The chubby, somewhat simple-minded third brother who used to waddle around was gone, replaced by a tall young man.

While he's not exactly skinny, and has some fat on his arms and stomach, he's definitely not the fat guy he used to be; he's just a bit more well-off now.

This is the normal physique the Third Prince should have after the Gu worms have been completely eliminated.

A scholar should be looked at with new eyes after three days of separation. Yun Yishu has lost weight at a visible speed and now looks like a handsome young man from a wealthy family. However, why does he look so dark-skinned?

"Third brother, are you going to work in a coal mine?"

[This skin tone is so fair, you wouldn't even notice it if it fell on the ground!]

"Your Highness is joking. Oh, it's all because of Mother. She insists that your brother read the Analects and memorize Confucius." Yun Yishu looked aggrieved.

"Tell me, do you think your imperial brother is cut out for this?" Yun Yishu raised an eyebrow.

Uh, how am I supposed to answer that question?

[You're a prodigy who can recite lines like "A moment of spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold; to truly understand this, one must experience it firsthand," and "If only General Li Guang were here, the beauties of the six palaces would pale in comparison."]

"Your elder brother has already told Mother that he's not cut out for this, so why bother?"

"Don't you think so?"

Yun Duoduo nodded vigorously, but then realized something was wrong and shook her head repeatedly.

“Mother Consort wouldn’t listen to any of this, so she punished your brother by making him kneel under the scorching sun every day and recite the Analects of Confucius. If he didn’t take his head off, she wouldn’t let him eat.”

"Hey, you know what, after a while it turned into this dark, yellowish-brown mess." Yun Yishu grinned, revealing a set of dazzling white teeth.

No wonder I haven't seen my third brother for a while; it turns out he was punished by being made to stand in the corner for not memorizing his lessons properly!

"Is my royal sister going to see Jinzhi and the others?" Yun Yishu asked, looking in the direction Yun Duoduo was walking.

"Mm!" Yun Duoduo nodded.

"Let's go, Your Majesty will go with you." Yun Yishu picked up Yun Duoduo and walked towards the side hall while making her laugh.

"It's been quite a while since I've seen that cold-faced brother, Jin Zhiren."

The two quickly arrived at the side hall.

"Brother Jinzhi!" Yun Duoduo's voice was sweet and gentle, like a spring breeze, very pleasant and cute.

"Duoduo?"

Jin Jinzhi was very happy to see that it was a tiny cloud that had entered. His mind and spirit had cleared up considerably, and the swelling in his body was not as severe as it had been yesterday.

"Your subject pays respects to the Third Prince." Jin Jinzhi rose to perform the salute.

"Hey, why bother with all that? We're already so familiar with each other, there's no need for formalities." Yun Yishu waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to bow.

Yun Yishu placed Yun Duoduo on the ground.

"Brother Jinzhi, are you feeling better?" Yun Duoduo walked to Jin Jinzhi's side and poked his leg.

"Does it still hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt anymore." Jin Jinzhi shook her head.

"I feel much better today."

Xue Deyi rolled his eyes in displeasure as he watched the three laughing and chatting.

[Hmph, do you think I don't exist?]

Everyone's here to see Jin Jinzhi, but I'm injured too, okay?! Why isn't anyone coming to see me?!

Yun Duoduo overheard Xue Deyi's words. She turned around and looked at Xue Deyi with a smile, "Are you feeling better?"

Xue Deyi paused for a moment, then put on a nonchalant attitude, "Tch, I'm already done!"

As the group was talking, footsteps came from outside the door. The newcomers were Zhao Zhongquan and several eunuchs.

"Oh, the little princess is here too!" Zhao Zhongquan bowed.

Zhao Zhongquan was stunned when he saw that the once chubby, fair-skinned, and delicate Third Prince Yun Yishu had now become a tall, thin, and dark-skinned boy.

"This is...this is the Third Prince?"

"Hey, that's incredible! This old servant has always said that when the Third Prince grows up, he will definitely be a handsome and talented man!" Zhao Zhongquan turned around to look at Yun Yishu, clapping his hands and praising him endlessly.

Yun Duoduo opened her mouth, quite surprised. "Old Zhao, how can you say that?"

[Uh, "a refined and elegant young man" doesn't seem to fit the description of my third brother...]

What if he's broad-shouldered and burly...?

[Pah! How can you talk about your own brother like that!]

"Hehe." Yun Yishu chuckled twice and scratched his head sheepishly.

Zhao Zhongquan looked at Jin Jinzhi and Xue Deyi, "Young masters, are you feeling better?"

"I'm much better, thank you for your concern, Eunuch Zhao," Jin Jinzhi said politely.

"His Majesty sent this old servant to deliver a message: once you have recovered from your injuries, you will be free to come and go as you please. You may stay with the princess or return to your own residences," Zhao Zhongquan recounted Yun Beiye's words from that day.

【Freedom of entry and exit? 】

Jin Jinzhi and Xue Deyi exchanged a glance, feeling that the imperial decree had come somewhat suddenly.

Jin Jinzhi pondered for a moment, then said, "Presumably, their injuries are life-threatening, and His Majesty is worried that if the grandson of a high-ranking official dies in the palace, the public outcry will be difficult to control."

Moreover, while he is relatively easy to deal with, Xue Deyi is the only grandson of Xue Guangjin, a veteran official of three dynasties and the Left Chancellor. If anything were to happen to him, the Left Chancellor's faction would certainly not let the matter rest.

"Oh, by the way, Madam Kim and General Kim have already returned to the Kim residence," Zhao Zhongquan added.

A fleeting look of joy crossed Jin Jinzhi's face.

The Jin family has guarded the northern frontier for many years and commands a large army; their 500,000-strong Zhenbei Army is no joke.

It is understandable that His Majesty is suspicious and wary, but the Jin family is full of loyal and brave men. Detaining them all in the palace and preventing the whole family from reuniting is truly disheartening to the ministers.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Jin Jinzhi nodded slightly.

Yun Duoduo observed Jin Jinzhi's reaction: "He seems very happy."

[Sigh, that's true. Anyone would be upset if their family was constantly being kept in the palace by their emperor father.]

[But, from now on, will my brother Sumire no longer be with me in the palace?]

She looked at Jin Jinzhi with a hint of disappointment, "Is my little brother leaving?"

"Well, that's true. They've been with me in the palace for a long time, and I can't let them stay there forever!"

I'm really a little reluctant to part with it.

...

The gray sky was drizzling, and it had been raining continuously since last night until today, as if it were whispering some unspoken secret.

Inside the royal palace of Northern Liang, Chen Yuan was whispering something to Baili Yingfeng.

"Is Mingwen sleeping with Nanfei again?" Baili Yingfeng's voice was filled with dissatisfaction.

Baili Yingfeng's eyes narrowed to slits. "This woman is truly cunning and treacherous!"

As they were talking, Baili Mingwen walked in.

"Father, Father has wronged Mother."

"It's still raining outside, why did you come?"