"When I came, I looked at the map with the Prince. This road can also lead back to the capital."
When Li Jin came, he had discussed with Xiao Yi the possible situations they might encounter.
Hearing her father mentioned, Duoduo fell silent.
Since both her father and her teacher had studied it, there should be no problem.
"Teacher, will Father send someone to pick us up?"
Duoduo watched the night grow darker, feeling a bit worried.
"Probably not. The Prince doesn't know when we are heading back."
"Also, he doesn't know what kind of situation we will actually encounter."
"But, please rest assured, Princess, I will not let anything happen to you!"
As Li Jin spoke, he kept slapping the horse's rump to make it speed up.
The dark night became their best protection.
Duoduo felt her right pulse with her left hand; she was a bit uneasy.
Her pulse had not changed from usual. Duoduo looked at the palm of her right hand.
It hadn't turned black, and even the initial warmth was gone.
Why did that black energy automatically float into her palm?
Duoduo remembered that every time she put her hand in water, she would first silently say "come" or "go out."
But today, she just put her hand there, and the black energy automatically floated in.
It was as if there was something inside, actively sucking it in.
Duoduo thought of the golden frog that had disappeared earlier.
Could it be because of that golden frog?
Duoduo's heart was full of curiosity.
The golden frog could absorb snake venom, so could it do the same with other poisons?
Duoduo decided that she would test it out another day.
"Are you sleepy, Princess? Why don't you lean against me and sleep for a while."
Seeing Duoduo not speaking, her head nodding off bit by bit, Li Jin hurriedly hugged her a little tighter.
"Okay." Duoduo was indeed feeling sleepy.
She relaxed her body and leaned into Li Jin's embrace.
Holding Duoduo, Li Jin rushed back without stopping along the way.
Duoduo was awakened by someone's shout.
"Who goes there?" With a sharp shout, a row of figures blocked Li Jin's horse.
The horse was startled and suddenly reared up on its hind legs.
Li Jin hurriedly pulled the reins hard, holding Duoduo tightly, wanting to make the horse leap over them.
However, the people in front raised their red-tasseled spears in unison.
Li Jin hastily turned the horse's head; the horse snorted and trotted in circles.
Duoduo was startled awake and opened her eyes.
"Ling Feng? Is that you?" Duoduo found the voice somewhat familiar.
Hearing Duoduo's voice, Ling Feng raised his hand, and the people behind him lowered their weapons.
"Your subordinate greets Princess Changle!" Ling Feng led his men to kneel before Duoduo.
"Get up. Why are you here?" Duoduo rubbed her eyes.
Ling Feng stood up and cupped his hands. "We are here under the Prince's orders to wait for the Princess."
Hearing about her father, Duoduo immediately perked up.
"Where is Father? Where is he?"
"To answer the Princess, because the Prince did not know when you would return, he did not come over."
"The Prince has sent people to wait for your return on several roads leading back to the capital."
Ling Feng beamed with joy. "I had good luck and managed to wait for the Princess."
After speaking, Ling Feng cupped his hands in greeting to Li Jin. "This general greets Teacher Li."
Li Jin waved his hand. "Let's head back first."
Ling Feng shook his head. "The capital has a curfew; we can only enter the city at dawn."
"Therefore, I ask the Princess and the Teacher to follow me to another place to rest."
"Alright, lead the way." Li Jin turned the horse around and followed Ling Feng toward the outside of the city.
About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they stopped in front of a courtyard.
Ling Feng stepped forward and knocked rhythmically on the door.
The door opened, revealing a head.
When the person saw that it was Ling Feng outside, the door opened fully.
The group walked in.
"This is one of the Prince's residences. The Prince has been waiting here for a long time."
Ling Feng explained as he led the way.
Li Jin held Duoduo's hand tightly, constantly looking around at their surroundings.
He noticed that there were many people watching them from the shadows of this courtyard.
Soon, they arrived at the main house.
The person sitting in the room was none other than Xiao Yi.
Duoduo let go of Li Jin's hand and ran over cheerfully.
"Father!"
Duoduo threw herself onto Xiao Yi's lap.
Xiao Yi gently stroked Duoduo's head, his gaze falling on Li Jin.
"You've worked hard."
The moment Li Jin saw Xiao Yi, the vigilance throughout his entire body finally relaxed.
He bowed to Xiao Yi. "It was no hardship."
Ling Feng served tea to them, retreated, and closed the door.
Duoduo sat closely next to Xiao Yi, and Xiao Yi patted Duoduo's arm.
"How did it go? Is it settled?"
Duoduo flashed an excited smile at Xiao Yi.
"Father, it's done!"
After Duoduo finished speaking, she reached out to Li Jin. "Teacher, where is that bundle?"
Li Jin took out a small bundle from his chest and handed it to Duoduo.
Duoduo took it and carefully opened it.
"Father, look, this is the jade pendant!"
Duoduo held the jade pendant, showing it off to Xiao Yi with some pride.
Xiao Yi glanced at it and nodded. "Yes, it indeed is."
"And this is..." Xiao Yi saw that there was also a small box inside the bundle.
Duoduo carefully put down the jade pendant and opened the box underneath.
"This was given to me by Princess Consort Rui. Oh right, Father, there are also banknotes!"
Xiao Yi looked at the contents of the box, his eyes flashing.
"Princess Consort Rui is quite generous. This hush money is given with sincerity."
Duoduo looked up. "Hush money?"
After saying that, Duoduo immediately understood.
"Father, do you mean that all of this is hush money given by Princess Consort Rui?"
"She also doesn't want me to speak of it?"
Xiao Yi nodded.
"This is fine. We won't say anything, and she won't say anything. It's the best of both worlds."
Duoduo agreed; her shop's funds had increased again, which was great!
"But, Father, Prince Rui's people will definitely tell Prince Rui."
"Teacher even caught a few messenger pigeons." Duoduo closed the box.
"As long as Princess Consort Rui doesn't reveal that you understand medicine, it doesn't matter what other reasons she gives."
Xiao Yi didn't mind.
"Duoduo, put the jade pendants together and see if you can discover anything."
That day, after hearing Xu Jinxin's words, Xiao Yi had also formed some hypotheses.
That was why he made such a risky move.
"But, I didn't bring my other jade pendants out." Duoduo felt a bit regretful.
"I brought them out."
Xiao Yi took a box from the table beside him.
Duoduo took it and opened it.
Inside the box were indeed the other two jade pendants. She carefully took them out.
Li Jin helped arrange the jade pendants together.
Duoduo took off the jade pendant at her waist.
The four jade pendants of identical quality, placed together, emitted a soft glow under the candlelight.
Xiao Yi bent down and fiddled with the jade pendants.
"Imperial Father once said that these were separated from a single jade pendant."
"So, let's try and see if we can piece them together into one."
