Considering the seriousness of the matter, Hua Qingcheng asked the general of Ruoshui Town to cross the river and send someone to find the governor of Daxing Province overnight.

After the governor of Daxing Province properly arranged for personnel to take over the iron mine in Wuji Mountain, Hua Qingcheng, Mu Lige, Xiaobai and Hongfu returned to the inn where they were staying in Ruoshui Town with a sense of relief.

Because the Wujishan Iron Mine incident involved so many people, Hua Qingcheng and Mu Lige had to stay in Ruoshui Town for one more day to urge local officials to take over the mining of the iron mine. At the same time, they had to personally deal with the bandits headed by Gong Yanan.

Not only that, Hua Qingcheng also asked the post station to send an urgent letter back to the capital at an speed of 800 miles, informing the Emperor Nalan Yunzhi of everything that happened here in detail, and also presented a series of testimonies by Gong Yanan against the eunuch chief Guo Dongbing.

On the morning of April 27th, the sun was shining brightly and the breeze was gentle. Hua Qingcheng, Mu Lige, and their guards once again set out on their journey to Zhaoyang State.

At the same time, Hua Qingcheng also specially allocated ten elite guards to escort Gong Yanan back to the capital for trial. As for the bandits under Gong Yanan, they were left in the iron mines of Wuji Mountain to do hard labor to atone for their sins.

After leaving Ruoshui Town and driving for half an hour, the carriage finally came to a stop. Hua Qingcheng and Mu Lige stepped out of the carriage, and a vast landscape unfolded before them. This was the border between the eastern part of Laifeng State and the western part of Zhaoyang State. The terrain was flat and the view was expansive.

After the guard handed over the pass, the border soldiers of Zhaoyang State carefully checked it and waved goodbye to let them pass.

Hua Qingcheng and Mu Lige returned to the carriage, and under the escort of the guards, they successfully passed the checkpoint and officially entered the territory of Zhaoyang Kingdom.

For Mu Lige, this moment was profoundly meaningful. After seven years, he finally returned to his hometown. As he set foot on this familiar yet unfamiliar land, a complex wave of emotions washed over him. This place had held countless memories, both laughter and tears. Revisiting his old place, he couldn't help but lament the fleeting passage of time and the transformations of the world.

Mu Lige closed his eyes slightly and then opened them again, looking towards the direction of the Zhaoyang Kingdom Palace with a complicated expression. Unconsciously, a mist had filled his star-like eyes.

Back then, Mu Lige was persecuted by his uncle, Su Mutianjun, and forced to leave his homeland. Now, returning to his homeland, the pain and humiliation of the past came back vividly. He gently drew aside the carriage curtains, gazing at the scenery that passed by the window. The scenes of the burning of the Eastern Palace seemed to resurface before his eyes...

Mu Lige's eyes revealed a hint of sadness and determination. For seven years, he had endured hardships and humiliation, just for the day he could return to Zhaoyang State and seek justice for his parents. Now, he was finally back, and he wanted to make Su Mu Tianjun pay for his past actions.

Hua Qingcheng, feeling touched, turned sideways, gently held Mu Lige's hand, and looked straight at him, as if she wanted to soothe all the pain and unwillingness in his heart through this man's deep eyes.

Hua Qingcheng's eyes were filled with heartache and pity. She knew what those seven years had meant to Mu Lige, and she understood the depth of the hatred he held in his heart. She wanted to give Mu Lige strength in her own way, to let this man know that no matter what happened, she would always be by his side.

"Qingqing~" Mu Lige called softly, her voice low and gentle, containing endless sweetness and tenderness.

At this moment, no words could express Mu Lige's feelings. He gazed at Hua Qingcheng, his eyes filled with deep affection. He grasped her hand, brought it to his lips, and placed a reverent kiss on it. His movements were gentle and delicate, as if he were handling a priceless treasure.

Their gazes met, each one filled with lingering affection. Their eyes revealed a tacit understanding and mutual understanding, a mutual understanding that required no words, each able to read the other's thoughts. In that moment, time seemed to stand still, as if the world contained only the two of them.

Suddenly, Mu Lige gently cupped Hua Qingcheng's face, leaned forward, and kissed her soft lips. His kiss was tinged with a touch of sadness and determination, as if to absorb the longing and pain of the past seven years. Hua Qingcheng, in turn, embraced Mu Lige's neck, actively responding to his tender affection.

In this brief moment, they seemed to forget all their worries and troubles, willing only to immerse themselves in this deep affection. However, reality is always cruel, and they are well aware that there are still many difficulties waiting for them to face, but they believe that as long as they support each other and move forward together, they will be able to overcome all difficulties.

Meanwhile, in the imperial palace of Laifeng Kingdom's capital, Nalan Yunzhi, after attending the morning court, went to the imperial study. She sat upright on a phoenix chair and began diligently flipping through a thick stack of memorials. Sunlight streamed through the window onto her desk, illuminating her beautiful, focused face.

With Princess Hua Qingcheng absent from the palace, Nalan Yunzhi was forced to shoulder the heavy responsibility of handling state affairs alone. Every day, she rose early to attend court, listening to reports and suggestions from the ministers before returning to the imperial study to carefully consider each memorial. This grueling, nine-to-five routine left her feeling somewhat exhausted, but she understood that this was the unavoidable responsibility of a ruler.

Nalan Yunzhi couldn't help but miss the days when the princess was around. Back then, Hua Qingcheng would help her share many tasks, allowing her to relax. Moreover, there was a special tacit understanding and intimacy between them. Now, without Hua Qingcheng by his side, Nalan Yunzhi felt inexplicably empty inside, as if he had lost something important.

She sighed inwardly, looking forward to Hua Qingcheng's early return from Zhaoyang Kingdom. Only then could she truly put her mind at ease and have more time to do what she wanted to do - such as going to the General's Mansion to find Feng Lingyan.

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