The next day, before dawn.
At the entrance of Nanxi Town, a horse-drawn carriage and numerous horses were parked.
Yuan Yao was dressed in a bamboo-green men's suit and a dark cloak, sitting on horseback.
Her long, black hair was tied high into a ponytail with a bamboo-green ribbon, and then flowed smoothly over her shoulders.
She gripped the reins and looked at the carriage: "Father, Uncle, it's almost dawn, you should go home now."
The carriage curtain was lifted, and the Ninth Prince, dressed in red, sat inside the carriage, his narrow eyes squinting to hide the reluctance in them: "Take good care of yourself after you return to the capital."
Bathed in the morning light, Yuan Yao's eyes were slightly red: "Father, don't worry, Yao'er has grown up and can take good care of herself!"
Looking at the radiant young woman on horseback, the Ninth Prince hesitated for a moment before finally instructing her, "Drive carefully on the road."
Yuan Yao forced a smile: "Okay!"
Xie Ning poked his head out: "Little Yao'er, after we return to the capital, if there are any new and interesting things in the city, remember to have someone bring some back for your uncle."
“Yao’er has remembered it!” Yuan Yao replied.
Xie Ning waved his hand: "Then you should leave quickly!"
If we don't leave now, my brother will follow me...
Yuan Yao looked at the Ninth Prince with reluctance: "Father, it's getting cold, remember to wear more clothes!"
Eat more and get well soon!
The Ninth Prince smiled and said, "You little dumpling, are you coming or not?"
If you don't leave now, don't come back.
Walk!
Of course we have to go!
As the daughter of the Ninth Prince and a princess of Qianhua Palace, how could she not show up at such a momentous occasion as the Emperor's funeral and the funeral of the "Ninth Prince"?
If she doesn't show up, wouldn't that arouse suspicion?
At that time, all the efforts that her father and she had made before will be reduced to ashes!
Therefore, she had to return to Beijing!
As dawn broke, Yuan Yao gripped the reins tightly: "Father, Uncle, Yao'er is off!"
"Go." The Ninth Prince smiled and gazed at her.
Xie Ning waved with a smile: "Go ahead and don't worry, your uncle will take good care of your father, be good."
Yuan Yao gritted her teeth and spurred her horse: "Giddy up!"
A dozen or so horses disappeared into the morning light.
Looking at the morning mist, Xie Ning sighed, "Little Yao'er has really grown up. She can stand on her own even without her brother."
The Ninth Prince gazed at the official road leading north, and after a long while, he said softly, "After all, she was raised by me."
Yes, she truly is a daughter raised by her elder brother.
Like him.
Xie Ning smiled especially gently and brightly: "Brother, I cooked this morning, shall we go home?"
The Ninth Prince glanced sideways and said, "For lunch, I'd like to have a fish hot pot."
Xie Ning said happily, "A-Ning, go back and buy some fish! I wonder what kind of fish you'd like to eat, brother? Grass carp, common carp, or perch?"
After considering for a long time, the Ninth Prince finally answered, "Perch."
"Understood!" Xie Ning's smile grew even brighter. "Ying, drive home!"
Soon, the carriage disappeared at the town entrance.
After winter set in, the official road heading north was bustling with activity, with caravans every ten miles or so carrying merchants and people going to the capital to visit relatives and friends.
To avoid being recognized, Yuan Yao simply changed his appearance and disguised himself as a wealthy young man visiting relatives and friends in the capital.
The further north you go, the colder it gets.
Along the way, it even started to snow lightly a few times.
By the time they arrived at the Donghu Imperial Palace, it was already November 20th...
As night fell, Yuan Yao, carried by the lingering wind and broken moon, quietly landed in the secluded courtyard of the imperial palace.
In the secluded courtyard, a lamp was lit.
The howling wind whipped through the leafless trees outside the palace, creating a terrifying, ghostly wailing sound.
Upon hearing this sound, Yuan Yao gently pushed open the door.
"Clang!"
The silver basin in Jing'er's arms fell to the ground.
