Xiong Xiaobao returned to their quarters and found Baili Weisheng asleep on the rooftop, and with a few quick leaps, climbed right up to join him.

The moment Xiong Xiaobao’s foot touched the courtyard, Baili Weisheng had already woken up—he’d only been pretending to sleep.

Xiong Xiaobao propped his chin up, studying him with an entirely serious expression. “Keep pretending, why don’t you.”

“Ahem, ahem…”

Baili Weisheng immediately let out a small cough, feigning that he’d just woken up, yawning a few times. “Did you find your father? Have you… been crying?”

“Who told you to sleep on my mommy’s rooftop? Get down!” Xiong Xiaobao said seriously.

“This… ahem… actually…”

Baili Weisheng suddenly found himself at a loss for words. If Xiong Xiaobao hadn’t called him out on it, he genuinely hadn’t even registered the issue himself.

Right, why exactly had he settled himself on this particular rooftop? This was hardly proper conduct.

“And to think you call yourself a scholar, a learned man—don’t you know peeping is a serious offense?” Xiong Xiaobao said, pouting with displeasure.

Baili Weisheng, well aware he was in the wrong, had nothing to say in his own defense, and quietly, obediently, hopped down.

He turned to glance at Xiong Xiaobao once more, thinking of asking about Jun Beiyue, but on second thought, decided against it, turning instead to walk away with his head lowered.

As he walked, he found himself mulling it over—how could he have ended up on that rooftop? He really had just peeped on someone!

“What a sin, what a sin!”

Muttering quietly to himself, he was soon out of sight, and watching Baili Weisheng slink off so sheepishly, Xiong Xiaobao couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

His father’s secret—he wouldn’t tell anyone at all.

He’d been troubled by the whole matter of the blood zheng for a while now, but everything was fine now—his father truly was remarkable. He’d known there was nothing in this world that could stump his father!

Reassured, Xiong Xiaobao settled contentedly back down on the rooftop and fell asleep.

Inside, Ziqing was sleeping soundly too.

If she’d been sleeping alone, she might well have noticed something was amiss by now. Unfortunately, whenever she fell asleep with Jun Beiyue beside her, she always felt so at ease, letting down every last guard, sleeping soundly straight through until dawn.

Summer mornings arrived especially early, with gentle breezes and birdsong, red peonies blooming along the railing, green vines climbing the trellis.

Ziqing woke drowsily, tilting her head back lazily, and found herself gazing at Jun Beiyue’s handsome, peacefully sleeping face.

Perhaps she was the only person in the world who’d ever seen him look this at rest—none of his usual coldness or severity, quiet and calm like a boy, his long lashes casting shadows beneath his eyes, as though he were deeply exhausted.

Ziqing knew he’d worn himself out these past few days, and hadn’t dared disturb him, hoping instead to let him sleep in a little longer, already planning to properly nurse him back to health once they returned to the palace.

They’d been away so long—once they got back, there would surely be no end of military and court matters awaiting him.

Resting in the crook of his arm, Ziqing gazed at him foolishly, and soon found herself smiling without meaning to, her happiness written plainly across her face.

“I’m so glad I met you.” she whispered.

Afraid of waking him, and yet wanting badly for him to hear it, she felt hopelessly torn.

“Once we’re back at the palace, let’s have another baby—give Xiong Xiaobao a little sister to play with, shall we?” she murmured, her small face flushing slightly.

Jun Beiyue seemed to stir slightly, rolling over drowsily and pulling Ziqing into his arms, holding her close and continuing to sleep.

Ziqing buried her whole face against his chest, her expression hidden from view, only reaching up to hold him tightly in return, unmoving, saying nothing more.

She had no idea how much time had passed before Jun Beiyue finally woke up, only to find that Ziqing had fallen back asleep again.

By the time the two of them finally rose, everyone else was already preparing to set out.

Xiong Xiaobao’s mood was noticeably better than before, pestering Baili Weisheng with question after question, while Jue Mingzi sat quietly in the carriage early on, subdued enough to be almost forgotten entirely.

“What were you sneaking off to do last night, sleeping so soundly?”

Jun Beiyue asked teasingly as he walked out.

Ziqing smiled and said nothing, while Xiong Xiaobao winked and wiggled his eyebrows at Baili Weisheng, snickering to himself, looking thoroughly conspiratorial.

