The two chatted until midnight before returning to their respective courtyards. Qiao Qiu had just stepped into her room when the ring, which hadn't spoken for a long time, suddenly said, "Master, you've really fallen in love with him."

"Didn't you already know that?" Qiao Qiu said.

“Master, when all the diamonds light up, the consequences will be something you can’t bear. Have you thought about that? You’re not the one who cursed the world, but he is. You can return to the real world, but he can’t. Even if you win and go back in the end, can you guarantee that you can forget him? Master, I’m thinking about you.”

While the ring's speech was impassioned, Qiao Qiu felt as if she had been doused with a bucket of cold water, her body temperature dropping to freezing point.

She was so immersed in his tenderness that she overlooked the fact that if she were to return to the real world one day, would she really be able to forget him?

Qiao Qiu knew the answer perfectly well.

"Master, think it over carefully."

The ring fell silent, giving Qiao Qiu time to think for herself.

Qiao Qiu closed the door, sat down in a chair, and sat there without turning on the light, lost in thought.

However, she wasn't thinking about how to forget someone; she was thinking about how to bring He Qixie out of the cursed world.

She thought that her presence here was enough to prove that souls exist.

If He Qixie can be reborn, what does it matter if she waits another twenty years? As long as he can still remember her, as long as his soul is still the same soul.

To accomplish this, perhaps we could start with the curse. Since the curse can absorb her soul, there must be some principle behind it.

Since she wanted to study the formation of the curse, she had to start with the places where the curse existed.

Based on the worlds I've visited before, the places where curses are most likely to form must be inhabited by immortals and spirits capable of casting spells and magic.

If she were lucky enough to travel to these places, she would definitely study the curse.

Based on the fantasy and cultivation worlds she had previously transmigrated to, Qiao Qiu tried to deduce the origin of the curse in her mind, but she knew too little, and the deductions she came up with were not the correct ones.

It wasn't until dawn that Qiao Qiu rubbed her temples to clear her head, went through the side door of the room, took a bath in the hot spring, and changed into clean clothes.

She was a martial artist, and although her hands and feet were not fully functional, her inner energy was still intact, so staying up all night didn't have much of an effect on her.

Qiao Qiu had just finished combing her long hair when He Qixie knocked on the door. "Jun Bai, the imperial edict has arrived."

Qiao Qiu raised an eyebrow, surprised that they arrived so quickly, and said, "Okay, I'll be right there."

After fastening her jade crown and putting on her mask, Qiao Qiu opened the door and went out. Because of the secret on her face, Qiao Qiu hadn't had a maidservant serve her for a long time.

He Qixie followed her to the front of the hall and knelt to greet them. The one who came to announce the imperial decree was the prefect, who was followed by a large group of guards, making him look very imposing.

The prefect unfolded the imperial edict, his expression solemn and dignified. "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Shen Junbai, though a merchant, possesses a burning patriotic heart and is willing to do his utmost for the common people, dedicating his wealth to the country. I am deeply gratified. Therefore, I hereby confer upon Shen Junbai the title of Imperial Merchant, bestow upon him a gold medal, and grant him the right to freely enter and exit the Imperial Palace. So be it."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!" Qiao Qiu respectfully accepted the imperial edict and the gold medal, and bowed down.

The prefect smiled and helped Qiao Qiu up, saying, "Young Master Shen, from now on, we are both serving the imperial court."

Qiao Qiu smiled and said, "If there's anything Junbai doesn't understand, please enlighten me, sir."

"We've known each other for years, do we really need to say all this? Hahaha, alright, I should go back and report now. Young Master Shen, you mustn't forget your old friend in the future."

Qiao Qiu found it amusing. "Am I that kind of person?"

After the prefect left, everyone in the Shen family was in an uproar, especially the steward and his wife, who were so moved that they cried. They had watched the Shen family go from glory to decline, and then from decline to glory, even more so than before.

It all stemmed from the young man standing in front of them. Looking at his tall, slender back, the servants of the Shen family seemed to see a direction for their lives.

Qiao Qiu tidied up the Shen residence and placed the imperial edict before the ancestral tablets. Then, in the afternoon, she went to the prefect's residence to express her gratitude.

Now that the situation in Xiangzhou has stabilized, Qiao Qiu should head to another place as planned. She has already decided on her first destination: Baicao City.

According to her reply, the purple flower among the flowers she had instructed to be secretly cultivated survived.

This is great news! If this flower can be propagated, then the city of Baicao will break the phenomenon of flowers not being able to grow. At that time, this flower will likely be in high demand and short supply.

He Qi Xie finally understood why Qiao Qiu said she didn't have much time left the night she confronted him; it turned out she had already made arrangements with the Emperor.

The night before Qiao Qiu set off, He Qixie sneaked into her room and hugged her, saying, "Jun Bai, I... can't go with you."

He Qixie is never impulsive. Even if he admits his feelings for her, he wouldn't express them so intensely. At most, he would just touch her hand or hug her. He would never sneak into her room in the middle of the night. This time, he really gave her a big fright.

However, after hearing He Qixie's words, Qiao Qiu calmed down and patted him on the back. "I have formulated some development plans for your escort agency, and they are all in the brocade pouch. I was originally going to give them to you tomorrow, but since you are here, I will give them to you first."

"A镖行 (escort agency)? Junbai, have you thought everything through for me?" He Qixie released her and said with surprise.

"Otherwise what? You're just going to keep running around these few places? When will I ever see you?" Qiao Qiu raised an eyebrow and turned to open the cabinet to get the brocade pouch.

He Qi Xie was deeply moved and secretly vowed that he would never let Jun Bai down.

Qiao Qiu turned around and handed him the brocade pouch, saying, "This is a three-year plan. I had the embroiderer embroider the zodiac animal for each year. You can open it in this order."

He Qixie tucked it into his arms and asked, "Aren't you even coming back for the New Year?"

Qiao Qiu looked at him and said, "These next few years are crucial. If nothing unexpected happens, I will be spending the end of this year in Xizhou City. It's a long way, and it will take me a month or so to get back. Unless I can grow wings and fly back in a day, then there won't be any problem."

"Junbai, I will work hard to expand the escort agency nationwide, so that no matter where you are, I can be with you." He Qixie hugged her.

Qiao Qiu listened to his rapid and powerful heartbeat and almost couldn't help but laugh. "Okay."

He Qi Xie lifted her chin, his gaze burning as he traced her lips, and then kissed her hastily and urgently.

Qiao Qiu couldn't help but laugh this time; he was still a pure and innocent virgin.

He Qi Xie was annoyed by her laughter, so he released her lips and turned to nibble on her earlobe.

"Hmm..."

This guy seems to have some memories from traversing several worlds; he's so familiar with her sensitive spots. To read the latest chapters, please visit Tangkehang---Mobile Address: