“If you’ve never guessed my identity, then you wouldn’t be curious about what I look like under my mask,” Qiao Qiu said, toying with her fan.

Murong Wenfeng looked at her little habit that she could never shake and laughed, "Your Highness is right, but I am curious about Your Highness's appearance and I am simply annoyed. After so many years of friendship, I don't even know this most basic thing. Am I really that unlucky to be friends with you?"

Qiao Qiu nodded seriously, "When you meet me, you really do have bad luck."

Murong Wenfeng was slightly taken aback, then realized what was happening, grabbed Qiao Qiu, and said nervously, "Holy crap, you didn't scheme against me again, did you?!"

Qiao Qiu patted his hand that was clutching her clothes, "Calm down, calm down. This is the palace. If the Imperial Guards see you, you'll be mistaken for an assassin."

Murong Wenfeng immediately let go of his hand, as if he had touched a hot potato. He looked around and, not finding any Imperial Guards, breathed a sigh of relief. "Answer me honestly first."

"No."

"Really not?"

Qiao Qiu nodded. "No, there isn't."

"Alright then, I'll trust you this once." Murong Wenfeng looked around at the scenery and stroked his chin. "Your Highness, may I tour the palace?"

Qiao Qiu raised an eyebrow and laughed, "What do you take the palace for? A scenic spot you can wander around in at will?"

Murong Wenfeng said regretfully, "No, I just wanted to see where you grew up. If it's not possible, then forget it."

"The palace may look glamorous on the outside, but it's actually filthy inside. You could lose your life at any moment if you're not careful. That's why I didn't let you tour it. I'll treat you to lunch later, and then I'll send you out of the palace this afternoon."

Murong Wenfeng knew that the other party was worried about his safety, so he nodded and said excitedly, "I have never eaten food prepared by the Imperial Kitchen before. Your Highness, thanks to you, I have finally been able to enjoy it."

"If you think it's delicious, then eat more."

As she spoke, Qiao Qiu led Murong Wenfeng to the entrance of the East Palace.

At this moment, two eunuchs carrying a pile of memorials hurried over and bowed to Qiao Qiu, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"Okay, you can leave now that you've handed it over to Ji Xian."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The young eunuch handed the memorial to Ji Xian, who had just come out, bowed to him, and then withdrew.

Holding the memorial, Ji Xian first bowed to Qiao Qiu, then to Murong Wenfeng, saying, "Your Highness, Young Master Murong."

"You go and carry it first."

"yes."

Murong Wenfeng asked in surprise, "Is he the legendary Ji Xian, whose wisdom and strategy are said to be unparalleled?"

Qiao Qiu nodded calmly, lifted her long leg, and walked inside.

Murong Wenfeng gasped and followed, "My God, how did you manage to persuade him to work for you? I've heard that seven years ago, eight bandit leaders insulted Ji Xian, but Ji Xian outwitted them with his wit, causing them to fight amongst themselves. In the end, he reaped the benefits and crippled the eight leaders. Since then, all eight bandits have surrendered to the court, voluntarily admitting their crimes. Such a brilliant and talented person, you actually managed to subdue him like that?"

Qiao Qiu nodded calmly again.

Murong Wenfeng gave her a thumbs up. He used to kneel before his brother, but now he had to prostrate himself in submission.

In the afternoon, Qiao Qiu saw Murong Wenfeng off from the palace. After returning to the East Palace, she focused on reviewing the memorials.

A day later, the Emperor finally made a decision regarding the Flying Red Mountain—to offer amnesty.

But this matter is not so simple; how to recruit them requires careful consideration. Furthermore, it's crucial to prevent them from returning to banditry altogether.

The Emperor was undecided about this matter and eventually summoned Qiao Qiu to the Imperial Study to discuss it.

Qiao Qiu gave the emperor a suggestion: since he was having trouble settling Yu Honghua, why not marry her off to Meng Yuanqing, whom he had always been wary of? This would also subtly imply to him that no matter how powerful he was, he was still just an ordinary citizen of Jinxi Kingdom and shouldn't be too arrogant.

The emperor also thought this was a good idea, as it not only solved the problem of the jade flower at its root but also warned Meng Yuanqing; it was a plan that killed two birds with one stone.

Then there's the matter of the other bandits of Feihong Mountain. Qiao Qiu believes that those are related to Yu Honghua, and if they need to be resolved, Meng Yuanqing can handle it. They only need to give each of them a few taels of silver as compensation.

The emperor considered it carefully and felt it was somewhat inappropriate. What if he angered Meng Yuanqing? After all, the court was still somewhat wary of him.

Qiao Qiu thought for a moment and said, "Father, why don't you give him a plaque with four big characters written on it—'Benevolence, Righteousness, and Trustworthiness'?"

The emperor thought for a moment and nodded. "In this way, it's as if the court has stamped its approval on his integrity. However, this is just icing on the cake. The fact that Meng Yuanqing's business has grown so large is enough to prove how much these four words have been proven in him."

Qiao Qiu lowered her head and said nothing more.

"Che'er, you are indeed clever... cough cough, you may leave now." The emperor was so pleased with himself that he inadvertently praised Qiao Qiu. After realizing his mistake, he awkwardly covered it up with a cough and then immediately called his most favored son away.

Qiao Qiu, who had long seen through her father’s insincerity, simply raised an eyebrow and said, “Your subject takes his leave.”

A few days later, the emperor's edict was issued, and it was still Lord Liu who was sent to deliver it.

Upon hearing the news about Xuan paper, Qiao Qiu estimated the time. The ceremonial guard usually dawdled. It would take half an hour to set off, another hour for lunch, and another one or two hours to rest at the post station and deal with local officials. The actual travel time was only about three or four hours a day, and the speed was not fast. It would be considered good if they could reach Nanyang in ten days.

At her speed, even riding a BMW that can travel a thousand miles a day, it would take her at least a day to reach Feihong Mountain.

It's been about ten days since she left Feihong Mountain. The time she agreed to meet Honghua was exactly what she had calculated.

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

Qiao Qiu left the palace a day early and rushed to Nanxia, ​​leaving her stand-in in the palace.

Lord Liu also carried the imperial edict for Meng Yuanqing. It had been widely rumored that Meng Yuanqing, the richest man in the Kingdom of Jinxi, was living in the Murong Mansion in Nanyang. Lord Liu had sent someone to verify this beforehand, and that person also informed Meng Yuanqing that there was an imperial edict for him, so that he wouldn't be missing when it was time to receive it.

Inside the Murong residence, Murong Wenfeng was having tea with Qiao Qiu in the back garden. Murong Wenfeng had already returned, and when he saw the body double, he thought that Qiao Qiu had really arrived before him, which startled him. Later, he realized that it was a body double.

Murong Wan'er was also sent away by Murong Wenfeng, and Murong Wenfeng was also told about Qiao Qiu's marriage.

When Murong Wenfeng first heard about this, he almost grabbed him by the collar and asked him how he could ignore his brother and secretly get married on his own.