The whole family seemed happy and at ease together, Ziqing and Xiong Xiaobao both in good spirits—only Jun Beiyue suffered in silence.

“Let’s go. We must reach the capital tonight!” Jun Beiyue said, swinging himself up onto his horse.

Seeing this, Jue Mingzi spoke up at once. “Beiyue, ride in the carriage instead.”

He was afraid—if this kept up, Jun Beiyue’s body simply wouldn’t be able to withstand the strain.

Fortunately, Xiong Xiaobao proved considerate, immediately tugging at Jun Beiyue’s leg. “Father, ride in the carriage with me—I want to learn the Gu Clan’s internal cultivation method from you too!”

Ziqing looked surprised. “So diligent today, are we?”

Just the other day, when Jun Beiyue had offered to teach him, this little brat had insisted his Qiankun Poison Pouch alone was enough to conquer the world, and he had no interest in the Gu Clan’s internal techniques at all!

Jun Beiyue promptly dismounted, scooping Xiong Xiaobao up and carrying him straight into the carriage, laughing. “Let’s skip the Gu Clan’s internal cultivation for now—your father will teach you statecraft instead.”

At those words, Ziqing laughed even harder, while Xiong Xiaobao instantly went rigid.

Statecraft… what did Father mean by that?

“Wait!” he cried out in alarm, but it was too late. Ziqing had already climbed into the carriage as well, pulling the curtain down at once, and soon a chorus of Xiong Xiaobao’s protests could be heard from within—unfortunately, Jue Mingzi couldn’t save him, and Baili Weisheng had long since forgotten whatever agreement the two of them had made earlier.

He said, with great seriousness, to Jue Mingzi, “A child this precociously gifted is destined to be an emperor.”

Under ordinary circumstances, Jue Mingzi would surely have burst out laughing at that. Unfortunately, nothing could make him laugh right now. He simply let out a helpless sigh and pulled his own carriage curtain shut as well.

The horses galloped swiftly onward, the imperial road clear and unobstructed the entire way.

Jun Beiyue and Ziqing had only just arrived at the capital when Jun Beichen, Jun Beikun, and the other imperial princes, along with General Ouyang stationed in the capital region, all came out to greet them at the city gates. Crowds of commoners lined both sides of the road, all coming out to catch a glimpse of Prince Yao and Consort Yao’s splendor—the entire capital, one might say, had emptied itself to watch.

Rumor had it that Prince Yao intended to stay in the capital for good this time. Rumor had it that a date had already been chosen for his ascension to the throne. Rumor also had it that this time, he would name an empress, name a crown prince as well.

A brand-new chapter was about to begin in the annals of Da Zhou’s imperial history!

There were even rumors that Jun Beiyue, upon returning to the capital, planned to overhaul the military, letting his forces rest and recover, vowing to conquer Nanzhao entirely by the following year!

All manner of rumors flew wild through the air, and yet no one knew that this very couple themselves remained uncertain of their own plans!

The carriage slowly came to a stop. The capital had finally been reached.

What had been a noisy, bustling crowd fell suddenly silent the moment the carriage stopped, every gaze converging at once, especially those of the several imperial princes who had come out personally to receive them.

Among these princes, aside from the tenth, Jun Beikun, and Jun Beichen, who had since submitted to Jun Beiyue’s rule, every single one of them harbored a hatred for Jun Beiyue that ran bone-deep.

And yet, at this moment, not one of them dared show anything but the utmost deference, waiting respectfully—their faces respectful, and even, deep down, their hearts growing respectful too.

If you’re merely excellent, others will grow jealous, will scheme against you in every way. But if you become excellent enough, others can only look up to you in awe, not even daring to dream of competing with you.

Without question, Jun Beiyue and Ziqing had, by now, become the latter.

Everyone stood there deferentially, not one of them daring even to step forward and speak—only Jun Beichen and Jun Beikun came over.

The tenth prince, Jun Beikun, remained his usual self, plump and easygoing, looking less like a prince and more like some pampered young master from a wealthy household.

The moment she saw him, Ziqing’s smile froze slightly, but she quickly recovered her faint smile, nodding to everyone.

Years ago, it had been at this Tenth Prince’s residence that she’d first met Xuanyuan Lige.