Zhongcui Palace and Jingyang Palace, separated by a single street, might as well be separated by a chasm.

When Chen Ji first arrived in the Imperial Capital, he met Bai Li here, and now, after going round and round, he has returned here. These few months have felt as long as years.

He turned back and looked behind him, where in Zhongcui Palace negotiations were underway regarding the price of Yuan Cheng—five thousand warhorses or eight thousand warhorses. It had nothing to do with him.

He turned again to look at the Jiefan Guard stationed on the palace path, considering how he might speak a few words with Bai Li—about his plan to rescue her and when he would do so.

Only when people have aspirations do they have the strength to live.

But in this Forbidden City, even breathing had to be done gently, and the words that rose like a tidal wave couldn't be spoken at all.

Just then, Qi Zhenzhuo came up to Chen Ji and whispered, "Master, what are you looking at? Inside Zhongcui Palace, Princess Liyang is pointing at the Crown Prince's nose and scolding him, while Bai Long is standing beside him saying nothing. Do you want to intervene? I feel like only you can manage her."

Chen Ji glanced at him, "What's she scolding about?"

Qi Zhenzhuo shrugged, "Just dredging up old accounts between the two dynasties. The Crown Prince claims that in the 25th year of Jianing, the Jing Dynasty instigated border conflicts and slaughtered more than a dozen of our villages. Princess Liyang mentions how, earlier, Qi Zheyun led a cavalry into Jing. That year, Qi Zheyun had thirty-two of the Chongli Pass Night Patrol with him, advancing north, capturing nobles of the Jing Dynasty, and penetrated deep into the territory, setting fire to the Baida Tribe's pastures, starving tens of thousands of cattle and sheep. Both dynasties have a tangled mess of debts; no one can sort them out clearly."

Chen Ji calmly said, "Don't worry about them. We're just responsible for escorting them safely. Whatever they negotiate is their business."

Qi Zhenzhuo whispered, "Who knows how long they'll argue, maybe half a month won't even be enough to finish."

As they spoke, footsteps came from the palace path.

Leading the way was a female servant holding a round fan. Behind the Empress were more than ten female servants and eunuchs, holding parasols to shield her from the sun and carrying incense burners, though strangely, no incense seemed to be burning.

The Empress wore a formal red swallowtail robe embroidered with a cloud-crane pattern and a Dian Cui gold crown on her head.

Aunt Yuan Jin cradled Wu Yun, following beside the Empress. Wu Yun wore a custom-fitted pure gold peace lock around its neck, its fur slick and shiny, completely different from when it was just a mud-footed cat at the Taiping Medical Hall on Anxi Street.

Wu Yun looked at Chen Ji and promptly meowed, "Don't stare at me, or Aunt Yuan Jin will get suspicious."

But Chen Ji noticed it didn't move, instead comfortably nestled in Aunt Yuan Jin's arms.

Chen Ji raised an eyebrow, is it not even going to pretend?

The Empress, hearing Wu Yun's meow, followed its gaze toward the gates of Zhongcui Palace. When she saw Chen Ji and Qi Zhenzhuo, she even smiled slightly, like a gentle spring breeze.

When the Empress turned into Jingyang Palace, she saw Bai Li holding a broom but not sweeping, instead looking toward Zhongcui Palace. Only when the Empress entered Jingyang Palace did Bai Li hurriedly avert her gaze.

The Empress was momentarily puzzled. Aunt Yuan Jin glanced back at Chen Ji and whispered a few words to the Empress.

The Empress understood, and stepping forward, she took Bai Li's wrist and led her into Jingyang Palace, "Didn't I tell you not to do any physical labor? Why are you still out sweeping the floor?"

Bai Li responded with a smile, "If one relies on backing and starts bullying others, then how are they different from Xuanzhen?"

