Qiao Qiu was well aware of the ring's importance. As long as she remained in this cursed world, she could not be separated from the ring for even a moment. Obviously, the curse was also aware of this, which is why it avoided her first and attacked from the most critical point.

Once I regain control of the ring, controlling her will be a piece of cake.

It seems that after she gets back, she will need to go find Dongfang Wuye first.

Qiao Qiu spurred her horse forward again. In order to avoid bumping into the ceremonial guard, she deliberately chose to take a detour, first going to Pingyang, staying there for one night, before returning to the palace.

According to her subordinates, Dongfang Wuye has been very well-behaved these past few days, and he has been diligently and earnestly learning the lessons she teaches.

Qiao Qiu felt that she should add some courses, such as mathematics.

She sensed that Dongfang Wuye had fallen for her, which was not a good sign. If he saw her getting married in the future, wouldn't he immediately become the boss?

The main characters are usually quite self-centered, and her current act of helping Dongfang Wuye might even create a kind of illusion for her.

According to most experiments, no student will fall in love with their math teacher, right?

She believed that in the ocean of knowledge, Dongfang Wuye would surely find his direction in life and find the true heroine.

Qiao Qiu thought to herself, a kind smile on her face like that of a teacher.

Upon receiving news of her return to the palace, Ji Xian, who had just entered the inner chambers, saw that classic smile of the Big Bad Wolf coaxing Little Red Riding Hood, and he felt an urge to run away.

"Ji Xian".

The master had already seen him. Ji Xian sighed inwardly and went over with a forced smile. "This subordinate respectfully welcomes the master back to the palace."

"Pfft... Ji Xian has picked up my habits." The ring seemed to be laughing wildly in Qiao Qiu's mind.

Qiao Qiu was speechless, but she still had to ask the question: "Ji Xian, do you know your junior sister?"

Ji Xian didn't know what his master wanted to say, but still replied, "I know."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Qiao Qiu was slightly annoyed, her long, slender, white fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.

Ji Xian cupped his hands and explained, "Master, it's really that I don't even know my junior sister's name, let alone where she is. So I wanted to find her first before reporting to you."

Qiao Qiu's anger subsided considerably, and she calmly asked, "So, do you have any leads?"

“My master had an object that always accompanied him. Now that he’s gone, this object will surely go to my junior sister. If I find it, I can find her, and then I can take good care of her and fulfill my responsibility as her elder brother. I recently heard that this object has appeared in the Nanxia area, and I’ve already sent people to look for it, but so far there’s been no news.” Ji Xian explained everything.

"What is it?" Qiao Qiu asked curiously.

“The Soul-Locking Hairpin is a kind of hairpin for saving one’s life. It looks no different from an ordinary hairpin, but at the end, it is engraved with a colorless spider lily,” Ji Xian replied.

Qiao Qiu's heart stirred slightly. The name of this hairpin reminded her of the Soul Knot. Could it be that it was not just a hairpin for saving lives?

Qiao Qiu remained calm and said to Ji Xian, "Your junior sister is now the Crown Princess, so you don't need to worry about her."

"The Crown Princess?!" Ji Xian was shocked before realizing that it was the woman His Highness had married in Nanxia, ​​Yu Honghua, the chieftain of Feihong Mountain. "It's her? That makes sense, she's skilled in poison, it's definitely her. Master, I have a favor to ask."

"explain."

"Although you unilaterally made her the Crown Princess, the Emperor did not agree, and the court is unaware of it. My junior sister is a commoner, and her status is far inferior to that of the daughters of princes and nobles. If Your Highness is to take other women as concubines, please take care of my junior sister. She lives among the common people and is unaware of the dangers in the palace."

"She'll never touch any of this nonsense in her life," Qiao Qiu said calmly. Considering that Ji Xian was genuinely thinking of Yu Honghua's best interests, she could be patient.

"What does Master mean?"

"I will not let her enter the palace."

"Master, the more I listen, the more confused I get!" Ji Xian couldn't keep up with Qiao Qiu's pace at all. What was all this about? He married his junior sister, but wouldn't let her enter the palace or give her a title. What kind of couple was this?

"Just you wait and see. By the way, whoever Father Emperor chooses as my concubine, you go to their house and poison them. The less obvious the poison, the better, understand?" Qiao Qiu instructed.

"Understood, Your Majesty," Ji Xian replied. This seemed to indicate he didn't want to take any concubines. But why wouldn't he allow his own wife to enter the palace? What did this mean?

In the afternoon, after Qiao Qiu finished reviewing the memorials, she went to see Dongfang Wuye. Now that she had sent people to protect him, basically no arrogant scoundrels would dare to cause trouble for Dongfang Wuye.

Dongfang Wuye lives in Yehua Pavilion. The standard configuration for princes is that they have their own house outside and their own courtyard in the palace. Only the crown prince does not have a house outside, but lives in an entire palace.

Qiao Qiu walked into Ye Hua Xuan and looked up to see the layout of the entire courtyard. The main house was directly in front, and the side rooms were on the left and right. There were only four side rooms in total, so the layout was quite small.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!" announced the eunuch beside Qiao Qiu.

A moment later, Dongfang Wuye came out with a young eunuch, beaming, "Royal brother."

"Where are the eunuchs who sweep the courtyard?" Qiao Qiu frowned, noticing that there was only one eunuch beside him. "Where are the palace maids beside you?"

"I just sent Wuliu to brew tea and do the cleaning, this..."

Seeing Dongfang Wuye's reaction, Qiao Qiu knew he was unaware of the situation. "Qiang flute."

Qiang Di, the guard stationed there, immediately jumped out and respectfully replied, "Reporting to Master, they took the Third Prince's clothes to the laundry and have not yet returned."

How long have they been gone?

"About half an hour."

Ye Hua Xuan is far from the Washing Courtyard; a round trip normally takes at least half an hour.

Qiao Qiu's expression softened a bit. What a joke! Someone as prestigious as her personally sent people to protect Dongfang Wuye. If anyone dared to bully him, where would she put her face?

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Actually, no one dares to bully me anymore. Everyone knows that Your Majesty takes good care of me, and for the sake of the Emperor, they will forgive me a bit." When facing Qiao Qiu, Dongfang Wuye's smile was generous.

Qiao Qiu said to Qiang Di, "You continue to keep watch in the shadows."

"Yes." The figure playing the Qiang flute flashed and disappeared over the wall.

"Hey, why is he running outside?" A strange look appeared on Dongfang Wuye's handsome face.

"To mislead people's judgment, the secret guards will disappear from one place, and their hiding place will definitely not be in that direction," Qiao Qiu said.

Dongfang Wuye suddenly realized and nodded, "I understand."

Snap snap snap—

"Touching, touching, what a touching story of brotherhood."