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Over the next few days, the group experienced several more assassination attempts, both large and small.
Although some were injured, thankfully, everyone's lives were out of danger.
Upon reaching Yunshui City, Jun Mo figured that since the enemy clung to them relentlessly even with their disguises, he might as well reveal his identity and take up residence in the City Lord's Manor.
After the evening meal, Jun Mo went to Su Li's room.
The two sat by the window, playing a game of Go.
"Once we pass Yunshui City, the road ahead will be even more difficult."
Further on, it would be a world of ice and snow. Not to mention the difficulty of traveling in snow, the icy conditions meant there would be no venomous creatures, rendering her Five Venoms Powder useless. If they encountered assassins again, they would have to fight them head-on.
Jun Mo placed a stone. "It's alright. Reinforcements will arrive in three days at most."
Su Li said, "Why don't we just wait for them in Yunshui City before setting off?"
Jun Mo nodded in agreement.
Su Li placed another stone. "Your cold poison has been brought under control. With two more medicinal primers, it can be completely eradicated. I heard Bailizi is in the palace, so that shouldn't be too difficult. But Qianceng Shuang is likely in Xichen, the land of extreme cold. What are your plans for that?"
"No rush. Isn't there still over a year? I've already sent people to look for it."
Su Li breathed a sigh of relief.
"Li'er, you seem particularly concerned about my cold affliction?" Jun Mo looked at Su Li searchingly.
Su Li smiled. "A physician's instinct."
"Is that so?"
Su Li glanced at the sky. "It's getting late. You should return to your room and rest."
Jun Mo smiled and stood up. "Then Li'er should also rest early. Sweet dreams."
…
The Mo Guards arrived faster than anticipated, reaching them in just two days.
With their safety secured, the group set off.
After several more days, they finally arrived at the capital city.
Su Li parted ways with Jun Mo outside the city gates to avoid inviting gossip.
"Young Miss, we've finally arrived!" Siqin exclaimed, looking at the familiar streets with excitement.
"We're finally here! This journey was so perilous, it's thrilling just to think about it." Zhishu's face was still flushed with excitement.
Su Li smiled. "All's well that ends well. We've arrived safely."
The carriage stopped steadily in front of the Minister's Manor. The coachman placed the footstool, and Siqin and Zhishu carefully helped Su Li alight.
"The Young Miss has returned!" The gatekeeper respectfully welcomed Su Li inside.
Su Li instructed Siqin and Zhishu, "Distribute the things I bought for everyone. I'll go see Mother first."
"Yes, Young Miss."
Su Li headed straight for the main courtyard without a backward glance.
"Mother! Your daughter has returned!"
Mother Su, who was embroidering in her room, paused and asked Wangxia, "Why do I seem to hear Li'er's voice?"
Wangxia smiled. "This servant heard it too."
Mother Su immediately put down her needlework. "Quick! Let's go out and see!"
"Madam, please be careful."
Before Mother Su could even step out of the room, Su Li's smiling face appeared inside.
"Mother, your daughter missed you so much!" Su Li rushed forward and nestled into her mother's embrace.
Though her movements were quick, she was careful not to touch her mother's abdomen.
Holding her daughter, Mother Su's face was wreathed in smiles.
"You mischievous girl, you still think of your mother! You were gone for over half a month without a single word. Mother was worried sick!"
Su Li helped her mother sit down, then smilingly touched her mother's protruding belly, remarking, "Wow! It's so magical, it's grown another size."
Mother Su looked her daughter over, her heart aching. "You've lost weight, but you seem a little taller."
"Where did I lose weight? Your daughter feels like she's gained weight!"
"Mother, on my trip south, I bought so many novelties. There are things for Father, for Mother, and I bought many for my little brother too! He can play with them after he's born."
Listening to her daughter recount the interesting events of her journey south, Mother Su no longer regretted letting her daughter travel far.
It was good for a woman to see the world before marriage. Once married, she wouldn't have such freedom.
