The Dark Moonlight returns to the capital, and the mad prince is accused of forcing love.

Xu Qianhui left the palace the day after the fire at the Duke's mansion.

The wounds on her shoulders and back had not fully healed, and she was wrapped in a thick fox fur coat. Walking too fast would cause the wounds to ache.

Xiao Huaijin originally wanted her to stay in Changle Palace to recuperate, but the imperial physician also said that the weather in the capital was cold, and it was best not to travel around after a bone injury.

Standing in front of the palace gate, looking at the gray sky outside, Xu Qianhui still said, "I want to go back to the Xu residence for a visit."

Xiao Huaijin remained silent for a long time.

A blue-curtained carriage was parked outside the palace gate, with Qingyi and Bai Ze standing beside it.

Bai Ze somehow caught her scent, broke free from Qingyi's embrace, and pounced on her with his round body.

Xu Qianhui quickly bent down to catch it.

A sharp pain in her shoulder and back slowed her movements.

Xiao Huaijin had already caught her arm, and Bai Ze pounced into his arms, leaving several marks on his black robe with her claws.

Bai Ze tilted its head back and gave him a cheerful shout.

Xiao Huaijin looked down at it, his expression unchanged, but his hand honestly supported its belly.

Qingyi was suppressing a laugh, and Princess Fu'an couldn't help but say, "Bai Ze is quite discerning; he knows who's easy to bully."

Xiao Huaijin gave her a cold look.

Princess Fu'an immediately became serious and turned to Xu Qianhui, saying, "It would be good for you to go back and stay for a while. However, I have already ordered people to guard the area around your residence. If you lose even a single hair, my second brother is afraid he will cause a huge uproar in the capital."

"It's not that exaggerated."

"Ask him."

Xu Qianhui looked up at Xiao Huaijin.

Xiao Huaijin did not deny it, but simply tightened the collar of her cloak.

His fingers lingered on the side of her neck for a moment, and he whispered, "I've already had the medicine prepared at the Xu residence. A doctor will come to change your dressing every day at 9:00 AM."

Xu Qianhui looked at him: "Little Huaihuai, I'm just going home, not running away."

Xiao Huaijin paused, his fingers moving slightly.

"I know."

"Then why do you look like I'm about to dump you?"

Qingyi, holding Bai Ze, silently took two steps back.

Princess Fu'an also turned around tactfully, pretending to look at the sky.

Xiao Huaijin lowered his eyes and said after a while, "Ahui, I didn't mean to trap you."

"You can go wherever you want, and do whatever you want."

"But if you're going to leave, at least tell me."

He spoke calmly, but Xu Qianhui could still detect the barely concealed unease in his voice.

When she returned to Jiangnan that year, he didn't dare to stop her.

Later, when she returned, he could only stand by her side as Shen Huaijin, carefully concealing and guarding her, afraid that taking one more step would scare her away.

Xu Qianhui suddenly felt a little soft-hearted.

She raised her uninjured hand and gently patted the back of his hand.

"I just want to go back to Jiangnan for a visit."

Xiao Huaijin looked up.

"The snow in the capital is too cold." She smiled. "I want to go see the rivers in Jiangnan, and see if the osmanthus tree in the backyard of the water basin is still there. Once I'm healed, I also want to take Zhiyi back with me to be buried with my mother."

Xiao Huaijin looked at her but did not immediately agree.

Xu Qianhui did not urge him.

The wind blew through the palace gates, and Bai Ze sneezed in Qingyi's arms, his nose wet.

After a long silence, Xiao Huaijin finally said softly, "Okay."

He lifted the carriage curtain for her and said, "I'll come to see you after I've finished dealing with things in the capital."

Xu Qianhui got into the carriage and turned around upon hearing this.

"You're the Second Prince, you think you can just go to Jiangnan like that?"

Xiao Huaijin said, "I will think of a way."

Xu Qianhui looked at his serious expression and felt a slight tap on her heart.

The carriage slowly drove away from the palace gate.

She looked back through the swaying carriage curtain and saw that Xiao Huaijin was still standing in the same spot.

Snow fell on his shoulder, but he kept looking in the direction she had left.

It was already dark when they returned to the Xu residence.

The old locust tree in the courtyard has lost most of its leaves, and a thin layer of snow has accumulated on its branches.

Qingyi was busy boiling water, making the bed, and tidying up the medicinal herbs, muttering to herself. One minute she was saying that there were too many tonics sent from the palace, and the next she was worried about Xu Qianhui's wound.

Xu Qianhui leaned against the porch, holding Bai Ze in her arms as she basked in the sun.

After recovering from his illness, Bai Ze gained some weight and looked like a warm, fluffy ball when he lay on her lap.

Xu Qianhui stroked its ears idly, listening to Qingyi rummaging through the drawers and cabinets in the house, and suddenly felt that the courtyard was very quiet.

