Dingyuan City, the residence of General Dingyuan. Though not as exquisite as the gardens of Jiangnan, it exudes the ruggedness and simplicity of a military family. Upon hearing of the arrival of Prince Jing and his wife, Shen Wensong, along with his wife, the Second Princess Xiao Mingyu, and daughter Shen Zhao, waited outside the gate early in the morning.

"Brother-in-law! Sister!" Shen Wensong, dressed in civilian clothes, strode forward, excitedly clasping his hands in a fist salute, his face beaming with undisguised joy. Behind him stood Xiao Mingyu, though born into a noble family, having married into a military family for many years, her brows had lost some of their former haughtiness and gained a more forthright air. She smiled and took Shen Yuewei's arm, saying, "Sister Yuewei, Brother-in-law Chengjing, you must be tired from your journey! We've been waiting for you!"

Thirteen or fourteen-year-old Shen Zhao inherited the best features of her parents, standing tall and graceful with poise. She greeted them sweetly, "Zhao'er greets Uncle and Aunt!"

"Wen Song! Ming Yu! Zhao'er!" Seeing her long-lost relatives, especially her lively and adorable niece, Shen Yuewei felt a surge of warmth in her heart, and much of the fatigue from her journey over the past few days dissipated. Xiao Chengjing also rarely showed a relaxed smile, patting his brother-in-law on the shoulder: "It's been years since I last saw you, Zhao'er has grown into a beautiful young lady!"

The group entered the mansion in a lively atmosphere. Hot tea and snacks had already been prepared in the hall. Shen Yuewei took Xiao Mingyu and Shen Zhao's hands and looked them over carefully: "Mingyu, are you getting used to life at the border? You look a little thinner."

Xiao Mingyu laughed heartily: "I'm used to it! What's there to be unaccustomed to? It's much more comfortable with Wensong than in the palace! Zhao'er is quite resilient too, running around the training ground with her father's soldiers all day long, getting as tanned as a little charcoal!" As she spoke, she affectionately pinched her daughter's cheek.

Shen Zhao pouted and protested, "Mother! How can you talk about your own daughter like that! Aunt, look, my mother is making fun of me again!"

“Our Zhao’er is healthy and spirited!” Shen Yuewei smiled and hugged Shen Zhao in her arms, taking out some exquisite pastries and several bolts of soft Jiangnan satin suitable for a young girl that she had brought from the capital. “Here, these are for Zhao’er, and these are for Mingyu.”

Looking at the familiar flavors of the capital, Xiao Mingyu's eyes revealed a hint of nostalgia: "Oh, it's still my elder sister who thinks of me! Everything in Dingyuan City is wonderful, except for these pastries... they're a little lacking." She picked up a small lotus-shaped pastry and took a satisfied bite.

Xiao Chengjing and Shen Wensong sat to the side talking.

"Wen Song, what's the situation on the border?" Xiao Chengjing asked.

“Brother-in-law, don’t worry. The Di Rong have been relatively well-behaved lately, with only small groups constantly harassing us. With Brother Lu holding the line, Dingyuan City is relatively safe.” Shen Wensong said, his expression slightly serious, and he lowered his voice, “But… Sister, brother-in-law, that girl An’an… I’m incompetent. These past few days, I’ve investigated every unit of the Longxi Army, both openly and secretly, and even subtly inquired with several neighboring units, but… I haven’t found a military doctor who matches her characteristics. The new doctors are either men from the north or migrants from the Central Plains; their accents and ages don’t match.”

Shen Yuewei and Xiao Chengjing exchanged a glance, their eyes showing disappointment, but they had also expected this.

“It’s alright,” Xiao Chengjing waved his hand and said in a deep voice, “Since that girl has made up her mind to hide, she must have made thorough preparations. Knowing that she is safe and doing her work is enough. We came here firstly to visit you, and secondly to go and see Brother Lu, so that we can be closer to where she might be.”

“Brother-in-law is right.” Shen Wensong nodded. “An’an has always been resourceful and has excellent medical skills. She will definitely be able to take good care of herself. You should stay in the manor for a few more days and let Mingyu and Zhao’er accompany your sister to explore Dingyuan City. Although it cannot compare to the prosperity of Jiangnan, it has its own unique charm.”

In the following days, Xiao Mingyu indeed took Shen Yuewei and Shen Zhao to stroll through the streets and alleys of Dingyuan City, tasting local specialties and experiencing the customs and culture of the border town.

Shen Zhao was lively, like a little magpie, chattering excitedly as she introduced the girl to her aunt.