Xuan Tiange deeply felt that she was being teased, and it was even the hand she held out on her own, making her feel very awkward.

  She pulled her hand back forcefully and wanted to slap him across the face, but seeing the smile on that person’s face, the hand she raised could not move down at all.

  “I knew you weren’t decent with that appearance of yours.” Half a beat later, she finally squeezed this sentence out, then standing up, she warned him: “Hurry up and ask someone to carry those cases out from Wen Xuan Palace, This Princess does not appreciate those! In addition, for a Gu Shu citizen to enter the capital early, I will definitely tell Uncle Emperor, you might have some other motive after all.”


  She wanted to leave after saying this, but she heard that person, who was still sitting down behind her, say: “The Emperor of Da Shun, does he still care about these things?”


  Xuan Tiange paused in her steps. Thinking of the situation in the imperial palace, her expression darkened.

  “Where is Your Highness the Princess heading to next?” That person stood up, walking to Xuan Tiange’s side and asking: “Going to Yu Palace?”


  “How do you know?” She wanted to slap herself across the mouth after that, why did she react so quickly?

  That person laughed lightly, but his expression became more and more serious, he said: “For me to suddenly appear last night, you might feel its very strange. There were even valuable gifts sent this morning, Wen Xuan Palace is definitely still enveloped in an atmosphere of shock and suspicion, right? As siblings and friends with the closest relationship, you can travel from the capital to the middle of the desert to attend her wedding without any concern for distance. Now that you are faced with a matter which cannot be easily understood, you will naturally think of finding that person to talk about it. And that person is definitely the Countess of Ji An.”


  “You can’t call her the Countess of Ji An now, address her as Princess Yu.” Xuan Tiange reminded him and asked at the same time: “So what if I am going to Yu Palace? What does that have to do with you? Let me advise you, you should return to where you came from and enter the capital together with the Gu Shu ruler, then head into the imperial palace to pay your respects.”


  That person shook his head, “No, no, no, some things cannot follow the proper procedure, the enemy must be caught off-guard with a surprise attack. Not hiding the truth from you, between me and the Ninth Prince and Countess…… oh Princess Yu, we have exchanged letters before. Therefore, I have entered the capital in advance to met them first. Since Princess is also heading to Yu Palace, then good, take me along with you.”


  “Didn’t you say that you entered the capital to visit your benefactor?” Xuan Tiange pouted, “You have a glib tongue and are speaking nonsense, who knows which sentence of yours is genuine? I cannot bring this sort of person towards Yu Palace, you are asking a favour from the wrong person.”


  “I am not uttering nonsense.” That person told her: “Meeting the Ninth Prince and Princess is one matter, visiting you is another matter, these two matters are not conflicting, I am not lying.” He spread out his arms, speaking again: “Going with you is only because we are going the same way. Moreover, we are considered acquainted, so I can talk to you about the matters of Da Mo along the way, such as Princess Yu’s older cousin Yao Shu seemed to have set his sights on a woman in Da Mo and is now courting her. Or Gu Shu’s capital has a rich production of melons and fruits, ten times sweeter than what is found in Da Shun. In addition, in this broad daylight, you’re still afraid that I will do something bad to you? Yu Palace is just nearby, even if you do not bring me there, I can find it on my own. Bringing me along, it is just additional company, so why not consider it?”


  Xuan Tiange felt this person was really persuasive. Many things she did not think about were presented in a way which appeared reasonable, he really had a sliver tongue. However, she did not reject him as well. After all, Yao Shu had set his sights on a woman in Da Mo, she was curious about this gossip. In addition, just like what he said, Yu Palace’s gates were wide open, he could find it on his own and he was just additional company right now. Therefore, she nodded left the teahouse together with this person, getting on the imperial carriage together.

  The maid Huan-er who stayed on the carriage saw the Princess from her own household bring a unfamiliar man back. Though that man looked dignified and did not seem to resemble a bad person, it was also inappropriate! In addition, this man did not look like a local, this face looked like he was a foreigner, getting on the imperial carriage together, wasn’t it dangerous?

  She stared at that person warily but realised that the person’s gaze never left Xuan Tiange the whole time they were travelling. The topic started from Yao Shu, then Gu Shu’s melons and fruits, the two of them still chatting happily. This Huan-er was entranced as she listened and gradually forgotten to keep up her guard. When the imperial carriage stopped in front of Yu Palace, that person helped Xuan Tiange off the carriage. This was when she realised with a jolt, she had actually forgotten her duty, how could she allow an unfamiliar man hold on to her beloved Princess?

  But when she reacted, the two have already entered Yu Palace, heading to the main hall under the guidance of Madam Zhou.

  Xuan Tiange walked in front, rolled her eyes at the person beside her, then reached out to point at her arm which was being held: “Ah-Heng said before, for a man to help a lady off the carriage, this is the spirit of a gentleman, and is not considered overstepping of boundaries. But if your claws remain for a long time without letting go, This Princess will have to consider it as the intent to molest.”


  That person was also obedient, nodding and removing his hand, but when Xuan Tiange was silently breathing a sigh of relief, he suddenly said: “It’s fine, we are not in a hurry after all.”


  “What did you say?”


  “Nothing much, I was just expressing my thoughts. Princess, after you.” As they spoke, they had reached the door of the main hall, he made a gesture of ‘after you’, letting Xuan Tiange enter first. As the two people entered one after another, the servants served them tea after they took a seat. Madam Zhou personally headed to the back courtyard to pass on the message. On the way, she already had a good idea of that man’s identity.

