He remarried after his mother's death, seized power over the world, and slept on the emperor�

Three days later, at the East Gate of the capital.

Before dawn, the morning mist, mixed with the chill, enveloped the crowd seeing them off.

Ji Yunhan was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, and the casual air between his brows was replaced by a sharpness.

The Dowager stood to the side, her eyes red-rimmed, fighting back tears as she repeatedly gave instructions.

"Be careful in everything you do once you reach the North."

"Take good care of yourself, and take good care of Jingyi too."

Liu Jingyi thanked the Empress Dowager before turning to walk towards Jiang Bingning.

Her eyes were also red, but they held a hint of determination.

She took Jiang Bingning's hand, and it felt icy cold to the touch.

"Ning'er."

Liu Jingyi took out a peace charm embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns from her bosom and carefully placed it in Jiang Bingning's palm.

The talisman was warmed by her body temperature.

"Keep this close to your body."

Her voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable solemnity.

Jiang Bingning was taken aback, clutching the small cloth bag.

"Mother, this is...?"

"Don't ask." Liu Jingyi interrupted her, squeezing her hand tightly. "Listen to me, keep it safe, and never let it leave your side."

Looking at the determination in her eyes, Jiang Bingning's doubts deepened.

Why take such a big deal out of a peace charm?

But she didn't ask any more questions. She just nodded, put the warm amulet into her bosom, and pressed it against her heart.

"The auspicious time has arrived."

The accompanying officials urged them on loudly.

Ji Yunhan walked over, took a deep look at the Dowager Consort, and then looked at Jiang Bingning.

He nodded slightly to Jiang Bingning, gesturing for her to follow him a few steps to the side of the carriage.

"Ice Freeze".

His voice was so low that only two people could hear it.

"From this day forward, all the guards of the Prince's Palace will be at your command."

Jiang Bingning's pupils suddenly contracted, and she abruptly looked up at him.

"Your Highness, you..."

She was so shocked she could barely speak.

The secret guards of Prince Xin's mansion are a force not to be underestimated. Even Ji Chengyun, as the heir apparent, only has the right to mobilize them on a small scale.

Ji Yunhan's eyes were calm and unwavering.

"You don't need to be surprised."

"I roughly know what you're investigating and what you're planning to do."

"Since I'm not in the capital, my mother needs someone to protect her. And you, too, need people to do what you want to do."

His gaze was deep, as if he had already seen through everything.

"You can go to Chengyun's place. He will take care of everything for you."

"As for these guards," Ji Yunhan's tone turned cold, "at least they can guarantee that you won't die from the Lin family's schemes."

These words struck Jiang Bingning like a thunderbolt.

He knew he was secretly investigating the Lin family and that he was in danger.

Jiang Bingning's heart was in turmoil, but she tried her best to remain calm on the surface.

She bowed deeply to Ji Yunhan.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"We're family, no need for thanks."

After Ji Yunhan finished speaking, he turned around and helped Liu Jingyi board the carriage.

The wheels rolled on, making a heavy sound.

The convoy gradually moved away and soon merged into the official road, leaving only a blurry shadow.

Jiang Bingning stood there until the shadow completely disappeared into the morning mist before slowly withdrawing her gaze.

She turned around and, instead of following the Dowager Consort back to the Prince's residence, headed straight for the city tower.

From the top of the city wall, one can have a wide view and see the long official road leading to the northern border.

She and Ji Ling had arranged to meet here.

A figure in black appeared silently behind her.

"Worry?"

Ji Ling's voice remained as cold and aloof as ever.

Jiang Bingning did not turn around; her gaze remained fixed on the distance.

"Um."

"The northern border is the Lin family's territory."

Her voice sounded a little strained.

"Last time in the northern border, the two of us almost lost our lives, let alone Your Highness and Mother going there this time, which is like venturing directly into a dragon's den or a tiger's lair."

The memory of being hunted down remains as vivid as yesterday.

The Lin family's influence is so great that it can cover the sky in the Northern Territory.

Ji Ling walked to her side and stood beside her, both gazing into the distance.

"My royal uncle, although he has been idle for more than ten years, is no ordinary person."

"Why do you think Father chose him? Because no one else in the Ji family could take on this responsibility."

"Since he dared to go, he must have made some preparations."

Ji Ling's tone was calm, yet carried a convincing power.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Bingning's tense nerves relaxed slightly.

Yes, Ji Yunhan is not a reckless person.

He has endured for many years, and when he finally makes his move, it must be a flawless plan.

Ji Ling turned his head and glanced at her.

"Furthermore, I have already given orders to the wolf guards in the North."

"They will keep watch over us secretly."

He paused, then lowered his voice further.

"Your mother is with my royal uncle, he will definitely take good care of her."

Hearing that Ji Ling had already arranged for the wolf guards, Jiang Bingning felt a surge of warmth in her heart.

He could always sense her deepest worries in the smallest details.

She nodded gently, the worry in her eyes lessening considerably, but a trace of reluctance to part remained.

Ji Ling looked at her quietly.

A moment later, he suddenly took something out of his pocket.

It was a hairpin.

The entire piece is carved from the finest white jade, without any elaborate patterns, except for a budding orchid carved at the end of the hairpin.

The jade is warm and smooth, and it gleams with a soft luster in the morning light.

Ji Ling handed the white jade hairpin to her.

"Here, take this."

Jiang Bingning was stunned and looked at him in confusion.

Ji Ling's gaze was somewhat unfocused, and he dared not meet her eyes, but his tone carried his usual domineering air.

"I lost one of your gold hairpins before."

"Consider this my compensation to you."

He added another sentence.

"This one suits you."

A gold hairpin?

Jiang Bingning's thoughts were instantly pulled back to a long time ago.

She remembered.

In this life, when she first met him, in order to protect herself, she pulled out the only gold hairpin in her hair and stabbed it fiercely into his face.

He later caught her, but the gold hairpin had long since disappeared.

He didn't lose it; she used it as a weapon and then lost it.

So he still remembered.

She looked at the white jade hairpin in front of her, then at Ji Ling's handsome but slightly unnatural face, and felt a mix of emotions.

That gold hairpin represents the bloody and probing beginning between them.

And this white jade hairpin...

She was about to say, "No need."

Ji Ling, however, simply shoved the hairpin into her hand.

The jade hairpin felt icy cold to the touch.

"Take it."

After saying those two words, he stopped looking at her and turned to leave.

The figure in black, like a nimble cheetah, disappeared beneath the city walls in an instant.

Jiang Bingning was left alone, standing in the howling cold wind.

She lowered her head and opened her palm.

The warm, white jade hairpin lay quietly in her palm.

With a heart as pure as orchid and a spirit as noble as jade, he is a gentleman of exceptional character.

She gripped the hairpin tightly.

After a long while, she sighed softly and carefully tucked the hairpin into her sleeve.