A month later, the majestic city gates of the capital slowly opened, creaking heavily, as if telling the story of the ancient city's long history.

The emperor wore a bright yellow dragon robe, on which a five-clawed golden dragon was embroidered, its claws outstretched and lifelike, displaying supreme majesty.

Surrounded by a group of ministers, he came to greet them personally.

Qin Shouzhen stood in the crowd, his eyes filled with anxiety and anticipation. Every now and then, he would stand on tiptoe and crane his neck to look around.

As he saw his youngest daughter's familiar figure getting closer and closer, he could no longer contain his excitement, and tears welled up in his eyes.

It slid down her wrinkled cheeks, her body trembling slightly.

Lin Ruoqing, Qin Qianyu, and Qin Jiyuan were also standing to the side, their eyes reddening and their hands unconsciously clenching.

They missed Qin Qianluo terribly, worrying about her day and night, and reuniting with her in their dreams countless times.

Now that she has finally returned, the joy in my heart is like a flood bursting its banks, surging and overwhelming, beyond words.

Qin Qianyu trembled slightly with excitement, while Qin Jiyuan tried to calm himself down, but could not hide the joy in his eyes.

Under the clear blue sky, the warm sun poured down, draping the vast earth in a soft golden veil.

Qin Qianlu rode a tall, strong warhorse with glossy coat, looking majestic and awe-inspiring.

As her gaze swept across the welcoming crowd, that familiar figure instantly came into view.

The figures of my parents have become slightly hunched by the passage of time, but the love and concern in their eyes have not diminished in the slightest.

The older brother and sister still stood tall and straight, their faces beaming with barely concealed excitement.

In an instant, a surge of scalding heat welled up in my heart, my eyes were instantly blurred with a layer of mist, and endless longing and yearning surged in my heart like a flood bursting its banks.

She quickly dismounted, her movements fluid, graceful, and agile.

Then, she methodically straightened her slightly dusty armor and walked briskly to the Emperor.

Her voice was clear and firm as she reported, her words resounding and every detail meticulously explained.

His display of military competence and discipline drew admiring glances from those around him.

After completing the reporting ceremony, Qin Qianluo could no longer contain her excitement and rushed to her family.

Lin Ruoqing was the first to greet her, extending her well-maintained hand to gently stroke her face, her eyes filled with heartache.

Qin Shouzhen also stepped forward and patted her shoulder with his strong hand, conveying silent care and pride.

Her older siblings surrounded her, their words of concern like a warm spring breeze, enveloping her.

For a time, the Left Prime Minister's residence was filled with laughter and joy, bustling with activity. Servants ran around spreading the news, and the maids' faces beamed with happiness.

The pavilions and towers in the mansion seemed to be infected by this warm atmosphere, appearing even more vibrant.

Upon learning of Qin Qianluo's return, Su Jinyun was overwhelmed with excitement, her cheeks flushed with joy. She wished she could sprout wings and fly to the Left Prime Minister's residence to meet her.

She carefully tidied her clothes, even combing her hair, and prepared to go out.

However, when she saw Qianluo's family immersed in the joy of their long-awaited reunion, she unconsciously stopped in her tracks.

She thought to herself: Qianluo has just returned after a long journey, and it is the perfect time for the family to enjoy time together.

If I go now, I will inevitably disturb their rare reunion.

So, suppressing the surging longing in her heart, she gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, as if trying to hold down a restless little deer, and stopped in her tracks.

Looking back on the past two years, the two maintained their friendship through letters.

Those letters, carrying longing, traveled from afar across mountains and rivers, conveying each other's concern.

But Su Jinyun always felt that greetings sent through paper were far less real than seeing Qianluo in person.

Whenever the night was quiet, she would take out those letters, read them over and over again, and imagine what Qianluo looked like.

Now that Qin Qianluo has finally returned to the capital, Su Jinyun's heavy longing has been somewhat relieved.

She silently calculated in her heart that in a few days, when Qianluo went to court again, the two of them would be able to see each other every day.

Thinking of this, Su Jinyun's lips curled up slightly, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

It's as if I can see the joyful scene of the two of them chatting and laughing together when they meet.

The warm sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, casting a golden glow on Su Jinyun's desk. The scrolls on the desk were turned slightly, but her gaze never fell on the words.

Su Jinyun frowned, her mind replaying the image of Qimeng following behind Qin Qianluo, and her unease grew stronger.

She unconsciously stroked the teacup in her hand, her fingertips turning slightly white.

Previously, Mu Yunxi had recounted in detail that on that isolated island, Qi Meng was always thwarted by various unexpected situations whenever she tried to get close to Qin Qianluo, and she never managed to achieve her goal.

These words did not soothe Su Jinyun's unease; on the contrary, this unease spread wildly like weeds growing rampantly in spring.

The more Su Jinyun thought about it, the more she felt that beneath Qimeng's seemingly harmless exterior lay an unfathomable secret.

Every glance and every movement of hers seemed to hold a hidden meaning, making her elusive and unpredictable.

Su Jinyun paced back and forth in the room, her steps hurried and disordered.

She tried to piece together some clues in her mind and find evidence to confirm her suspicions, but her thoughts were like a tangled mess, getting more and more chaotic the more she tried to sort them out.

This inexplicable feeling, like a fine thorn, was deeply embedded in her heart, making her lose her appetite and feel restless.

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