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A staff approached, keeping a certain distance from them, as they were women.

“Dear ladies, what would you like to order?”

“Do you have any beverages?”

“Yes. We have iced milk tea, fruit juice, boiled peanuts, boiled edamame, boiled corn, boiled eggs, popcorn, crispy rice, fruits, and various other snacks.”

“Oh, it’s like a grocery store.”

“Yes!” The staff concurred.

“In that case, bring us a few cups of fruit juice and serve one to the guards over

there.”

“Very well. Please wait a moment.”

The staff entered the shop and returned with a tray carrying the cups and straws shortly.

“What’s this?”

“These are straws. It is used for sipping your drink.”

“They seem convenient.”

The two maids each took a cup and tried sipping through the straws. Their eyes lit up with delight.

“Mistress, it’s delicious. Are you not thirsty? Please drink. It’s safe.”

“Serve one cup to each of the guards.”

“Of course.

The elegantly dressed young lady took a sip. The beverage was refreshing and sweet. She drank several large gulps and felt more comfortable as the heat inside her subsided.

Qiao Mai observed all this casually. They were already quite far north, and it seemed they were heading even further. She wondered whether they were going to see Yuan Jiaqi.

The elderly woman asked the staff, “How far is it to She County from here?”

The staff quickly bowed and replied, “To go north from here, it’s about a hundred miles.’

“Thanks. How much do we owe?”

“For sixteen cups at fifty coins each, it’s nine hundred coins.”

Without hesitation, the young lady handed over a couple of silver taels. After finishing their fruit juice, they returned to the carriage and continued northward.

Qiao Mai clicked her fingernails, tossed the melon seeds onto the table, stood up, and walked into Lucky Garden. She proceeded directly to the courtyard where the elderly couple resided.

Old Master and Mistress Wang sat in a shaded area, sipping on iced tea and chatting. When they saw Qiao Mai approaching, they were taken aback.

“Is there something wrong at home?”

“No, I came to ask about the recent events in the capital. What has been happening with Jiaqi?”

“Why are you asking this?”

“Just now, I saw a luxurious carriage on the road. It seemed far grander than ordinary officials’, with six guards in the front and six in the back. They were escorting an elegantly dressed lady to She County. Doesn’t it seem unusual?”

Old Master Wang’s lips quivered. “It should be a family visit.”

“I don’t think so. I have a hunch that she’s here to find Jiaqi. Tell me, what exactly happened in the capital? The top scholar was transferred here to become a county governor. There must be a reason.”

Old Master Wang looked at her, unsure of how to respond. He carefully chose his words, knowing that this young lady was too clever to be deceived.

“Well, Jiaqi was the top scholar, and the Emperor appointed him the champion. He even paraded through the streets on a horse, catching a princess’s attention. But after that, Jiaqi refused to marry her. The Emperor punished him by sending him to this remote place as a county governor. The matter ends there, so I didn’t mention it earlier when I returned.”

“You mean the elegantly dressed young lady might be the princess, and she’s here to find Jiaqi?”

“Don’t worry. I believe Jiaqi can handle it.”

“I’m not worried about him. I fear this might disrupt things at home.”

“Girl, Jiaqi genuinely cares about you. He’s not greedy for wealth, and he doesn’t seek power. Such men are a rarity. You should be more forgiving and not dwell on trivial matters.”

Qiao Mai cast a disdainful glance at the old man, who made her appear petty.

“I understand all of that. It’s just that, have you considered what would happen if this princess refuses to let him go? Do you think our limited power could challenge the might of the royal family?”

At this point, both Mr. Wang and his wife fell silent.

Indeed, under the heavens, all lands belong to the Emperor. Although he seemed wise and just, there was always the possibility that the princess would resort to using her life as leverage. In such a situation, would he stand by and watch his daughter suffer?

History has shown that such cases were not uncommon. When an Emperor’s daughter wanted to marry someone, it was considered an honor.

Refusing this offer was considered a grave offense, and defying the imperial decree was a crime.

Looking at the old couple’s silence, Qiao Mai sighed, “Let’s leave it to fate.” Then she got up and left. Old Mistress Wang wiped a tear.

“She has had a hard life. Just as she finally got out of a difficult situation, she was at risk of her husband being snatched. If it were anyone else, we could help, but with a princess involved, we’re powerless. It’s a sad situation.”

Old Master Wang watched Qiao Mai’s composed departure. “We should wait and see. It’s too early to make judgments right now. Nothing is certain.”

He had great confidence in Qiao Mai. Even the water pit that had suddenly appeared seemed to be her doing, but she didn’t want anyone to know.

Yuan Jiaqi was currently patrolling the outskirts of She County with his bailiffs. The land here consisted of barren soil, sand, and stone, making it impossible to grow crops. They would need to develop alternative sources of income.

If only his wife were here. She had many ideas. They could establish workshops to create jobs and utilize idle labor. She could also advise him on suitable crops for cultivation in this region. She was an expert in this area, knowing what to plant and how to achieve the best results.

During this period, Yuan Jiaqi had been busy and hadn’t had the chance to return home.

However, he remembered Old Master Wang’s words, who had encouraged him to invite Qiao Mai to stay in She County for some time, strengthen their relationship, and seek her advice on improving the lives of the local people.

As he contemplated this, a horse came galloping toward them from a distance.

“Sir, sir!”

“Why are you so agitated?” “Princess Heyi has arrived.”

“Princess Heyi? Why is she here?”

Yuan Jiaqi was somewhat bewildered. Suddenly, he clenched his fists as he remembered the Emperor’s words in the study.

Could it be her, the princess who had taken an interest in him?

“My goodness, why is she here? Doesn’t she know I have a wife and child?

It’s shameless! Is she so ignorant that she can’t find anyone else to pursue? She’s relentless, even after knowing about my background,” He thought.

A young maiden behaved so recklessly, although she was fully aware of his situation.

Thinking about it, his anger began to rise. He didn’t have to focus on his studies anymore and had the time and energy to spend with the person he cared about. He was about to build their relationship, and now this unexpected situation had arisen.

In his heart, Yuan Jiaqi had scolded this unseen princess many times. He looked down upon her even before meeting her.

But he remembered that she was a princess, so he suppressed his anger and returned to his mansion with his entourage. At this moment, Princess Heyi was sitting in the living room.

She was the same elegant young woman enjoying fruit juice at Qiao’s Small Eatery.

“Nanny, She County is so poor and desolate. To prevent me from seeing him, Father actually sent him to this place as the county governor.”

“This area is in the northernmost region, extremely cold in winter, and only produces one season of crops per year. Naturally, it’s impoverished.”

“Nanny, do you think Yuan Jiaqi might be angry with me for coming here recklessly?”

“You are a princess. Your willingness to visit him in this manner is an honor for him. He should be delighted.”

“Nanny, I’m feeling a bit nervous.”

“Princess, I honestly don’t think he’s anything special.”

“Quiet! The man I’ve set my eyes on is the best in the world. You’re not allowed to speak ill of him.”

At this point, Yuan Jiaqi arrived outside the room. Princess Heyi was indeed a princess. She was not only beautiful, but also exuded an air of elegance and

grace..