Qin Ruoxi was stunned for a moment upon hearing Xia Ju's words, then looked at Chunhe and Xia Ju.

"You all knew?"

"Yes, the news has spread outside the palace today."

Chunhe responded to Qin Ruoxi first, and then Xiaju quickly added...

"Yes, yes, Princess, you don't know what people outside the palace are saying about you."

Qin Ruoxi readily agreed with Xia Ju's question, "What did you say about me?"

"They said that Your Highness loves the people like your own children and cannot bear to see them suffer from injury and illness. Upon learning of the floods and plague in Ancheng, you disregarded your status as a woman and volunteered to go to Ancheng."

"???"

Qin Ruoxi was shocked when she heard Xia Ju's exaggerated words.

"No... why are they saying that???"

Is something wrong?

Xia Ju blinked and asked in confusion.

"I'm just a girl, I didn't think that much about it. I just wanted to share my father's burdens and not cause him any headaches..."

"After my father finished speaking, no one in the court was willing to go to Ancheng because the city was ravaged by plague, so I volunteered to go."

"Did you know? That Lord Li actually wanted to seal off the city and set it on fire!!! Burn down the entire city of Ancheng!!!"

Chunhe and Xiaju were also shocked after hearing what Qin Ruoxi said.

"Those are human lives!!! If Ancheng had family or relatives, would he still say such things?"

Upon hearing this, Chunhe spoke first, followed by Xiaju's indignant words.

"He deserves to go to hell!!!"

"In this situation, Your Highness's willingness to step forward and lead people, medicine, and food to Ancheng further demonstrates your love for the people, regardless of your initial purpose."

Chunhe continued speaking, picking up where Xiaju left off.

Qin Ruoxi just smiled and said nothing.

The three, who were once master and servant, talked for a long time in this house, discussing all sorts of things.

It wasn't until Chunhe realized it was quite late and started urging Qin Ruoxi to go to sleep that the three of them stopped talking.

——————

The next day at noon

When Qin Ruoxi left the palace, many people came to the palace gate to see her off.

Qin Ruoxi hugged Qin Jingmu briefly at the palace gate before letting go.

Even after Qin Ruoxi left the palace gates, she still hadn't seen Qin Jue, and couldn't help but lower her head in disappointment.

"Sister?"

Nothing happened.

Qin Ruoxi gave an awkward smile, looking at Qin Jingke, who was already taller than her, and said...

"Father probably didn't come because he was afraid he would burst into tears if he came to see me off and didn't want me to leave."

"Father has come. He must be very sad to see us going to Ancheng, which is currently ravaged by plague."

"They're afraid we'll also get infected with the plague."

Qin Ruoxi watched as Qin Jingke walked to the carriage while talking.

Qin Jingke extended his hand to Qin Ruoxi, and Qin Ruoxi took his hand and boarded the carriage.

As soon as she boarded the carriage, Qin Ruoxi lifted the curtain and saw Qin Jue sitting inside. She immediately smiled.

She ran straight into the carriage and hugged Qin Jue.

Qin Jingke, who was outside the carriage, saw Qin Jue inside and laughed. He then boarded the carriage as well.

"Father Emperor"

"Please sit down."

Qin Jue glanced at Qin Jingke, nodded, and gestured for Qin Jingke to sit down.

He then looked at Xiaoxi sitting next to him and pinched her cheek.

Why are your eyes red?

Qin Jue feigned ignorance and asked, but Xiao Xi'er turned her head away, refusing to look at him.

"The wind was so strong just now, it blew that way."

Qin Jue and Qin Jingke couldn't help but laugh when they saw Xiao Xi'er's proud and aloof demeanor.

"Okay, okay, Father was wrong."

"snort"

Hearing this, Xiao Xi'er turned her head away haughtily.

After Xiao Xi turned her head, she saw Qin Jue taking something from under the compartment of the carriage.

"These are some medicines; they will be useful when you go to Ancheng."

"These are some of your favorite dishes, prepared overnight by the imperial kitchen."

As soon as Qin Jue took out the food box, Xiao Xi'er eagerly opened the lid.

Upon seeing the pastries inside, Xiao Xi couldn't wait to grab a piece.

After taking it out, Qin Ruoxi didn't eat it; she gave the first piece of pastry to Qin Jue.

Then Xiao Xi'er took a second piece of pastry and gave it to Qin Jingke.

Xiao Xi'er started eating the third piece of pastry by herself.

Qin Jue then took out another food box and placed it on the table.

"Father, what is this?"

Little Xi'er saw the food box on the table and asked about it out of curiosity, even putting her head close to the food box to smell it.

Then, Xiao Xi'er suddenly raised her head and looked at Qin Jue, "Daddy, this is dried meat!!!"

Yes, we also have beef jerky, which you like.

In the Kingdom of Fenglan, oxen are used for plowing and are not allowed to be slaughtered privately. Only when an ox is too old to be eaten will it be killed.

However, because Xiao Xi'er liked to eat beef, Qin Jue imported a batch of cattle from the Luz grasslands to raise. Whenever Xiao Xi'er wanted to eat it, he would have a cow slaughtered and cooked for her.

At first, some ministers even impeached Xiao Xi'er over this matter. However, after learning that the cattle were bought from the grasslands, and under the threat of Qin Jue's gaze, they obediently kept quiet.

Because of this incident, countless people envy Xiaoxi'er's unwavering favor with the family over the past decade.

Just yesterday, some people learned that Qin Ruoxi had been forced to kneel outside the Imperial Study by Qin Jue, and they were all saying that Qin Ruoxi had fallen out of favor, and they were all secretly happy.

But the reversal came much faster than I expected.

After Xiaoxi found out it was beef jerky, she immediately reached out and grabbed a few pieces to eat.

He also made sure Qin Jue and Qin Jingke ate together.

After not knowing how much Qin Ruoxi had eaten, Qin Jue reached out and patted Xiaoxi'er's hand.

"You're not allowed to eat anymore. What will you eat on the way to Ancheng after you finish eating?"

Hehehe

"I know that after I finish eating, Daddy will definitely send someone to bring me more."

Xiao Xi looked up at Qin Jue with eyes full of confidence and said...

Qin Jue raised the corners of his mouth slightly upon hearing Xiao Xi'er's words, but remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

So Xiao Xi'er dragged Qin Jingke along to eat beef jerky again.

Seeing Xiao Xi'er eating, Qin Jue's face was full of helpless smiles and doting affection.

The carriage stopped at the city gate.

Xiao Xi'er looked at Qin Jue and pushed him off the carriage, because Qin Jue's original intention was to accompany Xiao Xi'er for a while longer.

But Xiao Xi'er was unwilling, so she made Qin Jue get off the carriage at the city gate.

Qin Jue listened to Xiao Xi'er's words and got off the carriage.

Xiao Xi waved to Qin Jue, then let Zou Heng drive the carriage away.

After Qin Ruoxi's carriage left the city gate, it headed towards Ancheng.

At this moment, Qin Ruoxi heard the sound of horses' hooves.

Out of curiosity, Qin Ruoxi lifted the curtain of the carriage window and peeked out.

Upon looking, Qin Ruoxi witnessed a scene that surprised her.