The entire Cining Palace was transformed from its usual quiet and orderly atmosphere, with young girls' laughter and chatter everywhere. Even the Shu girls were not scolded or reprimanded as they ran past Yu An's side, laughing. The palace maids and eunuchs were busy moving large and small boxes, while the senior ladies-in-waiting who followed the emperor to Chengde were all holding small notebooks, carefully checking off the luggage one by one. Everywhere was a scene of bustling joy.

  Meili followed behind Empress Dowager Ci Xi, quietly walking and carefully supporting the elderly matriarch. Su Yuen hadn't entered the palace for some time, and Empress Dowager Ci Xi was anxiously speaking with her. Moreover, there were many princesses, consorts, eunuchs, and ladies-in-waiting surrounding them, making it impossible for Meili to get close.

  The carriages all stopped outside the Longzong Gate, and the excitement of the long journey made everyone cheerful and talkative. Even Jingxian, who was usually gloomy and eccentric, had a spring breeze on her face and spoke very harmoniously with the people around her.

  The Emperor went to Mulan Weichang for the spring hunt, and then moved to Chengde to avoid the heat. Although this trip had the meaning of pre-war exercises and military inspections, staying in Rehe Xinggong to avoid the heat was also intended to increase supervision and deterrence over Mongolia, but in the eyes of the palace maidens, it was not as tense as the eve of the war, but an exciting long journey.

  Yonghe was in charge of all matters concerning the Dowager Empress's trip, and the miscellaneous tasks were complicated. Recently, he had been preparing for departure and often got frustrated and lost his temper behind people's backs. Thanks to Ziyu's great assistance, everything was handled properly, and they gained the approval of both the Emperor and the ancestors.

  Meili casually picked up a small package, and even when the servants wanted to help her carry it, she politely declined. When Yonghe, wearing his white flag soft armor, walked against the crowd of women in their finery to pay respects to their ancestors, Meili felt a surge of pride. The many trials he had faced made him much more calm and confident than before, his youthful energy tempered but still radiant with an air of strength and composure that was all his own. His unique aura seemed to shine forth, dazzling and intimidating.

  Filial and delighted, she let him get up, Yonghe supported her, speaking and laughing as they went forward. The girls all came to talk to him, asking where he rested along the way and where he camped. Several girls even deliberately pushed Xingdi, whispering and laughing. Xingdi blushed with shame, smiling and going to hit the girl who was teasing her the most.

  Meili slowed down her pace, such a Yonghe... made her not dare to get close. He was too outstanding, among the girls following behind the old ancestor, so many of them gazed at him with eyes full of admiration and shyness. She understood that kind of gaze all too well, because she had also looked at others with the same gaze before. The Yonghe in everyone's eyes wasn't the one who would sneak away to talk to her, nor was it the one who would hold her hand tightly in the night, his body trembling slightly as he pulled her into his embrace... She glanced at him, separated from her by countless beautiful and elegant figures, and a sour feeling of longing grew in her heart once more. At one point, his simple and direct, yet awkward words had healed her.

  After the old ancestor boarded her spacious and luxurious carriage, the girls also walked towards their own carriages. Mei Li held onto the eunuch's hand, just about to step up, when her arm was unexpectedly pulled by someone, she let out a startled cry, looked up and saw Yong He's smiling face.

  "How come you only brought such a small luggage?" He stared at the small bag on her arm, all the way here, those young ladies from respectable families were all carrying big bags and small boxes of snacks to eat along the way.

  She hadn't even had time to speak before he lifted her by the waist and pushed her into the carriage. He lightly jumped in after her. The carriage wasn't big, and he was tall and lean, so she and he were very close together. With so many people passing by outside, Meryl felt a little shy.

  "You... you go out." She pretended to be calm and tried hard not to blush.

  "Tired, hiding for a while." He chuckled and leaned on her shoulder with a somewhat spoiled meaning, but his body weight didn't truly apply to her.

  Meili couldn't help but sigh, having just composed herself earlier. She wondered what the girl who had been gazing at him with eyes that seemed to be brimming with tears would think if she saw this childish side of him. But...this was the Yonghe she knew.

  "When we go out of town later, I'll buy some for you." He smiled softly and wrapped his arm gently around her waist.

  "Look at you, all sweaty again." She used a handkerchief to wipe him down, he was young and prone to heat, always breaking out in a sweat.

  "It's hot! This soft armor doesn't breathe at all." He complained.

  She untied the small package she carried with her, which was filled with thick, colored handkerchiefs. She took one out and stuffed it into his sleeve. He always seemed like a child to her, and she had grown accustomed to nagging him. "Bring it back to me when you've soiled it." As Madame Ying had told her, Yonghe would break out in hives all over if he got sweaty and was blown by the wind.

  Yonghe looked at her with some shock as she took out a thick stack of handkerchiefs from her bundle, the ones she had brought with her... were they for him to wipe his sweat?

  He smelled a herbal scent, "What smell?" He took out a handkerchief, which was the source of it.

  "As Madame Fu said, you're prone to rashes, and washing with mugwort will make it better. I've boiled all these handkerchiefs in mugwort water..." She was tightly wrapped in his arms, her face suddenly burning, and her words were cut off."

  "Mei Li..." He whispered in her ear.

  "What's with you?" a cold and unfriendly voice from outside the carriage asked in a low tone.

  The eunuch stuttered and couldn't answer properly.

  "The old ancestor is about to set off, but he's nowhere to be found!" Jingxuan hummed.

  "Here!" Yong He hastily responded with a voice, reluctantly releasing Mei Li, and jumped off the carriage.

  Meili covered her burning cheeks, her breathing disordered.

  "Be careful!" Jingxuan scolded. "You're still here at this time?! The procession has already set off!"

  "Yes!" Yong He knew he was in the wrong and didn't make excuses.

  "Hurry up and go?" Jingxuan let out an impatient snort, "Where's Ruiying?!"

  "Jingxuan?" Another young man wearing a yellow flag soft armor ran over with a terrified face, asking tremulously.

  "You two! Go together to clear the way for our ancestors! I'll go ahead to Ten Mile Slope, slowly and steadily!"

  Meili silently listened to him scolding his subordinate, that tone... was so familiar that it made her feel helpless.