She sat quietly on the stone bench, a book in her hand. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on her and the pages of the book.

She was immersed in the pleasant moment when the fragrance of ink and tea mingled together, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up, outlining a serene and satisfied smile, like a beautiful painting.

Just then, Qimeng, dressed in a white dress, quietly appeared. She was like a pear blossom blown down by the wind, slowly walking out from the flower-lined path.

Her steps were light, as if she were walking on clouds, each step as if afraid of disturbing this beautiful morning.

Her skirt swayed gently with her steps, like petals fluttering in the wind.

The sunlight shone down on her skirt without reservation, creating a soft halo, as if she were shrouded in a dreamy veil.

Like a lily blooming in the morning light, she looked pure and beautiful, but there was a subtle, almost imperceptible emotion on her face.

Qi Meng coughed lightly, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze, tinged with hesitation, yet breaking the tranquility.

Upon hearing the sound, Qin Qianluo slowly raised her head, shifting her gaze from the book in her hands.

She gently put down her teacup, her movements elegant and graceful, each motion like a beautiful painting.

With a hint of doubt in her eyes, she quietly observed Qi Meng before her, her gaze full of inquiry, as if trying to guess the purpose of her visit.

After a brief pause, Qin Qianluo parted her lips slightly, her voice clear and melodious, like a spring in the forest.

In the tranquil morning air, a voice murmured: "Miss Qimeng, what brings you here today?"

Her voice carried just the right amount of concern, making listeners feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze, warm and comfortable.

Qi Meng feigned nervousness, lowered her head slightly, and unconsciously gripped the hem of her skirt with both hands. Her fingers turned slightly white due to nervousness, and her nails dug into her palms, leaving shallow marks.

After hesitating for a moment, her voice trembled slightly as she said, "Your Highness, I...I want to leave here."

His voice was full of struggle and helplessness, as if he had gone through countless internal struggles before finally mustering the courage to speak.

Upon hearing this, a fleeting look of confusion crossed Qin Qianluo's eyes, like a shooting star streaking across the night sky—ephemeral yet clearly visible.

Then, she leaned forward slightly, her eyes full of sincerity and worry, and asked with concern, "Miss Qimeng, has a place you want to go?"

Qi Meng sat opposite Qin Qianluo, her posture seemingly elegant and relaxed, but her heart was like a turbulent sea, unable to calm down for a long time.

She slowly raised her hand, her slender, white fingers trembling slightly, and gently picked up the teacup, deliberately slowing her movements to feign composure.

She slowly brought the teacup to her lips, took a small sip, and the scalding tea slid down her throat, but the chill and resentment in her heart did not diminish in the slightest.

She lowered her eyes slightly, her thick, long eyelashes fluttering rapidly like the wings of a startled butterfly.

She skillfully concealed the fleeting, cold star-like gloom in her eyes, as if afraid that others would catch even the slightest trace of her emotions.

After a moment, she took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling slightly, as if she had made a great decision in her heart.

A forced, just-right smile appeared on her lips, full of joy, but her eyes were somewhat vacant.

Her voice was soft and melodious, like a clear and pleasant stream flowing in spring. She slowly began to speak: "I was fortunate enough to hear Your Highness mention Jinxiu County."

When the prince spoke of that place, his eyes were filled with longing and love. He had heard that the place was beautiful, with clear waters and lush mountains, a picturesque landscape.

The land was abundant with resources, and the people lived in peace and contentment, a veritable paradise on earth. From that time onward, I have always longed for it, thinking of it day and night.

Now that I have this opportunity, I'd like to visit the prince's fiefdom and experience the local customs and culture firsthand, which would fulfill a long-held wish.

Furthermore, the prince is now married, and his status is vastly different from before.

It would be quite inconvenient for me to stay in the manor any longer. The manor is full of people and gossip, and the common people in the city love to spread rumors.

I've recently heard that they've started making wild guesses about the prince and spreading many unfounded rumors.

I really don't want Prime Minister Su to harbor any resentment towards Your Highness because of these unfounded speculations.

If this were to damage the relationship between Your Highness and Prime Minister Su, causing unnecessary trouble and adding to their worries, I would be willing to die for it.

She spoke earnestly and eloquently, enunciating each word clearly, yet the thoughts hidden beneath her lowered eyes were like a deep, ancient well, unfathomable to anyone.

Upon hearing this, Qin Qianluo couldn't help but raise her eyebrows slightly. Her thoughts instantly drifted back to the time before she and Su Jinyun got married.

At that time, she occasionally passed by the servants' quarters in the mansion and overheard them whispering in a corner, talking about Qimeng.

At the time, she thought it was just some trivial gossip and didn't take it to heart.

After all, she and Qimeng had almost no contact; they were merely nodding acquaintances who exchanged a few polite words when they met.

Hearing Qimeng's words now, one can imagine that the rumors and gossip have already spread far and wide, and the whole city knows about them.