Compared to the chilly winter in the north, the capital city was still covered in deep green, but the wind in the imperial city whistled through the doors and windows and rushed into the palace, bringing with it a bone-chilling chill.

The emperor's face was also gloomy.

"What a waste! It's been so long and we can't even find a single person." He slammed the memorial on the table and shouted, "I don't believe that Duke Cheng can fly away with wings!"

"Duke Cheng has accumulated wealth for more than ten years and has made many friends. I don't know how many people are protecting him." Huang Cheng leaned over and said.

Of course, he did not say this to excuse himself, but just to add fuel to the fire of the emperor.

Sure enough, the emperor was furious.

"Does the whole world belong to the Zhu family?" he shouted, looking at Lu Yunqi. "Lu Yunqi, where is Duke Cheng now?"

"The last time we found it was at Maliu Pass, and it should be heading towards Baozhou." Lu Yunqi said.

"Why can't we catch him if we find out?" asked the emperor.

Lu Yunqi leaned forward.

"Because I am a waste." he said.

No one expected Lu Yunqi to answer like this. Some ministers almost couldn't help laughing out loud, but fortunately they restrained themselves in time.

The emperor threw the memorial to the ground with a bang.

"Did you hear that Duke Cheng went to the north and told Lord Qinghe that I wanted to see if he was also a waste." He said coldly.

Huang Cheng leaned over and answered yes.

"Duke Cheng actually went to the north. Isn't that walking into a trap?" The officials who had retired from the court could not help but whisper.

Huang Cheng snorted.

"Of course he will go to the North," he said. "Everything he has is in the North. The most dangerous place is also the safest."

The officials following nodded.

"Tell Qinghebo that His Majesty has ordered him to do as he pleases," Huang Cheng said, "He must not disappoint His Majesty."

Here he paused again.

"Don't let him down again."

The officials answered yes, their expressions unable to conceal their joy.

Although Duke Cheng has not been caught yet, it is no different for him to be dead now. He has lost his military power, is under criminal jurisdiction, and his reputation is ruined. Even if there are many people who are secretly protecting him, they can only do so in secret and dare not show up in public.

From then on, Duke Chengguo became like a rat and could never see the light of day again.

For a hero, falling from the clouds into the quagmire is more painful than death.

The officials in front were talking in low voices and laughing from time to time, but Lu Yunqi, who was walking behind, didn't care and even stopped.

He turned around and looked at Ning Yunzhao who was following behind him.

Ning Yunzhao stepped forward with a smile.

"Lord Lu, are you going back to the yamen or home?" He said, as if he was not following Lu Yunqi all the time, but just greeted him casually when he met him by chance.

Ning Yunzhao was different from other people in the court. When facing Lu Yunqi, the people in the court either despised royal relatives and powerful children like Zhu Zan, or disdained civil officials and scholars like Ning Yan. Regardless of fear or disdain, everyone kept their distance from him.

Of course there are people who try to please and get close to others, but no one can be as calm and composed as Ning Yunzhao.

Lu Yunqi ignored him, turned around and continued walking.

"What do you think they are thinking now?" Ning Yunzhao smiled and looked around.

Many eyes were watching them, either openly or secretly, full of speculation.

Of course Lu Yunqi ignored him, and Ning Yunzhao didn't wait for his answer.

"They must think I'm pretty brave." He said, and then seemed to think of something funny. "I am pretty brave, does Lord Lu know? I broke into the Fang family in the middle of the night and had a night meeting with Miss Jun."

Lu Yunqi stopped.

"It was on March 3rd in Jinyun Tower, after your sister and Miss Lin colluded to frame her?" he asked.

Ning Yunzhao nodded with a smile.

"What do you want to say?" Lu Yunqi asked.

"I want to say that I always ask to see her at inappropriate, inconvenient and inappropriate times." Ning Yunzhao said calmly, "So can I go see her now?"

It is even more inappropriate, inconvenient and dangerous now than when I had my first night with someone else's wife.

But Ning Yunzhao still said it lightly.

Lu Yunqi looked at him for a moment.

"You are certainly very courageous," he said.

Ning Yunzhao looked at him with a smile.

"Then..." he asked.

"No." Lu Yunqi interrupted him and turned away.

No, at least it is certain that the person is in his hands. Ning Yunzhao remained silent behind.

"Hey." He followed a few steps, "Can you give me something?"

Lu Yunqi left without looking back.

Lu Yunqi did not go back to Beizhen Fusi, but went straight home. A maid was waiting at the door and greeted him timidly.

"Princess, what can I do for you?" Lu Yunqi asked first.

The maid's nervousness immediately disappeared. Lord Lu really treated the princess differently.

"Yes, the princess asked before whether the master had returned," she said.

Lu Yunqi nodded and walked straight to Princess Jiuli's courtyard.

"I made a cotton coat for Jiuli." Princess Jiuli handed him a piece of clothing, "Thank you, sir."

Lu Yunqi took it, looked at the dense stitches and nodded.

"I'll deliver it myself," he said.

Jiuli thanked him with a smile.

"You came back so early, have you eaten yet?" she asked, glancing to the side, "I just put out the food..."

Lu Yunqi shook his head.

"I have something else to do, thank you, Princess," he said.

Princess Jiuli nodded with a smile and didn't say anything more. She watched Lu Yunqi walk out. Her expression became gradually solemn. She sat at the table and ate slowly. Suddenly, she pointed at a plate.

"This is very well made. Go tell Lord Lu to ask the kitchen to send a portion for Prince Huai as well," she said.

A maidservant answered hurriedly, and came back not long after going out, looking a little uneasy.

"Have you said it?" asked Princess Jiuli.

"Yes," the maid said, "but the master was at Fuyun's residence, and I didn't see him, so I asked them to pass on the message."

Without Lu Yunqi's order, no one dared to send anything to Prince Huai's Mansion. Lu Yunqi's approval was required.

Princess Jiuli nodded.

"That's good to say. There's no rush." ​​She said with a smile.

The maid bowed her head and left, and Princess Jiuli slowly ate a bite of the food.

Fuyun House.

In the bright and soft room, Lu Yunqi sat in front of Miss Jun. There was food on the table, but this time he did not feed her. Instead, he looked at her, seriously.

Miss Jun looked at him indifferently, neither dodging nor avoiding nor staring.

"That Lord Ning Yunzhao Ning today was quite interesting." Lu Yunqi said, "He actually told me that he wanted to come and see you."

Ning Yunzhao, Miss Jun's eyes softened a little.

Lu Yunqi looked into her eyes.

"He really likes you." He said, "People only become particularly brave when they like someone very much."

Miss Jun said nothing and her expression returned to indifference.

"You don't have to worry that I will be unhappy and hurt him." Lu Yunqi said, "I am very happy. You are you. No matter what you look like, you are always good and likable."