"I understand," Chu Lingyang said, completely following Chu Qianli's lead.
"The items are prepared, and everything is ready for the princess to give the order to depart..."
"Second Imperial Uncle, I do not intend to return with great fanfare. Tonight, it will be just you, me, and... Prince Xuan, who will depart ahead."
Chu Lingyang was slightly taken aback but quickly nodded. "Understood. I will continue to have people make preparations for our return tomorrow, ensuring no one suspects a thing."
"Good, Second Imperial Uncle. Wait for me," Chu Qianli waved her hand.
Chu Lingyang knew she had many matters to attend to.
To leave, the medicine had to be prepared, and arrangements made, otherwise, the princess would not be able to depart with peace of mind.
Chu Lingyang did not disturb her and returned to his duties, everything proceeding as usual.
Chu Qianli continued preparing the medicine until it was close to midnight when she finally emerged from her room.
To her surprise, she saw a figure not far away.
She frowned and walked over quickly. "Prince Xuan?"
She had intended to find him anyway, but she hadn't expected him to arrive tonight.
"When do we depart?" Feng Yexuan asked directly, without any preamble.
Chu Qianli's mood was somewhat complex.
How wonderful it would be if this man could be a comrade-in-arms for life.
No one wanted to become his enemy.
"At midnight," she replied.
Feng Yexuan pondered for a moment. Only half an hour remained until then.
"Very well. Wait a moment, I shall retrieve something."
"Your Highness," Chu Qianli said, taking two steps forward as he turned, "did you go to the breach in the city moat tonight?"
His outer robe was dry, but his inner garments carried a faint scent of moisture.
And his hair, though completely dry, still had a trace of mud clinging to it as he turned.
He had gone to the city moat himself!
Feng Yexuan glanced back at her, his thin lips parting as if he wanted to say something but didn't know how to begin.
"Were you afraid that if you didn't go, I would go myself?"
"Nonsense. Why would I care about you?" Feng Yexuan scoffed.
Chu Qianli didn't want to argue with him. This man's mouth never spoke pleasant words.
But she knew his heart, at least at this moment, was well-intentioned towards her.
"Alright, I know what you care about is the truth."
She offered him a way out, so he wouldn't end up blushing and arguing later.
Unexpectedly, Feng Yexuan looked at her, his gaze softening.
This troublesome woman wasn't entirely unreasonable; she wouldn't push him relentlessly.
Occasionally, she... was considerate.
Therefore, he was no longer angry.
Turning back, he suddenly reached out and handed her something.
"This is..."
"Tonight, I not only went to the city moat but also tracked the medicinal men from that night to a valley of medicinal men."
"You're insane!" Some of them might understand illusionary arts.
He, having already been hypnotized and poisoned, would have a weakened resistance to illusionary arts.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have almost fallen for Lan Fan's illusionary arts that day.
However, Feng Yexuan himself was unaware of this.
He only knew that this troublesome woman didn't trust his abilities.
"This item was found on the commander in the valley of medicinal men. Give it to Master; perhaps Master will know what it is."
It looked like a token.
Chu Qianli was not familiar with the situation in Nanming, but judging by this scene, perhaps her father would know who this item belonged to.