  In her earlier years, Madam Zhou had seen many things in the imperial palace. When the small nations around Da Shun came to submit their tributes, she always had an impression of how those people looked like. With one look, she knew that man came from the south, his high bridged nose and deep set eyes already indicated his identity as a Gu Shu citizen. Thinking that the Gu Shu ruler was going to enter the capital soon, this person might be part of the advanced troop entering the capital first to gather information. But, for this kind of person, why did he come to Yu Palace? And how did he end up together with Princess Wuyang?

  Madam Zhou did not understand no matter how she thought about it, but Feng Yuheng was not surprised when she heard this piece of news. In fact, when she heard Madam Zhou describe that man’s appearance and the interaction between him and Xuan Tiange, she even immediately denied that the other party was just part of the advanced party of the Gu Shu ruler.

  It was still early, Xuan Tianming had not returned from morning court and Feng Yuheng met them at the front hall alone. Seeing her composed demeanor, Madam Zhou felt reassured. Whether a citizen of Gu Shu came or not, as long as her household’s princess can handle it, then there is nothing much to worry about. Moreover, there was probably nothing in this world which their princess could not handle!

  When Feng Yuheng came to the main hall, she happened to hear Xuan Tiange ask that person: “Tell me, the Da Mo woman Yao Shu is courting, will he succeed? I heard that the culture of you Da Mo people are different from Da Shun. If the two of them are together, wouldn’t there be clashes in lifestyle?”


  Feng Yuheng blinked, Yao Shu was courting a Do Mo woman? This was something new, she did not hear about it in the letter! She walked up and spoke at the same time: “My eldest cousin has someone he likes? That is true?” After saying that, she told Xuan Tiange: “The culture of the people of Da Mo are different from Da Shun, but eldest cousin has already taken up official duties in the south, he would naturally need to blend into the lifestyle of Da Mo and would have gotten used to it slowly.”


  Once Xuan Tiange saw that Feng Yuheng had come, she quickly got up and stood in front of her, one hand grabbing her and one finger pointing towards that seated man, saying: “He, he said that he had communicated with you and Ninth Brother via letters and insisted that I bring him along to Yu Palace. Ah-Heng, quickly judge if he is lying or not, if it is verified that he is lying, then quickly chase him out with sticks, we cannot allow a threat to remain in the capital.”


  That person looked towards Feng Yuheng in exasperation: “Did you see? She was just chatting with me so familiarly just now, now in a bat of an eye, she wants to chase me out of the capital, the women in Da Shun are really bold and forceful and cannot be compared to the gentleness of Gu Shu.”


  “Then go back and flirt with your Gu Shu people!” Xuan Tiange placed both her hands on her waist, “Let me tell you, this is our territory, if you want to start waves in this place, you have gotten the wrong idea. Forget about waves, even if you want to catch your breath, you still have to ask if This Princess is agreeable!”


  That person smiled in a troubled manner, only looking at Feng Yuheng and saying: “Yao Shu liking a Da Mo woman is true, that girl is the daughter of a normal family in Yue Ping City, she has a graceful and beautiful appearance and a good personality. I did not gather this information intentionally, it is just that this matter has spread throughout Yue Ping City and everyone knows about it. There are even people placing bets in the gambling dens, betting on whether Yao Shu can successfully obtain that woman’s affection.”


  Feng Yuheng was excited hearing this and felt rather happy inside. Yao Shu and Lu Yao had a married life for a while, then he was hit with that that kind of huge shock and had been rather depressed since then. Including taking up an official position in Da Mo, he also wanted to escape from the lands here, changing the environment to adjust his feelings. She had thought that based on Yao Shu’s personality, it would not be easy for him to obtain a second spring, but unexpectedly, there was a romantic fate waiting for him in Da Shun, this was really considered good news. She just did not know about that woman’s character, she better not be another Lu Yao.

  That person seemed to understand what she was thinking and said without prompting: “Do not worry, the people of Yue Ping City are usually simple and kind and their family situations are good. Even normal families do not lack in food and clothes and do not favour males over females like in Da Shun. Most of the woman are educated, can read and write, educated and civilised with a mild personality.” Saying this, he smiled at Feng Yuheng, saying: “Princess Yu, talking about this, this is considered a small gift from me after coming to Da Shun?”


  “Why are you so……” Xuan Tiange wanted to say ‘Why are you so shameless, it was only the revealing of some information, it could also be considered a gift?

  But before she could open her mouth, she heard Feng Yuheng say: “Of course it counts, you are the valuable and respected Gu Shu ruler, yet you are concerned about my older cousin’s important marriage matters. To me, this isn’t a small gift, it’s a large gift!” She had some understanding of Yue Ping City since she had stayed there for some time and naturally knew about the situation in the city. For Yao Shu to find a woman in Yue Ping City, he was really fortunate!

  She said the words ‘Gu Shu ruler’ then walked to the main seat and sat down, the person sitting opposite was not that surprised and only Xuan Tiange widened her eyes, asking that person directly: “You are the Gu Shu ruler? Seriously? You’re not a liar, right?”


  Feng Yuheng said with a smile: “I heard that Gu Shu’s new ruler is in his twenties and has a very handsome appearance. Meeting you today, a hundred rumours cannot compare to one meeting.”


  “Hahahaha!” That person laughed loudly and nodded at Feng Yuheng, “Princess Yu is really amazing, able to see through This Monarch’s identity with one look. But I ask for Princess Yu to also see that This Monarch does not have any bad intentions coming here, but there is one matter which requires us to work together.” After saying this, he looked at Xuan Tiange with a gaze which contained some significance, causing Xuan Tiange to get some goosebumps from being stared at……