The next morning.

Guan Zhiyue and her group left amidst everyone's earnest hopes. Guan Zhiyue stared at Liu Debao, repeatedly reminding him that if things didn't go well, he would suffer.

After Liu Debao repeatedly assured her, Guan Zhiyue happily got into the carriage and left, looking quite dashing!

Without a trace of lingering affection, Li Qiji was quite angry!

Guan Zhiyue and Bilian sat in the carriage, while her elder brother Guan Chengzhuo and Su Xu rode ahead on horseback, heading from the capital towards Sihuangzhou.

Bilian suddenly remembered that her empress was sent to control locusts, but could her empress really control locusts?

"Your Majesty, do you have a solution now?"

Guan Zhiyue was sitting in the carriage, looking around excitedly. It was her first time riding in such a long-distance carriage, and it was quite different from ordinary carriages.

"What method?"

Upon hearing this, Bilian became anxious and quickly said, "It's the method for controlling locusts!"

"Didn't we come out here to control the locusts?"

Guan Zhiyue thought for a moment, "Then let's get it and eat it! After all, although it looks ugly, it's very nutritious!"

"Besides, even if we don't eat it, we can use it to feed the pigs!"

"At least it's meat."

Upon hearing this, Bilian swallowed hard, unsure whether she was startled or not, and quickly said, "Your Majesty, are you joking?"

"Is this something you can just eat indiscriminately?"

Guan Zhiyue said dismissively, "What else do you think? What else can we do but offer it as a sacrifice?"

Well, Bilian didn't dare to speak anymore, afraid of being rebuked, so she had no choice but to shut up.

However, Li Qishang, who was in the capital, returned from his busy work outside and said he was going to find Xiao Yue'er to freeload a meal in the Cold Palace. Unexpectedly, as soon as he arrived in the capital, he heard that the Empress had been sent to Sihuang Prefecture to deal with the locust plague. He still wanted to freeload a meal!

This was something that made Li Qishang himself hesitate. He skipped the hot pot restaurant and the glass shop, and hurriedly rode back to the palace to ask his brother for an imperial decree so he could go to Sihuangzhou with Guan Zhiyue.

This is his little Yue'er's first time leaving the palace, and going to such a far place. The key is that his brother won't go, so wouldn't that mean he can spend time alone with little Yue'er?

Having figured things out, Li Qishang rode straight towards the palace, leaving Shang Yao behind completely bewildered. Wasn't he supposed to be going to a hot pot restaurant?

Why did you run away? Aren't you going to eat?

"Your Highness, why are you leaving?"

"Your Highness, please wait for me!"

Shang Yao followed behind, completely bewildered.

——

The Imperial Study in the Imperial Palace.

"Royal brother, my dearest royal brother, your beloved younger brother is back!" Li Qishang grabbed his fan and rushed towards the imperial study, but he hadn't even arrived yet!

He started shouting and yelling on the stairs, completely losing his princely demeanor and acting just like a commoner.

"Brother, I'm here!!"

When Li Qishang arrived at the door, he spoke in a cute and coquettish voice.

With Li Qishang's long and high-pitched voice, it was estimated that everyone in the surrounding villages could hear it. Li Qiji waved his hand impatiently and said, "I'm not deaf, I can hear you!"

"Is everything done?"

Li Qishang picked up the teacup beside him, gulped down a cup of water, and said, "Of course, as long as I take action, I can definitely handle it."

"Brother, brother, I've heard something. Would you like to agree to it? Consider it a reward for your hard work this time." Li Qishang suddenly opened his fan and moved closer to his brother, fanning himself attentively while raising an eyebrow at him.

Li Qiji was already in a bad mood when Guan Zhiyue, that woman, didn't even look at him and just left. It was too much, too much.

"Speak your mind, or spit it out!"

Upon hearing this, Li Qishang realized something was wrong with his brother. Why was he so angry? He was a meritorious official who had just returned and worked so hard. How could he be treated like this?

"Brother, is there something you can't say? Why are you so fierce to Qi Shang?" Li Qi Shang squatted down beside Li Qi Ji's dragon throne, looking aggrieved and sad.

That damn Li Qiji! Can't someone come and take him away?!

He's just in a bad mood! Why make him face his younger brother at this time?

"Qi Shang, just tell me what you want!"

“Your Majesty, as a prince, I am willing to step forward when the people are in danger. I have heard that Your Majesty’s sister-in-law has gone to the disaster area to participate in the relief work, and I also request to go!”

Li Qishang said indignantly.

Upon hearing this, Li Qiji thought it seemed to make sense. He and the Empress had always stayed in the palace and had never officially gone out. If they could take advantage of this opportunity, could they...

After thinking it through, Li Qiji turned to look at his younger brother and said sincerely, "Yes, my brother, as the leaders of Nanding Kingdom, we should keep the people's affairs in mind and turn their suffering into happiness."

"Therefore, I have made up my mind. I will promise you that I will do my best to help the people overcome this locust plague!"

Li Qishang thought his older brother was about to agree to let him go to Sihuang Prefecture as well, so he clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Brother, you are my real brother! I love you so much."

"Therefore, I have decided to appoint you as regent for two months. I will personally lead an expedition to the areas plagued by locusts to experience firsthand the suffering of the people. This will be more conducive to my protection of the country."

Li Qishang: "..." I feel like you're playing me, but I have no proof.

"Brother, are you sick? Why are you talking nonsense?"

"Besides, what's the point of looking at disaster areas? It's better for your royal brother to serve you. Your royal brother guarantees to take care of everything perfectly, and there won't be any trouble," Li Qishang quickly said.

Unexpectedly, Li Qiji firmly stated, "Your Majesty, you should stay in the palace and oversee the country. I must personally lead the expedition this time!"

Li Qishang: "..." You really are a slowpoke! Your timing for coming back is really terrible!

Hua Quan also chimed in, "Your Majesty, please reconsider! A country cannot be without a ruler for even a day!"

As if he had made a very important decision, Li Qiji waved his hand and said, "My mind is made up, there is no need to persuade me anymore. Hua Quan, you should prepare my things as soon as possible. Ji Wu and Ji Shang, you should also pack your things. I will leave today."

Hua Quan: ......

"Your Majesty, shouldn't we inform the key ministers?" Hua Quan continued to try to stop him.

Li Qiji waved his hand and said, "I will write an imperial edict. Hua Quan, you can have the Prince of Xiaoyao read it aloud in court tomorrow."

After saying this, he headed towards the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace to bid farewell to his mother and inform her of his presence.

He will personally lead the army for love; he will fight the locust plague with Guan Zhiyue; he will become her love!