"Your disposition indeed takes after your father. Don't busy yourself today; the cherries in the Imperial Garden at the Hall of Reverent Peace have ripened. I'll take you to pick some," the Empress said, leading her into the main hall, where they burned three sticks of incense in homage to The Three Pure Ones before leading her out of Jingyang Palace.

But instead of heading directly to the Hall of Reverent Peace, the Empress went to the front of Zhongcui Palace and smiled at Chen Ji, "Is this the Marquis of Wuxiang?"

Chen Ji was stunned, staring blankly at Bai Li, who was only two steps away, until Aunt Yuan Jin cleared her throat. He hastily bowed, "Empress, I am Chen Ji, the Marquis of Wuxiang."

"No need for formalities," the Empress questioned gently, "What are they doing inside Zhongcui Palace?"

Chen Ji lowered his head and answered, "The Jing Dynasty Envoy, Princess Liyang, is negotiating peace terms with our Crown Prince."

The Empress chuckled, "I heard that you rescued this Princess Liyang from outside Chongli Pass at great risk to your life. Were you injured?"

Chen Ji was moved; how could the Empress inquire about his injuries without reason? Clearly, she was asking on behalf of Bai Li.

He answered quietly, "I am unharmed. The journey was not as perilous as rumored."

The Empress glanced at Bai Li and with a smile asked Chen Ji, "What sights did you see on your journey north? What is the Jing Dynasty like?"

Chen Ji spoke softly, "From the Imperial Capital heading north past Changping, the terrain suddenly rises much higher and the climate becomes cooler than in the capital, as if spring hasn't arrived yet. Walking along the official road, you can see snow-capped mountains hidden among the great peaks in the distance, with snowmelt streams rushing past beside the road, attracting wild horses to drink..."

"Chongli Pass is majestic and grand. Standing at its base and looking up, you can't see the top in one glance. Outside Chongli Pass, the Military Market is bustling, and at night bonfires are lit, merchants and border infantry sing and dance together..."

Qi Zhenzhuo stood aside, dumbfounded; what his master described seemed different from what he saw.

He clearly saw the remnants of war beacons littering the mountain tops, like old soldiers refusing to fall. As they neared Chongli Pass, villages along the way were mostly deserted. Walls crumbling, wild grass growing, occasionally an infirm elder by a doorframe, gazing southward with muddled eyes.

Near the borderlands, one can smell the mixed scents in the wind. There is the earthy stench, the charred odor of burned fields, and occasionally, a lingering trace of rust and blood.

In Chen Ji's words, that rough wilderness became much more gentle.

At this moment, Chen Ji suddenly said, "By next April, we should be able to visit again and see the snow-capped mountains, the grasslands."

Just be patient and wait a bit longer. By next April, you should be free.

You can go see the grasslands and the snow-capped mountains, or you could go see the ocean and the whales. You can be a northbound wild goose, or a traveler on the South Sea.

The Empress listened quietly and did not interrupt.

When Chen Ji finished speaking, she smiled and said, "Outside the palace is indeed far more interesting than inside. When I was young, I always wanted to walk to the border and take a look, but I never had the chance. However, life in the palace isn't bad either. There's the four dishes and one soup every day, some new clothes tailored each season, and no fear of hunger or cold. A walk in the Imperial Garden every day isn't all that miserable either."

Chen Ji realized that this is not the life of an Empress; clearly, it's Bai Li's life.

Yet, he heard the Empress softly say, "Commander Qi and the Marquis of Wuxiang County are promising young talents of our dynasty and pillars of the state; be sure to take care of yourselves."

Qi Zhenzhuo replied sincerely with trepidation, "Your Majesty overrates me."

Chen Ji took a deep breath and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."

The Empress took Bai Li's hand and walked towards the Hall of Reverent Peace: "Come on, let's go pick cherries."

