Li Xiang and Li Ban were also very uneasy, so they barely slept the whole night. Getting up early in the morning, both had somewhat dark circles under their eyes. Looking at Princess Hongnong’s solemn face and Fu Xuan’s relaxed expression across from them, the two exchanged glances before turning their faces away.

The postal station wasn’t very far from the city gate. Though their procession was long, traveling for one hour brought them there.

They departed at the hour of chen, arriving before the hour of si to see Luoyang’s city gate.

Early morning at Luoyang’s city gate was very busy. Those queuing to enter the city split into two lines—one for those without goods, traveling light into the city, and another for merchant caravans with goods, the queue extending a hundred meters outside.

Li Xiang and Li Ban stared blankly. In Shu, because of constant minor conflicts, such lively scenes were rare.

They had always taken pride in being Chengguo people, knowing that though Shu wasn’t yet unified, it was still much better than the outside world.

If Shu’s common people lived in deep suffering, then the common people outside Shu lived in purgatory.

They wanted to deliver Shu’s people from deep suffering and felt they’d achieved some results. So compared to Jin’s sovereign and ministers, they were proud.

But now watching Luoyang city with its dilapidated yet vibrant city walls, gazes passing over those smiling faces, Li Xiang and Li Ban’s previous perceptions began to waver.

Wasn’t it said that outside, human lives were worthless as grass, that Jin didn’t treat people as human, allowing Xiongnu and Jie Hu to massacre and plunder Han people?

Wasn’t it said that outside was barren for thousands of miles, with famine like a desert?

How did none of it seem true?

“Your Highness, Jin court’s Grand General personally came to welcome the delegation.”

Li Ban came back to himself, looking forward.

Ahead, guards had already separated a path. At the path’s end stood a group of people on horseback. In the center, standing with one hand on her hip, was an elegant woman with a faint smile.

Li Ban didn’t even know why he felt she was elegant, because her posture wasn’t elegant at all. Which woman stood with one hand on her hip like that?

But he just felt she exuded an aura of elegance from head to toe.

Li Ban liked elegant people, so he also showed a smile. While still far off, he dismounted and, leading Li Xiang, hurried forward to pay respects.

Behind them in the carriage, Princess Hongnong also lifted the curtain, staring blankly at this familiar yet strange Luoyang city.

Li Ban’s dismounting commotion startled her. Her gaze involuntarily looked forward, also catching sight of Zhao Hanzhang at first glance.

She saw Zhao Hanzhang smiling as she lowered her hand from her hip, stepping forward two steps to meet Li Ban. As he bowed, she reached out to support him virtually, then immediately retreated one step, solemnly cupping her hands in return.

Princess Hongnong stared blankly. Sure enough, seeing her treat him so courteously, Li Ban became teary-eyed and began conversing with her, while Li Xiang’s expression also improved considerably.

She had witnessed many ministers controlling the court. During the Rebellion of the Eight Princes, she personally experienced six princes. Later when Prince Donghai attacked Luoyang, she had already fled to Chang’an, temporarily uninvolved.

But she’d also heard of his arrogant and domineering deeds. No powerful minister would be as modest and courteous as Zhao Hanzhang.

If there were, this realm probably wouldn’t belong to the Jin court long ago.

So…

Princess Hongnong stared fixedly at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang seemed to sense her gaze, glancing this way. Her eyes were warm and tolerant. Meeting her gaze, she smiled brilliantly, then said something to Li Ban, turned to pull a young man toward here.

Princess Hongnong watched as Zhao Hanzhang approached step by step, finally shifting her gaze to the young man she was pulling.

Seeing that familiar yet strange face, Princess Hongnong paused slightly. This was… Changrong?

Zhao Hanzhang pulled Fu Tinghan to the carriage, smiling as she bowed: “Princess Hongnong, Prince Consort, I and Tinghan have come to welcome you.”

Princess Hongnong’s attendant, Ren Hui, quickly lifted the curtain, smiled at Zhao Hanzhang, then looked into the carriage.

Only then did Princess Hongnong, supporting herself on Ren Hui’s hand, lower her head to exit the carriage. She raised her eyes to look down at Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan from above.

Her son’s face was tightly drawn—whether still sulking with them or nervous, she couldn’t tell. But Zhao Hanzhang smiled warmly, unperturbed by her silence. She even personally stepped forward, extending her hand to support her other side.

Ren Hui’s heart rose with worry, fearing Princess Hongnong’s refusal would create an awkward scene. Who knew Princess Hongnong would naturally place her hand on hers, descending the carriage with support.

She said: “The Prince Consort is in the rear carriage.”

Fu Xuan wasn’t a pretentious person. Hearing Zhao Hanzhang’s voice, he woke from his return nap, lifting the curtain himself to descend.

Suddenly seeing his son grown into a young man, Fu Xuan also paused. Counting it out, they hadn’t seen each other for five years.

Could five years really change someone this much?

Zhao Hanzhang stepped forward to bow, also pulling Fu Tinghan along.

Fu Tinghan followed at her side, bowing together. It didn’t seem like Zhao Hanzhang meeting his family, but rather him meeting Zhao Hanzhang’s family.

State affairs and private matters—naturally state affairs were more important. Zhao Hanzhang distinguished priorities clearly, so she had to meet with Li Ban and Li Xiang first.

But she also worried about Fu Tinghan, so she asked: “Do you want to come with me?”

After she finished handling state affairs, she’d bring him back to see Princess Hongnong and Fu Xuan.

She could also see Fu Tinghan was very uncomfortable facing the couple, while the atmosphere between Princess Hongnong and Fu Xuan was also somewhat strange.

Fu Tinghan glanced at his parents, shaking his head. “No need. I’ll escort them back to the Fu residence.”

Zhao Hanzhang looked at him. “Can you manage alone?”

Fu Tinghan nodded. “Don’t worry. I won’t lack even the courage to face them alone.”

But in reality, when facing them alone, he was genuinely very nervous. He escorted them back to the Fu residence, had servants go down to prepare food, then sat tensely across from them with nothing to say.

He and Zhao Hanzhang had both confirmed they couldn’t go back. Even if they could return, they couldn’t abandon everything here to go back.

So he was destined to occupy this body.

Unlike Zhao Hanzhang, who always had goals and devoted herself to the Zhao family, Fu Tinghan’s connection to the Fu family was very tenuous.

Before Fu Xuan and his wife appeared, his only tie to the Fu family was Fu Zhi.

He felt he’d only received Fu Zhi’s kindness, so naturally he only repaid Fu Zhi.

But now with Fu Xuan and his wife sitting before him, he realized that even though after coming to this world he’d had no dealings with them, he still owed them naturally.

Had that youth died at Luoyang’s city gate five years ago, or gone to his world?

Whichever it was, now borrowing his body to live, accomplishing many things he wanted to do, even being able to be together with Zhao Hanzhang—he was grateful to him.

Princess Hongnong carefully examined him. After a moment, she said: “You’re actually more docile than five years ago. Have you matured?”

Fu Tinghan looked up at her in surprise.

Fu Xuan frowned slightly, asking Fu Tinghan: “What date have you set for your wedding?”

Fu Tinghan said: “Grandfather selected a date—the twenty-fifth of the twelfth month. He said this date matches our eight characters.”

Fu Xuan nodded slightly, asking: “How are the wedding preparations? How much are the betrothal gifts? Do you need us to add anything?”