Because the babies were too young, and both were premature, Gan Qiongying did not set off immediately after her postpartum confinement period, even though she had made plans to go back and find out everything.

She stayed with the children for another two months, until August. Summer had arrived in the Northwest, and the two children had transformed from little monsters covered in bruises into fair and tender little tofu. Only then could Gan Qiongying finally relax and leave them temporarily.

She had no intention of taking the children to find Li Hua. Before finding out what was going on with Li Hua, Gan Qiongying would not even reveal the existence of the two children to him.

By the seventh day of the eighth lunar month, Gan Qiongying had fully recovered. This was thanks to the soups and broths that Xiao Qiansong had prepared every day during this period. Her body was nourished, and the blood and qi deficiency caused by childbirth had been completely replenished.

She looks great now; she used to be quite thin, but now she's much fuller.

Moreover, after giving birth, her temperament underwent an indescribable change. Sometimes when Gan Qiongying looked in the mirror, she felt that becoming a mother really does make a difference.

Those phoenix eyes, which used to make people feel unapproachable and unapproachable, now revealed a gentleness like a crescent moon.

That evening, after preparing her luggage, Gan Qiongying called Gan Lin to her side and carefully instructed him: "When I go back to find the prince consort, I still won't reveal where we're staying. I'm very relieved to leave the two children in the care of Manyue and you."

Gan Qiongying said, "The matter between Lihua and me will be resolved completely this time. No matter how it is resolved, I will rush back before the snow falls in winter."

"Sister, bring all the shadow guards with you." Gan Lin wouldn't comment on the matter between Gan Qiongying and Li Hua, but he was worried about Gan Qiongying leaving alone.

"Take two with you, and leave the rest to protect you and your two children."

Gan Qiongying has been thinking about names for the two little ones for a while now. Actually, this is something that needs to be thought of before the birth. Gan Qiongying has indeed thought about it for a long time and has discussed it with Gan Lin several times.

The given name has been decided, but the surname has not yet been decided.

It can only be settled after she has met Li Hua and is able to bring him back successfully.

If Li Hua is unable to relinquish power and still desires to remain an emperor who controls the world and life and death, Gan Qiongying will never bring him back.

The girl's name is Zhenzhen, derived from the line "The peach tree is young and tender, its leaves are lush and green." It describes abundant vitality, grandeur, and beauty.

For a boy, the name Pengpeng comes from the phrase "I roam the fields, Pengpeng and Qimai," which also means lush vegetation and vigorous vitality.

Gan Qiongying's only wish for her two children was that they grow up healthy and full of life; she had no other expectations.

Gan Lin wanted to say something more, but Gan Qiongying pressed down on the back of his hand and said, "Don't worry, there won't be any danger this time."

“I know you’ve been in contact with the Northwest Army all this time,” Gan Qiongying suddenly exposed what Gan Lin had been secretly doing.

Seeing the panic in Gan Lin's eyes, Gan Qiongying grabbed Gan Lin's hand and said, "You are not a child anymore. Although your older sister still loves you as much as before, she will not discipline your behavior like before."

“A real man stands between heaven and earth. Whatever you want to do, as long as you do what you want and you are willing to bear the consequences, I will support you no matter what you want.”

Gan Lin's eyes quickly reddened. She grabbed Gan Qiongying's hand, pressed it against her face, and said, "Sister...don't you think I'm useless?"

“What kind of person is useful? What would I do with you? You just need to live a healthy life, like Zhenzhen and Pengpeng. Nothing is more important to me than your safety and health.”

"Do whatever you want. I know you grew up in the palace and were confined to the imperial palace. You've never seen the suffering of the world..."

"It's your freedom to help or save whomever you want, just do what you can."

"However, you need to be more careful when dealing with the Northwest Army. Although the Northwest Army is the Chen family's army, not everyone in the Chen family is as stupid as Chen Wa."

"There may only be one person in the world who wants to find me, but there are countless people who want to find you. You need to be more careful and consider things carefully before acting rashly. Therefore, most of the Shadow Guards should stay by your side to protect your safety."

Gan Lin looked at Gan Qiongying with teary eyes. Gan Qiongying pointed at him and said, "Hold it back. Don't make people laugh at you. That day, Man Yue secretly said you looked like a crybaby... You were once an emperor, after all. Leave yourself some dignity."

Gan Lin's eyes were red but she didn't want to cry. She laughed when Gan Qiongying teased her like that.

The siblings had a private chat, and Gan Qiongying went to bed early that night. When she got up the next morning, she took the bundle and money that Manyue had prepared for her, along with Yingyi and Yinger, and rode the fine horse that Ganlin had specially bought for her, down the mountain for the first time.

Manyue was holding one child in her arms, while Xiao Qiansong, standing beside her, was holding another. The sun was shining brightly today, and it was just right for the two little ones to come out and bask in the sun.

Gan Qiongying glanced back and saw Manyue gently rocking the child as if to say goodbye.

Even before Gan Qiongying left, she felt an overwhelming sense of reluctance. This feeling was something only she herself knew back then, like the tangled threads of lotus root, intertwined and holding her back.

Gan Qiongying couldn't resist riding back on her horse. After dismounting, she looked at the two little ones' faces, avoiding touching the mask material on her face with them, and simply pouted her soft lips and kissed each of them on the cheek.

The two little ones were three months old. Although they slept most of the time, they were awake for a while. Their round eyes looked at Gan Qiongying. They couldn't show any reluctance, but their expression was more moving than any words of reluctance in the world.

After kissing the two little ones, Gan Qiongying steeled herself, mounted her horse again, and followed the two shadow guards, quickly heading down the mountain.

This time, Gan Qiongying and her group's destination was not Yindu, but Jinchuan.

Jinchuan is about half a month's journey from Yindu, and Gan Qiongying's location in the northwest is right on the border of Nanzhao.

In fact, it would be the Mid-Autumn Festival in a few days. Gan Qiongying originally planned to spend a reunion festival with the older Gan Lin and the little ones before going to find Li Hua.

It's just that too much time has been wasted, and during this period, news has frequently come from Jinchuan. Although Gan Lin has been trying to find out about it indirectly, it is true that... Li Hua has reached his limit.

Therefore, they set off on the tenth day of the eighth lunar month, traveling day and night without stopping in any town except for necessary rest and meals.

Along the way, they changed horses and made several changes to their appearance. By the time Gan Qiongying arrived in Jinchuan, it was already more than a month later.