At that moment, someone knocked on the door and reported from outside, “Master, His Lordship has arrived.”

Upon hearing this, Empress Wei’s lips curved upward, and undisguised joy shone from her eyes and brows.

She immediately rose and personally went to open the door to welcome him.

A man in his early thirties, dressed in a lake-blue brocade robe, strode toward them. His figure was tall and straight, his bearing outstanding. Golden sunlight fell softly over him, lending his whole person an added gentleness.

Qin Jiu also looked over and thought to herself: This must be the Emperor.

The visitor was indeed the Emperor.

Earlier, when Empress Wei had sent someone to the temporary palace to summon the imperial physician, she had also informed the Emperor. Upon hearing the news, he had hurried over at once.

“Rongrong, how is Zhen’er?” he asked.

“He drank some ginger soup and has already fallen asleep.”

The husband and wife spoke as they crossed the threshold together, their expressions intimate and natural, just like an ordinary married couple among the common folk.

The imperial physician and several guards stood outside the door, waiting to be summoned.

When the Emperor noticed Qin Jiu in the side room, he paused slightly. At first glance, he felt that the little girl bore a surprising resemblance to the Empress.

He looked at Empress Wei in inquiry. Empress Wei smiled gently and signaled for him to wait and speak later.

Their subtle interaction did not escape Qin Jiu’s eyes. It was clear that the relationship between the Emperor and Empress was indeed a good one.

Qin Jiu said, “Lord Gu, Madam Gu, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

Empress Wei responded with a smile and instructed Xu Momo to personally escort her back.

After Qin Jiu left, Empress Wei quickly said to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, I suspect that the Zhongyi Marquis’s household made a mistake with the children back then. Please have someone investigate this for me.”

“A mistake with the children?” The Emperor frowned slightly and immediately understood her meaning, “You mean Qin Xin, she…”

He had only just bestowed a marriage between his second son and Qin Xin. If there truly had been a mistake…

Empress Wei pretended not to notice the Emperor’s hesitation. She sighed and said, “Didn’t you think that girl just now looked very much like me?” She pressed her lips together, her expression tinged with nostalgia. “People often say that although my younger sister and I were not twins, we were very similar, both resembling my grandmother.”

The Emperor’s gentle gaze fell upon the Empress.

Indeed, that little girl looked exactly like the Empress in her youth.

The Emperor knew well how close Empress Wei had been with her sister. Since suspicion had already arisen, it was better to investigate thoroughly.

The Emperor said, “Then let Zening handle the investigation.”

As they spoke, the two entered the inner chamber. Gu Zhen was still fast asleep, his small face a little pale. Perhaps he had been badly frightened, so his sleep was somewhat restless.

The Emperor had someone summon the imperial physician to come in and take Gu Zhen’s pulse.

Looking at his son’s sleeping face, the Emperor felt lingering fear. Heaven knew that when he heard Zhen’er had fallen into the water, his heart had nearly leapt out of his throat.

Empress Wei softly recounted the course of events at his side, neither exaggerating nor omitting anything.

The Emperor himself had grown up amid harem intrigues, and his path to the throne had been full of turmoil. He could tell at a glance that today’s incident was a scheme.

Thinking of how the Sixth Prince had almost died inexplicably in the icy lake, the Emperor’s expression darkened: “Rongrong, investigate it. No matter who it turns out to be, I will not spare them!”

The imperial physician kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, pretending not to hear the Emperor and Empress’s words as he carefully examined Gu Zhen’s pulse.

Only after repeated confirmation did he report, “The Sixth Prince is unharmed. I will prescribe a dose of calming decoction. Once His Highness awakens, he may take it.”

Both the Emperor and Empress were reassured. The Emperor waved his hand, dismissing the physician to prepare the prescription.

By the time Gu Zhen awoke and took the calming decoction, it was already the Wei hour (1-3PM), and the Emperor and Empress set out to return to the traveling palace.

At this time, Qin Jiu was already close to reaching the inn.

Aside from a small mishap while searching for Mirror Lake—which had prevented her from arriving before the Sixth Prince fell into the water—everything else today had gone more or less according to plan.

Next, Empress Wei would surely begin investigating. All Qin Jiu had to do was wait patiently.

In high spirits, Qin Jiu entered the inn, thinking she ought to reward herself by treating herself to a good meal later.

“Little Sister, you’re back.”

A warm, gentle voice cut into her good mood.

Of course—it was Xiao Ze!

Xiao Ze had also just returned. From afar, he had already spotted the little girl wearing a silly grin on her face.

Oh? The little girl had even changed clothes after going out?

“Big Brother,” Qin Jiu greeted him with a well-behaved smile.

Following his gaze to her clothes, Qin Jiu had originally planned to make up some casual excuse to brush it off. But on second thought, what was there to explain? They weren’t even close! He himself had been appearing and disappearing mysteriously these past few days; who knew what he had been up to? She hadn’t seen him explaining his whereabouts to anyone either.

So Qin Jiu simply acted as if nothing was amiss.

Amused by the ever-changing expressions on the little girl’s face, Xiao Ze covered his mouth with his fist and chuckled softly. As if nothing had happened, he said, “Have you eaten yet, little sister? Let’s go together.”

Since someone was offering to treat her, why turn it down? Qin Jiu cheerfully replied, “Sure!”

The two left the inn again, and Xiao Ze took her to a restaurant on the neighboring street.