Mother Su suddenly asked, "Li'er, this time you spent more than twenty days with Prince Jing. How much have you come to understand him as a person?"
Su Li said, "He is very good, capable, and resourceful…"
"Mother isn't talking about that. I'm asking about your feelings for Prince Jing. He is the man you will spend the rest of your life with. Are you… satisfied with him?"
Su Li froze. Her feelings for Jun Mo?
She never dared to think in that direction. To her, Jun Mo was merely an excellent partner for cooperation.
As for anything else, she dared not think.
But these thoughts, she dared not share with her mother.
"Mother, your daughter doesn't know." She feigned shyness and lowered her head.
Mother Su smiled. "We are mother and daughter. What is there that cannot be said?"
Su Li quickly changed the subject. Mother Su simply assumed it was a young girl's thin skin and didn't press further.
Mother and daughter hadn't seen each other for over twenty days, and it seemed they had endless things to say.
An hour later, Mother Su finally released her daughter's small hand. "Quickly go back to your room and freshen up. When your father returns from his duties, we'll have dinner together."
"Alright."
Su Li returned to her room. Her three maids were chattering away, the atmosphere lively and cheerful.
Seeing Su Li return, the maids quickly prepared clothes and water for her.
While Su Li bathed, Mohua recounted all the recent events that had occurred in the capital.
Su Li sighed. She had only been gone for such a short time, yet so much had happened in the capital.
Xu Mubai, seeing that the business of Jinzhao Zui was booming, had opened two more branches, one on South Street and one on North Street.
Now, all three establishments were doing very well. Customers had to reserve tables in advance, or else face a long wait.
It was no exaggeration to say they were raking in gold daily.
The Right Prime Minister and his wife had amicably divorced. The eldest Miss Meng had taken her mother's surname, becoming the eldest Miss Qu.
It was said that the Emperor, mindful of the teacher's advanced age, allowed him to leave the capital only in the spring.
With the imperial examinations approaching, the Emperor had appointed the erudite eldest son of the Qu family, Qu Wen, as the chief examiner, to oversee this year's civil service examination alongside several Grand Secretaries.
What was surprising was that people had expected the Right Prime Minister to be quite pleased after his divorce.
Who knew that he would appear outside the Qu family's villa every few days, even making a fool of himself by offering a humble apology, like carrying thorns on his back to beg for forgiveness.
But Madam Qu's mind was made up, and each time she had her servants drive the Right Prime Minister away.
It was also heard that the Crown Princess had been found to be with child. This was the Emperor and Empress's first grandchild, so naturally, it was treasured. The Crown Princess was rewarded with many rare treasures.
Crown Princess Lan Yu, grateful to Su Li for saving the Crown Prince, which led to her current good fortune, had sent a generous gift to the Minister's Manor that very day.
It was also rumored that the Sixth Prince had nearly been buried in snow while trying to transport Golden Thread Charcoal into the capital.
Furthermore, more and more scholars were arriving in the capital for the imperial examinations. Scholars could be seen everywhere in the major bookstores and restaurants on the streets, engaging in poetry contests and academic discussions. Among them, the most outstanding seemed to be a scholar surnamed Zhao, the nephew of the Imperial Astronomer Director's wife.
…
Su Li listened as Mohua spoke, sorting through and noting down the useful pieces of information one by one.
After she had freshened up, a maid came in to invite her to the main courtyard for dinner.
Su Li went to the main courtyard with her maids.
Upon seeing her, Father Su smiled and said, "Good girl, Father knows all about what you did in Shu. Even His Majesty said that a tiger father will not beget a dog daughter. By the way, His Majesty wants you to go to the palace tomorrow after the Hour of Si."
Su Li helped her mother to the table. "Father, why does His Majesty want your daughter to go to the palace?"
"Don't worry. You and Prince Jing have rendered great service this time. It will be nothing more than bestowing rewards."
Su Li felt relieved.
The family enjoyed a pleasant dinner, and after chatting with her parents for a while, Su Li returned to her own courtyard.