Chen Ji watched the Empress and Bai Li's figures recede into the distance. At this moment, Wu Yun meowed in Yuan Jin's arms: "Her Majesty the Empress is beautiful and kind-hearted. She promised the Commandery Princess to find a way to get her out of the palace, but unfortunately hasn't yet found the right opportunity. She herself is not free. She wants to discuss this with the Hu Family, but the Hu Family thinks that since Prince Fu has finally gained power, they shouldn't take such risks for the Commandery Princess and anger His Majesty. Nor should they give the Crown Prince and Consort Xue any leverage."

"The Cao Guild has mobilized a few little eunuchs who were planted in the palace years ago to secretly assist the Commandery Princess. One of them is named Xu Xi from the Shangyi Palace, who secretly sent a box of rouge to the Commandery Princess, which she gave to the nun in Jingyang Palace. The little eunuch also said that the guild master of the Cao Guild is trying to rescue her..."

Wu Yun was carried away into the distance, leaving Chen Ji deep in thought.

The Empress wants to send the Commandery Princess out of the palace? The palace is heavily guarded, with the Jiefan Guard checking everyone who enters or exits. It's not just a matter of inspecting waist tags and warrant tokens; names are called out at each checkpoint.

Even a female servant by the Empress's side, when leaving the palace, must be someone on the Jiefan Guard's roster, who has been identified by the guard before. An unfamiliar face won't get out... unless there's someone in the palace who resembles Bai Li and can perform a swap.

However, even if this is done, it will eventually trace back to the Empress, giving the Crown Prince and Consort Xue a reason to attack her.

Moreover, the Cao Guild had the merit of supporting Emperor Ning's accession in the past, so it's not surprising they had little eunuchs planted in the palace, but what ability does the Cao Guild have to rescue Bai Li?

At this moment, Qi Zhenzhuo muttered beside him: "I've long heard of Her Majesty the Empress's gentle and virtuous nature. I never quite believed it, yet today she chatted with us for so long..."

Chen Ji glanced at him: "Maybe she finds you handsome and wants to arrange a marriage for you."

Qi Zhenzhuo's eyes lit up: "Really?"

Chen Ji looked towards Zhongcui Palace and saw Princess Liyang stepping out over the threshold, lifting the hem of her pheasant-feather robe: "Six thousand warhorses, and two thousand captured military civilians returned, I can decide on this. But for the surrender documents and annual tributes, such things I cannot do. If the Crown Prince is not sincere about negotiations, then have someone else talk to me tomorrow, I'm leaving for today."

Saying this, she walked out of Zhongcui Palace without looking back.

Qi Zhenzhuo whispered: "Looks like these talks will be protracted; maybe we'll have to report to the palace every day."

Chen Ji replied casually: "That wouldn't be so bad."

Princess Liyang reached the gates of Zhongcui Palace and suddenly turned around to look at the Crown Prince: "Crown Prince, it shouldn't be a problem if I want to take a stroll and look around the Imperial Capital of the Ning Dynasty, right?"

Chen Ji was puzzled. What does Princess Liyang intend to do? Why has she suddenly stopped fearing an assassination?

He looked up and saw the Crown Prince, who had grown noticeably thinner while standing on the steps. Having been under house arrest for days, even his cheeks had sunken in, and the light shining from above cast shadows on his cheekbones.

The Crown Prince softly said: "Princess, don't put me in a difficult position. It's not proper etiquette."

Princess Liyang sneered: "To lock me up in Huitong Hall every day — anyone who didn't know better would think I'm under house arrest. Is the Crown Prince worried about a mere woman causing chaos right under the Imperial City of your Ning Dynasty?"

The Crown Prince replied earnestly: "The enmity between our two dynasties has lasted a long time. I am worried about Your Highness being harmed. Do not forget, there is a deep hatred between us."

Princess Liyang smiled faintly: "No problem, the Marquis of Wuxiang will protect me."

The Crown Prince glanced at Chen Ji and, after a moment, softly agreed: "Then I will do as you wish, Your Highness."

Chen Ji frowned; could it be that the Crown Prince actually agreed?