which was covered in leaves. “The commotion just now must have been caused by it. We shouldn’t stay here any longer, let’s go.”

The footsteps faded into the distance until the two figures disappeared from Xu Nian's sight. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief and move forward a little further before finally emerging.

"Thank you for your help, Your Highness."

The second prince followed behind her, having just escaped, and gave a proper bow.

Xu Nian found it amusing and imitated his manner, clasping her hands together and bowing slightly: "I dare not accept such praise. I should be thanking the Second Prince for helping me out."

Just now, at that critical moment, when Xu Nian had nowhere to hide, a large hand reached out from the shadows and pulled her into the crevice of the artificial hill.

Jiang Yuanqing's complexion seemed to have improved considerably. He looked at her with a faint smile and made a shushing gesture.

She didn't dare to delay; how could such a small artificial hill possibly hide two people?!

So they silently chanted incantations, using the power of the talisman to lure the two figures away. At that moment, the imperial concubine and the guard were face to face with them, but neither of them noticed anything amiss.

Only when they were truly far away did their tense bodies relax.

Only then did they notice their bodies pressed tightly together, and they quickly separated, Jiang Yuanqing's face slightly flushed. Xu Nian looked embarrassed, but quickly regained her composure.

"Does the Second Prince know how to get to the Imperial Study?" Xu Nian was thinking about her own affairs. She lifted her foot to leave, but after taking two steps, she turned back.

Jiang Yuanqing paused for a moment, then gestured for her to come along, saying, "Princess, please come with me. I also have something to discuss with my father."

What should I do? The Second Prince and the streamer seem like a good match too.

[A prince patiently waiting for his chance to strike × A transmigrated beauty with extraordinary abilities. Isn't this the standard formula for old-fashioned transmigration novels?]

[You guys upstairs are too easily swayed? Like me, I'm a staunch supporter of Gu Zhan, the anchor.]

Count me in!

"The famine in the north has almost ended. Gu Qing, how do you think this year's tax revenue should be allocated?"

In the imperial study, Gu Zhan stood respectfully opposite the emperor. Facing his question, his expression remained unchanged as he cupped his hands and replied, "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, the famine has just ended, and the people's livelihoods have not yet recovered. Therefore, taxes should be reduced or exempted to appease the people."

"Your Majesty, the Second Prince and the Princess of Fu'an have arrived."

As soon as he finished speaking, Eunuch Wang pushed open the door and came in to report. The two people in the room were both stunned for a moment, but the emperor was the first to react. "Tell them to wait outside for a while. Minister Gu, please continue."

Xu Nian was surprised to find Gu Zhan there. Hearing the two talking inside, she obediently stood aside.

After standing there for a while, feeling rather bored, he shook his head and turned to look at the Second Prince, who was already standing with his eyes closed, resting. "Second Prince, it seems your health has improved a lot lately?"

Her face is no longer pale, and her breathing is much better. It's a stark contrast to her previous appearance, where she seemed ready to collapse at any moment!

Jiang Yuanqing's fingers twitched slightly, and his eyes darkened almost imperceptibly. "I've always been like this. The period after the Mid-Autumn Festival is when I'm at my best. If it's winter, I have to stay at home most of the time and it's inconvenient to go out."

Is your health best only in autumn?

Xu Nian didn't quite understand why any illness would be seasonal.

But Jiang Yuanqing was completely clean. From the moment she began to suspect that this place was not peaceful, she secretly investigated everyone around her.

Apart from Jiang Yuanlang's very low luck, no one else seemed unusual. The Second Prince not only showed no abnormalities, but a certain aura emanating from him even made her feel close to him.

Thinking of his illness, Xu Nian's eyes flickered. "If the Second Prince doesn't mind, could I come to your residence another day to examine your pulse?"

Jiang Yuanqing was slightly taken aback, then came to his senses and said, "I didn't expect the county princess to know medicine. I will naturally welcome her with open arms."

The two chatted for a while longer about all sorts of things before their conversation in the imperial study finally came to an end. Eunuch Wang's gaze swept over them subtly before he bowed and said, "Second Prince, Princess, His Majesty invites you both inside."

Gu Zhan hadn't left yet, standing beside the emperor. Seeing the two of them enter together, and recalling what he had overheard in the room, his eyes flickered slightly.

Xu Nian and the Second Prince bowed and stood up. Under the Emperor's gaze, Xu Nian spoke first: "Your Majesty, I have come today to express my gratitude. I wonder if any of the ladies in the palace were frightened by what happened that day?"

The words she wanted to say to decline the trip to the government office were on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them back under Gu Zhan's gaze.

Jiang Mingyun laughed and waved his hand, "Don't worry, it's nothing serious. Fu'an, don't worry too much, just focus on getting better."