Chu Yicheng looked at the young official with a puzzled expression: "You are......"

  "Ah... I am Li Zehao, the Minister of War. I have met you before, Your Highness." Li Zehao gave him a standard ceremonial bow.

  Chu Yicheng exclaimed in surprise: "Oh, so you're that Li Zehou."

  "It's true. Upon hearing this humble official's name, why is Your Highness so shocked?"

  Thinking of the secret chess piece in his hand being ruined by him, looking at his appearance, I know he's a formidable character, and I really need to guard against him in the future.

  He regained his composure. Chu Yicheng smiled and said, "I often hear my subordinates mention you when I was at the border. The name of Secretary Li has long been known in the border regions."

  "Is it? I'm just a humble official with nothing special about me. How did my reputation spread to such a distant place?"

  "Secretary Li, you're too modest. You're such a formidable person. It's normal for your reputation to spread."

  Chu Yicheng smiled and said: "Let's not talk about those things anymore. Let's talk about something happy. Tonight is New Year's Eve, a rare holiday. Why did Secretary Li also come out to get some fresh air?"

  "Alas." Li Zehao shook his head painfully. "This humble official is avoiding those government officials' 'wives'."

  Chu Yicheng immediately understood and jokingly said, "Director Li should get married soon. With your looks and background, all the 'girls' in the capital are 'infatuated' with you, aren't they?"

  "Alas, the goddess has a heart, but King Xiang has no intention. It's hard to find someone who meets her expectations." Li Zehao sighed with emotion.

  "Haha. Don't be too proud." Chu Yicheng laughed and said, "Come on, come on, go inside. I'll accompany you for a few drinks to dispel your anger."

  "All right. I also want to have a few cups with Your Highness."

  Li Zehao said. Then, the two of them entered the palace once again.

  Chu Yicheng is attending a banquet in the imperial palace. Yan Xijun is also not resting at the Wangfu. She wouldn't obediently stay in the Wangfu, would she? No, she's actually begging Chu Yicheng to send someone to keep an eye on her.

  "Charms, just let me out, okay? It's New Year's Eve today. The night in the capital will be very lively. Don't you want to go out and take a look?" Yan Xijun used all her charm to tempt him. Chu Yicheng arranged for no one else but Charms to watch over her, knowing that Charms was someone without weaknesses.

  Mei hugged the sword and shook her head, refusing to say: "No way. Grandfather has ordered it. You can't step out of this Jing Wang Fu. If he finds out that I let you out of the mansion, he will skin me alive."

  "We can return to the mansion before he comes back." Yan Xijun pointed outside and said, "It's just early evening now. Let's wait for him to return from the imperial palace. At least there are still several hours left. Why don't we take this opportunity to go out and have some fun?"

  "The capital city must have people who know you, it's better not to go out, lest someone discovers you and causes unnecessary trouble." Mei Wan persuaded, Grandfather let himself watch her, fearing that she would sneak out.

  "With you by my side, what am I afraid of? Besides, when I go out, I'll wear a hat and cover my face with a silk scarf. With this getup, I think others won't recognize me either."

  Seeing him still hesitating, Yan Xijun made a killer move and pulled on his sleeve, pitifully saying: "It's been so long since we returned to the capital, I haven't gone anywhere. Every day I'm stuck here. You're driving me crazy by keeping me trapped here. Can't you just let me out for some fresh air?"

  A woman can pretend to be pitiful and always get sympathy from others.

  She couldn't help it. I had no choice but to agree with her. "Alright, we'll just take a stroll after we go out. Make sure to come back early, okay?"

  "En, definitely." Yan Xijun saw that his goal had been achieved and happily agreed to follow him out. The two of them quietly left the house without alerting anyone. They were afraid that if too many people found out, it would startle Chu Yicheng.

  Yan Xikun was like a kite without a string after leaving the Wang Fu. She drifted around everywhere, turning here and there, buying things she liked, but the money was paid by Mo Lai and the items were carried by him as well.

  Charming to see her still enthusiastically buying things. He raised the things in his hand with some helplessness and looked at them. They were all very ordinary things. Really don't know what she bought them for.

  Look, she's taken a liking to that pile of things. Mei hastily stopped her and whispered in her ear: "Don't buy any more. If we bring back this many things to the mansion, the prince will suspect that we've been out."

  Yan Xijun furrowed her brow and took a look at the things he was holding in both hands. Indeed, there were too many of them. She put down the things she was holding and said to him: "Alright, I won't buy anything. Accompany me to a place."

  Her purpose of going out was not to go shopping or stroll around. Her real intention was to go to a place, the place about him.

  Mei didn't ask her where she was going either. She honestly followed behind her.

  The two of them walked for a very long time and finally arrived at a place. They looked up at the tightly closed vermilion-colored large gate. The entrance had no one guarding it, and the horizontal wooden sign above the gate had also been removed by someone. The empty courtyard was overgrown with weeds, as if it had been forgotten by people.

  Even this place seems to have been forgotten by people. No one passes through here. A long street, with only two people standing alone, wandering and looking around.

  She knew he no longer lived here, but she was foolish and couldn't help coming to take a look, hoping to run into him. She thought this was her home in the capital, and she wanted to comfort her, but didn't know how.

