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To her surprise, Emperor Jiayou approved her plan to visit Jinan Prefecture, but with one condition: she must bring her personal covert guards wherever she goes.

Princess Ling Zhao had a team of loyal covert guards since her childhood.

Speaking of which, it had been over two hours since she left for the mountain. They should have found her by now.

As Xiao Yu had this thought, an anxious voice echoed from outside, "Young Miss?"

Gu Changjin put the medicine box back in its original place. Hearing the inquiry, he glanced at Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu smiled calmly and replied, "It's my bodyguard. I should be going now. Thank you, Shen Zhao, for your medicine."

Gu Changjin gazed at her silently. After a moment, he said, "Take that barley sugar with you for the journey, Miss Shen."

When she ate the candy earlier, the corners of her eyes curled up, revealing her fondness for it.

Xiao Yu didn't decline his offer. She picked up the palm-sized paper bag and thanked him with a smile, "I'll definitely treat you and your sister to pine nut candies in the future."

Gu Changjin nodded slightly, "Miss Shen is too kind."

Xiao Yu draped her fox fur cloak over Ah Chai, jestingly remarking, "Here you go, Ah Chai. This fur coat is for you. Next time, don't bite my clothes anymore."

Ah Chai let out a contented howl and rolled merrily on the fur.

It was quite old and had been shedding profusely, leaving bald patches all over its body. Its favorite pastime was rolling on fluffy blankets.

Xiao Yu couldn't help but giggle at Ah Chai's antics.

Glancing up, she saw Gu Changjin watching her intently. Her heart skipped a beat, but she looked back at him with an even brighter smile, her lips curving into a blossom reminiscent of February's vibrant peach flowers.

"I'll be going then."

"Mm."

Xiao Yu stole two more glances at him before turning to face the wooden door. "Zi Yi, come in."

A woman dressed in a brown martial attire pushed the door open.

Xiao Yu instructed, "I've twisted my ankle. Carry me out, please."

In response, the figure in purple attire acknowledged with a "yes" and approached to carry Xiao Yu on their back, heading towards the door.

Xiao Yu rested on the purple-robed person's back. As they passed by Gu Changjin, she turned her head to look at him, and he was gazing at her in silence.

The two of them exchanged a wordless gaze, until the wooden door creaked shut as Purple Robe exited.

Upon descending Floating Jade Mountain, Xiao Yu returned to the residence that Xiao Lie had arranged for her. Initially, she planned to go back to the mountain once her foot injury healed to search for Gu Changjin.

However, upon seeing her injured, Xiao Lie insisted on escorting her back to the capital.

Xiao Yu would not consent to this. "I haven't even met my elder brother yet. Mother said he has a maiden he holds dear in his heart. I was looking forward to meeting her; I've even prepared a gift for our first encounter." As she spoke, she took out an exquisite box.

Xiao Lie reassured, "After your elder brother's wedding, he will bring the Empress back to the capital with him. You can present it to her then."

Yet the corruption case in Jinan Prefecture is still unresolved, and I could also lend Brother Emperor my assistance here."

Xiao Yu's words were not empty. She had an innate talent for numerology and could discern hidden tricks in accounts that others failed to notice.

"I now know who's behind those anonymous letters. It's an old and close friend of Elder Brother's. He has agreed to help gather evidence in my favor," Xiao Lie declared, leaving no room for argument.

The incident with Xiao Yu's injury had genuinely frightened him. His sister had always been daring, venturing anywhere alone. Xiao Lie was determined to send her back to the capital.

Every path Xiao Yu could take to remain in Jinan Prefecture was sealed off by Xiao Lie.

Her imperial brother's temperament resembled their late father - gentle on the surface but unwavering in his decisions.

Three days after Xiao Yu's foot injury healed, Xiao Lie dispatched two teams of Imperial City Guards to escort her back to the capital.

Xiao Yu didn't even have time for a final farewell visit to Floating Jade Mountain or to deliver a bag of pine nut candies to Gu Changjin.

Fortunately, she overheard the cook mentioning the day before that this year's Jinan Prefecture's top scholar was named Gu Changjin, son of a hunter's family from Floating Jade Mountain.

Xiao Yu immediately knew that this Gu Changjin must be the same one she had met.

Being the top scholar, he would surely go to the capital to participate in the metropolitan examination. Perhaps, on the day of the palace announcement, she might encounter him again within the palace walls.

With this thought in mind, she was no longer anxious.

A month later, Xiao Yu returned to the capital.

Empress Qi had long received Xiao Lie's letter, informing her of Xiao Yu's injured left foot.

Despite Xiao Yu's repeated assurances that it was nothing serious, Empress Qi still summoned Grand Councillor Sun to the Kunning Palace. Upon hearing that there would be no lasting effects on Xiao Yu's foot, she was finally reassured.

Empress Qi glanced at her and said, "I told you not to go along and cause trouble, but your father insisted on spoiling you!"

Xiao Yu hugged Empress Qi's arm and coaxed with a smile, "Zhaozhao had quite an adventure in Jinan Prefecture this time. Would Mother like to hear about it?"

Empress Qi replied, "You were only there for less than ten days. What kind of adventure could you have had?"

"I've taken a fancy to a young man," Xiao Yu declared nonchalantly. "I want to make him my prince consort."

Empress Qi was startled. "Which family's son is he?"

"I can't tell Mother yet," Xiao Yu said with a hint of a smile. "When the time is right, Zhaozhao will surely tell you."

Empress Qi looked at her daughter, who was growing more beautiful by the day, and thought to herself, As they say, daughters cannot be kept forever once they reach maturity.

This year marked Xiao Yu's coming-of-age ceremony. She had even discussed with Xiao Yan about keeping Zhaozhao with them for a few more years and not rushing into choosing a prince consort for her.

Back then, Xiao Yan had said with profound meaning, "Given Zhaozhao's personality, if she fancies someone, she would pursue them ardently. Then, you won't even be able to keep her by your side for a few more years."

Qi Zhen knew that her daughter had her own strong will, but she never imagined that Zhaozhao would have a crush on someone so early.

Since she refused to speak, not even a hammer in Qi Zhen's hands could pry her daughter's lips open.

Empress Qi glanced at her sidelong and asked, "If you don't tell your imperial mother, will you secretly confide in your foster mother?"

Xiao Yu chuckled and replied, "Of course not. Zhaozhao treats both my imperial mother and foster mother equally; I wouldn't tell either of them."

Indeed, Xiao Yu treated Empress Qi and her foster mother, Shen Yizhen, with the same level of respect and affection.