"Thank you, Fengming." Hei Xiao patted Ji Fengming's shoulder again, hooking his arm around her as he always did.

Ji Fengming turned her head to look at him: "Thank me for what?"

"Thank you for treating me like family, allowing me, a lonely soul who has never known what home or warmth is, to feel kinship and warmth. You, Uncle Ji, and Xiao Yao'er are all miracles in my life," Hei Xiao said, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He let go of her hand and took a few big gulps of wine to cover up his embarrassment.

Ji Fengming grinned foolishly, revealing two rows of neat, white teeth, like a big kid: "I didn't expect you to be so mushy when you're serious, even more so than me. We're family, isn't it only right that we treat you well? From now on, don't say such nonsense as being a wandering ghost anymore. Didn't we agree to live well together?"

“Yes, let’s live a good life together,” Black Owl replied with a smile, raising his wine jar to drink heartily with Ji Fengming.

(Rabbit: Please you two drink "Three Lives Three Worlds" in such a loving way. This silly rabbit is too lazy to write this mundane daily life, chirp chirp chirp!)

Qiwu Palace.

The Empress had just given the summons signal when the Crown Prince entered, dressed in black.

The mother and son were both a little stunned when they suddenly saw each other, and they said in unison:

"Why has the Crown Prince arrived at this time?"

"What is Mother doing?"

Since the Crown Prince was of a lower generation, he first bowed respectfully.

As the two walked into the palace, the Crown Prince said in a low voice, "I have two things to ask you today. First, I want to ask you when we will retrieve the treasures brought from the Di Kingdom. The Ninth Prince's men are keeping a close eye on me, so I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to send your men to retrieve them."

Secondly, is Mother aware that Father has ordered the detention of Princess Chonghe?

"Of course I know. His Majesty's cleverness came out of nowhere," the Empress said, her expression extremely indifferent when she mentioned Shang Xiche. After settling down, she looked up at Shang Dongyang, and a hint of warmth returned to her face: "The Ninth Prince will leave the capital the day after tomorrow. After he leaves, wait two more days, until the Empress Dowager and the Emperor have reached out to Princess Chonghe, diverting the attention of everyone in the Ninth Prince's residence. Only then can we retrieve the items and ensure that nothing goes wrong."

The Crown Prince was anxiously waiting for the money to be spent. But he also knew that the Empress was right. It was better to wait a couple more days than to have the money exposed and cause any problems: "Your Majesty's considerations are thorough. We will proceed as Your Majesty wishes."

"What arrangements has Your Majesty made for Princess Chonghe, and how should I cooperate?"

"If the Empress Dowager and the Emperor are not in a hurry, we will proceed as planned and wait until the ancestral worship ceremony; if they cannot wait, we will act according to the circumstances and adapt accordingly," the Empress said shrewdly, calmly sipping her tea.

The words had barely left his mouth.

Enchanting Purple, shrouded entirely in a wide black robe, arrived silently.

She drifted into the hall like a ghost, her voice unusually cold: "What do you want with me now?"

"Di Lijunyi is dead." The Empress put down her teacup and looked at Mei Zi with confusion: "Aren't you going to avenge him? Or do you not know?"

Mei Zi crossed her arms, her voice even colder: "Why should I avenge him?"

Empress: "..."

Isn't he your nephew?

Okay, so the dead don't matter to you.

The Empress changed the subject and said, "Princess Ronghe is still alive, but the Emperor has imprisoned her at the bottom of the death row. The Ninth Prince has made a military pledge to wipe out the Di Kingdom within a year, and he will leave the capital to go on the expedition the day after tomorrow."

"So what?" Mei Zi remained cold.