Qin Chang Ge raised her head to look at the red shadow. She didn’t immediately leave, but instead turned in another direction, using the mountain rocks and trees as cover before entering the forest again.

After a long while, the sky above darkened as red clouds flew past.

They descended gracefully outside the forest.

A series of rapid, well-trained footsteps approached, and someone called out respectfully from a distance: “Your Highness.”

“Surround Shanglin Nunnery for me,” Yu Zixi stood with his hands behind his back, no longer showing the demonic charm from that moment before, cold and merciless.

“No matter what methods you use, find me a palace maid about sixteen or seventeen years old.” He gave a brief and clear description of Qin Chang Ge’s appearance. “Remember, do not disturb Grand Princess.”

The man respectfully accepted the order and left. With a wave of his hand, soldiers in gray uniforms and red armor immediately spread out like a net, infiltrating the vegetation surrounding Shanglin Nunnery.

Yu Zixi turned around, looking toward the deep forest.

Would she… take the opposite approach, not returning to the nunnery but instead coming back to this forest?

With her intelligence, it wasn’t entirely impossible.

And she was quite familiar with the mechanisms in this forest. Sending people in, or going personally to capture her, would likely fall into her trap.

Should he send people to surround this forest without entering, just keeping watch and starving her… to death?

Yu Zixi smiled slightly.

…Never mind.

It was rare to encounter such an interesting person. These past few years, he had been lonely enough. Finding some amusement would be good.

He smiled with seductive grace, touching the silk handkerchief already tucked in his chest, then left carrying his lamp.

The capital city of Xiliang, Yingdu, was known among the six nations as having the most benevolent people, yet also the most fierce and battle-ready capital.

The six nations referred to the current world: Xiliang, Northern Wei, Eastern Yan, Central Chuan, Southern Nanmin, and the Li Nation located beside the Heng Sea.

The Heng Sea was the largest sea in the world, and its tributary, the Sha River, was the longest river in the world. Except for Central Chuan, which had the most disadvantageous geographical position, the Sha River flowed through all the nations.

The previous Yuan imperial house had once unified the world, but their dynasty lasted only a few generations before losing power due to misrule. Various lords rose up to compete for supremacy. Those with strong power seized territories for themselves. Although all desired to unify the realm, after years of warfare their military strength and national power could no longer support continued fighting. They unanimously ceased hostilities to rest and rebuild, waiting for an appropriate opportunity to continue their expansion and conquest. In peacetime, they never forgot to continuously probe, harass, make contact, and infiltrate each other’s border territories…

Xiliang had the strongest power, bordering Northern Wei and Central Chuan, occupying the most vast and fertile lands. Therefore, among all nations, only Xiliang claimed the imperial title.

Eastern Yan was located in the northeastern mainland, bordering Northern Wei, with a cold climate. Southern Nanmin was located in the southwestern mainland, mostly wild and miasmic lands, barely able to protect itself. Central Chuan, situated between the cracks of various nations, struggled to survive and had long submitted to Xiliang, paying annual tribute to seek protection.

Northern Wei was currently the nation that could barely contend with Xiliang. Its ruler had recently ascended the throne and was said to be shrewd and steady, graciously accepting counsel. The national power that had declined under the previous Wei king’s extravagance was gradually showing signs of recovery under his diligent governance. Eastern Yan was currently ruled by a female sovereign – the Yan king had only this one daughter. Her abilities were unknown, overshadowed by Eastern Yan’s national advisor, who was said to be a mysterious figure of stunning talent and beauty. With him present, even the queen’s brilliance appeared somewhat dimmed.

This female ruler was said to possess unparalleled beauty. She and the late Empress Ruiyi of Xiliang were once called the “Twin Beauties of the Peak,” their fame renowned throughout the world. However, a few years ago she took a royal husband, while Ruiyi died mysteriously, and this title of twin beauties naturally faded away.

Northern Wei emphasized literature – half of the world’s literary works came from Northern Wei. Eastern Yan excelled at hunting, with fierce customs where women were revered. Central Chuan specialized in ingenious techniques, with craftsmen crowned as the best in the world. The people of Southern Nanmin possessed mystical arts, skilled at controlling human hearts and minds. Li Nation, near the sea, had the world’s most powerful naval forces and produced the most precious pearls and corals, making the nation extremely wealthy, though their land forces were extremely weak due to the local people’s constitution, barely able to defend themselves.

Xiliang combined both literary and martial strengths, like the customs of Yingdu – gentle yet firm.

This was largely due to Xiliang’s founding national policies and unique dual-ruler system. The founding empress had always participated in state affairs. The empress favored gentle policies and literature, excelled in diplomatic relations both far and near, selected talented individuals regardless of class, emphasized economics while pacifying farmers and merchants. The emperor was wise and militarily strong, worked diligently day and night to purify administration, maintained strict laws and discipline while being skilled in warfare, trusted people without suspicion and governed righteously. All these beneficial national policies, like paired jade discs reflecting each other, illuminated Xiliang’s bright future.

But that was only the Xiliang that remained in Qin Chang Ge’s memories from three years ago.

In that modern lifetime, there were no records of Xiliang or these nations, just as the former Yuan here was not the historical Mongol Yuan Dynasty. Today’s Xiliang was also not the Xiao Liang from the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. Although cultural customs had much in common, she knew the current nations of the world did not exist in that history, presumably due to parallel dimensions.

In these three years, Qin Chang Ge had vaguely heard from palace staff that Xiao Jue was no longer as diligent in governance as before, his temperament becoming increasingly tyrannical and unpredictable. Once, because an old minister questioned one of his radical national policies and mentioned during their dispute what Empress Ruiyi would have done if she were alive, he ordered the minister beaten to death in court.

Fortunately, the national policies established back then were still being implemented and hadn’t been abolished. The administrative system that Qin Chang Ge had restructured and trained was operating smoothly, so whether the emperor was diligent or not had little impact on state affairs.

Qin Chang Ge walked slowly along the street, looking at the shops with abundant goods, the continuous flow of smiling crowds, the packed customers in restaurants and teahouses – all indicating the people’s comfortable and prosperous lives. Thinking that she had contributed to creating the prosperity of this world’s greatest capital, yet now, how many people would remember her?

Ha… It doesn’t matter. It’s fine if you don’t remember, but there are some people I’ll make sure you remember eventually.

Qin Chang Ge smiled gently and warmly as she moved through the crowd.

Little Xiao Rong, where are you?