Jing'er stared in shock, rubbing her eyes.
After a long while, she finally came to her senses and cried out, "Princess..."
"Jing'er." Yuan Yao smiled faintly.
Jing'er cried and threw herself into Yuan Yao's arms: "Princess, you're finally back! These past few days, I haven't been able to eat or sleep well, and I've been worried every day, fearing that something might have happened to you."
"Feel it, I've gotten so thin..."
Yuan Yao felt both sorry for him and amused: "But I'm back now, aren't I?"
Jing'er cried with snot and tears streaming down her face: "Princess, next time before you leave, please take Jing'er with you, okay?"
Jing'er doesn't want to be abandoned again!
"I've been going crazy while you've been gone!"
"Okay, okay, don't cry!" Yuan Yao gently patted Jing'er's back. "I'm hungry, is there anything to eat?"
Jing'er sobbed as she stepped out of Yuan Yao's arms, laughing and crying at the same time: "There's food! Your servant and Aruo prepare food for the princess every day, around the clock!"
Yuan Yao lifted her sleeve to wipe Jing'er's tears, and said coquettishly, "I want hot water too. I've been traveling for days and I want to take a bath!"
"Wah..." Jing'er cried very loudly: "You really are a princess, a princess with flesh and blood, a princess who can be coquettish and comfort her servants!"
Yuan Yao was both amused and exasperated.
It seems that Jing'er and Aruo must have been under a lot of pressure while she was away from the palace.
While comforting Jing'er, Yuan Yao asked, "Where's Aruo?"
Jing'er wiped away her tears and sobbed as she replied, "Although the princess is not here, we servants still have to make it look as if she is."
So, Aruo went to deliver the princess's clothes to be washed.
She's been gone for a while now, she'll probably be back soon..."
Just then, footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate.
Despite her tears, Jing'er was still quite sharp.
She called out to the door, "Who's outside?"
Aruo's voice rang out in the courtyard: "Who would be outside at this hour?"
It's Aruo!
Jing'er breathed a sigh of relief.
Soon, Aruo pushed open the door.
She glanced at the ground, her round little face immediately hardening: "Jing'er, what's with the water on the ground?"
Yuan Yao emerged from behind the screen, one hand behind her back, and smiled gently: "When Jing'er saw me, she was so excited that she cried, and then the floodwaters reached Jinshan Temple."
Aruo suddenly looked up: "Princess...Princess?"
Yuan Yao smiled and said, "Aruo, I'm back!"
Aruo sized up Yuan Yao, her eyes wary: "Princess, please forgive this servant for her offense."
"Um?"
Yuan Yao was puzzled when she saw Aruo walk over quickly and reach out to touch her hairline and behind her ears...
Yuan Yao: "?"
She laughed: "So, have you figured out if it's real or fake?"
Aruo's eyes reddened, and she curtsied, saying, "This servant respectfully welcomes the Princess back to the palace! The Princess must have suffered while away."
"Traveling a long way must have been tough," Yuan Yao said with a smile. "So, now that I'm back, you all have to make sure I get some good nutrition!"
Jing'er, with her sharp eyes, noticed the silver ring on Yuan Yao's finger: "Princess, have you... seen Prince Yun Chan?"
"Yes." Yuan Yao didn't intend to hide anything: "Tangyuan has already been sent to Yun Chan's side."
Upon hearing this, Jing'er was about to cry again: "Princess, does this mean we will never see Tangyuan again?"
She couldn't bear to part with it...
"Stop crying." Aruo said with a headache, "If you keep crying, the princess will marry you off to some remote mountain village, and you'll never see Tangyuan again."
Jing'er immediately covered her mouth, her face full of grievance.
Yuan Yao chuckled.
After Jing'er calmed down a bit, Yuan Yao said, "Go to the kitchen and spread some word."
I said I can feed myself and can even get out of bed with some difficulty.
"Tonight?" Aruo asked.
Yuan Yao nodded: "Yes, tonight."
Only after the news spread could Jiang Chengyan bring her back to the palace...
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