Gu Yuzhi looked around the guest room, his small face tense as he tried to recall, unsure whether the two people were dreaming or real.

The only thing that is clear is that he was indeed "exiled" to the northern desert by his elder brother.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door, and Xie Changshi's voice came from outside: "Your Highness, are you awake?"

Gu Yuzhi spoke with a touch of intimacy to the chief secretary who had taken good care of him along the way: "Come in."

Chief Secretary Xie pushed open the door and entered, followed by the accompanying physician Qin Yuanbai.

"Your Highness." Qin Yuanbai carefully observed Gu Yuzhi's complexion, and his expression relaxed considerably after taking his pulse. "Your Highness's high fever has subsided. You only need to take one more dose of medicine today to consolidate the effect."

Upon hearing that she had to take medicine, Gu Yuzhi felt her mouth was full of bitterness. Her little face scrunched up, and she waved her hands repeatedly in refusal: "Since Physician Qin has said that the high fever has subsided, it's fine not to take this medicine today."

Anyway, his mother is still in the palace, so she can't control him now.

The thought of his mother brought a touch of sadness to Gu Yuzhi's small face.

I don’t know what my elder brother and mother said, but my mother, who was supposed to come with me, said that she would come after he had built up his fiefdom. Then she sold the rewards she had given him over the years and devoted herself to preparing the things he would need for his trip to the northern desert.

But now it seems thankfully my mother didn't come...

Just then, Chief Secretary Xie brought over some clothes, and he and Imperial Physician Qin helped Gu Yuzhi get dressed. Gu Yuzhi glanced at the door but didn't see that familiar voice. He puffed out his cheeks and asked, "Chief Secretary Xie, where is Granny Xu?"

Xu Mama is his wet nurse. She has been taking care of him since he was born, but she hasn't appeared even though he has been awake for so long. Could something have happened?

"Your Highness, I was just about to report that Granny Xu, the two maids who accompanied us, and most of the guards have fallen ill due to the change in environment. I have already consulted a doctor in town, and they are all fine and will recover after a couple of days of rest."

Gu Yuzhi's furrowed brow immediately relaxed: "It's good that you're alright."

Regardless of why these people followed him here, once they arrived, he took on a responsibility.

Thinking of this, Gu Yuzhi couldn't help but shrug his shoulders, feeling as if these past few days had been a dream.

After Chief Secretary Xie took the tray from the guard, Imperial Physician Qin bowed and took his leave: "Your Highness, I still need to prepare medicine, so I will take my leave now."

These people depend on His Highness for their lives, so the medicine still needs to be decocted!

Seeing that Judge Qin was about to leave, Gu Yuzhi quickly called out, "Judge Qin..."

Judge Qin.

Judge Qin walked even faster...

Gu Yuzhi looked at Xie Changshi with a pained expression, but Xie Changshi smiled and said, "Your Highness has just recovered from a minor illness, so it's best to be a little careful."

Gu Yuzhi angrily took the handkerchief that Xie Changshi had wrung out and placed the warm handkerchief on his face.

It's amazing, all my fatigue seems to have disappeared.

He handed the handkerchief over after the heat had dissipated, and then heard Chief Secretary Xie say in a low voice, "I have already arranged for someone to buy candied fruit for His Highness."

Gu Yuzhi's eyes lit up, and he held up three fingers. Seeing Xie Changshi nod slightly, a smile appeared on his face.

His mother said he was about to lose his baby teeth, so he always secretly hid the candied fruit...

Just as Xie Changshi finished draping the towel over his head, he looked up and saw that Gu Yuzhi's expression was strange. Gu Yuzhi pointed to the breakfast on the table and said, "Your Highness, would you like to try the breakfast from the northern desert? This is what the restaurant recommended. Since you have just recovered, you still need to avoid certain foods. Vegetable soup and rice cakes are just right."

Gu Yuzhi rubbed his stomach, feeling quite hungry. After taking a sip of the soup, his eyes lit up slightly: "This vegetarian soup may not be as good as the ones in the palace, but it's still quite delicious."

After finishing the soup, Gu Yuzhi took a bite of the rice cake and immediately frowned. Although the rice cake tasted good, it was a bit rough on his throat.

Xie Changshi had never tasted the imperial cuisine, so he naturally couldn't respond. He just stood there smiling without saying a word, and only asked after Gu Yuzhi finished his breakfast, "Would Your Highness like to return to your bed to rest?"

Gu Yuzhi shook his head and said, "I've rested enough, I want to move around a bit."

He had been spending most of his time in the carriage, and he felt that his arms and legs were sore and weak. If he continued to lie down, he might become a cripple.

Remembering the guards riding tall horses, he turned to look at Chief Secretary Xie, his eyes filled with hope: "Chief Secretary Xie, I'll be six next year and can start my formal education. Can I learn riding and archery like my elder brother and the others?"

If he could ride a horse, he wouldn't have to stay in the carriage all the time when he went out.

Chief Secretary Xie nodded in agreement, "Of course. Your Highness intended to learn these things anyway."

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuzhi's mood instantly brightened. Just then, the sound of vendors hawking their wares came from outside the window. Gu Yuzhi turned around, opened the window, and stood on tiptoe to look at the bustling street: "I've often heard my brothers say that the streets of the capital are the most prosperous and lively. I was thinking that after I start my studies next year, I'll have a day off so I can go out of the palace to take a look..."

Looking back now, it seems he will never see the bustling city of Beijing.

But this is good too. Once he finishes building the palace, he can bring his mother over and then they can travel around together.

Thinking of the rice cakes from earlier, Gu Yuzhi muttered to himself, "It's not just about traveling; it's also about eating delicious food from different places."

Gu Yuzhi thought about it for a while with a smug look on his face, then his gaze fell on Chief Secretary Xie.

Xie Changshi was a gift from the Emperor's elder brother, and he only met him in person before his departure.

He thought that Chief Secretary Xie would be unhappy about being "exiled" with him, and might even bully him because he was young and not favored...

Unexpectedly, Chief Secretary Xie had already arranged everything, and there were no mishaps along the way, until he fell ill upon reaching the northern desert...

Gu Yuzhi smiled, his eyes crinkling, making him look exceptionally adorable: "Chief Secretary Xie, please sit down and let's talk."

Only after he spoke did Chief Secretary Xie sit down: "Thank you, Your Highness."

"Why didn't Chief Secretary Xie's family come with him this time?"

Gu Yuzhi was a little curious. Xie Changshi looked to be quite old, but this time he came to Mobei alone with him.

"Of course we do," Chief Secretary Xie said without hesitation. "However, I am not familiar with the northern deserts. I would like to wait until Your Highness has determined the location of the residence before I bring them over."

Gu Yuzhi pouted and nodded. Even the guards had fallen ill from the change in environment, so it was best to be careful with Xie Changshi's family.

Even he was just now thankful that his mother hadn't come along!

However, Chief Secretary Xie said he didn't know much about the northern desert...

Gu Yuzhi frowned and asked, "My brother told me that Chief Secretary Xie traveled all over the country when he was young. Didn't he come to the Northern Desert?"

Although the northern desert is not peaceful, its vast grasslands and magnificent sunsets have always made it a popular destination for students to travel and study.

Xie Changshi's ever-smiling face froze for a moment, then his smile deepened. Prince Wen was indeed as clever and quick-witted as the Emperor had said.

He suppressed his thoughts and said naturally, "I am ashamed."

Gu Yuzhi rested his chin on his hand and sighed like a little adult: "This is troublesome!"