There was no suspense in the Duke's mansion, no headache-inducing schemes, and no one behind high walls forcing her to make a choice.

She was finally able to get a good night's sleep.

The next day, she received a jar of plum wine delivered by Chu Yunci.

A note was pasted on the wine jar, the handwriting was strong and vigorous, and it contained only one sentence.

When I get back, I'll treat you to a drink.

Xu Qianhui stared at the note for a long time before finally instructing Qingyi to put the wine away.

The woman in green responded, then couldn't help but ask, "Miss, are we really going back to Jiangnan?"

"Um."

"What should we do about Dr. Shen?"

Xu Qianhui stroked Bai Ze's head but didn't answer immediately.

The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and birds flew past the eaves in the distance.

She recalled Xiao Huaijin standing in front of the palace gate, and his words, "I will find a way," and felt a pang of inexplicable tenderness in her heart.

"He...it's best if he doesn't come."

After more than ten days of rest, Xu Qianhui's wound finally scabbed over.

She didn't make a big fuss about saying goodbye; she simply had Qingyi pack a few clothes and move Bai Ze's usual cushion and food onto the boat.

Princess Fu'an came to see her off, bringing a cart full of medicinal herbs and giving the maid in green a bulging money bag.

"If anyone in Jiangnan bullies you, just mention my name."

The woman in green, clutching the money pouch, nodded repeatedly.

Xu Qianhui chuckled, "Your Highness is too kind. Who would bully me?"

Princess Fu'an glanced at her: "Those who bullied you in the past have all met with bad ends, but I'm still worried."

She paused, then reached out and hugged Xu Qianhui.

"Ah Hui, Jiangnan is better than the capital."

Xu Qianhui patted her back lightly.

"Your Highness must also be well."

On the day the ship left Beijing, a thin mist rose on the river.

Qingyi stood at the bow of the boat, extremely excited, holding Bai Ze and pointing out the scenery on both banks.

At first, Bai Ze was afraid of water and huddled in her arms, refusing to move. Later, when he felt comfortable from the wind, he poked his head out and barked at the water.

Xu Qianhui sat outside the cabin, a cloak draped over his shoulders.

Winter is approaching, and the wind carries a damp, cold mist.

As she gazed at the receding capital, she felt surprisingly little reluctance.

That city holds what she lost, the justice she couldn't get, and the predicament she once thought she could never escape.

But the boat was heading south, and the river kept flowing forward.

She should move forward too.

Suddenly, the woman in green ran back from the bow of the boat, her expression strange.

"Miss."

Xu Qianhui looked up: "What's wrong?"

The woman in green pointed to a merchant ship following not too far behind and said in a low voice, "There seems to be someone on that ship who looks a lot like Doctor Shen."

Xu Qianhui looked in the direction she was pointing.

The winter wind lifted the half-drawn curtain of the boat, revealing a corner of a blue robe.

The man sat at the bow of the boat with a medicine box on his lap. As if noticing her gaze, he slowly raised his head.

Xu Qianhui raised her lips slightly and waved to him.

They have all gone far away from the capital.

very nice.

(Author's note: Thank you to all the readers who have been with me all this time. It was my fault for not passing the second closed beta test, which forced me to finish the book in a hurry.)

I have so many regrets about this book.

In the original outline, after leaving the Duke's mansion, Xu Qianhui entered the Princess's mansion. The Prince of An, in alliance with foreign powers, forced the princess to marry into a foreign kingdom. Xu Qianhui volunteered to marry in her place, and her relationship with Princess Fu'an became a closed loop in the ghg storyline.

The relationship between Xu Qianhui and Xiao Huaijin has become richer and more nuanced over time, unlike the rushed one we see now.

After his plot was exposed, the Crown Prince of An escaped and sought revenge on Xu Qianhui, but was defeated. However, Xu Qianhui was injured while protecting the princess. Qingyi learned of the Crown Prince of An's actions, changed back into beggar's clothes, used the beggar's information to find the Crown Prince of An, and killed him herself, but was also seriously injured and on the verge of death, but was rescued by Lin Zhiwei who happened to be passing by.

Although Lin Zhiwei is a villain, she is sincere towards Lin Zuoqing. She uses her green robe to threaten Xu Qianhui, making her beg the princess to release Lin Zuoqing.

Princess Fu'an was enlightened by Xu Qianhui's advice regarding Prince An's scheme. She quickly contacted the Ninth Prince of the Northern Desert to coordinate an attack from within and without, and helped the Ninth Prince ascend to the throne.

There's so much more, but unfortunately I didn't have the chance to write it all down.

I hope my next book will be better and will be able to tell the whole story in my heart.

My darlings, I want to express my deepest gratitude once again for your support and companionship. I love you all.