  Yan Xijun stood there, gazing through the surrounding wall at the buildings inside. That was where Ming had lived for many years. Now, he feared that Ming might have been forced by the Emperor to leave long ago.

  The world is so big. Where did he go? And where is he hiding now? Can I find him myself?

  A multitude of question marks flashed through his mind. Yan Xijun helplessly withdrew his gaze. Just as Zhaoming was about to leave, he was suddenly blocked by someone.

  The other party was a man, also wearing a hat with the brim pulled down very low. He stretched out his hand to block Yan Xijun's path.

  Suddenly, a mysterious man appeared from behind and blocked the way. Hastily drawing out the treasured sword from his waist, he asked loudly: "Who are you?"

  Chu Cheng didn't even bother to respond, instead he stared fixedly at Yan Xijun who was veiled. His voice trembling as he asked: "Xijun, is that you?"

  Hearing such a familiar voice, Yan Xijun was startled and lifted his head, taking off his hat and staring at the man in front of him with wide eyes. Was it him? Could it be him?

  Just then a gust of wind blew over, blowing away the white gauze on Yan Xikun's face, instantly revealing her absolutely beautiful face.

  It's really her.

  The person she had been thinking about day and night was standing right in front of her. Chu Cheng couldn't help but hold her tightly. In her ear, he excitedly said: "Jun Er, it's me! I knew you weren't dead. I've been waiting for you in the capital all along, waiting for you to come find me. Do you know?"

  "Sorry, Ming. I made you wait for a long time. I've also been looking for you all along, but just didn't have the chance to return to the capital."

  "You're back, that's all that matters. We're finally together." Chu Cheng Mo exclaimed excitedly as he hugged her tightly.

  Just started. Mysterious and strange looking at them two. Later then reacted. He put the sword on Chu Chengming's neck. Shouted: "Daring to be presumptuous, actually daring to hug someone in the street. You don't want your life, right? Let her go quickly."

  Yan Xijun reached out and took away that sword. Turning his head to Mei, he said: "You are not allowed to harm him. He is someone I know."

  Moyi said: "You two know each other, so who is he to you?"

  "Don't bother who I am to her, anyway from this moment on you have to leave her side." Chu Chengming let go of Yan Xijun and pulled her behind him, saying coldly to Mo.

  "Hmph, what a joke. It's you who should be leaving. What qualifications do you have to say that?" Mei coldly smiled and said: "I don't care about your past conflicts with Yanyu, but now she is one of us. So, forget about taking her away."

  "Tonight I will take her away." Chu Cheng Ming looked at Mei with determination, and at the same time drew out his treasured sword, saying: "Now let's see if you have what it takes to keep her here."

  Yan Xijun saw that the two were about to fight, and she anxiously looked at Chu Chengming, pulling on his clothes and saying, "Ming, are you feeling better? You'd best not engage with him, lest you hurt yourself."

  "Baby, want to come with me tonight?" Chu Chengming asked, gazing at her tenderly.

  "Think." Yan Xijun said without hesitation. She came here to find him, didn't she? She left the palace just to be with him. Hearing his question, she nodded heavily.

  "Hmm, that's right. If you don't defeat him, he won't let you go. Although I don't know what kind of person he is to you, but from what I see, it seems like he's just monitoring you. So we can't let him ruin our plans."

  "Alright, you want a quick battle." Yan Xijun knew that they were going to fight and it was unavoidable. First of all, Mei would not let her go easily. Having understood this, she then said to Chu Chengming: "You must be extra careful."

  "En... For you... I will." Chu Cheng Ming said emotionally.

  Moi stood by and finally saw some clues. He deeply knew that the relationship between the two was not simple. He looked at Yan Xijun and said, "Miss Yan, my father treated you well. Why did you want to betray him?"

  "I didn't betray him. He was too obsessed with it himself. I advised him to stop being delusional, but he wouldn't listen. There's nothing I can do."

  "Grandfather has deep feelings for you. All these years, I've never seen him show such emotions towards any other woman. You're the first person to touch his heart."

  Chu Cheng looked at Yan Xijun in surprise, asking her with his eyes what was going on.

  "Wait, I'll explain later." Yan Xijun turned to Mei and said, "Don't say anything else. Go back and tell him that I'm very grateful for his lifesaving kindness and hospitality. Now that I've found the person I want to protect, please ask him to let me go."

  Mei Dao: "Yan Miss, forgive me for not being able to convey your gratitude on your behalf. If you want to express thanks, it's more sincere if you say it yourself."

  "Suit yourself then. It's none of my business whether you tell me or not." Yan Xijun wasn't stupid. Let her go back and inform them. Wouldn't that be like letting her jump into the net herself?

  "Stop talking nonsense with him, let me take care of him," Chu Cheng Ming said. When he heard that another man had a crush on her, he felt very annoyed. His 'woman' couldn't be taken by someone else.

  Just as they were about to take action, two people suddenly flew down from the eaves of the house. The two men simultaneously said to Chu Cheng Meng: "Sir, you hand him over to us to deal with."

  Yan Xijun fixed his gaze and took a look. It turned out to be Chu Chengming's subordinates, Qing and Lan. It seemed that they were in charge of protecting him.

  "Brother, you take Yan Niang and leave first. I'll stay behind with Lan to hold him off. You can't take action yourself, or it will attract the attention of the authorities. Your identity is sensitive, and if you get involved, it will bring trouble."