What did I do wrong?
"Hmm...it's nothing." Lili's eyes were clear and sparkling. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. The Ma family stole Qi Zheng's business before. I just wanted to come and pick up a few valuable treasures. I didn't expect to stay for so long."
Lili managed to free one hand and tug at Gu Ziyi's sleeve. Her strength was small, and her slightly messy hair and tired face made it impossible for Gu Ziyi to get angry.
An Qi's voice rang out from outside: "Your Highness, it's Miss's things."
"Bring it in."
Anqi stuffed a cloth bag in, which was clearly the bag of treasures that Lili had packed and taken away.
Gu Ziyi looked at the overflowing bag and paused for a moment: "...How many items?"
Lili chuckled, "I just accidentally took too much. Besides, Lili also inadvertently helped Your Highness find some important information! Your Highness should thank Lili."
Lili thought about it again and realized that it made more and more sense. She put her hands on her hips and raised her chin with a touch of arrogance.
Gu Ziyi's heart softened, so he didn't tell her that the Dark Guard Camp had already discovered something was wrong with the Ma family. Tonight, Zhui Feng led a group of Dark Guards to the military camp to find him, also to discuss this matter.
Gu Ziyi nodded gently and chuckled, "Yes, thank you, Lili."
Lili was delighted and pulled her hand out to get the cloth bag. She quickly rummaged through it and found that all her treasures were there.
"That's great! It must be worth a lot of money!"
The temperature inside the carriage gradually rose, and Lili's little face became flushed. Gu Ziyi covered the stove cover a little to insulate it from the heat.
Lili then noticed that Gu Ziyi was dressed very lightly, in summer clothes, without a cape, as if he wasn't afraid of the cold.
"Isn't Your Highness cold?"
"It's not cold."
Gu Ziyi possessed profound inner strength, so naturally he wasn't as afraid of the cold or heat as Lili.
The commotion from the Ma family was clearly beyond Gu Ziyi's expectations. The Dark Guard had made a meticulous plan to lure the enemy out step by step, but unexpectedly, Lili barged in and broke in.
The incident happened suddenly, and Gu Ziyi still had to clean up the mess.
Lili didn't ask him how he was doing; she knew Gu Ziyi would handle it.
Lili peeked out the side window. The streets were deserted in the dead of night, wet and desolate.
Lili noticed that this was not the way to the inn.
"Aren't we going back to the inn?" Lili asked.
Gu Ziyi glanced at her but didn't say anything.
Lili's doubts were resolved when she got off the car, as Gu Ziyi led her back to the familiar villa.
Lili: "..."
The steward of the villa was waiting at the door with two servants. Lili didn't even bring Huang Ying with her this time. This servant was the one who had served her when she came here before.
Although several years have passed and Lili has grown up, the group still recognized her at a glance.
With her delicate and beautiful appearance, she was as ethereal as a fairy. Who else could be the one His Highness keeps by his side but Miss Lili?
"Your Highness, Miss."
The steward led his men forward to greet them. Gu Ziyi nodded slightly and instructed them, "Keep a close eye on Miss. Stay at her door at night and do not leave."
Lili: "...Maybe we shouldn't?"
Gu Ziyi glanced at her again, and Lili didn't argue: "Yes, yes."
Gu Ziyi nodded in satisfaction: "I still have to go back and take care of some things. Get some rest. I'll pick you up tomorrow at noon to go to Anding City together."
How could Lili dare to say no? Of course, she nodded and said, "Mmm-hmm!"
It was a bit perfunctory.
After finishing her perfunctory response, Lili didn't forget about Anqi.
"Xiao Qi!"
An Qi suddenly appeared in front of Li Li: "Your subordinate is here."
Lili quickly pulled Anqi away, saying, "Hurry up and leave, don't let your prince catch you and punish you."
Gu Ziyi gave the manager a few more instructions and left.
After seeing Gu Ziyi off, the steward hurried over to invite Lili inside.
As Lili followed the maid toward the courtyard where she had lived, she asked the steward, "Uncle, are my brother and the others resting now?"
Lili knew that Gu Ziyi must have made arrangements for Gu Ziqi and Shen Ye, so she didn't ask him just now.
The steward hurriedly said, "Yes, the young master and young master Shen have been arranged. They are in the courtyard next to yours."
Lili smiled and said, "Thank you for taking care of me."
The person in charge was a kind old man. Gu Ziyi liked Lili very much when he first brought her here. Lili is well-behaved and sensible. Who wouldn't like her?
The steward smiled and said, "It's all my duty."
Lili slept in the villa for one night. She went to bed late yesterday, and as expected, she stayed in bed late the next day. When she got up, it was almost noon.
