When the high-ranking officials and nobles in Nanyang, the capital, heard that Jin Jinzhi had arrived, they began to think about his marriage and wanted him to be their son-in-law.

Just as they were all eagerly anticipating how to arrange a chance encounter between their daughters and the Prince of Jibei, hoping to forge a beautiful marriage, some had already gotten there first and moved into the Prince of Jibei's residence.

This man was Li Sheng, a subordinate of Jin Jinzhi, and his daughter Li Qiqi.

Li Sheng was originally Jin Jinzhi's deputy general in the northern frontier. This time, Jin Jinzhi transferred him to the capital.

Because Li Sheng was injured in the Western Sea, he should have returned to the Northern Frontier on his own after recovering in the military camp. However, Jin Jin thought that he was old and the conditions in the military camp were not as good as those in the mansion, so she let him recuperate at the Prince of Jibei's mansion.

But little did anyone know that he also brought along a beautiful sixteen-year-old daughter.

Today is the day that Li Sheng and his daughter Li Qiqi moved from the military camp to the Prince of Jibei's residence. Because it was Jin Jinzhi who personally ordered Li Sheng to come and stay at the residence, the servants in the residence dared not neglect him.

"You know, this Lieutenant General Li is something else. Why did he bring his daughter to the battlefield?"

As Cao, the military advisor, spoke with his deputy, the two watched the servants moving things in and out and began to discuss among themselves.

"Don't you know? Our Deputy General Li is a total doting father!"

Military Advisor Cao couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

"Tell me more about it?" At this moment, Cao Canjun only wished he had a handful of melon seeds in his hand so he could listen to the gossip while eating melon seeds.

“This Li Qiqi is the only son of our old Deputy General Li! He had her late in life, and she is his precious daughter. He takes her with him wherever he goes.”

"But this young lady can't live without her father."

"So that's how it is."

Cao, the military advisor, couldn't help but think that there are all kinds of birds in a big forest. When he followed Jin Jinzhi to the northern frontier, he had met Li, the deputy general, quite a few times. However, each meeting was always in a hurry, so he didn't know much about Li's family situation.

Cao Canjun recalled the past interactions between his lord and Yun Duoduo, and also the numerous matchmakers who had recently come to the door. He couldn't help but feel puzzled: "You said our lord isn't married yet, it's the perfect time to arrange a marriage."

Military Advisor Cao shook his head; he couldn't quite figure out what Jin Jin was thinking.

“There are quite a few people coming and going every day to propose marriage.”

"If people find out that there's an unmarried young lady living in your household, how can we possibly discuss marriage?"

"Wouldn't that damage our prince's reputation?"

Originally, he could see that his master had an extraordinary affection for the Ninth Princess, but now, what was going on with letting a young lady from a respectable family move into the Jibei Prince's Mansion?

Is it possible that the prince's feelings for the princess are merely those of a subject and his ruler? Is it simply because the Ninth Princess is His Majesty's most beloved princess that the prince has repeatedly risked his life to save her?

Cao, the military advisor, couldn't figure it out. He scratched his head, stood on tiptoe, and looked at Li Qiqi in the distance.

"Yes, but Your Highness probably didn't expect that Lieutenant General Li's daughter would also come along."

"Now that they're here, we can't just send them away, can we?!"

Military Advisor Cao nodded helplessly: "That's true. We can't just let Vice General Li stay at his residence and let his daughter stay at an inn. Besides, judging from her appearance, what was her name again? Something like 'miserable and wretched'?"

"Li Qiqi".

"Oh, right, Li Qiqi, now that Vice General Li is injured, she still has to fulfill her filial duties in front of her father."

As they talked, their gazes turned to Li Qiqi, who was busy at work.

"You know what, Lieutenant General Li is big and burly, but look at Li Qiqi, the daughter of a military officer, she looks delicate and frail."

"Who can argue with that?"

"It's rare to find a daughter of a military general who doesn't know any martial arts. It seems she was well protected from a young age."

The two shook their heads and talked as they left the backyard.

...

Inside the Fu Shuang Palace, Yun Duoduo had just finished practicing whip and sword techniques, and was covered in sweat.

As she took the handkerchief Ah Xiang handed her and wiped the sweat from her face, she said, "Aunt Ah Xiang, do you think I should go see Brother Jinzhi?"

"After all, Sumire-nii got injured because of me."

Ever since returning to the palace, Yun Duoduo's mind has been filled with thoughts of Jin Jinzhi. The weather is getting colder and colder. After the New Year, she will come of age and be able to get married.

If only I could marry Sumire-nii.

She liked him, and she was very clear about that.

Now that Nanyang is powerful and her father dotes on her, he would never send her to another country for a political marriage for the sake of the country.

In this way, Yun Duoduo can find a suitable husband to marry. As for Jin Jinzhi, she is interested in him, but now the most important thing is to see if he has feelings for her.

Ah Xiang nodded: "This servant thinks we should go and take a look."

"This servant will immediately instruct the kitchen to prepare some food."

"Aunt Xiang, quickly boil a pot of water, I need to take a bath and change my clothes," Yun Duoduo said as she took off her clothes.

I can't possibly go to see my brother Jinzhi looking like I'm covered in stench.

Ah Xiang nodded and went to the front yard to tell the palace maids to prepare things.

In no time at all, Yun Duoduo had finished her bath and smelled wonderful.

After getting dressed, Yun Duoduo looked at herself in the mirror and was very satisfied. In Nanyang, she was definitely a top-notch beauty, and she could certainly be called the number one beauty in Nanyang.

Carrying her medicine box and food container, she prepared to go to the Prince of Jibei's residence to check on Jin Jinzhi's wounds.

As she emerged from the bedchamber, she noticed Xiao Liu's somewhat strange gaze: "Xiao Liu, what's wrong? Don't you think the hairpins I'm wearing today look good?"

Xiao Liu shook his head: "Princess, are you going to the Prince of Jibei's residence?"

Xiao Liu opened his mouth, but swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He felt that it was really inappropriate for Yun Duoduo, as the Princess You Rong, to go to a prince's mansion.

"What's wrong? Tell me quickly, or the cakes will get cold!"

As Yun Duoduo spoke, her footsteps never stopped.

It was raining outside, and Ah Xiang quickly followed Yun Duoduo with an umbrella.

"I heard that a woman is staying at the Prince of Jibei's residence," Xiao Liuzi said hesitantly, though he could guess Yun Duoduo's thoughts pretty much.

He worried that if the princess went to the Prince of Jibei's residence and saw something she shouldn't have, she might be too agitated.

The matter in Western Chu has not been completely forgotten yet, and it is unknown whether the princess can still bear it.

"Female relatives?!" Yun Duoduo was completely shocked.

"Is there a marriage agreement?"

Xiao Liu shook his head: "This servant only knows that there is a female relative living in the Prince of Jibei's mansion. As for whether there is a marriage contract, this servant does not know."

"Princess, this rain doesn't seem to be going to stop anytime soon. Perhaps we could gather more information and report back to you before you make a decision?"