The waiter led them upstairs to the second floor and seated them at a table by the window.

The moment she sat down, Qin Jiu eagerly asked, “Waiter, what’s good to eat here?”

She truly was hungry. These past days of long-distance travel hadn’t left her starving, but she’d mostly survived on dried rations. She’d rarely had the chance to sit down and enjoy a proper meal. No wonder her small frame still hadn’t put on much flesh.

“Miss, this must be your first time in Qingyun County. Our Zuifeng Tower’s Ten-Li Drunken Fish Olives are peerless—everyone in Qingyun County knows them. They’re made with ten-year-aged Qiulu Bai wine, paired with a specially prepared sauce. The fish is tender and completely boneless—I guarantee you’ll want to swallow your tongue along with it…”

Qin Jiu was already drooling. Before he could finish his introduction, she slapped the table and decided, “That’s the one! As for the rest, you decide. Three dishes and one soup will do.” Then she looked obediently at Xiao Ze and asked, “What do you think, big brother?”

Xiao Ze wasn’t picky. Smiling, he said, “Whatever you decide.”

Immediately after, his tone shifted, and he suddenly asked, “Was Qingjing Temple fun?”

Qin Jiu’s mouth moved faster than her brain. “Not fun at all—”

Wait!

How did he know she’d gone to Qingjing Temple?!

Qin Jiu’s beautiful almond-shaped eyes widened as she stared at him.

“Xin’er, later I’ll accompany you to Jinyu Pavilion to take a look. Though in a small place like this, I’m afraid we won’t find anything particularly good.”

As a clear, bright male voice sounded, a strikingly well-matched couple ascended the stairs to the second floor of the restaurant. Both were dressed in luxurious brocade, their bearing extraordinary.

The girl in purple had an oval face, bright eyes and white teeth. Her skin was fair as snow, luminous and lovely. Behind her stood a young man of peerless handsomeness, his entire bearing radiating an air of nobleness.

For a moment, their appearance drew the attention of many diners around them.

In a small place like Qingyun County, it was rare indeed to see such a dragon-and-phoenix pair!

“This way, honored guests…” the waiter hurried over to greet them.

The girl in purple curved her lips into a smile, sweet and charming, and said, “Second Young Master, we’re picking this out for the em—the old madam. The old madam will surely like it…”

Xin’er? Second Young Master?!

Qin Jiu’s eyebrow twitched, and a very bad premonition rose in her heart.

She couldn’t help but shoot them a quick glance.

That’s right, this was the girl she had seen two days ago at the city gates!

So they were the male and female leads?!

T-This was really unlucky!

Without a word, Qin Jiu quietly changed seats, turning her back towards them.

Originally, she and Xiao Ze had been sitting face to face. After the switch, she ended up seated at Xiao Ze’s left.

Xiao Ze cast the pair a curious glance. He naturally remembered the incident at the city gates a few days earlier, and the corners of his lips curved upward.

Qin Jiu ignored him completely.

She knew all too well that Xiao Ze was sharp and full of schemes, so he must have guessed something. Since he didn’t ask, she wasn’t about to explain either. In any case, in a few days they would part go their separate ways!

The striking couple who had just arrived were indeed Qin Xin and the current Second Prince, Gu Jing. The waiter led them to a table one table away from Qin Jiu and the others.

Qin Jiu calmly sipped her tea and nibbled on peanuts, estimating that no matter what, Qin Xin wouldn’t be able to recognize her just from her back.

So Qin Jiu wasn’t worried in the least.

“…Mother took Sixth Brother to Qingjing Temple today…”

When Gu Jing mentioned “Qingjing Temple,” Qin Jiu’s brows lifted, and she instinctively tilted her ear to listen.

If she hadn’t been at Qingjing Temple herself today, she would never have imagined that the Sixth Prince’s drowning—mentioned in the original text—had not been an accident at all.

“The scenery at Qingjing Temple is quite nice, especially the maple forest by Mirror Lake…”

“Mother probably wanted to pray for Sixth Brother and ask for a protective talisman, but how could something like fate be decided by a mere paper charm?” Gu Jing casually said.

What did he mean by that?

Qin Jiu listened intently, completely failing to notice the waiter hurrying over with a plate of Ten-Li Drunken Fish Olives.

As the dishes were being served, the waiter somehow slipped. Staggering forward, he crashed into the table, and the plate he was carrying flew from his hands—

Xiao Ze reacted instantly. He grabbed Qin Jiu’s wrist and pulled her toward him.

The plate narrowly missed her shoulder before smashing onto the floor.

Crash!

The dish shattered into pieces, hot broth splashing everywhere. A few drops even spattered onto Qin Jiu’s shoulder, making her frown at the sting.

“I’m so sorry, honored guest!” The waiter panicked, apologizing repeatedly, flustered and at a loss. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, really.” Qin Jiu waved her hand indifferently. Only a few drops had splashed onto her; it was a bit hot, but through her clothes it wasn’t serious. “Just bring us another serving.”

The waiter clearly hadn’t expected her to be so easygoing. Overjoyed, he apologized again and again as he bent down to clean up.

The commotion was fairly loud and drew the attention of several nearby tables.

Qin Xin had only casually glanced in the waiter’s direction at first. Suddenly, her gaze fell upon Qin Jiu’s partially turned face, and she froze in shock.

Those brows… those eyes…

How could it be her?!