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Empress Qi was unaware that Emperor Jia Yu had dispatched Gui Zhong to trail her. As soon as the carriage left the palace gates, she instructed her attendants to divert their route and head for the Eastern Palace.

Half an hour later, the carriage stopped at the main entrance of the Eastern Palace.

Shiiun personally came to open the door. Seeing a group of women dressed in imperial attire standing outside, he bowed promptly and said, "His Highness the Crown Prince is not currently in the Eastern Palace. If there's any matter, Matron Gui, I will convey it to him when he returns."

Matron Gui replied, "We've been sent by Her Majesty the Empress to bring some auspicious fruits from the palace for His Highness and inquire about Aunt Zhu Jun. Are the servants in the Eastern Palace attending to His Highness diligently?"

Although Shiiun had never met Matron Gui before, he could guess her identity from her tone. He instinctively glanced at the other palace maids bowing behind her.

"Please come in, Matron Gui," Shiiun respectfully stepped aside. "Aunt Zhu Jun is currently in the plum grove. I'll send someone to fetch her immediately."

Matron Gui's real purpose wasn't to meet Zhu Jun; she merely used her as an excuse. She waved her hand and said, "No need for the trouble. I'll go find her directly." With that, she led the palace maids behind her towards the plum grove.

Shiiun acknowledged with a "Yes" and lingered his gaze on one of the palace maids behind Matron Gui before following them.

Midway, he noticed the group halt their steps and quickly looked up.

It turned out Zhu Jun and Lan Xuan had just returned from the plum grove.

Two ladies, each holding a copper hand warmer, were escorting a young maiden draped in a sapphire cloak along the corridor. The girl carried a bundle of plum branches, half of her face concealed by the hood, revealing only her rosy lips and delicate chin.

Without knowing what Lan Xuan whispered in her ear, the young maiden suddenly turned her head and laughed. The cold wind blew away the hood, uncovering her face—like a blooming peach blossom in spring or a radiant moon in autumn.

Aunt Gui caught sight of those enchanting apricot blossom eyes, as gentle as the spring tide cradling the moon, and her hand holding the tray trembled slightly. She instinctively glanced at the person behind her.

Empress Qi stared blankly at Rong Shu.

She had seen this girl before.

That day at the city gate, she was leaving the city while the girl was entering, and they exchanged a brief glance through the snowy haze.

At that moment, an inexplicable feeling stirred within her heart.

Now, that same sensation resurfaced.

She was the child.

The Crown Prince had indeed hidden her here.

Indeed, if he distrusted everyone, how could he possibly put Xiao Fu in danger at Minglu Yard just to lure her out?

Empress Qi, disguised as a palace maid, had entered with Aunt Gui, planning only to take a quick glance and leave.

But now that she had actually seen her, she was reluctant to depart.

As the young lady was about to turn into the Moon Cave Gate of the Purple Imperial Palace, Empress Qi pushed aside the maid in front of her and lifted her skirt, ready to approach.

Shiiun, who had been following them, hurried forward to stop her. "Your Majesty, please wait! His Highness has instructed me to give this to you."

The tone suggested that he had already recognized her.

Empress Qi paused and turned to look at Shiiun. "Does the Crown Prince know that I would come?"

"His Highness said that Your Majesty has an insightful eye and would certainly investigate the Eastern Palace after leaving the palace," Shiiun replied. He took out a jade bead strung on a red thread from his sleeve. "Miss Rong gave this to His Highness personally. He said Miss Rong wishes to return this jade bead to its rightful owner."

When Shiiun produced the jade bead, Empress Qi's well-manicured nails dug into her palm, but she seemed unaware of the pain, her gaze fixed on the familiar object.

"She knows this jade bead fell from my bracelet?" she asked.

Shiiun chuckled and said, "I, your servant, am unaware. His Highness is currently in the Minglu Yard. Your Majesty might as well ask him personally there?"

Xiao Yan didn't want her to meet that child.

Empress Qi gazed at the smiling young man before her and spoke in a cold tone, "Why would I need to ask the Crown Prince when the owner of this jade bead is right here? I can simply inquire of her, can't I? Are you trying to stop me?"

Thud! Shiiun knelt on the snowy ground, holding up the jade bead in his hand as if he was prepared to give his life. "Your Majesty, forgive me, I dare not obstruct you. But if Your Majesty insists on passing, please step over my corpse! In any case, my life won't be spared once the Crown Prince returns!"

Empress Qi chuckled softly.

If she were to cause a death in the Eastern Palace today, she might not even be able to leave the city gates, let alone visit Xiao Fu at Daci'en Temple.

The Crown Prince had always been wary of her.

Empress Qi finally understood why Xiao Yan was so cautious about her meeting with the Emperor.

If the Emperor found out that the lady he wished to marry was that child...

Empress Qi's heart tightened, and she turned her gaze toward the grand palace in the distance.

After a moment, she exhaled slowly and said, "Granny Gui, you personally deliver the jujubes to Zhu Jun. Tell her they're from the Imperial Kitchen, made with the same old recipe. Ask her to be careful and inquire first if Miss Rong has any food allergies."

Granny Gui understood that Empress Qi was concerned about an allergic reaction, as there had once been a child in the Qi family who had nearly died from a peanut allergy.

"Yes, this old servant will make sure to pass on the message," Granny Gui replied before leading two palace maids to fulfill the task.

Empress Qi stood in the snowy wind, her expression gradually darkening.

How dare he ask for her hand?

How dare he?

Empress Qi's gaze shifted to Shiiun.

Feeling her icy stare, Shiiun remained unafraid, keeping his arm raised high, holding the jade bead aloft.

Empress Qi stepped forward to take the bead and said coldly, "Remember, I did not visit the Eastern Palace today. Do you understand?"

Shiiun bowed his head deeply into the snow, responding, "This lowly one obeys!"

The jade bead in her fingertips was tinged with snowflakes, sending a chill through her. Empress Qi stroked the gem and asked, "She truly doesn't want this jade bead anymore?"

Shiiun lifted his head slightly and replied with a smile, "Yes, Miss Rong wishes to go to Datong Prefecture. At present, her stay in the Eastern Palace is merely a wait for Madam Shen. Once Madam Shen arrives in the capital, His Highness will send them both to Datong. Miss Rong has purchased a horse ranch there, intending to breed fine horses for Great Yin to alleviate the shortage of steeds for our border soldiers."