Gan Qiongying was worried that he was too pampered and not in good health, and that if he couldn't adapt to going northwest, they might have to turn back halfway and go south.

However, Gan Lin adapted very well. During this time, he only ate the dry biscuits and drank hot water, and he gained a lot of weight, looking much stronger. He showed no signs of illness, and his drug addiction did not recur.

Especially since he was busy every day, it was as if he suddenly had something to do. For so many years in the palace, he had been sitting on his throne without doing anything, and suddenly having something to do was like a big tree finally taking root in the soil.

Every leaf is thriving.

Gan Qiongying, holding a bowl of rice porridge, sat with several refugees wrapped in quilts in a sunny spot, slowly drinking the porridge, basking in the sun and watching Gan Lin, exhaling a breath of hot air with white frost, her heart filled with warmth and peace.

If Princess Duanrong could see Ganlin like this, she could finally rest in peace.

Gan Qiongying took a big gulp, then glanced at the pitiful little girl beside her who had already emptied her own bowl but dared not refill it, staring at Gan Qiongying's bowl and licking her lips.

Gan Qiongying licked her lips, paused for a moment, and said, "Do you want to drink what's in my bowl?"

The little girl's eyes lit up, but she was pulled back by her mother.

Gan Qiongying quickly smiled and said, "It's alright, here you go."

Then he handed his bowl to the little girl.

Afterwards, he rubbed the remaining warmth in his hands, watching Gan Lin's busy figure from behind.

The heat made Gan Lin's body a little blurry, and Gan Qiongying's vision blurred as she looked at him. In her hazy state, she felt that she saw Li Hua.

Li Hua was also so tall, about the same size as Gan Lin. If Li Hua were here, how wonderful that would be.

If Li Hua were here, that would be great.

In another two weeks, they will be able to reach Jishi Temple. Once Ganlin is settled, she can go find Lihua.

At this moment, Li Hua had almost recovered and was able to sit up and eat normally. The injury to his leg prevented him from walking upright. Someone from the Chamber of Commerce sent over a wooden chair with wheels.

Li Hua remained seated and moved about in his chair, appearing calm as if none of it had ever happened.

But everyone around him was on tenterhooks, not daring to even breathe loudly in his presence. Anyone could see that Li Hua's condition was definitely not a sign of recovery.

Upon waking up, his first order was for Sanjiu and the others to find a way to intercept all those in the capital who were trying to search for Princess Duanrong and the Emperor.

Although they had been working on it before, but... but after surviving a near-death experience, Li Hua almost died, but all he could think about was Princess Duanrong's safety.

This time, even the impulsive Sanjiu dared not mention Princess Duanrong, nor dared to say anything harsh. He was afraid that if he said anything that provoked Lihua, his frail body, which had just been propped up, would collapse like a mountain collapsing again because of the words "Princess Duanrong".

“You can rest for a while longer. Although you were seriously ill this time, it wasn’t entirely without its benefits.”

Bu Li pushed Li Hua's chair, his tone disapproving of his decision to deal with the chamber of commerce's pile of problems, because he knew that once Li Hua started dealing with those ledgers and the like, it would be hard for him to stop.

However, he still respected Li Hua's wishes and pushed Li Hua to the study, trying his best to comfort Li Hua by saying, "The reason why your injured leg hurts when it's cloudy or rainy is because the bone has grown crooked. And now, that horse was frightened by you that day and just happened to step on your injured leg."

“Your bone was broken by the horse, but I have reattached it. Once the bone is fully healed, you can start training to walk again, and you may be able to fully recover.”

"Although I can't run or jump, and I can't practice martial arts, it's still very easy for me to walk like a normal person."

If this news had been heard by the former Li Hua, she would have been overjoyed and wept with joy. But now, Li Hua showed no reaction whatsoever.

He has been eating well, sleeping and resting well these days, and has been taking medicine to recuperate as Bu Li has instructed.

But he hadn't gained any weight; he was like a skeleton, and if it weren't for his relatively broad shoulders, he wouldn't even be able to fill out his clothes. If it weren't for his exceptionally handsome appearance, anyone who glanced at him would be frightened.

When Bu Li didn't get a response from Li Hua, he quietly sighed and pushed Li Hua into the study, then closed the door, because Li Hua didn't need his company.

However, not long after, Bu Li suddenly heard a loud noise coming from inside the doorway, as if something had been broken.

I was afraid Li Hua might do something rash these days, so when I heard the noise, I rushed into the house and saw that a brush washer had been overturned, with murky ink spilled all over the floor, forming a large puddle.

Li Hua held an account book in her hand, her eyes bulging as she stared intently at a piece of paper tucked inside.

He emitted a growling sound from his throat, like a wild beast's grunt, a deterrent before an attack, or a warning to the enemy.

His expression was out of control; his lips twitched uncontrollably, and tears soon rolled down his cheeks. He immediately moved the ledger away, afraid that his tears would burn the thin paper on it.

I felt him suddenly burst out laughing, his voice hoarse like the wailing of a nightingale.

The thin paper was written in handwriting he recognized.

That was the handwriting that had once written love words, expressing her love and longing for him; that handwriting that had once told him to return to the Prince Consort's mansion to wait, but was actually a deception to prevent him from pursuing her; now, in a haphazard yet powerful manner, it was written on that thin piece of paper—Wait for me, I will definitely come back to find you within two months.

Bu Li stood at the door, watching as Li Hua suddenly slumped over the table and burst into tears, only to burst into manic laughter a moment later.

He cried and laughed, venting his emotions that had been stretched to the limit these past few days, like a broken string about to snap.

"She didn't abandon me."

"She didn't abandon me!"

Li Hua seemed to be muttering to himself, or perhaps trying to prove something to someone.

He cried out hoarsely, "She didn't...she didn't abandon me."