As soon as Lili woke up, a maid brought her water to wash up: "His Highness and the two young masters are already waiting for Miss to have lunch in the front courtyard."
Upon hearing this, Lili quickly tidied herself up and rushed to the front yard for dinner.
Lili arrived at just the right time, neither too early nor too late, and the last dish was served just as she sat down.
"Good morning!" Lili greeted with a smile.
Gu Ziqi swung her short legs and teased her, "The sun's already high in the sky. Your older sister loves to stay in bed even more than I do."
Lili stuck out her tongue, too embarrassed to admit that she had been doing something sneaky last night.
After finishing their meal, the group continued their journey to Anding City.
The difference was that Gu Ziyi was in the carriage.
When they arrived, Gu Ziqi sat next to Lili the whole time. Although the two of them didn't talk for long and occasionally did their own things, at least they could be close to each other.
But Gu Ziyi grabbed him by the back of the neck and lifted him away. Not only did she lift him away, she also lifted him to the very edge, so far that he could have left the carriage.
"Brother Crown Prince, what are you doing!"
Gu Ziqi bared his teeth and claws, trying to get back, but Gu Ziyi ruthlessly blocked him with one hand.
"You're all grown up now, you need to learn to be independent and not always rely on others."
"I'm not dependent on anyone, Ziqi just wanted to sit next to my sister!"
Gu Ziqi moved closer to Lili expressionlessly, his thin lips parting slightly: "Alright, I've taken this seat. Either sit across from me, or sit quietly there."
Gu Ziqi was so angry that his ahoge (cowlick) stood on end.
Lili was amused. Are these two people six years old combined?
Lili quickly moved a little further into the corner, making room for Gu Ziyi: "Alright, Ziqi, come here."
Gu Ziqi immediately smiled, and even raised his eyebrows triumphantly at Gu Ziyi before turning and heading in that direction.
Unexpectedly, Gu Ziyi then moved closer to Lili, turned around and scolded her somewhat unhappily: "You spoil him too much. You can't spoil children like that."
Gu Ziqi's face fell, and she was about to cry: "Crown Prince, you've gone too far! How could you take a seat from a four-year-old like me!"
Lili was both amused and exasperated: "If this is what you call indulgence, then Your Highness is going to let Lili run rampant?"
These words pleased Gu Ziyi. The young man smiled and continued what he was doing, picking up Gu Ziqi and sitting her down opposite him. He said cheerfully, "So what? My little girl whom I spoil."
The boy tilted his head slightly, his gaze falling on the person in front of him like water.
With his eyebrows and eyes blazing with unrestrained arrogance, he spoke without a care in the world, taking it for granted that there was nothing wrong with what he said.
Lili was taken aback, and suddenly blushed.
Sigh, the little puppy has grown up and knows how to flirt with girls.
Lili was very pleased.
Lili turned her head away awkwardly, focusing intently on eating the snacks Gu Ziyi had given her in small bites.
Gu Ziyi's eyes were gentle, and a smile played on his lips as he watched her eat like a little hamster.
The journey was uneventful, and we arrived safely in Anding City as dusk fell.
Han Xi led his men to greet her at the gate of Anding City. This was Lili's first time visiting Anding City. She had previously thought that Yuncheng was the border town, but now that she had come to Anding City, she realized what the grandeur of the border town was.
The tall and sturdy city walls, built of thick stones, have withstood the test of time and the ravages of war, yet still stand proudly. Banners flutter in the wind atop the walls, seemingly recounting past glories and triumphs. The towering gate towers, with their soaring eaves and intricate brackets, exude a magnificent and imposing presence. The vermilion beams and pillars contrast beautifully with the gray tiles, revealing an ancient and solemn atmosphere.
In the distance, a beacon tower stands tall, constantly vigilant against invasion. The sunset on the horizon is as brilliant as blood, making this border city even more magnificent and weathered.
"Your Highness, Miss."
Han Xi bowed and led over two horses. Gu Ziyi protected Lili and rode on one horse, while Chen Ye led Gu Ziqi.
"The general has already prepared a banquet at his residence, waiting for His Highness to bring Miss back."
"Um."
Gu Ziyi pushed off with both legs and rode his horse to the start.
The city gates were wide open, and people were coming and going, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.
Just as Lili had imagined, Anding City was no different from the border town depicted on every television set—lively and diverse.
Southerners are mostly gentle and considerate, but because they are from the border regions, they are also more bold and simple.
The city streets are crisscrossed, and the bluestone paths meander and twist.
The streets were lined with shops, including blacksmith shops selling weapons, taverns wafting the aroma of wine, and general stores filled with exquisite handicrafts.
