Qiao Zhao decided that when she returned home, she would brew a fertility-enhancing herbal soup for Lady He to drink.

“Third Miss Li, rest assured. This Dowager will properly console your family. To be able to raise such a capable daughter as you, they must certainly be enlightened and loyal people.”

Qiao Zhao smiled on the surface but sighed quietly in her heart: If her family didn’t agree, they would become disloyal and unfilial people.

“To be able to help Her Highness the Princess is my honor.”

Empress Dowager Yang studied Qiao Zhao. Seeing that her expression didn’t seem false, she smiled with satisfaction: “Truly a good child.”

At this moment, a palace servant announced: “Empress Dowager, Young Master Yang requests an audience.”

In Cining Palace, when Young Master Yang was mentioned, there was only one person—Yang Houcheng, the heir of Marquis Liuxing’s residence.

Marquis Liuxing’s residence was Empress Dowager Yang’s maternal family, and she was very fond of her grand-nephew, Yang Houcheng.

“How did this mischievous monkey come here?” Empress Dowager Yang’s words were full of affection from the start. “Let Young Master Yang enter.”

As soon as Empress Dowager Yang finished speaking, Princess Zhenzhen immediately said: “Imperial Grandmother, your granddaughter will take her leave first.”

She didn’t want anyone to see her current appearance.

“Go ahead,” Empress Dowager Yang said, then looked at Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao curtsied: “Empress Dowager, I have been out for quite some time. I’ll take my leave first to inform my family about the southern journey.”

The Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction: “Very well. Laixi, escort Third Miss Li out of the palace on this Dowager’s behalf.”

This little girl was quite clever, discussing things with her family before she issued the imperial decree. When the Li family received the decree, they wouldn’t have any unpleasant reactions, otherwise, it would spread that the imperial family was excessive.

“Third Miss Li, please,” Laixi walked to Qiao Zhao’s side and gestured with his hand.

Qiao Zhao keenly noticed that Eunuch Laixi’s attitude was much better than when he had led her into the palace.

“Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch.” Qiao Zhao’s attitude remained unchanged as she followed behind Laixi, walking outward. They met Yang Houcheng coming in the opposite direction.

“Young Master Yang,” Laixi bowed respectfully upon seeing Yang Houcheng, his attitude very deferential.

“It’s Eunuch Laixi. It’s been some days since we’ve met, but you look as well as ever,” Yang Houcheng said with a smile.

“Thanks to your blessing.”

Yang Houcheng’s gaze swept back and saw that Qiao Zhao appeared completely unharmed. He quietly breathed a sigh of relief and asked: “The Empress Dowager summoned someone into the palace? Did I come at an inopportune time?”

“No, no. This young lady is about to leave the palace.”

“Oh, then Eunuch Laixi, please go about your business.” Yang Houcheng passed by Laixi and walked to Qiao Zhao’s side. As they brushed past each other, he used his body to shield his movements, pointing toward the outside direction and silently mouthing two words: “Wait for me.”

Although Qiao Zhao didn’t know what Yang Houcheng wanted her to wait for, she could only nod in understanding at this moment.

Walking to the palace gate, Qiao Zhao curtsied: “Thank you for escorting me, Eunuch. This is far enough.”

“Has your residence’s carriage arrived?” Laixi looked around.

Qiao Zhao pointed to a tree not far away: “It’s over there.”

When the palace summoned people, they would use palace sedan chairs, but there were no palace sedan chairs when leaving—simply put, they managed the arrival but not the departure. This was also an unwritten rule.

“Third Miss Li, farewell.” Seeing that the Li residence’s carriage had arrived, Laixi nodded and returned.

Qiao Zhao walked to the carriage and gave the driver a few instructions before bending down to enter the carriage.

The driver drove the carriage to a corner of the palace wall and stopped. Though this place wasn’t hidden, it was much better than the previous location.

Qiao Zhao didn’t wait long in the carriage before hearing Yang Houcheng’s voice: “Miss Li.”

