After exiting the Daming Gate, the two boarded the carriage.

The stove inside the carriage had been burning all night, and the driver had just added some more charcoal.

Once the two were seated and the carriage started moving, Song Yue recounted the events of the previous night to Qing Chen.

When he received news of the raid on the Gu family's residence, the Imperial Guards were already there.

He quickly arrived at the Gu residence and asked Huang Heng for a favor, requesting that the Imperial Guards treat the Gu family with more courtesy. Despite the freezing weather, the Imperial Guards, as was customary, had the Gu family members kneel outside and stripped them of their robes, leaving them only in thin undergarments. It just so happened that it had snowed the night before, and when he arrived, the Gu family members were already shivering with cold.

Huang Heng ultimately gave him face. After Song Yue spoke to him, he ordered his men to bring the Gu family into the house, set up a brazier inside, and gave them extra clothes to keep warm... In short, he left the Gu family with a last bit of dignity and respect.

Song Yue didn't sleep all night because of this. When the soldiers escorting Gu Shaoheng and the others arrived at dawn, he asked them to delay their departure so that Qingchen could see Gu Shaoheng one last time.

Qingchen listened intently. Song Yue looked at her and asked, "You look a little tired today. Did you not sleep well last night? Did something happen?"

The moment the words left her lips, Qingchen thought of Xu Silin's forceful kiss.

In the pitch-black room, he pinned her against the wall, his breath reeking of alcohol haphazardly spraying onto her cheeks and neck, his lips pressed against hers… For a moment, she felt a tightness in her chest, an inexplicable guilt towards Song Yue. After hesitating for a while, she still didn't tell him what had happened last night.

"I'm fine."

Song Yue could tell she had something on her mind, but she didn't press her for details. "It's good that you're alright. Don't overwork yourself."

She looked up at him, and after a while, she reached out and gently touched his eye sockets. "But you, you've been busy all night for the Gu family, and your eyes are bloodshot."

"I'm fine." Song Yue shook his head and grasped Qingchen's fingertips. "Why are your hands so cold?"

As he spoke, he cupped her hands in his own and gently rubbed them to warm them.

"I don't understand why they still won't let the Gu family go even though they can no longer frame the Crown Prince."

“Xu Yan is not one to give up easily. As the leader of the Xu faction, he will try to achieve his goals in order to continue to control people’s hearts.” After a moment of silence, he continued, “Breaking down the Gu family is tantamount to cutting off the Crown Prince’s arm. Without this only family of relatives, the Crown Prince will become a fish on the chopping block… Perhaps there are other reasons that we do not know.”

After hearing his words, Qingchen felt a surge of helplessness, as if there was a lump in his throat that he couldn't swallow or exhale.

In such a difficult situation, she had finally managed to convince Zhu Rui to believe in Zhu Yuluo and secure Zhu Yuluo's position as crown prince, but unexpectedly, she still couldn't protect the Gu family. Caught off guard, she suffered a fatal blow, and everything changed overnight.

How dark the imperial court is, how corrupt the world is—you'll never know how powerless you feel until you experience it firsthand. This feeling of being crushed by powerful forces, unable to turn the tables, seems to carry an inherently pessimistic and fatalistic tone, easily eroding one's confidence and will, leaving one feeling frustrated and desperate.

The carriage soon arrived at the Gu residence.

The once magnificent mansion is now a scene of desolation. After a night of cold wind and snow, it appears even more bleak and desolate.

The Gu family members all looked listless and haggard. The men were handcuffed and detained in the courtyard. Soon, they would be setting off for the colder northern frontier.

Qingchen wanted to go over and say a few words to Gu Shaoheng, but Song Yue pressed her shoulder down and shook her head. She could only stand aside and watch them.

At that moment, Gu Shaoheng also saw her. He had unconsciously raised his head, glancing at the gray sky, and when he caught sight of that familiar slender figure, his eyes brightened slightly. However, they quickly dimmed again.

He lowered his head. He longed to speak to her, but he couldn't; he was now a criminal. He shouldn't cause her any more trouble.

She came to see him off; just seeing her was enough for him. For him, this was probably the last piece of good news he would ever have in his life.

As Qingchen looked at Gu Shaoheng, memories of him flooded her mind.

He was cheerful, sunny, and outgoing. Whenever he saw her, he always had a smile on his face, revealing his neat teeth and adorable dimples, as if he had no worries at all. He cared for her, helped her, stood up for her, and even turned against powerful families for her. Whenever she encountered difficulties, he was always the first to stand up for her.

But now he was like a wilted eggplant, listless, his face devoid of its former smile. Xu Yan's scheming had turned him into a sinner and robbed him of his smile.

He was about to go to the northern frontier to guard the border. With him, Qingchen's carefree days of studying at the Hanlin Academy and her beautiful memories of youth would also be gone.

From this day forward, she can never go back to the past. Whether objectively or subjectively, she has now placed herself on the opposite side of Xu Yan.

Soon, the escort team was about to set off. Song Yue invited the leading soldier aside, spoke a few words to him, and handed him a bag of silver, only instructing him to treat these people well along the way.

In such cold weather, a long journey is already difficult, let alone for prisoners being escorted.

All gatherings must eventually come to an end.

Gu Shaoheng left. Qingchen watched his retreating figure, feeling so heartbroken she could hardly breathe.

Just as they were about to mount their horses, two carriages came towards them.

The curtain of the carriage at the back was lifted, revealing a woman inside. She wore a scarlet felt cloak, and her face was exquisitely flawless, her skin as white as snow, and she was incomparably beautiful.

When both carriages stopped, the people in the first carriage got off and walked towards Song Yue. Only then did Qing Chen realize that these two people were actually the Duke of Dingguo and his daughter.

This beautiful and charming woman is the legendary woman who remained devoted to Song Yue and waited for him for eight long years.