The pedestrians were bustling about, and the common people dressed in coarse linen clothes and the Red Eagle Army soldiers who were constantly patrolling got along exceptionally well. Both sides seemed to be used to each other, and there was no sense of conflict at all. On the contrary, they were very friendly.
Lili had met the old general once when she was in Yuncheng. He was dignified and imposing, yet exceptionally kind and gentle.
The two seemingly unrelated words aptly describe him.
The Red Eagle Army were General Weiwu's soldiers, and naturally, they were just like General Weiwu.
Thus, the Red Eagle Army lived in harmony with the people of the city.
When the people needed help, they would go to the Red Eagle Army for assistance, and the Red Eagle Army would also go to the people to buy things.
This is what it means for the military and civilians to work together.
This was Gu Ziqi's first time in a place like this, and everything was new and exciting.
Caravans slowly moved in and out, carrying their goods, the jingling of camel bells echoing in the air.
Because it was a border region, bordering the Jin Dynasty, the two countries maintained a facade of peace, resulting in a large number of merchant caravans traveling between them.
This was something that Lili found strange before: although the political tension between the two sides affected trade, it didn't have a major impact.
Why didn't the Ma family trade directly with the Jin people, but instead went through such a roundabout way?
Wouldn't it be more aboveboard to do it openly and honestly?
He was so confident in repairing the house, so why is he now hesitant?
Lili didn't understand, so she asked the same question.
Gu Ziyi chuckled softly: "You forgot, he not only colluded with Da Jin, but also had a relationship with Gu Zi'an."
Lili blinked, then remembered.
“It seems so.” Lili nodded, then shook her head. “I still don’t understand. Didn’t Gu Zi’an want to make a deal with the Golden Man through the Ma family? Why didn’t he just go all the way? It’s strange to do half and hide the other half.”
"The Dark Guard had previously noticed something amiss with the Ma family's goods and secretly searched for them. With Gu Zian's help, the Ma family's goods eventually fell into the hands of the Great Jin, but in the end, it had nothing to do with Gu Zian. Since Gu Zian returned to the capital last month, the court has been hesitant to make a judgment on him due to the influence of his maternal clan, and the matter has been delayed until now."
Gu Ziyi's eyes were calm, as if he had expected this outcome.
"The Third Prince of Da Jin wanted to use Gu Zi'an to help him ascend the throne, and Gu Zi'an also wanted to use the Third Prince to help him ascend the throne. The two used each other, but dared not reveal their true intentions to each other. Until Gu Zi'an got into trouble, the Third Prince Yuchi Xiu wanted to abandon this pawn. However, Gu Zi'an's remaining supporters would not let go, and the two were still connected. The Ma family was just a medium. Zhang Yang in Yuncheng was real, and the hidden secrets in Baise were also real, but they were not made by the same person."
Lili is a smart person; she understands things very quickly.
Lili understood.
But few people truly understood it.
Seeing that she was frowning and thinking carefully, Gu Ziyi chuckled and didn't disturb her, letting her think it over on her own.
Lili shook her head, not wanting to think about it anymore.
"However, now that the Ma family's affair has come to light, does that mean Gu Zi'an has no chance left to fight back?"
After all, Gu Zian's henchmen were not to be trifled with. Although the previous incident might have chilled the emperor's heart, it could still be framed as a conflict between brothers.
This is different; this involves collusion with foreign parties.
Gu Ziyi shook his head, smiling helplessly: "Have you forgotten? What happened before was enough. It's just that the court is full of factions and the forces are constantly vying for power. In addition, Father Emperor still has a trace of fatherly affection for his son, which is why he has kept him for so long. If Father Emperor wanted to, no matter how much Gu Zian's supporters struggled, he would have nowhere to go."
"oh."
Lili nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Forget it.
It doesn't matter.
Anyway, it's alright as long as His Highness the Crown Prince is alright.
Who cares what Gu Zian is like? Anyway, Gu Ziyi is a model young man with impeccable character.
He is brave and resourceful, skilled in both literature and martial arts, has excellent character, and is also extremely handsome.
Hmm, this is called the "Crown Prince Training Manual".
Shen Ye had been to Anding City, or rather, he had hidden there when he was fleeing for his life.
Now, returning to Anding City, Shen Ye has a different feeling.
Hearing that the Ma family members they arrested last night were colluding with his third brother made him feel even more complicated.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that Yuchi Xiu and Gu Zian were colluding.
Thank goodness it wasn't his older brother.
I don't know why, perhaps it's because of the influence of the Shen family over the years, or perhaps it's because I've personally experienced Gu Ziyi's excellence and outstanding qualities.
He just felt that whoever cooperated with Gu Zi'an would lose.
It's a good thing it wasn't his older brother; if it weren't, he could have lost easily.
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