She lifted the window curtain and poked her head out: “Brother Yang.”

Yang Houcheng showed a bright smile: “Are you alright?”

Qiao Zhao was slightly stunned, then smiled faintly: “I’m fine.”

“That’s good.”

“How did Brother Yang know I entered the palace?”

Yang Houcheng scratched his head: “I was on duty today and happened to see you.”

The young lady’s gentle eyes fell on his face, thinking: I wonder if Brother Yang knows that he likes to scratch his head when he’s uncomfortable.

Yang Houcheng felt somewhat guilty under Qiao Zhao’s gaze, secretly wondering: What’s wrong with Chi Can? When he saw Miss Li entering the palace, he was worried to death, forcing him to quickly run to Cining Palace to investigate the situation, and he wouldn’t let him tell Miss Li the truth.

“Miss Li, the Empress Dowager summoning you to the palace today wasn’t anything serious, was it? If there’s any difficult matter, you must tell me.”

Qiao Zhao felt warmth in her heart and, after pondering, said: “Brother Yang, I’ll be going south in a couple of days.”

This matter ultimately couldn’t be hidden from them. Rather than having them learn from others, it was better for her to say it directly. She had too many secrets, but naturally, she wouldn’t hide things from friends that didn’t need to be concealed.

“Going south for what?” Yang Houcheng was startled upon hearing this.

“To gather medicine for the Ninth Princess, to treat her face.” More importantly, to investigate the murderer who harmed her family and to pay respects to Grandfather Li.

Not having seen Physician Li’s body left a sliver of hope that wasn’t hope, but Qiao Zhao wasn’t naive enough to think Physician Li was truly still alive.

Yang Houcheng’s eyes widened slightly, saying with dissatisfaction: “They can’t make a young lady like you travel so far.”

“Brother Yang needn’t worry. The Empress Dowager will send people to protect me. It’s getting late, I’ll go first.”

The light green window curtain was lowered, and the carriage slowly drove away from the imperial city. Yang Houcheng stood in place until the carriage’s shadow disappeared, then turned and returned to the palace.

Chi Can stood by a pillar, his complexion darker than before, making him look less delicate but more healthy and brighter. Seeing Yang Houcheng approach, he changed from his previous listless expression and went to meet him: “How was it?”

“Miss Li is fine and has already left the palace.”

Chi Can’s expression relaxed slightly, then he frowned: “Why would the Empress Dowager summon her to the palace?”

The Empress Dowager shouldn’t even know Third Miss Li.

Yang Houcheng sat down heavily on the steps: “It’s about Princess Zhenzhen’s matter.”

“What happened to her?” Chi Can instinctively feel it wasn’t anything good, irritably knitting his brows tightly.

“Her face had problems, right? The Empress Dowager ordered Miss Li to go south to gather medicine for her.”

Chi Can’s handsome face immediately turned cold: “She’s not worthy!”

Yang Houcheng coughed: “Shixi, watch your words. This is the palace.”

But Chi Can grew more and more angry the more he thought about it.

These days, he had been restraining himself from seeing Third Miss Li. He wanted to quickly grow to the point where he could shield her from wind and rain before standing before her again. Perhaps then, she might change her mind.

But while he could endure the longing and not see her, he couldn’t bear her going south alone.

How chaotic the coastal areas were—did this girl even know?

“I’m going to see the Empress Dowager,” Chi Can stood up.

Yang Houcheng grabbed him: “It’s useless to go. Though the Empress Dowager usually dotes on us both, when has she ever changed her mind about something she’s decided?”

Chi Can angrily kicked the white jade steps, his expression cold: “In any case, she can’t be allowed to go south alone.”

Yang Houcheng’s eyes rolled as he came up with an idea: “Doesn’t the Empress Dowager want to send people to escort Miss Li? We’re both Imperial Guards—we can take on this assignment!”

Chi Can patted Yang Houcheng’s shoulder: “Good idea.”