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Gu Jun exchanged a glance with Ni Huan before standing up and saying, "Sui Guan, stay here. Your Uncle Ni and I will go take a look."

Gu Changjin obediently agreed. As soon as Gu Jun and Ni Huan descended the stairs, he quietly pushed open the window to peer down.

He saw an exceptionally luxurious carriage parked at the entrance of the inn.

Ni Yan was standing outside the carriage, conversing with someone inside through the window.

It was evident that Ni Yan's expression carried a tinge of reluctance, implying his attachment to the person seated within the carriage.

Who could be in there?

A gentle breeze swept by, lifting the half-opened carriage curtain. Gu Changjin's gaze lingered on the half-revealed face behind it.

It was a young girl, roughly the same age as his sister.

Although he could only see half of her profile, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. His heart even pounded heavily due to this familiarity.

Perhaps sensing his gaze, the girl lifted her eyes to look over. However, with him standing in the shadow, she quickly averted her eyes after a fleeting glance.

The carriage paused only briefly outside the inn before returning to the palace.

Seated on a palace maid's lap, Xiao Yu asked Xiao Lie, "Elder Brother, will we see Brother again in the future?"

Despite spending just a day with Xiao Yan, both siblings had grown fond of their gentle older brother.

Xiao Lie held Xiao Yu's delicate hand, his manner surprisingly mature. "Yes, when Zhaozhao grows up, I'll take you to meet Brother at Floating Jade Mountain."

Xiao Yu's eyes immediately crinkled into a smile. "Great! Brother said that Floating Jade Mountain is beautiful and fun. I'm looking forward to Elder Brother taking me there."

Back in the Kunyin Palace, Xiao Yu clung to Qi Zhen's arm, excitedly recounting the day's events, particularly the farewell to Xiao Yan outside the palace gates.

"Mother, Elder Brother promised to take Zhaozhao to Floating Jade Mountain to play with Brother when the time comes. You can't stop me then, okay?"

Was there anyone in the palace who didn't know that Princess Ling Zhao loved nothing more than venturing outside?

Qi Zhen was all too aware of her daughter's mischievous nature.

At the New Year's Eve family banquet the previous night, she'd seen her pestering Xiao Yan about Floating Jade Mountain the entire evening. Qi Zhen knew her daughter would insist on visiting the mountain to broaden her horizons.

Hence, she was not surprised at all when Xiao Yu mentioned it.

Pinching her daughter's delicate, snow-white cheeks, she smiled and said, "You're quite clever. Yesterday, you begged your father to take you with him on his trip to the south, and today, you've managed to persuade your elder brother to bring you to Floating Jade Mountain."

Despite being a precious royal princess, she constantly yearned to play outside.

Ironically, no matter what request she made, her father and Zhaozhao would always agree.

Of course, she wasn't entirely stubborn herself. Just the other day, she had promised to take Xiao Yu out to appreciate the lanterns during this year's Lantern Festival.

Xiao Yu beamed and said, "How can I not miss my big brother? Since he can't stay in the capital, I'll have to go visit him. Mother, why doesn't Brother want to stay in the capital?"

The young girl was filled with curiosity and confusion.

They were Xiao Yan's family, so why wouldn't he choose to stay with them?

Qi Zhen didn't know how to explain the underlying reasons, so she simply replied, "Xiao Yan will be happier and freer back in Floating Jade Mountain. You'll understand when you grow up. A life filled with flowers might distract one's vision, but a peaceful and stable life isn't necessarily worse than a life of intense turmoil."

That night, Emperor Jia'you came over from the Qianqing Palace, and Qi Zhen mentioned the afternoon's events to him.

"Both Zhaozhao and Zhuozhuo have a fondness for Xiao Yan. They personally accompanied him to the inn," she paused before continuing, "Xiao Yan is determined to return to Floating Jade Mountain, isn't he?"

Xiao Yan responded with an "mm-hmm," "He says he only wants to be Ni Yan for now and will return to the capital as Xiao Yan after reaching adulthood. I'll send Ni Huan to stay with him in Jinan Prefecture."

Xiao Yan was the son of Prince Qiyuan, who had died in Xiao Yan's schemes.

Logically, Xiao Yan should have been on Xiao Yan's watchlist. Even if he wasn't to be killed, he should have been kept in the capital. However, Xiao Yan didn't keep him but instead granted his wish and sent him away from the capital.

Qi Zhen couldn't help but ask, "You're not worried about letting him leave the capital?"

"How could I not be at ease?" Emperor Jia You picked her up and carried her towards the bed, "He's a good child who knows how to repay kindness."

As the man spoke, his hand had already slipped into Qi Zhen's attire.

Qi Zhen bit her lip and decided not to say more.

Since he was at ease, there was no need for her to overthink it.

The Great Yin grew richer each year, with its citizens living peacefully and adoring Xiao Yan. Regardless of what thoughts the officials held in their hearts, they had to acknowledge that he was an excellent emperor.

In the inner chamber, the bed curtains swayed for a full hour before they stilled. After their intimate encounter, Qi Zhen lay exhausted in Xiao Yan's arms, allowing him to clean her up. Before long, she drifted off to sleep.

Xiao Yan waited until she was sound asleep before lifting the curtains and stepping out of the palace hall, draped in a cloak.

Outside, a snowstorm raged. Gui Zhong stood waiting in the corridor.

Upon seeing Emperor Jia You emerge, he hurried forward and bowed, saying, "Niu Huan has picked up his wife and children and set off with Prince Yan and company for Floating Jade Mountain."

Emperor Jia You nodded slightly. "Earlier, I asked you to prepare a dose of Sanjing Tian. Today, you will deliver that dose to Great Compassion Temple. Inform Xiao Fu that Xiao Yan refuses to be Xiao Qiyuan's son; he only wants to be Ni Yan. Now, he has returned to Floating Jade Mountain and doesn't want to spend another moment in the capital."

Gui Zhong acknowledged, "Your Majesty, what should we do about that 'long-missing' young master Shen?

Xiao Yan's expression remained gentle as he gazed at the white-coated palace ahead. He spoke softly, "Since Shen Zhi is deeply devoted to Princess Yun Hua, let him take the Sanjing Tian alongside her. I will allow him to be buried together with Princess Yun Hua as her husband."

Chapter 133: The Third Life

This sense of familiarity sent Gu Changjin's heart pounding fiercely.

Autumn of Jia You's seventeenth year.

October had barely passed its midpoint when the first snow fell upon Floating Jade Mountain.

Gu Changjin, returning from his studies at the academy, took Ah Chai out for a hunting expedition.

Last month, he had been successful in the county examinations in Jinan, and in another fortnight, he would embark on his journey to the capital to sit for the metropolitan examination.

To make up for their father's youthful regrets, Ah Chai's elder brother joined the military in Ganzhou two years prior, thanks to Uncle Ni's recommendation.